Dear President Kennedy,

18 April 1962

I have written to you many times about my difficulties with V. A. And Mr. A.W. Farmer

Washington V.A. has confirmed your generous expression of "interest and Care" in my case for which I am sincerely thankful. Sir in my honest opinion V.A. is the sorriest spectacle of government in action, in the whole span of human experience. Why?

Because of V.A's attitude: The arbitrary presumption of ownership by V.A. of what the American people have so generously given V.A. to administer" which is nothing less than great arrogance and vast contempt for the people and our veterans. V.A. needs to be forcibly relieved of its arbitrary assumption of ownership of what it was given to administer V.A. also needs to be forcibly reminded that our veterans are human beings.

Mr. President, the lowest criminal in the land before any court has more rights is shown more consideration than a veteran before a V.A. board, rating, medical etc. I had to face a V.A. rating board my file was a very voluminous thing covering more than 20 years, had been fine -combed for days by the board in preparation for my hearing. I did not see my file. A veteran's file can be used to discredit him, etc. but the veteran cannot use his file to develop his claim. I was not allowed access to my file, but the rating board had full and complete access to it. I was forced to give sworn testimony about events going back twenty years, strictly form memory.

The lowest criminals lawyer is allowed the privilege of determining if the jury board is qualified to properly evaluate the case. But I was allowed no such privilege with the V.A. rating board thus my vital interests were jeopardized. I could tell from the reaction of that board that it did not have the slightest conception of what I was talking about. In my case, one member of the board should have been an Ex-POW another should have had ground combat experience, another should have known what airborne duty, WWII training and combat involved. Not a member of the board had the necessary qualifications to properly evaluate my testimony.

Mr. President, I faced Gestapo Boards as a POW and I can tell you honestly based on authority of hard first hand experience, that there is a shocking similarity between the V.A. board and German Gestapo boards. Thank you for your help Mr. President. And with warmest regards and best good wishes I am.

                                                                                    Hopefully yours.

                                                                                    Eddie H. Livingston  

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