Retired Marine Offers Vets Free Help Filing for Benefits

By Gan Matthews, NEWS 9

GLODSBY, Oklahoma - Filing for disable veterans' benefits left Dale Graham frustrated and confused.

"They said 'yeah, you're disabled, but we really don't have time to mess with you. And we're not going to do anything for you,'" the retired marine said.

Now Graham spends each Thursday at the Goldsby Community Center helping hundreds of veterans complete their applications for benefits. As part of "Veterans' Corner" other veterans volunteer help them master the intricacies of filing a claim with the Veterans Administration.

Lately, more than 100 veterans drop by every Thursday seeking free help.

Scott Miller, an Army veteran, got help from Graham in putting his claim in order.

"Just every step of the process, he's helped me with the paperwork and making sure I talked to people that I need to talk to," Norman veteran Scott Miller said.

Besides helping with claim forms, Veterans' Corner also provides monetary assistance for veterans and their widows, Graham said.

"I had a little widow in here last year that was drawing $800 a month and couldn't pay her electric bill, couldn't pay her propane bill," Graham said. "We filled her propane tank up. I think it was $500 or $600, and we do that kind of stuff here on a continual basis."

Graham said Veterans Corner is a unique way to help Oklahoma veterans.

For more information visit veteranscorner.org.