A Canadian Korean War veteran has had his bid for placement at a Halifax veterans hospital denied for a second time.
John Smith, 82, says he suffers from multiple medical and neurological issues and wants to live at Camp Hill Veterans Hospital. He says he is being kept away by a technicality– he was a few weeks late arriving at the war.
“I went to Korea in ’53, stayed there until ’54,” says Smith.
Smith’s military career in the Black Watch began with hard duty, but because he arrived in Korea two months after the signing of the ceasefire, he is deemed not eligible for care at Camp Hill.
His wife, Eileen Smith, says the decision ignores realities.
“Five of the ones that went over with his battalion were killed over there, and they were in harm’s way like any peacekeeper is after a war,” she says.
An appeal to the minister of Veteran’s Affairs resulted in another rejection a couple of days ago. The Department of Veterans Affairs says John Smith does qualify for subsidized nursing home care.
However, his wife says he needs the specialized care of a veterans hospital.
“Can you imagine how many get in line for a nursing home, and you’re only young, and put in with a bunch of elderly people,” says Eileen Smith.
The couple says this isn’t just about their case; there are many rules and technicalities that come between veterans and the help they deserve. They say they want to see future veterans receive more aid from the government that sends them into harm’s way.
Former MP and veterans advocate Peter Stoffer says there should be a common-sense solution.
“You would think the government, with some form of compassion, would say the man did serve in Korea. You’re using a three-letter word to differentiate him from every other Korean veteran,” says Stoffer.
The Department of Veterans Affairs told CTV Atlantic that it doesn’t comment on individual cases.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Ron Shaw.
