Dear Mr. Robles, USAA CEO,
Currently, the only way a GoldStar Family Membercan obtain full membership in USAA isto have been listed on the deceased members account (if they had an account) before they were killed in action, killed defending their country. If you do not know what aGold Star Familyis ....let me tell you. I am aGold Star FamilyMember. My fatherGy Sgt Robert C Roper, USMC, was killed in Viet Nam, September 21, 1967. I was 5 years old. I am not "fully eligible" for USAA benefits, my eligibility was stolen by the Vietnamese. At the time, USAA was only available to commissioned officers. Now it is available to almost anyone to include Gay and Lesbian couples who are married and also Gay and Lesbian couples in states where their marriage is not legally recognized - but not available to Gold Star Families.
http://books.google.com/books?id=_QWKAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA54&lpg=PA54&dq=gunnery+sergeant+robert+roper&source=bl&ots=tq5Xe7FdRn&sig=bLlr5he6p0LfYG52KHi6Qq5PJx4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=RpTMU4eMEY-qyASLzoGYDw&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=gunnery sergeant robert roper&f=false
If my father was alive, he would have listed me on his account and I could have obtained insurance through USAA, but he never had the chance. Every Gold Star Family Member has earned this. Our loved ones have given every possible thing they can give to their country. If you can earn your eligibility as a service member by "staying alive", then why can't you earn membership for your family members by paying the Full Cost??? We found many complaints to USAA from Gold Star Families and you chose to do nothing about it....
Please remove the USAA commercials from Fox News Network and all other networks because they are misleading. You advertise in such a way to make the public think that USAA takes care of all military families - YOU DO NOT.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YJlRx_OQo9M
We contacted RogerHuerta, CEO, Membership Relations Division, for help because I was abandoned by my husband a retired LT. Col. who is a member and would not give me membership through his benefits. It was through this process we learned that Gold Star Families were not currently allowed membership. We asked Roger Heurta why Gay and Lesbians received membership and Gold Star Family Members could not? Mr Heurta said his hands were tied - he could not help and would not help. He would not even give me a denial letter and I am a "partial member".
We were advised that at each of your board meetings Mr Robles, that you have an empty seat for those soldiers who lost their lives. Really? Is this to make yourselves feel better? We were also advised that you recently hosted Gold Star Families at USAA. If you want to honor those who lost their lives, then take care of their families.
Lastly, Mr Robles, we were informed by Roger Huerta that you are scheduled to have an annual board meeting in August and Gold Star Families are NOT on the agenda. We were informed that USAA's Board of Directors is made up of mostly Former and Active Duty Service Members. What are each one of you thinking? We were informed by Roger Huerta that you only meet once a year. What are you waiting for? We were advised that you are scheduled to retire in 2015. On behalf of all Gold Star Families, Please take care of us now.
Send mail to: Joe Robles Jr., CEO, USAA, 9800 Fredericksburg Rd., San Antonio, TX 782888 or call210-531-8722or Roger Huerta, CEO, Member Relations Division at210-456-1800x 24512
Cynthia Stamilio
Pennsylvania
42 Comments
USAA Should be ashamed this is even an issue!!! I’m dropping my insurance with them because my parents can’t join after losing my brother in Afghanistan 3 years ago. SIGNED USN VETERAN
They told me my Dad had not been a member. He had not had a choice yet. He was a young man and he'd not gotten to the point of this kind of planning, whether an officer or not. I believe that I should be allowed a membership for his sacrifice alone, as well as EVERY Gold Star family member!
Lost my son in Iraq in 2007. Wanted to keep insurance with USAA but didn't qualify as a Gold Star parent. In every other way, dealing with USAA was a good experience. Wish I could have become part of their customer base.
I am a Gold Star Brother and a USAA Member. I'm a member because my Father (retired), is a member. He and my mother divorced shortly before my Marine brother was KIA (Al Anbar, Iraq 2006). The interesting thing is that my mother who was his next of kin, received all his death benefits... is the only one that is not able to be a member. I've had several calls with lower level employees who truly felt our pain. But this is beyond stupid. I'll pass this on to a few other Gold Star groups for you if I can figure out how. Sorry for your loss. I hope those commercials don't cause too much pain.
I was power of sttorney for my son's account. He gave it to me before he deployed. He later died in active service and I was denied membership in USAA. Very disappointing....
This needs to be taken care of
I lost my son in Afghanistan and considered a Gold Star Family Member with the exception of USAA??!! This is absolutely ludicrous and and disappointing to say the least!! I was excited to use USAA as my insurance carrier because my son was US ARMY and used them and my daughter is US NAVY and loves them!! What a disgrace to my 22 year old son who gave his life protecting this great nation and dishonor upon on his parents and family. The representatives were so rude and it’s disheartening to see what USAA is really concerned with! It’s definitely not it’s Active Duty Service Members, retired, veterans, AND CLEARLY NOT THE FALLEN who gave ALL!!!
