Last Chance to Save the Medals

Vietnam War veterans, all on war disablement pensions, are contemplating selling their medals, including those awarded for combat service, to avoid recovery action by the Crown Law Office.

Costs of $25,000 were awarded against eight veterans after a hearing in Wellington’s High Court on 11th and 12th July 2016 where they had challenged Veterans' Affairs' New Zealand's processes and decisions.

All the veterans are pensioners, with most living “week to week.” Financial hardship is a real factor for them.

They are living on Veterans and War Disablement Pensions. Having the costs awarded against them adds another financial burden.

One of the eight former soldiers died a week ago and another has just begun treatment in the Waikato Hospital for an aggressive cancer. While another three of them have cancers and are terminal, the others are suffering poor heath. All conditions attributable to their war service.

A request to the National RSA (RNZRSA) in September 2016 for financial assistance was declined last month.

The veterans do not want to die leaving their families with this debt, and want to keep their medals within their families.