Small Business Lifestyle

A retired U.S. Army veteran is struggling to secure a federal certification for a REAL ID on his Missouri drivers license.Roger Theroux, 81, of South Kansas City, served nearly three decades in the U.S. Army and reserves, including two tours in Vietnam.His U.S. Department of Defense documents, including DD-214 and DD-4 forms, indicate he is a U.S. citizen. Theroux has never had a problem obtaining a Social Security card, getting a Missouri drivers license, voting or serving his country.However, when he needed a REAL ID certification nearly two years ago for his drivers license, he encountered trouble at his local licensing office.Theroux has a Canadian birth certificate. He was born just over the border from Niagara Falls in Ontario in 1942. His mother went into labor while returning home to Massachusetts, where Therouxs family lived during his entire childhood and where his father was born.The U.S. Army had certified his fathers U.S. citizenship as sufficient proof of Therouxs own citizenship, and Missouri recognized this until REAL ID requirements went into effect.I care a hell of a lot about our country and the flag and God, Theroux said, breaking down in tears. I don’t mean to fall apart, but it hurts.Theroux’s friend, Mary Galate, emailed KMBC 9 Investigates after exhausting all other options.I want his mind to be at ease, Galate said. This has been torture for him.Galate has acted as Therouxs advocate throughout the process, including contacting state and federal officials. She said theyve been told they may need to secure documentation from Canada that could cost more than $1,000.Personally, I want to see a letter from President Biden saying this man served his country and deserves a Missouri drivers license, she said.On Wednesday, a leader with the Missouri Department of Revenue called KMBC 9 Investigates and Theroux to inform him that they are working hard on his case.Theroux said they needed additional documentation, so he planned to fax it to them on Thursday.KMBC 9 Investigates will continue to follow his case.If you have similar questions or issues about REAL ID in Missouri, email investigates@kmbc.com.