A Marine died of a combat-related injury on American soil. And his children are still being denied what he earned with his life. SecNav told the world Sgt. Kevin Lee Lloyd’s children would receive the combat-related benefits he earned. That does not align with the reality my children are facing. Sgt. Lloyd was NOT granted 100% medical retirement for the cancer that killed him. They gave him 60% PDRL for migraines—and denied responsibility for his stage IV colorectal cancer caused by burn pits, even though it is 100% service-connected under the PACT Act. He was ordered into the burn pits in 2007 by a superior officer during Operation Iraqi Freedom—2/3 Fox Company, Kaneohe Bay. Because the trash wasn’t sorted, they sent a Lance Corporal into a toxic cesspool. That exposure is what killed him. And they still refuse to take responsibility. The day after he died, they made their announcement. Because they waited, my children were stripped of the combat-related benefits their father earned with his life. And this is exactly why the Major Richard Star Act matters. Because right now—even when a service member is medically retired— the system still finds ways to deny, delay, or offset the very benefits they earned through combat. My son is a Type 1 diabetic. He does not have insulin coverage. I gave up everything—my career, my health, our home— and spent 141 days at his bedside so he wouldn’t die alone. We built a home for him to come back to. A home he promised our boys they would never have to leave. Now we are at risk of losing it. This is not what was promised. This is what failure looks like. Pass the Major Richard Star Act. Fix what was done to Sgt. Lloyd’s family. Help me get this in front of someone who will act. @SecNav @USNavy @USMC @DeptofDefense @DeptVetAffairs @SenTedCruz @JohnCornyn @RepLuttrell @HouseVetAffairs @SVACdems #StandWithSgtLloyd #Veteran #RichardStarAct #BurnPits #PACTAct #Type1Diabetes #MilitaryFamilies #GoldStarFamily #NoVeteranLeftBehind
