Dear BOB,
Happy 2008. I want to wish each one of you a very Happy and successful year. James’s spirit and demeanor are inspiring, and I will start this letter off with an interesting encounter I had this week.
On Thursday, 10 November, I met an old ACSC student of mine. He is now the USAF Chaplain at Arlington. As we discussed just how fast 11 years has flown by, he asked about James Dad. Col Charlie Stutts performs all the USAF burials at Arlington, and he asked me to see if James’ Dad was in the Army of USAF. He told me that the majority of veterans he sees are originally Army Air Corps folks. Charlie informed me that because of the purchase of new land that Arlington would be open for us. At least until 2050-60. For me that was nice, as I have stated that is where I would like to go.

On a happier note, I was truly blessed to see James, his wife and daughter, Sarah the UH graduate. James looked marvelous as he beamed ear-to-ear thinking about not having to write any more checks to the University of Houston.

As far as my life, since Dec 13th, I have only been off 4 days as my Intellectual Property Professor allowed me to convert a paper into a thesis. This will enable me to graduate with both Masters in May. May 9th to be precise.

I have also been receiving a bunch of requests for legal help. This week I spoke and accepted representation for a client who was not paid properly, another claim about appealing denial of Unemployment benefits (I had to get an affidavit from the Texas Partner of the company), asked to do a will, accept a case (recommended by the VA) on having someone committed, seek repair to a home air conditioning system (geothermal) that was done in a negligent manner (breach of warranty issue), seek legal recourse against a business that was paid to repair a boat and has not hidden the boat, and tried to recommend help for two other people.

After sending certified letters to the Florida Company that did not properly pay the client, I have received letters from their attorney. The Texas Wage Commission has also responded within 3 days of the letters going out. The client has tried since October to get a response. She was laughing, that having an attorney makes a difference.

I know it is not fun like flying, but it is nice to help people. I am even getting movement from the VA on my disability and non-payment of my school issues. I write Senator Hutchinson bi-weekly it seems, and filed an IG complaint on Jan 3, 2008. My counselor told me today his bosses told him to “make the issues go away” which he told me would if the VA paid for the school items they told me to pay for and they would reimbursement (a little over $4,000 now). The US Court of Appeals for Veteran Claims issued a REMAND in July on my eye appeal (disability) and that is helping now too.

I am still amazed on how bad the VA seems to be with certain issues, and received an e-mail from a local investigative News Team stating they would like to talk to me about the VA issues I have faced.

Ok, I apologize for the litany but I do not have anything exciting to report, such as flying. Just a new line of work. I think it is interesting and fun that I can help. It amazes me, like today when someone who is an attorney tries to bluff a legal point. Alternatively, dismisses a claim until you recite the statute that allows you to make the claim. It is like the Dash 1 (-11) and the SAC OIs and regs. Learn them and you control the flight and mission.

As I stated I will graduate with the 2 Masters in May, and I am already trying to get clients. It does look as if the best possibility for me is to open my own firm. I am currently calling my Practice the Law Office of Robert B. Goss. I hope to specialize in Intellectual Property, Veteran Law and Health Law.

Lastly, I wish each of you a wonderful weekend, January and 2008. It is nice to see everyone, at least in the e-mails or BOB Blog. V.R, Bob