Constituent Success Stories

Frank Firtl, South Bend
I was contacted by Mr. Firtl, a World War II veteran, who needed assistance getting his military awards and medals in order to one day pass them on to his children.  I contacted the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) that authorized the shipment of his military decorations.  Within a month of the NPRC verification, my office received the medals.  I was able to personally present the RACE medal, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart medal to Frank and his children.

Milinda Liedtky, Walkerton
During the holiday season, Ms. Liedtky’s son Sean was admitted to the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.  She applied for Hooiser Healthwise (HHW) coverage and she had to have her application approved before her son could be released from the hospital and home care could begin.  Without the approval of the HHW application upon release, Sean would not receive the health care equipment and services he needed.   She contacted my office and I worked with the South Bend and Plymouth Indiana Family and Social Services Administration offices to review her application quickly over the holidays.  After receiving her application, the FSSA offices were able to get it approved within 48 hours so Sean could receive home care.

Nancy Rae Demske, South Bend
While getting a key made at a local hardware store, I was approached by Ms. Demske.  She stated that she contacted our office regarding her Social Security Disability case, and would like me to follow up with Social Security.  She explained her frustrations with the Social Security Administration, and was upset about how long it was taking to get through the appeal process.  I informed her that I would follow up on her case and that I would notify her as soon as I received a response from Social Security.  A few months later, I received a response from Social Security stating that Ms. Demske’s appeal had been reviewed and that she received a favorable decision from the administrative law judge who handled her appeal hearing.  
 

Roger Ray Tanner, Medaryville
Mr. Tanner served in Vietnam and was diagnosed in April 2008 with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. He applied for disability benefits through the VA for his treatment but had not received a decision when he contacted my office in August 2008.  He especially needed the benefits because he had lost his job in May 2008. After my office inquired about his application, he received 100% disability and was given retroactive pay for the months he went without benefits.

Gladys Jean Radman, South Bend
Ms. Radman contacted my office because she was experiencing problems obtaining proof that she is a United States citizen.  After contacting other congressional offices for four years with no results, she expressed that my office was her last hope.  She was born in Canada and moved to the U.S. with her mother and siblings at the age of nine.  After moving to the United States, everyone in her family became U.S. citizens.  After contacting the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, I was able to gather the information Ms. Radman needed to prove her citizenship so that she can now apply for her U.S. passport.
 

Howard Wiseman, North Liberty
Mr. Wiseman is a Vietnam veteran who served as an artillery gunner, which caused ongoing hearing problems for Howard.  He filed for disability with the VA because of the hearing problems he was experiencing but had not received an answer to his claim when he contacted my office.  After alerting my office, I inquired about the status of his claim, and he received the hearing device he requested.

Robert Watkins, Jr., Mishawaka
Mr. Watkins’ father, Robert Watkins, Sr., was wounded in action while serving in the United States Army during World War II.  Unfortunately, Robert's father's military records were damaged in a fire.  Robert’s father had told him about the Purple Heart he earned but his damaged military record did not document the medal.  Robert, Sr.’s surviving records noted in two places that he was shot in the leg while serving in Italy and that he received treatment in a hospital in Rome.  Robert requested that this information be added to his father's reconstructed file and that based on this material evidence that a Purple Heart be awarded.  My office recovered Robert, Sr.’s Purple Heart with Bronze Leaf Cluster, which means he was honored twice for being wounded in battle.  He also earned the Army Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the European/African/Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Silver Service Star attachment, the World War II Victory Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Parachutist’s Badge, and the Honorable Service Lapel Button.

Delores VanDusen, Rolling Prairie
Mrs. VanDusen’s daughter, Donna Wilcox, contacted me on behalf of her mother who is on extended unemployment.  She and her husband have no health insurance coverage and both have pressing health conditions.  Due to her unemployment, Delores was not eligible for Supplemental Security Income and, unfortunately, Indiana’s Healthy Indiana Plan had a six month wait list.  She had applied for Medicaid benefits but had not heard back from the team reviewing her application.  My office contacted the Medicaid Service Center and worked with a supervisor who was able to give me the review team’s favorable decision.  The benefits covered medical costs back to July 2008 which resolved a major concern of Delores’ family—mounting medical expenses they could not pay. 

Sergeant Brendan Wilczynski, Mishawaka
Mr. Wilczynski contacted my office because, as a National Guard Active Guard and Reserve (AGR), he was not eligible for the same childcare benefits as Army Reserve AGRs.

Although their jobs are essentially identical, National Guardsmen are under the authority of their respective governors while the Army Reserves are under the authority of the president.

After learning of Sgt. Wilczynski’s concerns, I wrote to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates asking him to review the Department of Defense’s childcare benefits policies. Approximately two months later, I was contacted by Under Secretary of Defense David S.C. Chu who informed me that they would change the child care policy for all National Guard AGRs, granting them same childcare benefits as Army Reserve AGRs.

Pamala Ann Smith, North Judson
My staff and I were notified that a surviving spouse of a Vietnam veteran was in need of help. While serving in Vietnam as a member of the Marine Corps, Pamala’s husband, Mr. Martin Smith, was exposed to Agent Orange. Though Mr. Smith suffered from many service-related health issues, he did not know he could file for VA benefits of any kind.

Once he discovered that he could apply, Mr. Smith had difficulty providing all the necessary information and his claim was denied. Later, with the assistance of his wife, he again applied for aid. Sadly, Mr. Smith passed away before a decision could be reached.

Mrs. Smith applied for survivor benefits and awaited a response. My staff and I contacted the Department of Veterans Affairs and within a week, we received notification of the decision. Mrs. Smith was awarded accrued benefits, as well as monthly Dependency and Indemnity Compensation.

Thomas Schmidt, South Bend
Mr. Schmidt requested assistance from my office after his son was injured in an accident and hospitalized. His son’s wife wished to be at her husband’s bedside and was having trouble caring for their two young children as a result. To help her out, his wife’s sister offered to come from Poland, but was denied entry to the United States on a visitor’s visa.

My staff and I sent an urgent e-mail to the U.S. Embassy in Krakow requesting that a visa be granted to the sister. Mr. Schmidt informed my office that the visa was granted soon after the e-mail was sent.

Sergeant Tony Bontrager, St. Joseph County
As a federal representative, I am able to help state and local governments obtain grants to fund projects that would benefit their communities.

In this capacity, Sgt. Tony Bontrager invited me to tour the St. Joseph County Homicide Unit in April 2007. During this visit, I learned that the current crime scene truck, which was formerly a bread truck, needed to be replaced.

My staff and I were able to assist the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office in applying for a federal grant through the U.S. Department of Justice. I was happy to learn that they received it. Because of this grant, the St. Joseph County Homicide Unit was able to receive the money needed to replace their crime scene truck.

John and Carol Peterson, LaPorte
Mr. and Mrs. Peterson contacted my office with concerns regarding Mrs. Peterson’s Medicare drug benefit and her insurance plan carriers. A carrier she had used in the past would not disenroll her causing her current carrier to refuse her benefits. My staff and I were able to get her disenrolled and, thus, allow her to receive her medical benefits.