AS THE rain lashed against the window of his car, the steady rhythm mirrored the drumbeat of the Vietnam veteran’s anxiety. He stuffed the manila folder inside his field jacket and made his way as quickly as his diminishing gait would allow toward the basement of the Bedford County Courthouse. Pushing open the door of the Veterans Services Office, a wave of warm air and the murmur of conversation washed over him. Behind the desk sat a man with a welcoming smile and eyes that held the glint of shared experience. The man behind the desk is Mike Ruess, and this is the place where hope, unlike the storm outside, refuses to be deterred.
A retired Army veteran, Ruess is the director of Bedford County Veterans Service. Originally from Michigan, he began his military career as a company clerk, eventually managing the European Personnel Database, which supported 12 European countries and contained more than 120,000 records. But the defining chapters of his life aren’t found in the cells and formulas of spreadsheets. Each is etched in the sands of war zones – Desert Storm, Bosnia, Serbia, and Kosovo.
“My military experience allows me to have a higher degree of knowledge of what went on during deployments, combat, and the overall experience of military service,” he conveyed.
Ruess’ commitment to service didn’t end when he retired with 21 years of service. Following a few years as a U.S. history teacher, he transitioned from soldier to advocate, driven by a deep understanding of veterans’ challenges when returning to civilian life. Vietnam veterans, in particular, face many challenges navigating a complex system of benefits designed to support those who put their lives on the line for our freedom.
He explained, “For a veteran to receive compensation, the incident, injury, or disease must be service-connected. Many times, these incidents occurred but were not properly placed in their records. Getting proof can be difficult, especially for Vietnam veterans. The record-keeping system is not like it is today. We must investigate and find evidence that will substantiate their claim.”
Ruess and his office work for the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services and collaborate closely with local funeral homes, VA hospitals, and the various VA departments. The office strives to ensure all Bedford County veterans receive the compensation and benefits they deserve.
“The veteran service officer job is very much like the positions I held in the military. Customer service is the key to the position,” Ruess noted.
This is where the office bridges the gap between veterans and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), acting as a guide through the often bureaucratic maze of filing claims and securing well-deserved benefits. Ruess’ combined awareness of the intricacies of VA regulations and his respect for the sacrifices veterans have made drives his commitment to seeing veterans’ claims approved. But it’s not without its challenges.
For example, Ruess said, “I just completed a claim for a Vietnam veteran who was trying to overcome an appeal with the VA. The VA did not recognize the veteran as being stationed in Vietnam. For 10 years, he fought this claim. After a thorough search of his records, I found that he was not only in Vietnam for 13 months but was assigned temporary duty many times, mostly in Da Nang, which was one of the heaviest-laden areas for Agent Orange. This veteran is now receiving 100% disability.”
The office is open to any veteran needing assistance filing claims, obtaining records, or seeking information about VA activities, services for veterans, and general claims services — all free of charge to the veteran.
The veterans services office is where heroes find assistance and a sense of community. It is a reminder that their sacrifices are not forgotten, ensuring that those who serve our country receive the recognition, resources, and care they deserve.
Exiting the Bedford County Veterans Services Office, the Vietnam veteran tucked the manila folder under his arm, the weight lifted from his shoulders. It wasn’t just the promise of long-overdue benefits but the sense of finally being heard. Here, he’s not a statistic — he’s an honored serviceman deserving to be heard. He was encouraged. He knows the road ahead won’t be easy, but he carries with him the knowledge that Ruess and the veterans services office stand firmly behind local veterans, making sure no one who served faces their battles alone. GN
