Military veterans cut off from US bases in one country, stripping them of lifeline to home

Military retirees living in Turkey were told they will lose access to U.S. bases in the country this fall – cutting them off from vital services and access to American products.

Air Force Col. Calvin B. Powell, commander of the 39th Air Base Wing at Incirlik Air Base, issued a memo last week warning the small population of retirees of the impending move, which is set to take place on Oct. 1, according to the Military Times.

The restriction of access to base facilities is expected to affect about 121 U.S. military retirees living in Turkey, barring them commissaries stocked with American groceries and from Army and Air Force Exchange Service locations -- department stores where members and retirees can get familiar American products.

The retirees will also lose access to the American post office boxes located at on-base post offices, which one retiree said are used for everything from receiving vital medications to casting their ballots in U.S. elections.