Thursday, February 7, 2008
Six questions for Matthew Smith
As Project SALUTE’s Mobile Veterans Clinic (MLC) makes its way to the Lone Star State, the students headed to Texas from Detroit are completing last minute preparations for their trip. First up is Matthew Smith. The 25-year-old from Jackson, Michigan is a veteran of the Veterans Clinic, and following his television interviews, the Dean asked him to speak at the news conference on Thursday. Matt answered some questions about Project SALUTE.
ON THE ROAD: WHY VETERANS LAW AND THE MOBILE VETERANS CLINIC?
Matthew Smith: It is an opportunity to serve and give back to America's veterans who often lack any kind of formal legal representation. It gives us the opportunity to shine in an unfamiliar area of the law before taking on the real world. We handle real cases, instead of learning through hypotheticals. It gives you a taste of what law firm practice is like.
ON THE ROAD: DID YOU PICK SAN ANTONIO, OR DID THEY PICK YOU?
Matthew Smith: I picked San Antonio. It is the first trip, and I wanted to be a part of the kick-off. I also have heard Texas has many veterans in need of services. They are very excited to have us down there.
ON THE ROAD: WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO MEETING YOUR FIRST VETERAN?
Matthew Smith: My first interview lasted about two hours. I felt like I got nothing out of him that was legally relevant. Apparently, he had some serious issues, unrelated to federal benefits, from which he was suffering as a result of Vietnam service. I felt sorry for him, and I knew there was nothing we could do for him.
I wanted to give up on the clinic two days into it, but the next veteran was someone we could help. He was an 88-year-old WWII veteran, a paratrooper, who had many great stories to tell about his wartime experience. Another student is working on his case, but his military medical records were destroyed in a fire (in the St. Louis records department, by no fault of his own), so he is having problems gathering enough proof to show his injuries were caused by service. He is a great guy.
He was the oldest I interviewed. The youngest was the Iraq veteran who was 21 or 22 years old, who had been back from Iraq for less than 30 days at the time I interviewed him.
ON THE ROAD: HAVE YOU SERVED IN THE MILITARY, OR EVER THOUGHT ABOUT SERVING, AND HAS THE EXPERIENCE CHANGED YOUR OPINION ABOUT THE MILITARY?
Matthew Smith: No, I never served. I still think about it. I have always had a high opinion of the military, but never knew they were denied so much support after they came back. It almost brings tears to my eyes when my mother tells me about a time she was watching the news (she was in high school at the time) while some of our Vietnam soldiers were returning from war (some, meaning, very little). She remembers protesters spitting on them and calling them "baby killers."
The men and women who serve in the military do what they are told and try to believe in what they are doing. Regardless of what that may entail, they will always have my support.
ON THE ROAD: WHAT WOULD YOU TELL A BROTHER/SISTER WHO WAS CONSIDERING ENLISTING?
Matthew Smith: Military service is the most honorable thing you can do with your life. Without soldiers, we have no country; we have no laws, no freedom. Please, try not to worry about the support back home. Because, you are always there when we need you, we should always be there when you need us.
ON THE ROAD: WHAT ARE YOUR PERSONAL GOALS, HOPES, AND THOUGHTS ABOUT SAN ANTONIO, THE CITY, AND THE EXPERIENCE?
Matthew Smith: Let us just spread the word about Veteran's benefits, get it out there and hopefully other schools and legal aid services will run with this program. It is about supporting the veterans, and they need to know it is out there. I have one veteran who did not know about his benefits for 30 years after getting out of the service.