From staff reports
Larry Dandridge, veterans benefits columnist for The Island News, was recently recognized for his advocacy of veterans by the VFW.
Dandridge is featured in the November-December VFW Magazine in a full-page article, on Page 56, in the “VETS IN FOCUS – Inspiring Profiles of Extraordinary Veterans” section. The article is titled, “I Will Continue to Help Veterans,” and it will appear in 1.4 million print copies and soon will appear in the online version at https://bit.ly/48VuzRD.
Dandridge was a member of the Charleston (James Island) VFW Post 445 for five years and is now the Veterans Benefits Advisor for Cary, N.C., VFW Post 7383, where he is the VFW’s representative and a Patient Adviser to the Durham VA Medical Center.
He has been recognized for his 24 years of military service, his nine years as a volunteer police officer and one year as a full-time officer; his support of our military members, veterans, and their families; and his support of the five-star-rated Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and Fisher House Charleston for more than 20 years.
Dandridge has written more than 250 articles on veterans’ benefits for The Island News, as well as more than 20 articles on what citizens need to know about police officers’ use-of-force authority, hospice, hazardous materials dangers/asbestos trusts, and leadership. The Island News has received countless letters from readers praising Dandridge’s articles.
Dandridge tries to answer every phone call, text, and email he gets from The Island News readers, veterans, and veterans’ family members (and veterans from all over the USA and overseas) within 24 hours of receipt. He provides additional helpful information on every veteran’s benefits subject they ask about and always refers the inquirer to their local VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) for more help. He is not paid for the volunteer work he does for military members, veterans, and their families, caregivers, and survivors.
Dandridge is also the author of the award-winning and popular (over 250 five-star reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and many other sites) “Blades Of Thunder (Book One),” which he wrote to help raise over $5.5 million to buy the land on which Fisher House Charleston is built and to refurbish Fisher House Charleston’s historic carriage house.
Dandridge grew up as a “voracious” reader and respects the power of writing.
Honest journalists, as he puts it, “are not only the best source of local news but also one of the best, and perhaps most important, checks on those most powerful and evil in our society.”
