'I'm Alive, I'm Very Alive!'
By: Dan Billow, WESH
Updated: January 31, 2012
Despite rumors to the contrary, Army veteran Jerry Miller is still very much alive.
"I'm alive. I'm very alive," Miller says.
The U.S. Veterans Administration has declared him dead four times, but Miller refuted the claims.
"To me, it's stupid. I can't die but one time. They have killed me four times," he said.
Miller, a former drill sergeant, served ten years in the Army.
He said he lives on a government pension and Social Security.
The confusion started in July 2010 when he received a letter addressed to his estate that expressed sympathy for his death and politely explained that, as a dead man, he was not eligible for the veterans benefits he was paid.
Miller said he informed the VA that he was still alive, and his benefits were restarted.
But the letters kept coming, each one stopping his benefits.
"I'm alive, you see. This can't keep going on and on," Miller said.
He said a letter came this month requested a repayment of more than $94,000 and included polite instructions on how to do so.
Miller said he has no idea why he was declared declared dead.
A VA spokesman says that the organization is looking into the case.
Miller said he asked his Congressman to do the same, but so far, being alive has not been sufficient proof that he is not dead.
"I'm alive. I'm very alive," Miller says.
The U.S. Veterans Administration has declared him dead four times, but Miller refuted the claims.
"To me, it's stupid. I can't die but one time. They have killed me four times," he said.
Miller, a former drill sergeant, served ten years in the Army.
He said he lives on a government pension and Social Security.
The confusion started in July 2010 when he received a letter addressed to his estate that expressed sympathy for his death and politely explained that, as a dead man, he was not eligible for the veterans benefits he was paid.
Miller said he informed the VA that he was still alive, and his benefits were restarted.
But the letters kept coming, each one stopping his benefits.
"I'm alive, you see. This can't keep going on and on," Miller said.
He said a letter came this month requested a repayment of more than $94,000 and included polite instructions on how to do so.
Miller said he has no idea why he was declared declared dead.
A VA spokesman says that the organization is looking into the case.
Miller said he asked his Congressman to do the same, but so far, being alive has not been sufficient proof that he is not dead.
