check it out in your state, the next of kin has to be blood related ----- Original Message ----- From: "sam lashlee" <samwelli@yahoo.com> To: <WORLDWAR2-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2006 9:18 PM Subject: [WORLD WAR II] Next of Kin >I have been waiting to write to this list about this > very problem. My father, Malcolm Griggs Lashlee, was > a member of the 44th tank battalion, during WWII. He > was wounded in action and received a Purple Heart. He > and I filled out the forms to have his missing war > medals sent to him in January 2005. He passed away in > February 2005. > > The local veteran's affairs department will not > release the medals to me, because his "wife" (yes my > mother) is still alive. His wife left him 5 years > before he died, to live with someone else, but still > stands to collect widows pension and social security > because they were still married when he died. > > To complicate matters, the local VA has a working > relationship with my mother's company and will not > release anything to anyone but her. I have searched > high and low and I cannot find anything that says that > only the wife is eligible to claim these items. I > have contacted our local state senator, who has been > researching the matter for a month. > > I have tried to contact my mother, but she does not > return any of her children's phone calls. I have > contacted the local VA hospital and they have said > they would release the medals to me, if there were > some way I could have them sent to them. I was the > one who brought my father to all of his doctor's > appointments in the years before he passed away and my > name is listed as the contact for him in all of their > records. > > Does anyone have any other suggestions? Or any one > else that I can contact? > > Thank you in advance for any advice > > Sam Lashlee > > --- HOWARD STUTT <howardstutt@rogers.com> wrote: > >> Unless the rules have been recently changed, it is >> possible for the Next of Kin to obtain the records >> upon proof of death. >> >> Howard Stutt >> Ottawa >> >> Angie Kemp <ang1e@bluewin.ch> wrote: >> Hello >> >> >> >> My name is Angela and I am researching my >> grandfather Stanley H. BEECHING >> born 16 Jan 1917. He was in the Canadian forces >> during World War II and was >> from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He served in the >> following units of which I >> know only what I have shown below. >> >> >> >> >> >> Up to May 1943: No. 1 Cdn Eng. Reinf. Unit based in >> Aldershot, >> Hampshire, UK >> >> >> >> >From May 1943: G. H. Q. 2nd Echelon, Cdn Army >> Overseas based in >> Farnham, Surrey, UK >> >> Posted to southern Italy November 1943 (Near >> mountains somewhere >> near Mount Vesuvius) >> >> >> >> Returned to London around April 1945 >> >> >> >> >> >> I have been in contact with the Canadian War Museum >> and they told me the >> following:- >> >> >> >> The Library and Archives of Canada (LAC) possesses >> the complete personal >> files of all who served in the Canadian military in >> the two world wars and >> these would be the most complete source of >> information on the services of >> any one veteran. However, due to privacy >> regulations, access by second >> parties to Second War files is possible only if the >> veteran has been dead >> for 20 years or more. And proof of decease has to be >> presented. If you wish >> to inquire further about this you can obtain contact >> information for the LAC >> on its website: http://www.collectionscanada.ca/. >> >> >> >> I have sent a request mail to the LAC and am >> awaiting their response. On >> the basis that my grandfather died in 1995 I do not >> expect them to be very >> forthcoming so hope somebody out there can assist >> through knowledge of the >> units or my grandfather. >> >> >> >> Any information or assistance would be gratefully >> received as I am new to >> genealogy and this kind of research. >> >> >> >> Thanks & regards >> >> >> >> Angela >> >> >> >> ==== WORLDWAR2 Mailing List ==== >> > http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Military/WORLDWAR2.html >> This is the link to our archives. You may search or >> browse. Also, subscribe or unsubscribe and contact >> admin. We are an international list. Please remember >> to tell us what country your ancestor was from and >> what country you are in now if different. 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