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How can a congressman help vets?
By Annette Dunlap
Special to The Courier-Tribune

ASHEBORO - Who can a member of the armed services turn to if he or she is lonely? What if there is a question about military pay? If a parent is deployed overseas, how do you handle an emergency back home?

One place to start is with Congressman Howard Coble, who represents North Carolina's 6th congressional district. The district is comprised of all of Moore and Randolph counties and portions of Alamance, Davidson, Guilford and Rowan counties.

Kathy Benfield, district representative for Coble's Greensboro office, can help service personnel if their home of record is North Carolina, or if they have a family member living in Coble's district. Benfield is responsible for military and veterans' affairs, and she has dedicated herself to meeting the needs of North Carolinians who are serving in the military.

"My father was in the military, and my husband was a Vietnam vet, and stayed in the military 17 years," said Benfield, explaining her commitment to soldiers. "I've fed veterans, ironed their clothes and shined their boots. I love service people."

But Benfield is quick to add that she is not a miracle worker, only an advocate. When a soldier finally decides to contact her office, Benfield said the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs generally act faster because they know a member of Congress has taken an interest in a case.

"The requests do get looked at a little quicker, instead of just sitting on somebody's desk. A constituent is less likely to fall through the cracks."

Every request, whether it comes through a congressional office or directly from a citizen, is subjected to the rules and regulations of the appropriate military branch or department. Active duty pay issues are handled through the Defense Accounting and Finance Office.

Veterans' classifications are subject to the rules of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Cases such as a request for a hardship discharge, or a hardship transfer because of issues at home that require the soldier's presence, must go through the appropriate service branch at the Pentagon.

"We have no jurisdiction over the final decision," explained Benfield. "But we can show that we are aware of the need."

Benfield has handled a large volume of requests since the deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq began.

"I get letters and emails from service people who are lonely, who feel they don't have the proper equipment, who want to come home, or who just want us to check on their family."

She says that first-time military families are having the most difficulty adjusting to the deployment of a loved one. "I get a lot of calls from parents who say that their son or daughter just signed up for the educational benefits. They don't realize that their child also agreed to be deployed."

Because of the Federal Privacy Act, requests for assistance must come directly from the service person. If the service member is incapable of making the request, for example, as the result of an injury, a family member may do so on the soldier's behalf.

While Benfield's preference is that a service member work through the chain of command, she will handle requests that have not followed that path.

"Every service person needs to remember that there are repercussions for not going through the chain of command."

She emphasizes that it is better for the soldier to go through the chain of command before contacting Coble's office. Benfield is especially protective of the benefits available to veterans.

"When a soldier is discharged," said Benfield, "they need to remember that the discharge document, the DD-214, is the most important document in their possession."

Benfield urges every discharged soldier to place a copy of the DD-214 on file with the register of deeds office in his or her home county.

"They should also designate someone to have the power of attorney to retrieve that document, in case they become incapacitated and cannot act on their own behalf."

Benfield said that the DD-214 is necessary for veterans who want to receive a VA home loan, VA benefits, Social Security, burial in a veterans' cemetery or help from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"The veteran needs to take extra special care of this document," cautioned Benfield. "Only the veteran has the right to get the document, and there can be up to a six-month delay in getting a replacement copy."

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