I joined the Army in 1967 where I was trained as a Combat Medic and later became an Army Operating Room Specialist...91D20.

I was sent to Germany to work in surgery at the 98th General Hospital.

I'm a Vietnam era veteran, not a Vietnam veteran.

I remained in the health care field after my tour in the Army. I enjoyed my work in surgery, cardiac cath labs, as a manager, director and vice-president and as a consultant to hospitals, doctors practices and heart specialty centers.

In 2003 I was forced to retire due to a service-connected condition.

I began writing about VA benefits after my own prolonged battle with the VA. Larry Scott has been friend and mentor from the start and any small success I may have is because of his encouragement.

My writings have been read into Congressional records during hearings in Washington and I often work with Congressional staff, doctors and lawyers to help solve individual veteran's problems.

My main body of work can be found onVAWatchdog.orgwhere my series of articles called "Jim's Mailbag", my editorial ramblings, Q & A columns and commentary are also featured.