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Dear Mr. Robles, USAA CEO,
Currently, the only way a GoldStar Family Membercan obtain full membership in USAA isto have been listed on the deceased members account (if they had an account) before they were killed in action, killed defending their country. If you do not know what aGold Star Familyis ....let me tell you. I am aGold Star FamilyMember. My fatherGy Sgt Robert C Roper, USMC, was killed in Viet Nam, September 21, 1967. I was 5 years old. I am not "fully eligible" for USAA benefits, my eligibility was stolen by the Vietnamese. At the time, USAA was only available to commissioned officers. Now it is available to almost anyone to include Gay and Lesbian couples who are married and also Gay and Lesbian couples in states where their marriage is not legally recognized - but not available to Gold Star Families.
http://books.google.com/books?id=_QWKAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA54&lpg=PA54&dq=gunnery+sergeant+robert+roper&source=bl&ots=tq5Xe7FdRn&sig=bLlr5he6p0LfYG52KHi6Qq5PJx4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=RpTMU4eMEY-qyASLzoGYDw&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=gunnery sergeant robert roper&f=false
If my father was alive, he would have listed me on his account and I could have obtained insurance through USAA, but he never had the chance. Every Gold Star Family Member has earned this. Our loved ones have given every possible thing they can give to their country. If you can earn your eligibility as a service member by "staying alive", then why can't you earn membership for your family members by paying the Full Cost??? We found many complaints to USAA from Gold Star Families and you chose to do nothing about it....
Please remove the USAA commercials from Fox News Network and all other networks because they are misleading. You advertise in such a way to make the public think that USAA takes care of all military families - YOU DO NOT.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YJlRx_OQo9M
We contacted RogerHuerta, CEO, Membership Relations Division, for help because I was abandoned by my husband a retired LT. Col. who is a member and would not give me membership through his benefits. It was through this process we learned that Gold Star Families were not currently allowed membership. We asked Roger Heurta why Gay and Lesbians received membership and Gold Star Family Members could not? Mr Heurta said his hands were tied - he could not help and would not help. He would not even give me a denial letter and I am a "partial member".
We were advised that at each of your board meetings Mr Robles, that you have an empty seat for those soldiers who lost their lives. Really? Is this to make yourselves feel better? We were also advised that you recently hosted Gold Star Families at USAA. If you want to honor those who lost their lives, then take care of their families.
Lastly, Mr Robles, we were informed by Roger Huerta that you are scheduled to have an annual board meeting in August and Gold Star Families are NOT on the agenda. We were informed that USAA's Board of Directors is made up of mostly Former and Active Duty Service Members. What are each one of you thinking? We were informed by Roger Huerta that you only meet once a year. What are you waiting for? We were advised that you are scheduled to retire in 2015. On behalf of all Gold Star Families, Please take care of us now.
Send mail to: Joe Robles Jr., CEO, USAA, 9800 Fredericksburg Rd., San Antonio, TX 782888 or call210-531-8722or Roger Huerta, CEO, Member Relations Division at210-456-1800x 24512
Cynthia Stamilio
Pennsylvania
42 Comments
I am a Gold Star mom, an organization I didn’t choose to be a member of. When I lost my first born and only son in Afghanistan I died too. I served alongside my son and am still serving. I will serve until the day I leave this earth yet I am not recognized as such. This is not only wrong but it feels like a slap in the face and a betrayal. I SERVE EVERY DAY and have for 12 years now but don’t receive any of the benefits that active military and veterans and their families receive. Why?
USAA Should be ashamed this is even an issue!!! I’m dropping my insurance with them because my parents can’t join after losing my brother in Afghanistan 3 years ago. SIGNED USN VETERAN
They told me my Dad had not been a member. He had not had a choice yet. He was a young man and he'd not gotten to the point of this kind of planning, whether an officer or not. I believe that I should be allowed a membership for his sacrifice alone, as well as EVERY Gold Star family member!
Lost my son in Iraq in 2007. Wanted to keep insurance with USAA but didn't qualify as a Gold Star parent. In every other way, dealing with USAA was a good experience. Wish I could have become part of their customer base.
I am a Gold Star Brother and a USAA Member. I'm a member because my Father (retired), is a member. He and my mother divorced shortly before my Marine brother was KIA (Al Anbar, Iraq 2006). The interesting thing is that my mother who was his next of kin, received all his death benefits... is the only one that is not able to be a member. I've had several calls with lower level employees who truly felt our pain. But this is beyond stupid. I'll pass this on to a few other Gold Star groups for you if I can figure out how. Sorry for your loss. I hope those commercials don't cause too much pain.
I was power of sttorney for my son's account. He gave it to me before he deployed. He later died in active service and I was denied membership in USAA. Very disappointing....
This needs to be taken care of
I lost my son in Afghanistan and considered a Gold Star Family Member with the exception of USAA??!! This is absolutely ludicrous and and disappointing to say the least!! I was excited to use USAA as my insurance carrier because my son was US ARMY and used them and my daughter is US NAVY and loves them!! What a disgrace to my 22 year old son who gave his life protecting this great nation and dishonor upon on his parents and family. The representatives were so rude and it’s disheartening to see what USAA is really concerned with! It’s definitely not it’s Active Duty Service Members, retired, veterans, AND CLEARLY NOT THE FALLEN who gave ALL!!!
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I am a Gold Star mom, an organization I didn’t choose to be a member of. When I lost my first born and only son in Afghanistan I died too. I served alongside my son and am still serving. I will serve until the day I leave this earth yet I am not recognized as such. This is not only wrong but it feels like a slap in the face and a betrayal. I SERVE EVERY DAY and have for 12 years now but don’t receive any of the benefits that active military and veterans and their families receive. Why?