A World War II veteran who fought at D-Day is so infuriated that Gov. Paterson has siphoned $8.5 million from a special fund to help ailing servicemen that he’s gearing up to do battle against Albany.
“They’re stealing all the money!” fumed Frederick Carrier, 85.
A regular Post reader, the dapper Army vet was tickled when he opened yesterday’s Post and saw his photo — taken at a veterans parade — featured on Page 5.
But when he read the accompanying story — detailing the millions Paterson shuffled out of a fund dedicated to the St. Albans Veterans Home in Queens to pay routine state expenses — his joy turned to rage.
“I want to interview the governor of the state, and ask him directly — and I’ll be in my uniform — ‘Sir, why was that money taken away from the veterans?’ ” he said.
“These people need it and nothing is being done to replace it.”
The raid on veterans funds and others, to help fill state budget gaps over the past three years, was revealed in a blistering report by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.
At the St. Albans Veterans Home, many veterans and their relatives yesterday also denounced the move.
“The people in here put their lives on the line,” said Henry Jackson, a Vietnam War vet who is living in the home temporarily. “When you come out, you want to be taken care of.”
Claudia Crayton — whose Korean War vet husband, an Alzheimer’s patient, lives at the home, asked: “Why would you take from the men who have fought so hard for our country?”
Meanwhile, Paterson took issue with DiNapoli, for criticizing the move to fix budget gaps.
“Rather than saying, ‘Oh look, there’s s fire!’ what we need is advice on how to put the fire out,” Paterson said during an appearance on WCBS 880AM.
With Brendan Scott in Albany