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OREGON VETERANS NEWS MAGAZINE
SUMMER 2020 | issue 7
COVID-19
RESOURCE GUIDE INSIDE FEATURING IMPORTANT
ONE OF THE BLOODIEST BATTLES IN AMERICAN HISTORY MARKS ITS
75TH ANNIVERSARY
ONE TOWN IN OREGON WANTS TO MAKE SURE IT’S NEVER FORGOTTEN
VETERAN RESOURCES AND UPDATES TO VETERAN BENEFITS THAT ARE IMPORTANT DURING THE PANDEMIC, PLUS STORIES TO INFORM AND INSPIRE ODVA ROLLS OUT A NEW GRANT PROGRAM TO HELP STUDENT VETERANS
ODVA CELEBRATES 75 YEARS OF SERVICE TO VETERANS Serving Oregon Veterans since 1945
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DIRECTOR Kelly Fitzpatrick
Marking 75 years of service and building for the next generations of veterans
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hose of us who once wore a military uniform swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States and the principles upon which our nation was founded: that all people are created equal, and that everyone has the basic human right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That promise is a part of every veteran’s identity, the ideal they served their nation under, and is the foundation of ODVA’s founding 75 years ago. ODVA marks this 75th anniversary as the world is confronted with a global pandemic, the resulting economic downturn and the people of our nation calling for bold systemic change to deeply rooted racial bias. It is a critical cross roads for our state and nation and how we respond will have long-lasting effects for generations to come. In 1945, America was in the throes of another monumental and pivotal time in our nation’s history, with more than 16 million service members having been deployed on two fronts across Europe and the South Pacific. On the home front, every able body was working feverishly and sacrificing resources for the war effort. It is remembered as a time of nearly unprecedented unity, with seemingly every citizen equally invested in the outcomes of the Second World War. While many experts had predicted a deep depression would follow the war’s end, the hard work of young Americans — including many veterans — instead helped usher in one of the most sustained periods of economic growth and cultural stability the country has ever seen. Since then, ODVA has seen many generations of honored service members return from service and has evolved to meet each generation’s unique needs. From our humble beginnings as the administrator of a single loan program, a myriad of diverse and vital services have come into existence — all in response to the changing needs of veterans and the agency’s founding value to “care for those who have borne arms for us in whatever form and to whatever extent their valid individual need appear.” Each war has had unique social circumstances that influenced their experience and individual outcomes after service. Today, not only do we have a robust federal and state veteran benefit system, we also recognize the importance of special advocacy to assist veterans who have traditionally been underserved as the nation progressed through bias and restrictions to freedoms and rights. In recent years, ODVA has been one of the nation’s leaders in providing dedicated resources
and culturally sensitive services to women, LGBTQ, aging and tribal veterans in Oregon. One thing that has not changed is our commitment to serve and honor every veteran in our state who has fought to defend our great nation and its freedoms. To help veterans and their families recover in the wake of the economic crisis caused by COVID-19 and to inform them of any changes to their earned benefits, our team has developed a new online Veteran Resource Navigator designed to assist veterans from all walks of life in finding the federal, state and local resources that are most needed for their unique circumstances in 2020. Much of that information is also available in this issue of Oregon Veterans News Magazine, in the Covid-19 Resource Guide on pages 1825. But for the most up-to-date and comprehensive information, please find the online navigator on our website, www.oregon.gov/odva, or call an ODVA Veteran Resource Navigator at 1-800-692-9666. Like the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs itself, this magazine recognizes its 75th anniversary. The first issue of what was then known simply as “Oregon Veterans’ News” was published in the form of a newsletter in August 1945, just a few months after the agency was established. It has changed in the past seven and a half decades, evolving from a newsletter to a newspaper and eventually, to the magazine you hold today. But its essential function has remained the same: a way to inform, connect, engage and inspire our Oregon veteran community. The coronavirus pandemic has changed our world. But it has not changed Oregon’s commitment to those who served and fought for us. In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, our state and nation are facing challenges that are very different, but no less great, than those we faced 75 years ago. Again, the strength, creativity and leadership of our veteran community will be critical to our recovery. Oregon veterans are a diverse community, but we are united in our shared service, and this has never been truer than it is today. We are all in this together, and we are not defeated. We will stand again, united, to ensure all veterans and their families thrive in Oregon for another 75 years.
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Published July 2020
OREGON VETERANS NEWS MAGAZINE
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Oregon Veterans News Magazine is a free publication by the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Each issue contains current information impacting veterans in Oregon including federal VA topics and state, regional and local happenings.
ODVA reaches more than 25,000 veterans and their families through this print and electronic publication. We welcome ideas and tips about veteran concerns, issues and programs that are important, informative and/ or a great story that veterans would enjoy reading about. To inquire or submit a piece for consideration, please use the contact information below. Submissions for the next issue must be received by Oct. 31, 2020.
Oregon Veterans News Magazine 700 Summer St. NE, Salem, OR 97301 503-373-2389 | www.oregon.gov/odva odvainformation@odva.state.or.us facebook.com/odvavet Executive Editor: Nicole Hoeft Managing Editor: Tyler Francke Digital & Visual Editor: Sarah Paris Copy Editor: Kathie Dalton
6 Contents IN THE COMMUNITY 6
An Army veteran shares his experience as a first-time filmmaker with the Patton Film Project, which he hopes to share with others.
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You can take the cowboy out of the old West, but you can’t take the West out of the cowboy. With Roy Drago, you best not try it.
ON THE COVER Past, present and future combine at Oregon’s Iwo Jima Remembrance Ceremony, which recognized the 75th anniversary of the pivotal battle this year. Photo by Tyler Francke.
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Air Force veteran Ed Warnock subscribes to the simple philosophy, “Never be bored.” It can’t be too boring at 76,000 feet.
FEATURES 13
One of the bloodiest, and most important, battles in American history had its 75th anniversary this year. One town wants to make sure it’s never forgotten.
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In the midst of the pandemic, frontline health care workers are needed now more than ever. Veterans Michael Hogan and Owen Duff are answering the call.
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ODVA rolls out a new grant program to help student veterans in need.
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COVID Resource guide
AS YOU WERE 26
Please visit ODVA’s website at www.oregon.gov/odva where more information about economic, healthcare, behavioral health, and housing security resources can be found on the Veteran Resource Navigator site. 18 19 20
COVID-19 FAQs: What Veterans Need to Know Cards, Videos Flood Oregon Veterans’ Homes Guest Column: Conquering Coronavirus Chaos
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173rd Fighter Wing Goes to Work on a New Project 2020 Benefit Updates and Other COVID-19 Resources
Only John Ward could find a way to turn a job as a bank vice president into one where he spends all day in the sky.
R&R 28
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Historian Doug Kroll sheds light on Warren C. Gill, one of Oregon’s forgotten military heroes. In-Country, book recommendations, and things to do for Oregon veterans.
