An ailing Canadian military veteran has been denied residency at a Halifax veterans鈥� hospital for the second time. The reason? He was deployed to South Korea two months after the Korean War ended.
鈥淔ive of the ones that went over with his battalion were killed over there,鈥� John Smith鈥檚 wife, Eileen, told CTV Atlantic. 鈥淭hey were in harm鈥檚 way like any peacekeeper is after a war.鈥�
Smith, an 82-year-old who suffers from an array of physical and neurological issues, was stationed in South Korea from 1953 to 1954. Because he never saw combat in the country, he is not eligible to receive long-term care at Halifax鈥檚 Camp Hill veterans鈥� hospital.
The Korean War lasted from June 1950 to July 1953. More than 26,000 Canadians served in the brutal conflict, fighting North Korean, Chinese and Soviet forces alongside an international coalition overseen by the United Nations. More than 500 Canadians never returned home.
Despite Smith鈥檚 27 years of military service, he is only qualified to receive subsidized homecare. Smith鈥檚 wife says that her husband needs the specialized treatment that only a hospital like Camp Hill can provide. The case, she adds, is about more than just her husband 鈥� it is about removing rules and technicalities that stand between veterans and the help they deserve.
After the initial rejection, Smith filed an appeal with Veterans Canada. The latest rejection came in the mail several days ago in the shape of a form letter.
Veterans Affairs Canada says that it does not comment on individual cases.
Peter Stoffer, a former Halifax MP and veterans advocate, believes there should be a common sense solution.
鈥淵ou would think that the government, with some form of compassion would say, 鈥榯he man did serve in Korea.鈥�
With files from CTV Atlantic.
