Each weekday, VA shares a Veteran’s story and you are invited to listen in.
“Story a Day” is a daily call that features Veteran stories from the My Life, My Story program. VA staff, interns, and volunteers have interviewed more than 5,000 Veterans since 2013. 53 VA hospitals across the country use these interviews to improve the patient experience. The interviews are available to doctors, clinicians, and primary care teams along with medical records so that VA employees can learn more about the Veteran’s story and build a stronger relationship while providing care and services.
At 12:11 PM Eastern Time (11:11 AM Central) call in to 1-425-436-6313 and use access code 331095# to join. You may also join online using a Google Chrome browser: https://join.freeconferencecall.com/story-a-day
Calls last no more than 10 minutes.
You will hear stories like Bert’s, below, who was interviewed at the Madison, Wis., VA Medical Center.
“My dad couldn’t stand bananas, his buddy couldn’t stand chocolate. The reason for it? They were both in WWI and when the war was over they went to Paris. I don’t know how many pies they bought there, but it sickened them for life. Dad was in the infantry and got wounded in France, he didn’t talk about it but I know he got wounded from a grenade… I was born in East Troy Wisconsin in 1923, a few years back. When the depression came my grandma and grandpa lost the farm and we all lived in town… I spent 4 years in the army, I was drafted in ’42, right out of high school….”
Daily highlight
Though the stories aren’t archived for replay, the program is working on a podcast. The live calls have become the highlight of the day for those who dial in.
“I love these stories because they are so real and they anchor me in the lives of those we serve,” said Barbara Morton, Deputy Chief Veterans Experience Officer at VA. “Every story is different and so compelling, and it gives listeners the opportunity to connect with Veterans and understand how their military service is one rich dimension in their life journeys. I have always admired those who serve a cause greater than themselves, and My Life, My Story gives me the opportunity to get to know these heroes a little bit deeper.”
Learn more about the My Life My story program or watch a video.
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I was medically retired at 40% in 1982. Army medical retirement at 40% was less than VA at 40%, so I signed up with VA for a few dollars more, the VA promptly reduced my % to 30 and I had to fight the VA for 5 years to get back to 40%. AND, during that time, I was not allowed to return to Army med retirement.
It is now 38 years later, I have been at VA 100% for 10 years..and can not get my full army retirement. I was an ambassador for CRSC and helped people get thier full army retirement…non-taxable….and thier Full VA disability….but I am still at 40% of my army disability, which prevents me from at least $600 a month because I signed with the VA 38 years ago. So here I am, still getting screwed by the government.
I’m a Veteran ; Service Time USMC 1978 – 1982 Honorable Discharged
Hey Tanner I’m Aaron my father was Larry I Reece veteran of the Airforce and 100 percent AGENT ORANGE from Vietnam in the mid sixties .throughout his life especially in his 40s till he passed at 67 developed major health conditions that slowly ate him up due to the exposure of the agent over seas .The doctors and oncologists at james haley va hospital in Tampa really did miracles in trying to treat all his conditions and supplies him with great resources that in my eyes kept him around and slowed his DISEASES down tremendously. His stubbornness and mental willpower probably had alot to do with that tho..he was tougher than one eyed Tom cat..they just don’t make em like those old school cats anymore..my point is I enjoy your show it’s really helped me understand things and pointed me in the right directions and answered alot of questions that others in the v.a would just ignore or look at me and say your not entitled to anything from your father’s service cause your not a veteran..that’s true I didn’t serve my country like my father but I was his son and lived and shared his pain and suffering and took his death really hard .my father was my rock and security. I wasn’t the best son and was quite rebellious and ran wild for years in and out of institutions and rehabs etc.my father never turned his back on me ever ,he was loyal to what he believed and loved,he was real and his heart was pure,he was a great man,I miss him very much..I’m 41 now and have developed my own conditions mentally and emotionally that has really affected all areas of my life..socially, work wise also,its hard for me to work in the construction field anymore because of my father ,he’s was always in the field on site early ready to go..I can’t stand to look at a construction site and not want to run away.its sounds crazy and most probably don’t understand but mental illness and depression affects people in many ways so who’s to judge or Express the correct opinion without experiencing ones true state them selves.ive never been one to take to much crap and have gotten to where I’d just rather been alone and not have to deal with anything or anybody ,especially the ones that are ignorant and don’t know their history on the military or even the years in which what war was where,but tell me I don’t know anything or I’m wrong and it really insults me because this means alot in my eyes ,its important to me ,especially now after educating myself on this ” pandemic ” cov 19 .so after learning about infectious diseases sars cancer etc that’s when it all made perfect sense to me but for others it was absolutely something else. Tanner I’m not trying to get a free pass on things or suck the government’s tit.man my father fought my freedom and everyone else’s like all the other soldiers and airmen did for the united states of America. A country where were supposed to be united and loyal from state to state and defend her honor with pride and never turn ur back on the ones you love or what you truly believe in.especially your dreams as a kid ,if you don’t have any of those values in you then what’s the point in having any hope and your dreams die out in your soul and help seems to be out of reach..I’m sorry but I feel I am entitled to my father’s benefits, I’m his only living son,his beneficiary, I helped him and he helped me,he loved me for who I was and he was my father.my shield, pulled me out of the ditches many time cuz he loved me.i was his son.family,honor,loyalty.where has it gone???? ##GoTrumpforreelection!!!!
Hearing about Soldiers experiences and what they are going through… helps me to focus a little more. I served 27 yrs in the Army…. some days and Nights are still tough to get through….