‘Experiences I Tried to Forget’ Comcast Technician and Team Makes a Short Film by and for Veterans through the Patton Film Project. Watch the film at youtu.be/Z_zyanWvw2k
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t was my manager who first told me about the Patton Veterans Film Project. He emailed me and suggested I would be a good candidate to participate in the three-day crash-course in filmmaking, which is specifically designed for veterans and offered by my employer, Comcast, and the Patton Veterans Project. I had no experience making films, but I went in with an open mind, hoping I could tell my story and show my struggles with PTSD from my multiple deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq and the challenges of transitioning out of the military. When I had first gotten hired as a technician at Comcast, I was only six months out of a combat tour in Afghanistan, which I had spent doing route clearance on Highway 1, the main route connecting Kabul with the rest of the country. I did well during my eight years in the Army and three combat tours. I ended up going to Iraq shortly after arriving at my first duty station. I was young — just 21 — and didn’t let a lot bother me. Later, I was transferred to Fort Drum, N.Y., and 30 days after that, I was in Afghanistan. Shortly after we got back, I met the woman who would become my wife, and we soon got married. With all the sudden changes in my life, I started to feel the effects of PTSD and anxiety creeping in. 6
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I discovered that when you get married, you stop thinking about your own needs. I didn’t have a care in the world on my prior deployments. When I was single, I didn’t have to worry about who was taking care of my wife while I was away or the feeling of, “Wow, I’m going to be separated from my life partner for a whole year.” I decided after that deployment that I was going to get out, and no one was going to keep me away from my family or what I want to accomplish in life. When I got back home to Oregon, I started working for Comcast. I knew my military background was one of the driving factors that helped me get hired. It was clear that the company was proud of the veterans already on their teams. The hiring managers told me about VetNet, a resource group for employees who served in the military, and how much Comcast appreciates and loves to thank veterans. About a year into the job, I had a really bad day. Experiences I had tried to forget started to come back up like a bottle of soda that has been sitting in the sun too long. That was when I saw the dedication of my Comcast team to make sure we all succeed and win together. I was sitting in my van in a Burger King parking lot, frozen in place. I
managed to call my supervisor and let him know I needed to go home and that I couldn’t talk about it. He respected my wishes and asked no questions: just gave me the rest of the day off. But I ended up telling him what was going on and that I was going to get some help. He told me to take as much time as I needed and reassured me that my health and well-being always come first. That understanding really meant a lot. This article was supposed to be about what I got out of the Patton Veterans Film Project, but I felt like you needed the backstory for it to make sense. When I first arrived at the filmmaking workshop, I noticed that I was the only guy in the room on the student/veteran side of things. I briefly considered leaving, but as it turns out, a couple of people showed up late, and I became more comfortable with the plan for the weekend of moviemaking. I went into the workshop with a lot of unknowns about what we were going to do. I can be shy or standoffish, but by the end of our movie, I was helping our group and putting in my own two cents to make sure that my story was heard and didn’t get lost in the mix with the three other veterans who were working on it. The Patton Veterans Film Project is
By Jonathon Humphreys
IN THE Community
Jonathon Humphreys, a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, partnered up with Comcast, the Patton Veterans Project and other veterans to make a film that he hopes will inspire others to get the help they need.
led by Ben Patton, General George S. Patton’s grandson. He is such a cool guy and kept everything on a personal level with us, which matters because it gives us veterans the feeling that he is comfortable with us and he is only there because he wants to be and wants to help. His crew was top-notch. I didn’t realize we would be working with professional videographers flown in to assist us. My group was led by a videographer named Chris, who brought everyone together as a unit. He is a quiet person, but when it was time to start making the movie magic happen, he was never afraid to show us a better approach or try something that we didn’t know was possible. He made us comfortable by finding ways for us to answer our own questions. In our film, we wanted to use pictures from our military service as props. I realized that during the five years I’ve been out of the military, I have lost touch with some of the most influential people in my life — and some of my best friends. This was one of
the biggest surprises for me. I didn’t get a lot of sleep after I realized this. I went on a mission to find more pictures from my buddies who I am still in contact with, and I ended up getting a ton of pictures and having some good conversations about what we’re all doing. I explained the filmmaking project and all of them seemed very responsive. Ben told us that movie making can be a therapeutic experience and I agree. It’s hard when you’re putting yourself out there like this to not think, “Should I be doing this? Are my coworkers going to understand what I was trying to say, or will they just dismiss it?” I felt like I took a risk putting myself out there, making a short film, and then having it screened at the Portland Film Festival. I’m grateful to Comcast, and especially Brig. Gen. Carol Eggert (who I got to meet at the Film Festival) for making this experience possible. The bonus: I got to meet some great vets, and we all shared contact info so we can stay in touch. OREGON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS
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90-year-old umatilla county deputy is One of nation’s oldest, also a veteran of the korean war Umatilla County Sheriff’s Deputy Roy Drago, 90, cuts his birthday cake as Sheriff Terry Rowan watches on a party for Drago in December. (Photo by Ben Lonergan, Hermiston Herald.) 8
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he year was 1985. Morrow County Sheriff Roy Drago spotted a white 1966 Plymouth— reportedly stocked with thousands of dollars’ worth of stolen Eastern Oregon Bank receipts—heading north on Ella Road. Drago went in for a high-speed chase, and fired a shot at the vehicle, according to a historical account published by the Oregon Sheriff ’s Association. “Rural Oregon then was quite different than rural Oregon today. It was more like the old west days,” Drago said. The chase eventually culminated in the arrest of two escaped prison inmates, including John William Krebs, grandson of the bank’s founder. Just two years prior, Krebs pleaded guilty to charges surrounding a robbery of the same bank according to the Heppner Gazette-Times. Drago was there for that too. And while Drago retired from his four-term reign as Morrow County Sheriff in 1999, he’s still a staple in the Eastern Oregon law enforcement community. He celebrated his 90th birthday at the Stafford Hansell Government Center on a Friday afternoon in December 2019 and went back to work the following Monday as a court security deputy for the Umatilla County Sheriff ’s Office in Hermiston. “He’s one of the oldest active deputies in the U.S.,” Sheriff Terry Rowan said. “He’s
By Jessica Pollard, Hermiston Herald. Reprinted with permission.
In the Community
Wild West Lives On had quite the career.” Of course, life is slightly mellower now. “I don’t do a whole lot anymore,” Drago said. When he’s not working, he enjoys fishing with his son who lives in Boardman and seeing his grandchildren. He used to hunt but gave up the sport almost three decades ago. And after a law enforcement career spanning almost 50 years, he’s grappling with the modern era of policing. “My observations are that the pendulum has swung so far to the left in terms of laws and how criminals are treated. We seem to have lost our perspective on punishment,” he said. “I wouldn’t recommend a law enforcement career for anybody today. That’s not to say we don’t need people.” Drago explained that, although he’s retired twice, he picked up work with the Umatilla County Sheriff ’s Office again to offset retirement savings lost in the stock market. But he also appreciates the sense of community he’s collected over the years. “I’ve made an awful lot of friends here,” he said. “There are so many people that I know. It’s a pleasure being here.” Those who listen closely can still hear an East Coast lilt in Drago’s voice. It’s one of the last remaining clues that he was born in Yonkers, New York in 1929. Upon graduating high school, he came to live and work with his uncle in Oregon until being drafted into the U.S Army during the Cold War. “I think that set a standard for me to follow the rest of my life,” Drago said. “To be at work on time, to maintain a good relationship with my employer and employees. And I still make my bed every day.” After being discharged from the military in 1954, Drago landed a job with the Yonkers Police Department, as a patrolman assigned to animal control. But following what he describes as a “nasty” divorce, Drago decided to head back to the west. “I wasn’t a stranger,” he said. Drago eventually found himself working for the Eastside Police Department in Coos Bay. When the department merged with the Coos Bay Police Department in 1980, he shipped over to Morrow County and started working for the sheriff ’s office. In 1983, he was appointed sheriff, and it was the beginning of the most challenging part of his career. “I got appointed to that job not knowing anything about what a sheriff is supposed to do. I knew what a police officer was supposed to do, but not a sheriff,” Drago said. “It’s a political role.” He retired in 1999 during his fourth term. Then a few years later, Drago took a job with the Umatilla County Sheriff ’s Office. He retired there in 2012, but now he’s back. Drago celebrated 18 years with the Umatilla County Sheriff ’s office in January. The heartbreaks, mishaps, and adventures that pair with his lengthy career are immortalized in a poem written by his co-worker, deputy Tim Gallaher, aptly dubbed “The Ballad of Roy Drago.” “You’d think his job is done,” it reads. “But Roy still wears a shiny badge and buckles on his gun.”
