I'm sure you have heard me speak of our neighbor, Tom Klauder. As you know, his son, Jamie, has been in the Navy for four years and we have followed his career with interest. We attended his graduation when he finished his high school, here in Newark, and were at their apartment the night before Jamie went in to the Navy, and even drove to Chicago when he graduated from Boot Camp. Brought back memories of when our son, Brad, went in to the Navy.
Anyway, he was discharged, and flew in from California today, and one of his first stops was here, Tom was naturally very proud of him, he made Second Class in just four years. He showed us some souvenirs he had gotten in Japan and China and Okinawa, and some others he had gotten when he served on the East coast, and started in on his Seal training. An injury, a foolish blunder on the part of his instructor during a swimming school session, where he had gotten his foot caught in a drain, in an area of the pool that was restricted, but, following his instructors commands, had entered. It was not severe, but he had a noticeable limp when he walked.
He was proud of his uniform, and we joked at how warm his P-coat would be in this cold weather. He proudly showed us his DD-214, his discharge papers, with an Honorable Discharge. He was very proud.
Then I asked what other papers he had received at the Receiving Station, so he showed he the manila envelope. I opened it and looked in, and pulled out a handful of papers. I was interested because when I was in the Navy, I discharged many, so was curious to see how things had changed.
The first form was an application form he was to fill out and take to his local agency, it was for Food Stamps. Then a form to fill out which he was to send to the Newark Veterans Association, which would be forwarded to get him treatment at the VA hospital in Columbus. A yellow form was a guide to receiving "housing assistance" from the county. Another was a form for a Student Loan and available scholarships he could apply for, one brochure for available Salvation Army Stores in the area, and the locations of food pantry's in the area. The last was a from for his "Disability" for his service related injury,which was to be filled out and sent to his local Congressman, who would forward it on to the Pentagon, who would evaluate it, and forward it to the VA, who would re-evaluate it and send it to his local VA, who would forward it to his home in Newark. He asked at the Receiving Station where it went from there, and no one seemed to know, one sharp tongued Seaman, suggested he put it in the trash, Ha, Ha.
He also showed us his new discharge pin, The Finger, which cost him $47.50, and had to be paid prior to leaving the Receiving Station. He asked what it meant .... not as smart as I thought he was.
