Tom Wren, never figured on all the Negativity, that would take place in his life, but it happened, & yet Tom Wren, of Eastern Oklahoma, has "Survived the Ordeals of Life"...Walking With Pride, as a Military Veteran & as an Individual.

At the age of 17, Tom wanted, more than anything, to become a U.S. Military Soldier, which he did convince his mother, that he would be a Devoted Soldier, & she signed for him to join the Armed Forces of America.

Tom had NOT REGISTERED FOR THE DRAFT. This in itself, would be a detriment to him, at a later date...

Tom joined the Army, trained in Mechanic Career & also, in being a Medic for the Military.

Tom had an IQ of about 170-180, & felt he could accomplish a lot of tasks, on behalf of the Military.

Tom was stationed in a Foreign Country for 33 months. While there, he was able to perform many tasks, that had to do with the Mechanics of all types of Military Equipment & Automotive Parts. Tom was a Natural at being a Top-Notch Mechanic.

Tom had agreed to Serve 6-Years of Military Service, but after 3-Years, he was given a DD-214, but not a Regular Discharge Document...& he was allowed to live as a Civilian.

When the 6-Years was ended, Tom received a Notice, that he was being Drafted for Military Service. Instead of Dealing Directly with the Draft Board, Tom dealt with a Local Judge, who assured Tom, that he didn't need to report, since he had Already Served his Tour of Duty. The Judge had stated to Tom, that he would contact the Draft Board & handle the situation, for Tom. HE DIDN'T.

And Tom was on the job, one day, & the FBI arrived, to arrest Tom & jailed him, for failing to comply with the Draft Notice.

Again, Tom was assured that the Judge would Take Care of the Problem, & Tom was allowed to be on his way, & live his life...as a Civilian. THIS JUDGE DIDN'T DO AS HE SAID HE WOULD EITHER...and...

Tom, went to work as usual, with a new job, in the next county from where he lived, in California. It wasn't long, before the FBI showed up again...& Tom was jailed again, at the age of 23+. Tom was taken to the court...& this Judge, told Tom that Tom would be notified, about the process that had taken place with him, & ALL WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF, ON HIS BEHALF.

Altho, Tom has Never Heard Anything from the Draft Board or the FBI again, He has Never Received a Document of Discharge from the Military Service.

Tom went on to be employed by Oil Companies, working on their gas / oil well equipment...but his life & health would take a Turn for the Negative.

Tom had joined the Military in 1960, & by 1962, his eyes would begin to degenerate, WHILE HE WAS STILL ENLISTED IN THE MILITARY...& he was told that he would "go blind, completely". (It is Now 2008, & Tom's eyes, are Not Healthy, but He is Not Totally, Fully Blind).

Tom began a Career as one of the Most Outstanding Foster Parents, in the Nation...while he lived in California, & this followed him, when he moved to the State of Oklahoma, where he was born & has many relatives, still residing here.

(By the way, one of the Cousins of Tom Wren, is the "Duvall" who plays in the Famous Movie, "Lonesome Dove".)

Tom continued to work as a Mechanic, but his health was declining, moreso...besides his eyes degenerating, so was his heart, & eventually Tom was required to have heart surgery, & a Pacemaker, to be installed.

Even this Did Not Deter Tom from wanting to Work & Stay Busy...& the Knowledge of His Understanding of Automotive Mechanics, became known across the State & even some of the Vocational Education Automotive Teachers, would come to Consult with Tom, about certain parts of a vehicle, & found out that "Tom knew More Than They Did, Who Possessed a Degree in Automotive Education."

Tom, like many Military Veterans, would have Marital Problems, which would sometimes be a negative part of his life too.

Tom has currently, Almost 40 Years as a Outstanding Foster Parent...but then, those years, may have ended, just as a marriage did for him.

He had three to five children in his home, including a "drug addicted baby" whose health had much improved with the Patient Care Tom provided to that infant...when changes took place, & the children went back to their families, in time...& Tom was Alone, for awhile...to face life, as Only He Could...for himself.

Tom was advised by the VA Doctors that he should be Eligible for Service-Connected Disability, but then Tom didn't know how to file for / obtain those benefits, & no one seemed interested in helping get that done.

