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Veterans Affairs
Overview of the Veterans Affairs Office
Des Moines County Veterans Affairs Office was established per Chapter 35B of the Code of Iowa. The Commission was established to assist all Des Moines County Veterans who have other than a dishonorable discharge, and served on active duty at least 90 consecutive days. We also serve veteran's spouses and dependent children. Monetary relief can be given to indigent veterans to assist with bills pertaining to rent, utilities, clothing, medical treatment, food, and funerals.
Assistance is also given to help veterans and their dependents to file for VA pensions/compensation, to apply for admission to the Iowa Veterans Home, and to get help from the VA Hospitals.
Additional Assistance & Help
Other help is given to assist veterans in getting copies of Military Discharges and other military records, to get any military medals or awards they may be eligible for, to apply for education benefits, to get head-stones for a deceased veterans grave, to apply for home loans, to apply for GI Insurance, and any other assistance a veteran might need as a result of being in the military.
View resources outlining Eligibility for County Assistance (PDF).
War Time Periods
| War Time | Dates |
|---|---|
| WWII | 12/7/41 - 12/31/46 |
| Nicaragua | 1926 - 1933 |
| China Service | 1937 - 1939 |
| Yangtze Service | 1926 - 1927; 1930 - 1932 |
| Korean | 6/25/50 - 1/31/55 |
| Vietnam | 8/5/64 - 5/7/75 |
| Lebanon / Grenada | 8/24/82 - 7/31/84 |
| Panama | 12/20/89 - 1/31/90 |
| Persian Gulf | 8/2/90 - Present |
Useful Phone Numbers & Web Sites
Phone Numbers
| Organization | Contact Information |
|---|---|
| CHAMPA | 1-800-733-8387 |
| Debt Collection Center | 1-800-827-0648 |
| Education Benefits | 1-888-442-4551 |
| Headstones & Markers | 1-800-697-6947 |
| Health Care | 1-877-222-8387 |
| Homeless Veterans | 1-877-424-3838 |
| Home Loans | 1-877-827-3702 |
| Life Insurance | 1-800-669-8477 |
| National Suicide Prevention Hotline | 1-800-273-8255 |
| Pension Management Center | 1-877-294-6380 |
| Presidential Memorial Certificate Program | 1-202-565-4964 |
| Special Health Issues | 1-800-749-8387 |
| Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) | 1-800-829-4833 |
| VA Benefits | 1-800-827-1000 |
| Women Veterans | 1-202-461-1070 |
Web Sites
| Resource | Website |
|---|---|
| Burial and Memorial Benefits | www.ce.va.gov |
| Caregiver Support | www.caregiver.va.gov |
| CHAMPA | ww.va.gov/hac/forbeneficiaries/forbeneficaries.asp |
| Education Benefits | www.gibill.va.gov |
| Federal Jobs | www.usajobs.opm.gov |
| Health Care Eligibility | www.va.gov/healtheligibility |
| Home Loan Guaranty | www.homeloans.va.gov |
| Life insurance | www.insurance.va.gov |
| Memorial Certificate Program | www.cem.va.gov/pmc.asp |
| Mental Health | www.mentalhealth.va.gov |
| Women Veterans | www.publichealth.va.gov/womenshealth |
| VA Vet Centers | www.vetcenter.va.gov |
| VA Home Page | www.va.gov |
| VA Forms | www.va.gov/form |
Commission Members
| Commission Member | Period Served |
|---|---|
| Marilyn Box | |
| Arne Hausknecht | Vietnam Era |
| Emmett Messer | WWII Era |