I was visiting my brother at a nursing home in Alamo, Mi. While there i met an old guy that lived next door, we talked some, and it came up that we were both sailors. His name is Julius Rainey, and he is 96 years old. He was a gunner on merchant ships. He was on the Le Priest in Russia when they got bombed. 4 of his friends were killed. Anyway he has never been to a V A, or asked them for anything. He just wants to go home. Does the v a help people with care.? I am trying to help
Re: New Friend
Posted by Ron Carlson on July 16, 2019, 4:26 pm, in reply to "New Friend"
Dear Mr. Wielinga,
I am aware of an Alamo Township northwest of Kalamazoo. I graduated from Western Michigan University, so I am familiar with the area.
I urge you not to depend on information about such an important matter as medical care for a veteran obtained from the vast and anonymous Internet, including the Armed Guard website, since too many people think they know something when they may not. Instead you would be better off visiting the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs website at https://benefits.va.gov/benefits/ to identify the benefits or care to which Mr. Rainey may be entitled.
Alternatively, you could contact the nearest Department of Veterans Affairs facility, which is in Battle Creek:
Battle Creek VA Medical Center 5500 Armstrong Road Battle Creek, MI 49037-7314 Telephone: 269-966-5600 Website: https://www.battlecreek.va.gov/
It is likely that Mr. Rainey has family members, who may or may not welcome the involvement of a stranger in arranging care for Mr. Rainey. I found the obituary for whom I believe is Mr. Rainey’s late wife, Maynell, who died in 2007, which lists the names and locations of their three children; see https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34286414/maynell-rainey.
In addition, the nursing home where Mr. Rainey currently resides probably has a social worker or other administrator who could advise you on how best to proceed concerning care for Mr. Rainey through the Veterans Administration.
I have found records showing that Julius Grant Rainey, Jr. (serial number 668-34-89) served as a seaman first class (S1/c) in the U.S. Navy Armed Guard aboard at least five merchant ships during World War II. The ships and his approximate dates of service in each were, in chronological order:
EL ORIENTE 12/29/42 – 04/23/43 NY to Liverpool to Loch Ewe, Scotland, to Murmansk, Russia, to Liverpool to NY
ANDREW MOORE 09/10/43 – 12/05/43 Norfolk, VA, to Naples, Italy, and return
BULL RUN 01/17/44 – 04/22/44 NY to Caripito, Venezuela, and return
BRAZIL 06/19/44 – 07/27/44 NY to Glasgow, Scotland, and return
J WILLARD GIBBS 08/28/44 – 12/22/44 NY to Cardiff, Wales, and return
There may have been other ships to which he was assigned; note the nearly five-month gap in time between his assignments to EL ORIENTE and ANDREW MOORE.
EL ORIENTE was attacked in or near Murmansk, Russia, on 01/27/43, with the death of at least one Armed Guard sailor.
Best wishes.
Ron Carlson, Webmaster Armed Guard / Merchant Marine website www.armed-guard.com
Re: New Friend
Posted by Ken Wielinga on July 20, 2019, 12:57 am, in reply to "Re: New Friend"
Ron, thanks for the response. My wife kind of said the same thing to me about not stepping on someone's toes. Good advice. I left a note for his son who i met. Left him some information about Julius' service. Also that visiting his dad was therapy for me. He's a real cool old guy. I am distancing myself a little bit wanting to give the guy hope of going home when he might not be. Thanks. I kind of our my nose in before thinking.
Re: New Friend
Posted by Ken Wielinga on July 15, 2019, 8:46 pm, in reply to "New Friend"