Gulf War Vets of Long Island, New York, Inc

Fax : #(631)447- 5871 
Email:  LIGWVets@worldnet.att.net

                                                                                    May 16, 2003

The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
United States Senate
476 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

New York City Office

780 Third Avenue
Suite 2601
New York, NY 10017

Long Island Regional Office

Three Greenway Plaza
155 Pinelawn Road
Suite 250 North
Melville, NY 11747

Dear Senator Clinton,

            Recently, it has come to our attention that our Veterans traveling to Australia and vice versa, (Australian Veterans traveling
to the US,) are having difficulties in receiving medical and health, service-connected treatment, in a timely fashion. Due largely in part,
to the red tape of our US Veterans having to go thru the U.S. Embassy, while in Australia, and the Australian Veterans having to go
through Canadian Representatives, to contact our VA. Therefore, treatment is not forth coming when needed. 

It was brought to my (and others) attention at one (actually several) of our National Vietnam, Gulf War Veterans Coalition
meetings, by Peter Forbes, the Australian Commander of the Veterans of the Vietnam War, Inc. Mr. Forbes is trying to get a
“Reciprocal Health Agreement” implemented that would assist Veterans traveling from Australia to the US and those from the
US traveling to Australia.

The issue itself has to do with Australian and U.S. Veterans who travel or reside, outside their respective homeland, and
are unable to get proper treatment or service at VA facilities in a "timely" fashion.

(2)

Mr. Forbes and others do extensive traveling here to the US in support and assistance to Veterans. Veterans of ALL wars.
Vice versa with U.S. Groups that travel to exchange ideas and assist in helping their brothers and sisters, no matter where. During
this last deployment of troops for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Freedom Iraq they worked endless hours putting together
I don’t know how many packages that where sent over to our deployed Soldiers.

            We are asking for your support and assistance, in getting this very important agreement implemented. These two great nations
served together and supported each other many times over in times of war and conflicts. It seems only “proper”  that in peace time, they
do the same. It only seems “just” that they get “prompt” medical service when necessary, not after the fact. Mr. Forbes’s request for a
“Veterans Reciprocal Health Agreement”, is for “service connected” treatment.

For additional information you can contact Mr. Forbes directly, at: Veterans of the Vietnam War, Inc. # (570)603-9740 or (618)8349 6866.

            Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. I look forward to hearing from you.

                                                                                                                                                            Respectfully,

                                                                                                                                                           [ Signature ]   

                                                                                                                                                 Jackie Olsen ~ Director

                                                                                                                                        Gulf War Vets of Long Island, NY Inc

cc: Mr. Peter Forbes
Australian Commander
Veterans of the Vietnam War, Inc