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Letters
| From: | AD |
|---|---|
| To: | Representative Grell |
| Date: | Thursday, 03/24/05 |
| Subject: | Local Disabled Veteran needs help |
Representative Grell,
Capt. Jason Cordova, Special Forces US Army is a disabled
veteran who is being called back to active duty to fight in
Iraq on May 1st. Jason lives in your district and needs your
help. We have contacted the Senators but would also like your
help with his cause. Below you will find text from a tv
interview he conducted a few weeks ago detailing his story.
Please help Jason. He was the headline in the Patriot News a
few weeks ago and did 2 local tv interviews also. He will be
on Fox 43 tonight at 10:00 and is scheduling national shows
like The Today Show and Fox and Friends.
Jason need your help with any resources that you may have
locally to get his story out. You or a member of your staff
may contact me at 717 796 6525 or via email.
Thank you for helping this local disabled veteran, Capt. Jason
Cordova.
Andrew and Nicole Devitt
> >--------------------
> > > >Disabled veteran fighting recall to active duty
> > > >--------------------
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >March 14, 2005
> > > >
> > > >SILVER SPRING TWP., CUMBERLAND COUNTY -- A Cumberland
County veteran
on
> > > >inactive reserve is being called back for duty- despite
his status as
a
> > > >disabled veteran.
> > > >
> > > >Jason Cordova is the picture of a perfect soldier. On
paper, he's the
> > ideal
> > > >candidate to be called back for active duty --but
there's one
problem:
> > > >
> > > >"The Army never knew I was a disabled veteran," said
Cordova.
> > > >
> > > >Cordova was given the status in 2001 by the Department
of Veterans
> > Affairs,
> > > >and his disability comes from his time in the service.
> > > >
> > > >As part of the Special Forces, Captain Cordova was given
five Anthrax
> > shots
> > > >in his side. Doctors say the vaccine traveled to his
lymph nodes,
> leaving
> > > >him with excruciating groin pain two to three times a
week.
> > > >
> > > >"I cannot move, I'm completely incapacitated, I cannot
rise out of a
> > chair;
> > > >I can't move," said Cordova.
> > > >
> > > >Still, he got a telegram from the Army telling him to
pack his bags
for
> > > >Afghanistan and report April 3. Now Cordova is worried,
and not just
> for
> > > >himself. He's also worried about the troops he could be
forced to
lead
> in
> > > >combat.
> > > >
> > > >"If my soldiers are forced to tend to me rather than the
enemy I put
> > lives
> > > >in jeopardy," he said.
> > > >
> > > >That's why he's asking to be kept out of the service.
> > > >
> > > >"If I was able to serve my country, I would definitely
serve our
> country
> > > >--but I'm physically unable to do so. That's the bottom
line," he
said.
> > > >
> > > >Cordova is taking this fight very seriously. In October,
he sent the
> Army
> > > >this book, detailing 20 arguments for his exemption.
Recently, he got
> > back
> > > >a one-page letter, rejecting his claim --based on a
reason that had
> > nothing
> > > >to do with his disability.
> > > >
> > > >"It's as though they stamped it 'no' without even
reading my
> disability,"
> > > >said Cordova.
> > > >
> > > >He has filed again, this time including letters from six
doctors,
> > including
> > > >an Army physician, in his claim. They all say he can't
get another
> > Anthrax
> > > >vaccine. Cordova is hoping these letters will help the
Army
understand
> > his
> > > >need to stay out of uniform.
> > > >
> > > >"We're going to exhaust all resources until the right
thing is done,"
> he
> > > >said.
> > > >
> > > >Congressman Todd Platts, as well as Senators Arlen
Specter and Rick
> > > >Santorum are all on Captain Cordova's side. Both
Senators have
written
> > > >letters on his behalf, and have begun Congressional
inquiries into
the
> > > >situation.
> > > >
> > > >Cordova's case is currently under review by the Army.
> > > >
> > > >Copyright (c) 2005, WPMT-TV, Harrisburg
> > > >
> > > >--------------------
> > > >
> > > >This article originally appeared at:
> > > >http://fox43.trb.com/news/wpmt-031405-
cordova,0,333075.story
> > > >
> > > >Visit FOX 43 online at http://www.wpmt.com