At a time of great turmoil in our nation and changes in the world, there was a conflict in Southeast Asia, which would forever change the lives of those involved. Thousands of young people were called upon to perform a duty to their nation and were shipped off to this country. They found that the people, which at first welcomed them, were now trying to kill them. The world watched and turned its face on them. The nation that sent them turned their back on them. The people who protested the war called them baby killers and murderers. Eager to serve their country and defend freedom, these individuals left their normal lives, loved ones, and potential careers to go to a country that did not want them there. Many lost limbs, some were disfigured, and others had mental disabilities that might not be recognized for years to come. Still others were returned home in body bags. When the veterans returned home from the war, they found that they were different. In trying to find assistance for their disabilities, the veterans had difficulty obtaining help in their hour of need. The nation that sent them offered bureaucratic policies in the form of the VA. Their families and friends did not know how to help them because they had not experienced the horrors of war. These individuals now had to face their new challenges alone. Left with little or no options, many turned to alcohol, drug abuse, crime, homelessness, or suicide. Why would the nation that sent them offer inadequate assistance to them in their hour of need? Combat to Compensation is about one veteran’s experiences before, during, and after the Vietnam War. This story is about the troubles we endured in obtaining the benefits due him from the government. I will not attempt to rewrite the history of the war, or discuss the issue of whether America should or should not have gotten involved. However, the effects of the war on this man’s life will be shared. Another purpose of this book is to show the abandonment of a veteran by our government, a man they had trained and discharged without any regard for his future. All documents used in this book have been verified and were obtained legally from the U.S. Army and the VA. Readers will find help for themselves, a family member, or a friend who has been unable to return to a normal civilian life since returning from the war. My hope is that veterans and family members will be encouraged to continue their battle to get benefits and compensations due to them for their sacrifices to our country. Even if they may have abandoned all hope of receiving benefits from the government which they may be eligible for. The Veterans Administration has an obligation to compensate every veteran who has served in the military and sustained a disability, whether it is service or non-service connected. PLEASE DON’T GIVE UP, YOU CAN WIN. * * *