Tom had Retired, some years back, & has an income of Social Security Retirement, & Tom has Full Understanding of his (Partial) Blindness & the Use & Care of a Pacemaker...so Tom was placed on Homehealth Services, for his health to be Maintained...& the Pacemaker to be Calibrated, as necessary, routinely.

Tom has discovered that, even though he is Partially Blind, he is Still Entitled to Possess a Drivers License, as long as he Feels, He Can Be a Qualified & Responsible Driver of a Vehicle.

Tom refuses to be given a "Seeing Eye Dog" at this point in his life...he says..."that time will come, soon enough" but right now is Not the Time.

Some people, wonder how Tom can Repair any Part of a Vehicle Motor...but his reply is this: "I can do it, by the Feel of the Equipment & the Sound of the Engine"...& when Tom, diagnosis the Problem of a Motor, he is "right on the mark"...every time...

Tom has been offered a job, as an Instructor, of Automotive Mechanics, to Teach at a Boot Camp, where Teens are Sent, to Become Rehabilitated, & where they are required to Enter Military Service, after some months. But, there's a Hitch !

Tom is Required to Possess a CDIB Card. Tom is of Native American Indian, & has at least One Good, Indian Roll Number...& there is probably at least one more, for his ancestory, too.

When Tom was placed on Homehealth, the Homehealth signed him up for the Personal Care / Advantage Care Program, which is through the Department of Human Resources office. Tom didn't realize, until he viewed a Financial Statement, about the Monies that would be paid out for his Care...& he was Greatly Surprised to Discover that this Homehealth Agency is being Paid, more than / about $30,000 a Year...to Provide Care for Him...& YET...

HE IS NOT A HOMEBOUND PATIENT !!

Tom is age 66, with Partial Blindness, & with a Pacemaker, & he has a fairly good income, of Retirement, & is Eligible for VA Service-Connected Compensation & that would DisQualify Tom, for Personal Care & other Services, by a Homehealth Except for the Monitoring / Care of the Pacemaker...

SO WHY IS THERE $30, 000 BEING PAID OUT FOR A PATIENT / A VETERAN, WHO IS NOT OF HOMEBOUND STATUS?

Tom still has ability to Handle All of His Own Personal Business, has an Income, that is Not Considered a Low Income...to qualify for Personal Care..& he still keeps employed...& has ability to be a safe driver & Eats All His Meals in a Restaurant that his Relatives Own, & doesn't stay at home, except to sleep..and

Tom has a Local Physician & there's a Hospital / ER, just 9 miles from where Tom works / lives...& yet...

IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE ??

Tom is taking a New View of His Life, & deciding...what is best for him & setting his own priorities, with the help of an Advocate...who encourages Tom to be "All He Can Be" for his own Self-Satisfaction & Peace of Mind.

Tom is an Example of the Way, Veterans & Soldiers, Lives can Be Negatively Affected, by the System !! But he has Rose Above it, & Others Can too. Tom Never Gave Up, Nor is he "giving in, to a Disability".

This Advocate is also, assisting Tom in filing for the Service-Connected VA Benefit of Compensation, & following up with assisting Tom with filing for the CDIB Indian Card.

THIS WRITING IS CONTRIBUTED BY HAZEL DAVIS, WHO BELIEVES THAT: "OUR U.S. MILITARY SOLDIERS / VETERANS, DESERVE NOTHING...LESS THAN ...OUR FULL SUPPORT...FOR ASSISTING IN IMPROVEMENTS...FOR THEM & THEIR HEALTH & WELFARE...FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF THE MILITARY SOLDIERS / VETERANS...& not so much for the convenience of anyone else...BECAUSE...

IT IS THE "HEALTH & WELFARE OF THE SOLDIER / VETERAN, THAT....MATTERS MOST !! ", not Employees of Agencies.

Our Veterans / Our Soldiers, Deserve a Good Quality of Healthcare & Health Maintenance !! It is Their Lives, Which Matters !! Not Ours !! (Hazel Davis, bojacks1@yahoo.com).