The St. Helena Parish Veterans Affairs Office in Greensburg recently welcomed new service officer Ken Marcantel.
Marcantel, a retired Navy cryptologist, whose military career spanned more than 22 years before his retirement in 2011, served as one of the top cryptologists at the Pentagon.
St. Helena Parish has a veteran population of 804, according to the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs. These veterans received $1.5 million in VA compensation and pension benefits, Marcantel said.
With this program that the states got, theres an office in all 64 parishes, which allows more services to the veterans, and I am honored to help them, he said. I will help the veterans and their families to identify what evidence is needed to have the best possible chance of having a claim approved.
Marcantel said he monitors each claim through the development process and intercedes if problems arise. He said if a claim is denied by the VA and the veteran disagrees with the VAs decision, he will help the veteran through the appeal process.
Marcantel also serves veterans in Livingston Parish.
Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Communications Director Robin Keller said LDVAs mission is to provide the best comprehensive care and quality service to Louisianas veterans and their families.
In addition to the comprehensive care and quality services provided, Marcantel said the LDVA has five veterans homes across the state, including one in Jackson. The homes specialize in long-term care, rehabilitative therapies, Alzheimers and intermediate care, skilled nursing, mental health services and more, he said.
The Veterans Affairs Office in St. Helena Parish, 53 N. Second St., Greensburg, is open from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays.
For information call (225) 222-6202 or email ken.marcantel@vetaffairs.la.gov.
