Serving in the Navy has taken its toll on Thomas Alston.
Working in boiler rooms and on aircraft have left him with medical problems that require several prescriptions. The disabled veteran relies on the Veteran's Administration to mail him prescriptions and disability checks to P.O. Box 1396 at the Buna Post Office.
But he says there have been a few times when he received them.
"It kind of burns you when you're paying this that the government is forcing you to pay for in order to get your mail and then it's returned. You don't get it," Alston said.
Tuesday he did receive a letter from the V. A. saying his address is not deliverable. But Alston says his problem is with the post office.
"Why do they send it back saying undeliverable when you've had something there for 40 years? It's never been locked out or closed out. Somebody can't read or what?" Alston said.
The United States Postal Service tells 12 News HD Tuesday was the first time an issue had been brought to their attention by Alston. It adds that Post Master Doris Bishop has been going above the call of duty to help.
Disabled Army Veteran Robert Kirk lives two homes down from Alston.
"I've never had any problems with the post office. We get our mail there all the time with no problems," Kirk said.
Alston has started a petition to have mail delivered to his home address in the 400 block of Cedar road in Cougar Country.
The list shows that a number of neighbors have signed, wanting the service too.
Alston says the post master told him a petition probably won't do any good.
"She just told me it ain't going to happen. Well we'll see about that," he said.
The USPS says Cedar Road can't have mail delivered there because the road is not passable or 911 compliant.
But Alston has received a letter from Jasper County instructing him to post his address in case of an emergency.
12 News HD asked Alston how he was able to receive a letter from the V. A. saying his address is not deliverable, but isn't able to receive other mail from them.
"I don't know," he said.
The USPS recommends you call its Customer Consumer Affairs Office if you are experiencing problems with your post office.
A link to its website can be found to the left of this story.
