Helping former POW benefits widow.

On Dec. 16, 1944, amid the snow and bitter cold, Marshal von Runstedt launched his three German armies against the allies in what would become known as the Battle of the Bulge.

Two days later the Battle of the Bulge ended for 20-year-old, Corporal John R. Plummer, and the battle for survival as a prisoner of war began.

Plummer was serving with the Army 81st Engineers attached to the 106th Infantry Division near St. Vith, Belgium, in a snow-covered forest. He and another soldier were standing together on ground frozen solid by the bitter cold.

As the German soldiers advanced into the timber and the fighting began, an artillery shell exploded near the two Americans during an exchange with the Germans.

Following the explosion, the other American soldier was wounded in the head but could walk. The Germans captured him and marched him away. Corporal Plummer was seriously wounded and his legs were broken. The German soldiers carried him to a barn where he was confined for a couple of days before being taken to a hospital and then on to Obermassfeld Hospital where he was held as a POW.

Corporal Plummer had suffered a severe comminuted compound fracture of the right femur. During captivity his wounds deteriorated even as British military POWs, many from Dunkirk, worked at the hospital caring as best they could for Corporal Plummer. They tried to save his leg, but in the end a bone infection set in and his right leg had to be amputated above the knee in order to save his life. The amputation occurred less than a week before soldiers of the 11th Armored Brigade liberated the Allied POWs on April 2, 1945.

When liberated, Plummer's wounds were not healed and he had developed phlebitis of his left leg and ulcers on his back from being bedridden. He was evacuated to a field hospital, then on to a cantonment hospital at Mitchell Field, New York, and finally to Percy Jones Hospital in Battle Creek, Mich. to undergo months of painful rehabilitation before being medically discharged on Oct. 5, 1945. In 1948 Plummer was awarded VA disability compensation at a rate of 60%. It would be 54 years before Plummer would get another review.

After Plummer was fitted with a prosthetic leg, he originally used two canes to get around, but after a 30 day furlough at home, he threw the canes away and never used them again until he was 75 years old.

On Feb. 1, 1947, Plummer married Dorothy M. Bruner. As the family grew to include two sons and a daughter, Plummer began a career as a dispatcher with a cab company in Illinois. He worked for the company for 10 years before relocating his family to Arvada, Cola In Colorado he began a career in manufacturing with the Imperial Cap Company where he worked until retiring in 1986.

Plummer originally joined DAV Chapter 22 in Arvada and later became a member of DAV Chapter 7 in Denver.

On July 12, 2002, Supervisory National Service Officer Robert E. Lougee of the Denver National Service Office was visited by VA Vocational Rehabilitation Department Supervisor Bill Bleau. Bleau explained that Plummer was his neighbor, and he was concerned for Plummer's safety after watching him attempt to work on his house or in his yard with an old prosthetic leg and noticing the difficulty he was experiencing.

NSO Lougee obtained a power of attorney from Plummer in order to review his VA claims folder and represent him. During the review of Plummer's file, NSO Lougee discovered Plummer had received a disability compensation rating of 60% in 1948. NSO Lougee was confident the World War If veteran and former POW was entitled to a greater disability rating based on his review. NSO Lougee, aware that the VA had initiated a nationwide program to identify former POWs and veterans over 70 years old to ensure they are receiving the appropriate benefits as a result of their military service, completed an application for individual unemployability on behalf of Plummer.

Bill Bleau took the application to his neighbor, who signed it. He then returned Plummer's signed application to NSO Lougee on July 16. NSO Lougee delivered Plummer's VA service-connected disability claims folder to Assistant Service Center Manager Anne O'Hart requesting expeditious review of the claim based on the veteran being a former POW of World War II. O'Hart delivered the file to Adjudication Section Coach Jim Ford who expedited its release to VA Rating Specialist Linda Flynn for review and a rating determination.

On July 19, 2002, Mrs. Flynn brought her decision to NSO Lougee. She had determined Plummer was entitled to disability compensation at a rate of 100% as a result of unemployability due to his service connected disabilities. NSO Lougee immediately notified Bill Bleau and Plummer was sent an unofficial notification of the decision. On July 23, 2002, John Plummer was officially notified of the decision in a letter from the VA Regional Office in Denver. It had been 54 years since his last rating.

"This is another great example of teamwork between DAV National Service Officers and VA employees ensuring veterans receive the benefits they are entitled to," NSO Lougee said. "It's a credit to Bill Bleau for identifying a fellow veteran in need and the Denver Regional Office Adjudication Division for their prompt attention to Mr. Plummer's claim. When the DAV and the VA work together, as we did in this case, we truly do build better lives for America's disabled veterans."

In June 2004, Plummer recounted his experience with the DAV and the VA: "I learned there is a lot of help out there," he said. "All you have to do is ask for it or accept it when it is offered.

"Bill (Bleau) was my neighbor. He came over and wanted to do something for me. I put him off at first, but I finally let my neighbor and friend see what he could do. I'm glad I did. He got me to the DAV. The DAV is there to help veterans. I encourage anyone needing help to go to the DAV That's what they are there for."

On July 11, 2004, John Plummer passed away at his home in Arvada after a long battle with prostate cancer. Prior to his death, he made sure Dorothy would know who to turn to for assistance.

"John organized everything ahead of time, and I knew what to do," Dorothy said. "That was important. As a widow I knew I could turn to Bill Bleau or NSO Lougee.

"Bill was my next door neighbor, at the time and helped me fill out everything and turn it in."

Dorothy Plummer understood that as a result of her late husband's service related disabilities and VA benefits she may be entitled to widow's benefits from the VA. Mrs. Plummer submitted her application for dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) on July 20, 2004, with all appropriate documentation. On July 23, 2004, the VA Regional Office in Denver, rendered a decision granting Mrs. Plummer entitlement to DIC and burial benefits.

"It is important that spouses understand what benefits they may be entitled to prior to a veteran's death, and to become familiar with those benefits and the documentation required to apply for them," NSO Lougee said. "We encourage veterans and their dependents to contact their nearest DAV National Service Office for assistance regarding these matters, and we certainly want the surviving spouse of any disabled veteran to contact us for assistance.

"Being a DAV NSO affords me a level of job satisfaction rare in today's world. As a disabled veteran I have a common bond with the veterans and dependents I assist. The DAV has provided me the best training available in the veterans' arena, and, as in Mr. Plummer's case, I am able to use those skills to help the most deserving members of our society disabled veterans and their families."