Sheriff Drago on Patrol By Tim Dees Burglaries and other thefts were the primary complaints in Morrow County circa 1985, but there were four or five murder cases and two bank robberies during Drago’s stint as Sheriff. Sheriff Drago was not station-bound. He responded to calls and made some landmark arrests. In one of the murder cases, he apprehended the suspect as he tried to leave the crime scene, carrying a rifle. Every law enforcement agency has its “frequent flyers” — people who seem to get arrested on a semi-regular basis — but Morrow County’s (population about 300, at the time) frequent flyer of the time made a real name for himself. John Krebs robbed the Ione branch of the Bank of Eastern Oregon in 1983. He was more than familiar with the bank. His grandfather founded it. Krebs was convicted and sent to the Oregon State Penitentiary, but he and another inmate escaped in 1985. Krebs went back to what he knew best. He and his accomplice robbed the same bank, almost two years to the day after his first robbery. Several witnesses outside the bank saw them struggling with their masks, waving their guns around inside, and driving away. They ditched the first getaway car and took another when Sheriff Drago spotted them and gave chase. They stopped for a moment to yell “F--- you, Drago!” out of the window and tried to back the car over the sheriff. Sheriff Drago fired one shot, and the car took off again. Shortly afterward, an Oregon State Police trooper managed to block their path, and the robbers, along with two women and a baby in the car, were arrested. Krebs got 30 years in prison but managed to escape again from the sheriff’s car that was taking him to prison. He was recaptured and eventually served his term. This is a portion of an article that originally appeared on PoliceOne.com, the online resource for Law Enforcement, and is reprinted by permission of the PoliceOne editorial team. Visit PoliceOne to access articles, information, and resources that help officers across the United States protect their communities and stay safe on the streets. OREGON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS
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Air Force veteran Ed Warnock subscribes to a strict philosophy: Never be bored. If an opportunity arises to lead a team piloting a glider to the edge of space, you can bet he’s going to take it. Opposite page: Designed by Greg Cole, of Bend, the glider and her team travel each summer to Patagonia, where high mountains and powerful winds create the perfect test environment.
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VETERANS NEWS MAGAZINE
By Kathie Dalton, Veterans News Magazine
In the Community
Head in the Clouds Oregon Air Force Veteran Leads Team to the Very Edge of Space with Engineless Glider, Setting New Altitude Record
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t a time in life when most people are well into enjoying retirement, Air Force veteran Ed Warnock was looking for his next adventure. It came in the form of a project he was reading about to fly an engineless glider to the very edge of space. He emailed founder Einar Enevoldson in 2009, when Perlan was still in its formative stages. The Perlan Project fit right in to Warnock’s philosophy on life: “Never be bored.” Warnock volunteered to help develop its organizational structure and run it as an Oregon-based nonprofit. As the CEO of the Perlan Project, Warnock and the international team of aviators, engineers and scientists who volunteer their time and expertise for the non-profit have reached some lofty goals. Designed by Greg Cole, of Bend, the pressurized glider and her team travel each summer to Patagonia — one of the few places on Earth where high mountains near the planet’s poles combine to create powerful winds at altitudes of 90,000 feet. On Sept. 2, 2018, the glider reached 76,124 feet — surpassing the highest altitude of the U-2 and became the highest
flying, piloted, subsonic airplane in history. “This was too much fun to pass up. It follows my pattern of maximizing the joy in life,” said Warnock. Life for Warnock has been a series of self-described fabulous experiences. He began his four-year enlistment in the Air Force in October of 1961. His real interest was in becoming a pilot, but at the time he wasn’t eligible as he wore glasses. Instead, he learned Russian. He went from boot camp to Syracuse University where he learned Russian before being sent to Turkey. It was his first experience living in an Islamic country. Beginning what would become a lifelong practice, Warnock became a part of the community and learned a bit of the language. He was able to travel to Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Cyprus, and Germany while stationed in Turkey. But not Russia, which was still closed to foreigners. As an intercept operator, Warnock in 1963 listened in as Russian Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space.
“I appreciated the Russian culture and people,” said Warnock. “I never thought of them as enemies. The Russians I met were wonderful people.” Warnock’s second assignment was as a photo interpreter, where he made use of his top-secret clearance to interpret satellite photos of maps of Russia and China for strategic air command to make radar maps. He volunteered for Vietnam but didn’t have enough time left in his enlistment. He would have had to re-enlist for another four years. Warnock spent his remaining enlistment at Barksdale Air Force Base near Shreveport, LA. After the Air Force, Warnock earned a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering (Honors and High Distinction) from the University of Arizona and an Master of Arts in Systems Theory. With his degrees under his belt, Warnock went to Los Angeles where he became a thermodynamicist with the Navy. When he was working at the Naval Air Weapons Station (formerly Naval Ordnance Test Station) at China Lake,
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In the community
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Bertha Ryan, a key player in the soaring world, gave him his first glider ride. (Coincidentally Ryan is the author of “Soaring Beyond the Clouds,” a book about Einar Enevoldson’s life as a test pilot and soaring pilot.) But Warnock still wanted to fly. He left his work with the Navy to achieve his life’s dream of becoming a pilot. He flew into the next phase of his life as a bush pilot and aircraft mechanic in the Philippines, working with a group bringing literacy to remote areas. He worked in Mindanao where he ran airborne supplies and landed on short, bumpy grass strips. “The aircraft was like a time machine,” he said. “Where we landed there was no electricity, no running water, and they lived in grass huts. They were hunter gatherers.” Warnock’s partner in adventures is his wife Linda. While in Mindanao and expecting their first child she let him Ed and Linda Warnock accept the prestigious Royal Aeronautical Society know it “was time.” They jumped on a Bronze Medal in London in 2018 on behalf of the Perlan team. motorcycle to get to the plane to fly to the strip next to the hospital where she gave up a project management office for the Perlan team for now, but their dreams birth to their first daughter. Bonneville Power Administration. Then continue to take flight. Having already Next on the list of fabulous adventures helping the legislatures of Washington, shattered the 1976 Lockheed SR-71 for the couple was South Sudan. “I had to Oregon, Montana, and Idaho develop Blackbird world record for sustained look it up on a map!” says Warnock. policy around the Columbia river altitude in horizontal flight at 85,069 feet, Warnock was director of the project, system governing power generation, fish the new goal is to beat the U2 record of 12 pulling together 30 to 35 expats from preservation, agriculture, and recreational ½ miles above the earth’s surface in 2021. around the world in this remote place in interests. Warnock plans to be on hand for the Africa. In an area the size of Texas the In the varied positions Warnock has accomplishment. group worked in 25 different languages to held over the years there is a common Next on the horizon may be a long develop literacy in a society with an oral theme of pulling different types of people glide into Russia. Starting from Greenland tradition and no written language. There together and working as a team. This is the or Iceland, the glider will ride the polar were also no paved roads. most intriguing challenge for Warnock. wave into Russia. Warnock would have to At one point, the Warnocks were in the Upon returning to his hometown of coordinate with each country on the flight middle of a gun battle during a coup. Portland in 1984, Ed and Linda and now plan for permission for not only airspace, “I have this picture of my wife two daughters settled in the Beaverton but permission to land as the glider has no grabbing the baby out of the high chair area. From his home office, Warnock is a engine. and hitting the floor when the bullets managing partner in Cumulus Consulting Another possibility might be flying started flying,” said Warnock. “Afterwards as well as part time professor at both small remote-controlled gliders loaded she put the baby back in the high chair University of Oregon and Willamette with instruments into tornadoes and and went on with feeding. She was brave, University. hurricanes to gather data for building resolute, and cheerful.” “We did it backwards. We got married, predictive models. The team lost one of their members went to the tropics, went on safari and He is also in conversations for a who was shot and killed during their time are now in the starving student phase,” derivative of Perlan with dynamic soaring in Africa. Warnock laughs. “I didn’t make the — hopping in and out of the jet stream After Africa they headed back to the choices I did to be profitable, but looked at to harvest energy. Plans are being laid for states where Warnock dived into a diverse what we would enjoy doing next.” spring trials in Nevada. This might be array of ventures. Warnock has “raised the level of used for the glider flight across Russia. First, restaurant chain construction in interesting” and doesn’t see himself Perhaps Warnock will finally get to use West Texas. Then a stint as vice president retiring soon. his Russian in-country after all. of a Texas oil company. Then standing The 2020 pandemic has grounded the 12
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The Young Marines youth organization reenacts the flag raising at Mount Suribachi at the Ackerman Center in Canby during its annual Iwo Jima Remembrance Ceremony on Feb. 22, 2020.
