VA restores full benefits and monies to WWII veteran in Naples

After being declared dead and stripped of his rightful benefits, a local World War II veteran is grateful and relieved they have been returned.

We first told you the story of veteran Mario Salvi in Naples earlier this month. Salvi was declared dead by the Florida Department of Veteran Affairs when he was still very much alive.

Salvi and his daughter have gone through a lot. With the benefits almost completely restored, they wanted to thank WINK viewers who offered help in their time of need.

“I’m overwhelmed, really overwhelmed with the kindness and the warmth people showed,” Salvi said.

Salvi knows his life will never be the same because the love of his life is gone, which is what sparked a new kind of pain. His wife Geraldine died after the couple’s 70 years of marriage in January. It was at that point, Salvi notified the VA his wife had passed, since she also received benefits through the VA.

“They misunderstood, got the wrong one and declared me dead,” said Salvi when we originally spoke to him. “Well, I’m not dead I’m alive.”

To make matters worse, the government went into Salvi’s bank account and took his benefits.

“All I can say is, ‘Thank you very much,’” Salvi said. “It’s been a long journey, but it came to an end.”

While nothing can fill the void in Mario’s heart, the government did fix its mistake and has returned every penny Salvi earned and deserved. Salvi gives much of the credit to the WINK viewers who helped.

“We didn’t know where to go,” Salvi said. “We really didn’t until my granddaughter said, “Well, call WINK; they’re going to help you.’”

Salvi’s daughter, Deborah Kopko, said her dad is back to being himself after weeks of suffering.

“Just thank you to everybody, everybody that reached out and helped us and put a smile on my dad’s face again,” Kopko said. “The first day you got here, he was crying and now he has a sense of a relief.”

Salvi also thanks Southwest Florida elected leaders in Washington D.C. for representing him in his case and getting his benefits restored.

Salvi plans to move out of his big house and into an assisted living facility.

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