I joined the United States Marine Corps at the age of 18 and served my country proudly for six years.

A while ago, due to a misunderstanding with the Veterans Administration, my 70% disability benefits from service-connected injuries were terminated. I had nowhere to turn, the situation caught me off guard as I travel around the country working in healthcare and was not aware of the issue until it was almost too late.

I was told to contact my congressman, which I did immediately. A young man in the Charleston office answered the telephone, and when I told him my situation, he literally said, “That is exactly what we are here for!”

I sent over the necessary information and within a month my benefits were reinstated. My life had changed so much, not because I was going to lose my house and cars, but because my status as a veteran is something that I thought could never be taken away, but it was.

Thank you, Congressman Alex Mooney, and your staff, for assisting me and veterans like me with our problems. While now I realize that “it’s exactly what you are there for,” I felt like the attention was personal, non-judgmental, and tailored to my needs.

Every member of your staff that I spoke with were the same exact way. A recess that was going to take years of red tape and cost me everything took less than a month. I can never thank you enough.

Brandon Blankenship,

Sergeant USMC

St. Albans