UNFORGOTTEN
Veteran Community Remembers 75th Anniversary of Iwo Jima STORY AND PHOTOS BY TYLER FRANCKE, VETERANS NEWS MAGAZINE
VETERANS NEWS MAGAZINE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS
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World War II veterans Howard Thomas and Louis Boesel, both of whom served during the Battle of Iwo Jima, sprinkle sand on a memorial rock during a remembrance ceremony earlier this year. 14
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he Battle of Iwo Jima is one that looms large in the annals of America’s military chronicles. It brings to mind fierce fighting, great courage, terrible loss and a tremendous victory — a victory many historians believe was vital in turning the tide of the war in the Allies’ favor.
It was the site of one of the most iconic and enduring images in United States history: the flag raising at Mount Suribachi. It was also the place where more than 6,800 courageous soldiers — almost all of them U.S. Marines — paid the ultimate price in service to their nation. It was the largest single loss of
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life in the long and storied history of the United States Marine Corps. An estimated 18,000 Japanese service members also gave their lives in the five weeks of struggle that featured some of the bloodiest fighting of the war. The battle is remembered not only for the high loss of life, but also the incredible
valor that was on display -- producing more Medal of Honor awardees than any other single battle in American history. As U.S. Navy Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz later said, “Among the Americans serving on Iwo island, uncommon valor was a common virtue.” It all happened in February 1945 — 75 years ago this year — and it’s a story that Martin Lackner, a Gulf War Marine veteran and the commander of the Canby/ Aurora VFW Post 6057, believes America must never forget. It’s for that reason that he’s dedicated himself to continuing the annual Iwo Jima Flag Raising Commemoration, which is held each year at the small but well-tended Iwo Jima Memorial in Canby. The event, which has been held since the memorial was first dedicated 25 years ago, is unique in the state of Oregon, and even the country, Lackner says. “That particular event is not just unique to Canby, but unique nationally,” he tells Veterans News Magazine. “Just to recognize one particular event in a ceremony like this. Iwo Jima was pivotal to winning the war in the Pacific.” The ceremony includes many of the typical elements — speeches, flag raisings, a 21-gun salute — as well as a few that are specific to a remembrance of Iwo Jima. One of the more poignant aspects involves World War II veterans, their survivors, and other honored guests being invited to sprinkle a small packet of Iwo Jima black sand on the lichen-covered stone memorial, in remembrance of their brothers-in-arms who gave their lives on those same sands years ago. “We have several veterans who have returned to the island of Iwo Jima over the years — to that famous black sand,” Lackner said. “And they do allow you to bring back a certain amount of the sand. We have had enough given to us that we are able to present some of that to veterans and their survivors. “By scattering a piece of that island on the memorial — it makes a connection between the two. It becomes a part of the island.” The veterans are escorted during the sand ceremony by the Young Marines youth organization, who also put on another important piece of the event: a reenactment of the flag-raising at Mount
Featured Remembrance
Suribachi. In the early days, there were many more veterans of that era — including those who had fought at Iwo Jima — who were able to attend and participate, Lackner said. Now, they are far fewer — but no less proud. “That’s why I do it: I want to honor them while they’re here,” Lackner says. “As a veteran myself, our sacrifice pales in comparison to the sacrifices they made. It’s important to let them know that we haven’t forgotten, while they’re still here.” He says his appreciation — and what should also be the appreciation of the entire country — extends to the Greatest Generation as a whole, not only those who served in uniform. “We have experienced a time of prosperity in this nation that just would not be possible without what they did,” he said. “And we can never forget that. We can’t forget what the cost of everything we have was, and the people who paid that cost.” Sadly, the Greatest Generation is disappearing at an alarming rate, with most of those who served or otherwise participated in the war effort now in their late 80s or 90s. Lackner, though, says the Canby ceremony will continue, even on the sad day that there are no longer any WWII veterans to thank in person. “Absolutely,” he said. “Because the story needs to be told. And it needs to be told forever.” This year’s ceremony also included a special — and unplanned — twist, as WWII Marine paratrooper Robin C. Barrett, who celebrated his 20th birthday by storming the black sands of Iwo Jima, spent time afterward with a large group from the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, sharing stories and wisdom gathered from his remarkable life. “It’s important for them to know the legacy that they represent,” Lackner said of the Marine recruits. “That they literally have a responsibility to men and women like Robin. The flag gets passed down as time goes on, and they’re carrying the flag for us now.” Barrett passed away in April of this year at the Oregon Veterans’ Home in Lebanon. He was 95. OREGON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS
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Michael Hogan and Owen Duff, both military veterans and nursing students at Linfield College, say finding support in each other has been crucial to maintaining their focus on their education and future careers. 16
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By Tyler Francke, Oregon Veterans News Magazine
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here are many motivations that may set a person upon a career in medicine. The likely chance of being first on the scene of a bloody explosion is not necessarily the most common one — but it works for Air Force veteran, USAF Reservist and Linfield College nursing student Owen Duff. Duff served multiple deployments as an explosive ordinance disposal technician. He says he found himself gravitating toward the medical field out of necessity. “I found myself pursuing a lot of medical work and training, because we’re around explosives all the time, and I figured I might as well know how to save a life in these traumatic environments,” Duff said. “If the worst happened, the most likely first responder was going to be me.” Duff, who graduates in December, said his decision to go into nursing as a career was a practical one. “EOD was a good job because there’s always explosives or chemicals or biological hazards,” he said. “So I could do that job anywhere and always have a job. Health care is the same way. I wanted a job that I enjoyed doing that could also be transferable.” Michael Hogan, another student veteran of the Linfield nursing program, who graduated in May, said he has wanted to join the Marines since he was 12 years old and saw the cool commercials of Marines climbing mountains and plunging their sabers into the dirt. He enlisted hoping to become an air traffic controller like his brother, but was dismayed to find out he had been assigned to UAV. He didn’t know what that was, but he had heard it meant he would be waving cones on aircraft carriers. When he found out what it actually meant — flying unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones — he actually thought that sounded pretty cool. Hogan did four deployments for the U.S. Marine Corps — three in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. Unlike Duff, he never got a chance to learn any hands-on medical experience during his military service. “About the closest I came to the medical field was getting prescribed cough drops and ibuprofen,” he quipped. But he was inspired by people he knew on base, particularly those involved with the Medevac crews “I remember being like, ‘You get to do that?’” he recalled. “I wanted to be more hands-on, in the moment helping people, as opposed to providing overwatch and feeling more like a third party.” Both veterans said they have enjoyed their time as students, citing the importance of remaining focused on school and their future careers. They said leaning on each other and other students vets has been important, including a club for student vets at Linfield that Hogan resurrected after it had lain dormant for many years. “It’s hard to not get bogged down with the things that you see your peers getting bogged down with,” Duff said. “But the wisdom and experience, to be able to hear from other vets, that’s an important piece to this whole puzzle.” Duff took over as president after Hogan. Hogan said another thing that has helped him stay focused is seeing other veterans achieve remarkable things, like some doctors with whom he has worked at the Portland VA Medical Center. “I was working with all these physicians, and then I found out they were veterans, too, and I was just like, ‘That’s awesome,’” he said. “So that’s what I want to do now. I want to be a CNA, I want to work with veterans at the VA hospital, and I want to work for a long time. I don’t want to stop working until I’m, like, 85.”
