MSI Press Blog

Review from MidWest Book Review, April 19, 2019 Reviewer's Choice Helping the Disabled  Veteran Joanna Romer MSI Press 1760-F Airline Hwy, #203, Hollister, CA 950243 http://msipress.com 9781942891789, $14.95, PB, 124pp, www.msipress.com/shop/ "Helping the Disabled Veteran: How to Assist Your Disabled Veteran's Adjustment to Civilian Life" by Joanna Romer suggests 'real world practical' ways to assist disabled veterans leaving the military and trying to integrate back into mainstream society in spite of their disabilities. The chapters comprising "Helping the Disabled Veteran" contain recommendations, suggestions, and practical suggestions, based on a large number of wide-ranging interviews with disabled veterans about their experiences after returning from war. Impressively informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Helping the Disabled Veteran" should be a part of every community, college, and university library collection ...

Happy Fourth of July, 2020! In celebration of this day, we present an excerpt from Joanna Romer's popular book, Helping the Disabled Veteran . Excerpt: Holidays The holidays may be a poignant time for your veteran, perhaps more than you realize. If he or she lost a friend in battle, or simply during the course of military service, your veteran may be reminded of that friendship with sadness during the holidays. Even though you’ve never met this friend, you should respect your veteran’s grief—the friendship may have been very close. Your veteran may feel guilty if unable to do Christmas shopping. If they are confined to a wheelchair, for instance. You can offer to help—either by buying the items he/she picks out or by setting your veteran up on the computer to do some online shopping. It goes without saying that lending a little extra cash during this time would be welcome. On the day of the holiday itself, don’t be surprised if your veteran wants to stay in his/he...

This excerpt comes from  Helping the Disabled Veteran  (Joanna Romer)      Homeless Veterans Drive down any major thoroughfare in a medium to large-sized city, and you’re bound to see this sign at an intersection: “Homeless Veteran. Please Help.” The sign is usually being wielded by a man between 20 and 70 years old, bedraggled in appearance and wearing a helpless expression on his face. Sometimes the sign says, “Will work for food,” especially if the Veteran is on the younger side. Sometimes the sign bearer is disabled, with just one leg, standing on crutches or in a wheelchair. What do we do when we see such a person? The light changes and we drive on through the intersection; or, if we’re feeling charitable, we put a dollar in the outstretched cup. Sometimes if we get a look at the veteran’s face, a tear may come to our eye: there’s something very wrong about this situation . The more cynical among us may posit that the whole thing is an act — that the ...

  This excerpt comes from Helping the Disabled Veteran  (Joanna Romer) The Soldier’s Psalm   Psalm 91 has been called the Soldier’s Psalm because of an unusual incident during World War I. The men in the 91 st Infantry Brigade of the U.S. Expeditionary Army were all given the psalm printed on little cards right before going into battle. The 91 st Brigade was engaged in three of the worst battles of the war — the Argonne, Chateau Thierry, and Belle Wood, but the men prayed the psalm daily and suffered not a single casualty. Other American units engaged in those same battles had up to 90% casualties (The Soldier’s Psalm). With such a record, it’s no wonder that the psalm has become known throughout the world as providing protection for soldiers. As a veteran, perhaps you’ve heard of it; maybe you’ve even prayed it yourself. If you’re a friend, sister or brother of a veteran, you may not be aware of the power of Psalm 91 — perhaps now is the time to become acquainted: Psal...

  Excerpt from Helping the Disabled Veteran Kindle Paperback Introduction On a beautiful sunny day, I found myself sitting on a bench in the Ormond Museum Memorial Gardens, sur- rounded by tall palm trees and lush foliage next to a small pond dotted with water lilies. It was December 7th, Pearl Harbor Day, a fitting time to visit this park, which was founded by the City of Ormond Beach, Florida as “a living monument to creative freedom and equality of all persons, and to commemorate the service of World War II veterans who fought valiantly for that ideal.” Inside the Museum there is a bronze plaque inscribed with the names of Ormond Beach residents who fought in the war, with an honor roll commemorating those who perished. The Museum does not limit itself to veterans of World War II. On the grounds we can find a monument for local soldiers who died in World War I, and more recently, two more memorials were added—one dedicated to soldiers of the Vietnam War and another to veterans ...

  This excerpt comes from  Helping the Disabled Veteran  (Joanna Romer) Legal Help   Your son Tommy came home from Afghanistan paralyzed, and you’re stymied on how to help him. He’s been living with you and your husband for over a year, and a good part of that time you’ve been trying to get a certain benefit that would help him and your family a great deal. Unfortunately, because of a supposed “hitch” in his service record, that particular benefit does not seem to be available. Tommy says the hitch is an error — but so far you’ve been unable to get it removed. Is there anything you can do? Yes, there is. Paralyzed Veterans of America is an organization that provides competent attorneys to assist in cases just like this. They have litigated hundreds of cases for veterans, helping them to get the benefits they need (Legal Services – Paralyzed Veterans of America). Veterans have the right to appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims if their benefits reque...