Re: War Hero Fights for Government to Keep Promise

Date: February 10, 2004

"War hero fights for government to keep promise

By Dan Lauck / 11 News

When America's soldiers went off to World War II they believed if they were wounded in battle they would be compensated. But the government never fulfilled that promise until just last month -- 50 years late. Only there's almost no one left to compensate.

"It must be beyond even the appearance of partisan bias," says World War II veteran Arvil Steele. "Him, right there. I wrote him a letter, let me tell ya."

Arvil Steele lobbied congress to pass the bill for Combat Related Special Compensation.
It was a letter about America's veterans, soldiers like Steele who went to war and came back with Purple Hearts and Bronze Stars only to have the U.S. government renege on its promise to compensate those injured in battle.

"Here's where I was hit," demonstrates Steele. "See the big scar across there."

That scar came from a piece of flying shrapnel.

Steele adds, "And this one here is a big hole in my butt." It was an inch away from death, then an inch away from paralysis. And his war was just beginning.

He would survive a five-month battle through the jungle, and survive the Bataan Death March in which 5,000 American soldiers died only to end up at a prisoner of war interment camp. "I'll show you me. This was, see, November of 1942," says Steele. "And this is me, right there."

The Japanese took kind of team picture of 83 Americans, POWs for 42 months. Arvil Steele weighed 75 pounds when they were liberated and returned home.

When World War II was over the government's promise was largely forgotten. Those who returned were able to get jobs and prosper in the American boom. But as they retired and aged and ran short of money, the promise was remembered and the appeal made.

It was Steele who lobbied congress to pass the bill. "And Bush wouldn't do it," he says. "He said he wanted to, but we just don't have the money."

But then one day last month, the letter arrived saying, "Entitles you to monthly payments of $1,261."

The government checks were nearly 50 years late. And Steele is the only one of 83 qualifying veterans still alive. "Time is passing so fast, and you're by yourself," he says. "No one to talk to or nothing'. And you look back too much."

But finally at age 84 there's something to look forward to.

It's called Combat Related Special Compensation or CRSC and will pay Steele $1,261 per month as long as he lives.

©KHOU TV Houston, TX"