Featured Veterans
State launches new grant program for student vetS The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs is now accepting applications for a new grant program aimed at helping Oregon veterans complete their educational goals. The Veteran Educational Bridge Grant Program provides financial aid to veterans who are unable to complete their education due to the unavailability of one or more required classes. The program provides grants to eligible student veterans to alleviate the financial stress of this gap period, so they can finish their degree when the needed courses become available. “The financial reality of many student veterans’ situations is that they can’t simply take a semester off,” noted ODVA Director Kelly Fitzpatrick. “And we know that many of those who have to begin work to provide for themselves and their families may never return to the classroom to finish their education. “In Oregon, we believe our veterans should not have to miss out on the chance to reach their career and educational goals simply because of the timing of course offerings. At a time when student veterans’ schedules and finances may be more challenged due to the COVID-19 crisis, this program is needed now more than ever.” Under the program, eligible student veterans who are unable to complete their education due to the unavailability of required classes may receive grants of up to $5,000. Recipients must be eligible for the VA’s GI Bill based on service in the United States Armed Forces and must be enrolled and actively pursuing a course of study approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. For more information about the program, or to apply, visit the ODVA website at https://www.oregon. gov/odva/agency-programs/grants/ Pages/Educational-Bridge-Grant.aspx. Questions may also be directed to the Veteran Educational Bridge Grant Coordinator at ebg@odva.state.or.us or by phone at 503-373-2338. OREGON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS
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COVID Resource guide
Covid-19 FAQs: What YOU need to know
Symptoms of COVID-19 include a low-grade fever, along with a sore throat, aching muscles, stuffy nose.
What is Coronavirus covid-19?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines COVID-19 as a new type of coronavirus (or “novel coronavirus”). COVID-19 belongs to a large family of viruses that are common in people and different animal species. On rare occasions, animal coronaviruses can infect people, and then spread from person-toperson. This is how COVID-19 started. Many people may be concerned about catching this new respiratory virus that leads to COVID-19 disease, and that’s understandable. Since the first reports in late December, about 10 million people around the world have tested positive. That number includes approximately 2.59 million confirmed cases in the United States as of June 28. The good news: Most people who become infected will recover, according to the CDC, and without needing special medical treatment. So there’s no need to panic if you get sick. What’s important is knowing what to do next to help ensure a full recovery and avoid infecting someone else. The main symptoms of COVID-19 are fever at or above 100.4 18
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degrees Fahrenheit, cough, and shortness of breath. The CDC says these symptoms can occur anywhere from two days to two weeks after becoming infected. Other symptoms may include muscle pain, headache, chills, sore throat, and a new loss of taste or smell.
What should i do if i have symptoms?
Emergency warning signs that require immediate medical attention include trouble breathing, chest pain or pressure, and bluish lips or face. The CDC advises anyone experiencing these symptoms to call 911. If possible, put on a face covering before medical help arrives. Some people may become seriously ill from COVID-19 and have difficulty breathing. The virus may be especially dangerous for people who have chronic or long-term health conditions that affect the immune system. Those conditions include heart or lung disease, diabetes, treatment for cancer, and HIV/AIDS. For cases that are not emergencies, experts advise people to stay home. Don’t go to a military treatment facility or urgent
By Tyler Francke, Oregon Veterans News Magazine
care clinic because that may expose others to the virus. Instead, contact the MHS Nurse Advice Line. Registered nurses will screen for COVID-19 exposure or infection. They also will offer advice for self-care and, if appropriate, coordinate virtual appointments with health care providers. Nurses also may make a referral to visit a health care provider in person. If you have a fever, coughing, and shortness of breath, call your primary care provider or VA medical center before going to a clinic, urgent care or emergency room. You can also send your doctor a secure message through My HealtheVet. Contacting your health care provider first helps them protect you, their medical staff and other patients. You should also visit the CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov to learn more about the symptoms of COVID-19.
Can i be tested for covid-19?
Testing is based on many factors, including the severity of symptoms, other existing illnesses or conditions, possible exposure, and other criteria. VA health facilities have been testing veterans who meet the testing criteria provided by the CDC. In Oregon, testing criteria have been developed by Oregon Health Authority and the public health departments of each county. Consult your primary care provider, VA medical clinic or county health center if you think you should be tested for COVID-19.
Can i Use Emergency/urgent care?
If you’re experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department/ER. Don’t forget about the urgent care options that may be available to eligible veterans in your community.
COVID Resource guide
By using the ED/ER only for medical emergencies, you can help frontline health care workers protect you, themselves and other patients, as well as help them address critical medical needs first during this period of COVID-19 outbreak. Symptoms that may need emergency medical (immediate) attention include: • Chest pain • Numbness or tingling in your arms or on one side of your body • Severe fever or violent vomiting • Bleeding that doesn’t stop Symptoms that may need urgent care attention (within 24 to 48 hours) include: • Sore throat, earache • Sprains or strained muscles from sports or exercise • Minor cuts and injuries
no symptoms but Feeling stressed?
It is common in these unprecedented times to feel anxious and overwhelmed. Concerns about COVID-19 can be stressful for many people, and it’s understandable to feel anxious. It’s important to take steps to manage stress and take care of yourself. Stay connected and healthy. Stay in touch with friends and family by phone and social media, and get enough sleep and exercise. Visit the CDC’s website to learn about managing stress and anxiety about COVID-19. Get more tips. The National Center for PTSD has created a guide for managing stress associated with COVID-19, which you can find at www.ptsd.va.gov/covid/COVID_managing_stress. asp.
