Spokane7
49°
August 31, 2009 in City
Technicality in tuition program cuts off help for Iraq war widow
“She’s my keeper now,” Natalie Craig says of Honey, her corgi-dachshund, as she holds the flag box honoring her late husband, Sgt. James Craig, who was killed in Iraq in January 2008.
(Full-size photo)
Army Sgt. James E. Craig was born in Spokane, married in Spokane and after being killed during his third tour in Iraq, he was buried in Spokane.
Although few would argue that he is not a son of Washington state, Craig’s widow has had to insist that it is so in order to continue receiving a state college tuition waiver intended for the families of dead or disabled veterans.
“Where you choose to be buried is your home,” says Natalie Craig, who wonders whether other war widows have had trouble proving their husbands’ legal residency “and I’m just the only one who’s not going to roll over.”
However, she is not the first to complain, according to state Sen. Mike Hewitt, author of the legislation that provides tuition waivers to eligible children and spouses of veterans or active duty personnel who are disabled, deceased, made prisoner of war or declared missing in action.
The Walla Walla Republican said that since the law was unanimously approved and signed by the governor in 2007, he has had to amend it twice to clarify its intent for “nitpicking” deputy attorneys general representing colleges and universities.
“I had one university that was not going to comply until I said I would turn this over to the media,” Hewitt said.
When the bill passed it was estimated that about 330 waivers for tuition and fees would be issued to veterans’ dependents each year. So far, fewer than 100 have been issued, according to Hewitt’s office.
In March, Craig was told she would no longer receive a tuition waiver at Spokane Community College, where she is completing her prerequisites for nursing school.
Under the law, both veteran and dependent must be a Washington “domiciliary,” but at the time of his death Sgt. Craig had a driver’s license from Colorado. Craig served in the 4th Infantry Division, which is based in Fort Carson, Colo.
Natalie Craig wrote the offices of the governor, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and 5th District Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, but until last week, her pleas had gone unanswered.
Contacted by The Spokesman-Review, Community Colleges of Spokane Chancellor Gary Livingston said it was likely Craig’s tuition waiver would be restored if she could provide a document proving her husband’s connection to Washington state.
“Everyone wants to help her,” Livingston said, “if somehow she can help us find a way that (her husband) established Washington as a domiciliary.”
Otherwise, the college would be illegally “gifting” public money, he said.
Craig will find out today whether her Spokane County marriage license will satisfy the college’s concerns.
Livingston said that the University of Washington and Washington State University also have dealt with complications of the new law.
The Community Colleges of Spokane waives about $1 million a year in tuition and fees for many different reasons, including the military waiver.
James Craig was born at Sacred Heart Medical Center on Dec. 27, 1981, to Joel and Phyllis Craig. He later moved with his family to the Cusick, Wash., area where he attended high school until his father moved the family temporarily to North Carolina while he attended a nearby college to become a pastor.
As a result, James Craig graduated in 2000 from Academic Magnet School near Hollywood, N.C., which the Army listed as his home of record when he enlisted in 2001. Before entering boot camp, the recruit helped move his family back to Spokane, his wife said.
Later, James and Natalie met at Fourth Memorial Church and maintained their relationship via the Internet while he was away. They were married at Gretna Green Wedding Chapel in Spokane on July 29, 2007.
For a short while, Natalie moved to Fort Carson to be with her husband before he deployed to Iraq for a third tour on Dec. 3, 2007.
On Jan. 28, 2008, one day short of the couple’s six-month anniversary, Craig was killed along with four other 4th Infantry Division soldiers when a large bomb buried in the roadway exploded beneath their vehicle in Mosul, Iraq.
A year later, Natalie Craig, a nurse’s assistant, enrolled in SCC with the intention of applying to nursing school at Washington State University-Spokane. She receives financial help from the GI Bill and had been receiving the tuition waiver, worth almost $1,000 a quarter, until her adviser informed her she had been receiving the waiver in error.
“I felt I had both my feet on the ground and it was just pulled out from under me,” she said. “Because he had a Colorado state driver’s license, I cannot receive this benefit.”
The problem, Hewitt said, is that colleges and universities were interpreting the law differently than the Legislature intended.
“If we run into this problem again, we may have to go back and tweak it again,” Hewitt said. “I’m doing everything possible to make sure these families are taken care of.”
Rights panel poorly understood 
Rifleman_Dodd on August 31 at 10:48 a.m.
This just makes me so mad. The guys buried in Spokane. I’m pretty sure that makes his grave a domicillary for a long long time.
Military members have to be careful when deciding their “Home Of Record” as it establishes a lot of benefits etc. etc. that will effect you many many years later.
Being “stationed” and having a Drivers license from Colorado does not establish domicillary of any kind.
As usual McMorris and Murray blew off this widow. They should be ashamed and removed from office.
brianamyindynet on August 31 at 2:53 p.m.
Check Sgt. Craig’s LES (Leave and Earnings Statement) if it doesn’t have WA listed under State I don’t see how she can get the waiver.
Sen. Murray and Rep. McMorris Rodgers should have nothing to do with this. They should have told her the proper state level persons to contact, 6th District Sen. Marr, Rep. Parker and Rep. Driscoll or what ever District Mrs. Craig is in.
For Sen. Hewitt to fix this problem he would have to remove the Washington domiciliary requirement for the veteran from the law.
Rifleman_Dodd is close to being right “Legal Residency” not “Home of Record” (where you lived when you joined) determines benefits. It is the state where you vote and pay taxes and is indicated on the LES.
nslopeofw on August 31 at 3:59 p.m.
The man fought and died for his country, he and his family deserve whatever we can give them for making the ultimate sacrifice. More than any low income or “other” reason, this family deserves that gift. This country, and this state should honor those who have been killed or disabled in war over any other group. Give them all the opportunities first, then, whatever is left can be distributed to the people who have not sacrificed for our nation.
Rifleman_Dodd on August 31 at 5:14 p.m.
nslopeofw well spoken.
Let ME know when all that stuffs available. The post Vietnam G.I. Bill was a pittance.
Williams…..Sen. Murray and Rep. McMorris Rodgers should have…helped her regardless of the situation, but then they are so used to turning their backs on Veterans, that a Veteran’s widow is less than nothing to those dung piles.
rmcombs3 on August 31 at 5:44 p.m.
Ok so as a Veteran they have not told me that my GI Bill was only good in my home of record, which was Texas. If veterans are not limited why should widows be? When you join the military you don’t join for a state you join the UNITED states military. So shouldn’t benefits be good in all states??? Just another way to cheat those who sacrifice for those who take it for granted. It’s disgusting!!!
nslopeofw on September 01 at 5:01 p.m.
Dodd,
I was a boy when Vietnam happened, but i still am grateful for what you and your brothers did for our nation.
If it were up to me, anyone who served during any war or conflict would have the best care for them and their families for life. Anyone who serves, regardless of it being war or peace, would have the GI bill, insurance for themselves, and PX for life.
I do distinguish between war and peace times, but as we all know, that can change at a moments notice. I just think if you serve during a time of war, you deserve much, much, more. And, this woman lost her spouse, and quite possibly her happiness. I see in the update, she has been awarded the tuition. I’m glad, but wonder if it had anything to do with the publicity. These institutions need to realize that veterans are the ones that fight, and quite possibly die for the right they have to teach more than state doctrine.