with me on "comunidad del valle" are members of american legion post 809, armand guerrero and miguel gastelo here with the american legion. thank you so much for being on our show, and thank you for your service. before we talk about the post, talk about your military service before we get going. we'll start with you. miguel gastelo: my name is miguel, and i served in the army for 27 years. i retired in 1995 as an e-9 command sergeant major. i started my career in the military when i got drafted in january of 1968. and shortly after that, i winded up in vietnam as an infantryman. and i just--it changed my whole life, and i never knew that kind of way of living. and it stayed with me, so i kept re-enlisting. damian: well, 'cause i was going to say people usually who were drafted, the veterans who were drafted, they serve their time, and then they say, "i'm getting out." but you said, "i'm staying in." miguel: yes, like i said, it had a big impact in my life because i grew up in the fields picking cotton, and we were raised very poor, lived in the farm labor camps. and when i went in th

with me on "comunidad del valle" are members of american legion post 809, armand guerrero and miguel o here with the american legion. thank you so much for being on our show, and thank you for your service. before we talk about the post, talk about your military service before we get going. we'll start with you. miguel gastelo: my name is miguel, and i served in the army for 27 years. i retired in 1995 as an e-9 command sergeant major. i started my career in the military when i got drafted in january of 1968.

american legion supports v.a. expanded caregiver benefits to all eligible enrolled veterans, regardless when they served. benefits should not be limited to only post/11 veterans. what can the american legion do? call on congress to pass legislation that would authorize the v.a. to provide caregiver benefits to all eligible veterans, regardless of the dates of theaters of operation during their military service, as well as call on congress to review current legislation and public laws to ensure all veterans receive -- excuse me -- all veterans benefits are provided equitably and consistently for all veterans. end of service physical examinations. for guard and reservists. active duty service members must undergo a separate physical examination. however, this same right to an end of service physical examination is not mandated for reserve component service members. the same right needs to be given to them when they return to civilian life. for the purpose of assessing their health conditions and to determine if any existing medical conditions arose during their time in service. no end of service physical documentation can increase the claims backlog