Cards, Videos Flood in to Oregon Veterans’ Homes While Americans adjust to the new realities brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, some are reaching out to the residents of the Oregon Veterans’ Homes in Lebanon and The Dalles to assure them they are appreciated, cared for and remembered. The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs calls it “Operation Well Wish,” and the well wishes have flooded in from all over. Many have sent letters, postcards, pictures and artwork, which are cleared by the Home’s infection prevention team before being shared with residents. Others have sent in videos, and they have come in from Virginia, Ohio, Texas, North Carolina, Hawaii and even as far as Italy. These videos are being played for
residents on the Homes’ closed-circuit TV channel. Some have included their children or pets. Others have shown video footage from their favorite places in nature at their hometowns. Some have sung their favorite songs or recited poetry. “With the lock-down protocols that are currently in place to keep our community safe, it has been a tremendous change in the residents’ way of life,” said ODVA Director Kelly Fitzpatrick. “These men and women at our Lebanon Veterans’ Home have borne the battles to keep this nation safe and free. It’s wonderful for so many of the people that they have protected to be remembering them in this challenging time.”
Lebanon Veterans’ Home Program Director Jeremy Woodall said they have been a huge boost to both residents and staff. “Seeing the smiles and songs and well-wishes come in from literally around the world has lifted their spirits,” he said. “Young children, men and women, veterans and civilians… everyone has a chance to share love and hope to others in this time.” If you would like to be part of Operation Well Wish, please send your cards, letters or other materials in an unlicked envelope to ATTN: Operation Well Wish, Oregon Veterans’ Home, 600 N. 5th St., Lebanon, OR 97355. Videos may be sent to ODVAInformation@odva.state.or.us. OREGON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS
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By Jake Wood, Team Rubicon
Conquering Coronavirus Chaos Applying Leadership Theories from the Army War College to Battle Coronavirus
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hen COVID-19 arrived in the United States, parts of the country quickly became overwhelmed. Our stock market collapsed, our public health system was overwhelmed, and many levels of government failed in their efforts to coordinate a response to the pandemic—and worse, to communicate. While the coronavirus was going to be disruptive regardless of proactive measures, it didn’t have to cause the kind of disintegration seen across every aspect of society. Our institutions failed to prepare for, respond to, and adjust with the unique circumstances of COVID-19. The coronavirus caused massive chaos in the U.S., and it didn’t have to. At veteran-led disaster relief nonprofit Team Rubicon, we’re familiar with chaos. Chaos is what we do. Our methods for conquering chaos were born on the battlefield, where experience in the “fog of war” helped an entire generation develop the tools to navigate situations like a pandemic. As veterans, we’ve used this knowledge to build one of America’s most efficient disaster relief nonprofits, all while responding to the world’s most chaotic situations — from the Haiti earthquake to Hurricane Harvey. When COVID-19 hit, we leveraged the lessons learned over a decade spent managing chaos to pivot to coronavirus relief efforts. While not all chaos is alike, a construct developed by the U.S. Army, VUCA — Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity — can help define it. Each element of VUCA sounds somewhat terrifying, and that’s what chaos tends to be—an unnerving scenario that stresses our systems and injects fear into decision making. COVID-19 is chaos incarnate, and
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many elements map directly to VUCA. The disease is volatile and spread quickly. Its ‘novel’ nature led to massive amounts of uncertainty, including around transmission. Uncertainty leads to inaction as people become paralyzed by indecision and fail to act until they have all the information—a recipe for disaster. The complexity of trying to track disease vectors led to the nations experiencing outbreaks, while contact tracing became a tangled web. Adding to the complexity is the fact that infected people can be asymptomatic. Without rigorous and aggressive isolation and quarantine procedures threat vectors traveled across the globe. Done effectively, communities could have quarantined quickly, halted further spread, and “flattened the curve.” Finally, the condition most concerning to the U.S. in the early months of the coronavirus was ambiguity. We simply did not know what we didn’t know. The result was a self-inflicted wound. Another kind of VUCA — one that stands for Vision, Understanding, Clarity, and Agility — contains the four keys to conquering chaos. If we are to fight our way out of the coronavirus, our leaders must establish a clear, coherent, and credible Vision for protecting U.S. citizens, and articulate that vision. At Team Rubicon, we did this early on: our vision was that we would act to protect the communities we serve, the volunteers who serve them, and the communities our volunteers return to. That simple, clear vision guided every action taken and decision made, even as we overhauled longstanding policies, practices, and procedures. It allowed us to pivot quickly to serve communities impacted by COVID-19. Then, we established understanding. Shortly after COVID-19 was identified in the U.S., we established a cross-functional task force comprised of top executives and key staff that met twice a day for three weeks. By investing time consolidating facts,
listening to perspectives, and generating ideas, we achieved understanding and we were able to develop contingency plans and action strategies based around our vision. As the pandemic metastasized, we were able to activate those plans and move forward, even while peer organizations were trying to react. Hope was not a strategy. VUCA is. Our nation’s leaders had the potential of a two-month head start on the global pandemic. Had we taken advantage of it, we could have prepared our country for its onslaught by readying our medical facilities, producing test kits, aggressively quarantining individuals repatriated from infected countries, and launching a public awareness campaign that was proactive rather than reactive. Instead, we merely hoped COVID-19 wouldn’t jump the Pacific. Meanwhile, misinformation flowing from official channels sowed public skepticism for the dangers posed. Masks were disregarded, social distancing poo-pooed, and just as it seemed we were getting a hold on the coronavirus, it flared again. Leaders across society must provide clarity to Americans. They must ascribe the facts as they’re presented by the scientific community, filter out misinformation and noise, and focus our teams on the problem as it stands, not as we hope it to be. They must make our nation, medical systems, and relief organizations more agile by empowering front-line leaders to make crucial decisions. Those leaders will prove to be our most resourceful assets, helping us iterate quickly as we move through ambiguity and toward stability. Hopeful thinking got us in this mess, and it won’t get us out. Hope doesn’t win battles, but a combination of VUCA — vision, understanding, clarity, and agility — can. To put your military skills and experience to use helping those in need, visit www.teamrubiconusa. org/volunteer.
By Master Sgt. Jefferson Thompson, 173rd Fighter Wing
COVID Resource guide
173rd Makes Masks to Combat COVID-19 U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Kenny Shearer, the 173rd Aircrew Flight Equipment superintendent, sews masks together as part of a local solution to supply masks to airmen who need them.
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s the COVID-19 pandemic makes inroads in the United States military officials at the highest levels adopted new Centers for Disease Control guidance to require military members to wear masks when required to work inside a six-foot radius of others. The Department of Defense sent this requirement to bases, including Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, on April 6, with the expectation that it would be fully adopted within eight days. Thanks to some quick thinking on the part of senior leadership, airmen at Kingsley Field all had masks available to them one day later. An unconventional approach coupled with a willingness to pitch in and help saw more than 615 masks created from whole cloth—not to mention old ABUs, flight suits and a few worn out OCPs as well. “It’s extremely impressive how Team Kingsley came together to get this done,” said Col. Brad Orgeron, the 173rd Fighter Wing vice commander. He went on to describe the process of finding a design that met CDC requirements, namely controlling spray through the fabric, which was also feasible for Airmen to construct quickly with material on-hand. “Everybody pitched in to help,” said Lt. Col. Micah Lambert, the 173rd Maintenance Group commander. “We did an all-call and Col. [Jeffrey] Edwards sent out an email saying, ‘We’re gonna produce these tomorrow,’ and we went after it, and every
shop you walked around folks were doing these “arts and crafts” projects — making these 10x6 squares of ABU material or felt.” The maintenance conference room table was stacked with old ABUs as Airmen worked to break them down into cloth squares suitable for sewing into a mask. Downstairs the same thing was happening as a number of crew chiefs worked with razor blades to cut fabric squares. Across the tarmac in the Aircrew Flight Equipment office the sound of sewing machines marked the next phase of construction where the squares were sewn together to form the protective mouth and nose cover. “I’ve done about 100 so far,” said Tech. Sgt. Thomas Howard, an AFE technician, shortly after 11 a.m. between setting down a sewn piece and grabbing two more pieces of cloth. Several reasons made is necessary for the base to undertake this project, the supply system is overwhelmed with mask requests as is the civilian supply chain, making that a dead-end. Although the base has some mask reserves, these need to be preserved for medical staff as well as community support as the Oregon Air National Guard remains ready to respond to the state’s call should the crisis worsen. “It’s going to be great tomorrow to hear the sound of jets flying in the Klamath Basin tomorrow as we get back to flying— our day-to-day business,” Orgeron said in April. OREGON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS
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2020 BENEFIT UPDATES AND COVID RESOURCES
ECONOMIC Find a Veteran Service Office – File for a pension or other benefits
All 36 counties in Oregon have a dedicated Veteran Service Office to assist veterans and their families in exploring state and federal benefits they may be eligible for as well as filing for Federal VA service connected disability and pension claims. A veteran pension benefit provides supplemental income to help veterans and their families cope with challenges arising from homelessness and other financial crisis. Contact: Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs www.oregon.gov/odva/Services/Pages/County-Services.aspx Transition and Economic Development (TED)
and insurance deductibles, medical expenses, military pay shortage / delayed entitlements, funeral expenses. Contact: Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society www.nmcrs.org/pages/nmcrs-covid-19-information Temporary Financial Assistance
The American Legion Temporary Financial Assistance (TFA) program has awarded cash grants to minor children of current active duty or American Legion members. These grants help families in need meet the cost of shelter, food, utilities and health expenses, thereby keeping the child or children in a more stable environment. Contact: The American Legion www.legion.org/financialassistance/about (317) 630-1203
The COVID-19 pandemic has made the already-challenging transition from military to civilian life experience even more Unmet Needs Program stressful for many service members and Veterans. This site is solely dedicated to providing transitioning service members and Veterans VFW Unmet Needs provides grants (not loans) and referrals to support and access to trusted, immediate information and resources. other organizations to active duty service members, veterans and their immediate families to assist with basic life needs. Contact: United States Department of Veterans Affairs www.benefits.va.gov/TRANSITION/coronavirus.asp
Oregon Veterans Emergency Financial Assistance Program (OVEFAP)
The Oregon Veterans Emergency Financial Assistance Program (OVEFAP) is for veterans and their immediate family (spouse, unremarried surviving spouse, child, or stepchild) who are in need of emergency financial assistance. Assistance is granted one time only and provides financial assistance for emergency or temporary housing and related housing expenses such as expenses for utilities, insurance, house repairs; mortgage or rent assistance; emergency medical or dental expenses; and emergency transportation expenses. Speak with your local Veteran Service Office to apply. Contact: Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs www.oregon.gov/odva/Services/Pages/County-Services.aspx COVID-19 Assistance Charitable Funds
This program is to assist those that are directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the counties of Baker, Union, Grant, and Wallowa. What the program covers: 1) One months’ rent. Past due or current up to Fair Market Rent (FMR) value. Must have rental agreement, W9 from landlord, and note from landlord for amount of rent due; 2) Water bill. Past due or 1 months’ current bill. Must have water bill showing amount owed or disconnect notice and W9 for city; 3) Car insurance. Not to exceed $300 for one month. Client is responsible for any amount over the $300 limit. Must have current bill showing amount owed for the month. Try to get W9 from insurance company. Contact: Community Connection of Northeast Oregon Union (541) 963-7532, Baker 541-523-6591, Wallowa 541-4263840, Grant 541-575-2949 rochelle@ccno.org Quick Assist Loan
When you’re having trouble meeting urgent financial needs, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society may be able to provide an interest-free loan or grant. The funds are to help with a wide range of financial needs. Common situations include: food, rent/mortgage, utilities, essential home repairs, establishing a new residence (including security and utility deposits), car expenses such as repairs 22
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Contact: VFW www.vfw.org/assistance/financial-grants (866) 789-6333 unmetneeds@vfw.org Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Learn how to file for unemployment benefits and other COVID related state and federal programs for business layoffs and closures. Contact: Oregon Employment Department govstatus.egov.com/ORUnemployment_COVID19 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
PUA is a federal program created through the CARES Act of 2020, and provides unemployment benefits to workers that are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits. This includes people who are self-employed, independent contractors, and those who do not have enough recent earnings to receive regular unemployment benefits. Contact: Oregon Employment Department https://govstatus.egov.com/ui-benefits/CARES Consumer Protection
The Oregon Department of Justice is committed to ensuring a safe and fair marketplace in Oregon, helping consumers with complaints, preventing fraud, enforcing consumer protection laws and investing in consumer education. To report price gouging in Oregon: 503-378-8442. Contact: Oregon Department of Justice www.doj.state.or.us/consumer-protection/ (503) 378-8442 Commercial Eviction Moratorium
Temporary moratorium on certain evictions and terminations of rental agreements and leases, in response to coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Contact: Governor Executive Order 20-13 www.oregon.gov/gov/admin/Pages/eo_20-13.aspx Tax Scams/Consumer Alerts
Thousands of people have lost millions of dollars and their
SEE ODVA’S ONLINE VETERAN RESOURCE NAVIGATOR AT OREGON.GOV/ODVA
personal information to tax scams. Scammers use the regular mail, telephone, or email to set up individuals, businesses, payroll and tax professionals. Learn to recognize the telltale signs of a scam. For example, the IRS doesn’t initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages or social media channels to request personal or financial information. Contact: Internal Revenue Service www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-scams-consumer-alerts Oregon Property Tax Deferrals
Disabled veterans may qualify to “borrow” from the State of Oregon to pay property taxes to the county. Contact: Oregon Department of Revenue www.oregon.gov/DOR/programs/property/Pages/deferral.aspx (503) 945-8348 or (800) 356-4222 deferral.unit@oregon.gov COVID-19 Tax Relief Options
Oregon tax return filing and payment deadlines are extended to July 15, 2020. Find specific information about personal and corporate income tax, federal relief, and changes to Oregon’s collections, corporate activity tax, and property tax deferrals. Contact: Oregon Department of Revenue www.oregon.gov/dor/Pages/COVID19.aspx Economic Injury Disaster Loan
In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, small business owners in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories were able to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance of up to $10,000. This advance is designed to provide economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. This loan advance will not have to be repaid. The new eligibility is made possible as a result of the latest round of funds appropriated by Congress in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Contact: U.S. Small Business Administration covid19relief.sba.gov/#/ Paycheck Protection Program
The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan to help small businesses keep their workers on the payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. You can apply through any existing SBA 7(a) lender or through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is participating. Consult with your local lender as to whether it is participating in the program. Contact: U.S. Small Business Administration www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-reliefoptions/paycheck-protection-program VA Extends Financial Benefits and Claims relief to Veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced a number of actions to provide Veterans with financial, benefits and claims help amid VA’s COVID-19 response. The financial relief actions include the following until further notice: • Suspending all actions on veteran debts under the jurisdiction of the Treasury Department. • Suspending collection action or extending repayment terms on preexisting VA debts, as the veteran prefers.
COVID Resource guide
• For benefit debts, Veterans can contact the VA Debt Management Center at 1-800-827-0648 to make arrangements. For health care debts, veterans can contact the Health Resource Center at 1-888-827-4817 to make arrangements. The benefits and claims relief actions include giving veterans the option to submit their paperwork late for the following actions: • • • • •
perfecting claims challenging adverse decisions submitting Notices of Disagreement submitting Substantive Appeals responding to Supplemental Statements of the Case
Veterans requesting claim extensions can simply submit them with any late-filed paperwork and veterans do not have to proactively request an extension in advance. For veterans who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and need immediate action on their appeals, as opposed to a filing extension, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals will Advance their appeal on Docket (AOD). Those with questions can call 1-800-827-1000.
health and wellness Veterans’ Remote Mental Health Appointments Skyrocket amid Coronavirus Outbreak
Remote mental health care use among Veterans Affairs patients has jumped dramatically as normal medical care appointments were disrupted and veterans forced into self-isolation because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Most significant were mental health care check-ins and consultations conducted over the phone. In February, those totaled about 40,000 appointments. In March, they topped 154,000, a nearly four-fold increase. Veterans with specific questions can call 1-800-827-1000 or go www.ebenefits.va.gov for additional details. Visit VA’s website at va.gov for information and updates regarding the response to COVID-19. Behavioral Health Services
The Returning Veterans Project provides free, confidential mental and physical health services for post-9/11 veterans, service members, and their families throughout Oregon and SW Washington. Our network of volunteer health providers donate a slot in their practice for free to RVP Clients. Veterans, service members, and families can find an available provider in our directory and call the provider to schedule their free appointments. Contact: Returning Veterans Project returningveterans.org (503) 954-2259 mail@returningveterans.org Disaster Distress Helpline
Natural disasters including such pandemics as the coronavirus outbreak can be overwhelming for anyone, and also can seriously affect your emotional health. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline 1-800-985-5990 (or text TalkWithUs to 66746) provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to anyone who is OREGON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS
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2020 BENEFIT UPDATES AND COVID RESOURCES
seeking help in coping with the mental or emotional effects caused by developments related to the coronavirus pandemic. Contact: U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline 1-800-985-5990
to reschedule VA appointments. The chatbot also quickly refers veterans and their families to the right resource if they need help or information. VA developers built the chatbot in three weeks using the Microsoft Healthcare Bot platform and agile methodology. Veterans and their family members can access VA’s coronavirus chatbot at www.va.gov/coronavirus-chatbot.
VA Mental Health Appointments
VA travel pay reimbursement
High-quality mental health services are part of your benefits. You may also be able to get care for certain mental health problems even if you don’t have VA health care.
VA travel pay reimbursement through the Beneficiary Travel program pays Veterans back for mileage and other travel expenses to and from approved health care appointments. Find out if you’re eligible, and how to request reimbursement.
Contact: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs www.portland.va.gov/features/VA_Mental_Health_Appointments.asp Veterans Crisis Line
Contact: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs www.va.gov/health-care/get-reimbursed-for-travel-pay/
24/7, free and confidential support for veterans and family.
Oregon Health Plan
Lines for Life Senior Loneliness Line
Contact: Oregon Health Authority www.oregon.gov/oha/HSD/OHP/Pages/Apply.aspx
Contact: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ 800-273-8255, PRESS 1, TEXT 273 TALK to 839863
OHP is free health coverage from the State of Oregon. OHP covers medical, dental, and mental health care. It also covers help with addictions.
This free service is designed for adults 55 and older who may be isolated or lonely. A team of volunteers and staff are specially trained COVID-19 related health information in working with older adults, and we can provide ongoing support, Visit this site to learn about symptoms, protection, physical connect you or someone you know with resources, or just listen. distancing and testing. Your information is completely confidential. Contact: Oregon Health Authority Contact: Lines For Life www.linesforlife.org/blog/announcing-the-senior-loneliness-line (503) 200-1633 VA Telehealth Services
From your home, the clinic, or the hospital, VA telehealth technologies make it easier for you to connect with your VA care team. Contact: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs www.telehealth.va.gov/ Oregon VA Healthcare Locations
Find location and contact information for all health care centers in Oregon including medical centers, community-based outpatient clinics, outpatient clinics and vet centers.
Contact: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs www.va.gov/directory/guide/state.asp?STATE=OR&dnum=ALL VA Health care, appointments, and more
For routine appointments, VA recommends using telehealth (phone or video) for your scheduled appointment. You can also cancel and reschedule your appointment for a later date. But if you need care, please don’t delay. The VA can provide safe care to meet your needs. If you have a non-urgent elective procedure scheduled, the may contact you to cancel or reschedule for a later date. Visit this page to learn more about appoints at medical centers and CBOCs. Contact: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs www.va.gov/coronavirus-veteran-frequently-askedquestions/
New Coronavirus Chatbot Available for Veterans, Families, Caregivers, Survivors
The just released VA coronavirus chatbot is available 24/7 to quickly triage COVID-19 symptoms and answer your questions on testing options, stimulus payments and telehealth, and even how 24
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govstatus.egov.com/OR-OHA-COVID-19
Public Transportation Resources to VAPORHCS Locations
Links locating public transportation from your current location to selected VAPORHCS facilities. Contact: United States Department of Veterans Affairs www.portland.va.gov/VTP/VA_Portland_Health_Care_ System_Locations.asp VA is here for Women Veterans during COVID-19 and Beyond
In this time of physical distancing, VA knows it’s easy for women veterans to feel isolated. Life plans and health can change in an instant. That is why VA is working to remove barriers and improve access to essential services. These services include reproductive health care, refilling prescriptions, and accessing the Veterans Crisis Line and Women Veterans Call Center. The Women Veterans Call Center (WVCC) is also here to help answer questions about VA benefits and services. Call or text the WVCC
at 1-855-VA-WOMEN (or 1-855-829-6636) Monday through Saturday. Access VA Care and Stay Safe from COVID-19 with My HealtheVet
As we all take precautions to guard against COVID-19, being able to access VA health care is very important. Reaching your VA care team online – rather than in person – can protect you and others from exposure to infectious diseases. VA has many tools that can help you access care remotely, including My HealtheVet, VA’s online patient portal. It includes: • Secure Messaging: Send online secure messages to your VA health care team to ask them non-urgent health questions or to ask to set up a video telehealth appointment. • VA Appointments: Rather than going to a VA facility, you can receive many types of care at home – either over the phone or via video using VA Video Connect. You can set up telephone or video appointments by sending a secure message. Or you can
SEE ODVA’S ONLINE VETERAN RESOURCE NAVIGATOR AT OREGON.GOV/ODVA
COVID Resource guide
use the VA Appointments tab on My HealtheVet. • Prescription Refills: Request prescription refills and ship medications to your home using My HealtheVet’s VA Prescriptions tool or the Rx Refill mobile app.
Contact: Oregon Housing and Community Services www.myoregon.gov/2020/05/19/state-provides-8-5-millionfor-rent-relief-in-oregon-communities/
Using these tools can help you get VA care while maintaining physical distancing. Even if you are healthy, the time to get a My HealtheVet account is now. That way, you’re prepared should you need to access VA care in the future.
For very low-income Veterans, SSVF provides case management and
Get Anytime Access to Mental Health Support with Mobile Apps
Access mental health support wherever you are, whenever you need it! VA’s mental health apps can help you manage mental health symptoms and stress, learn to practice coping skills, and more. Some of VA’s most popular mental health mobile apps include CBT-i Coach, Mood Coach, Moving Forward, PTSD Coach and PTSD Family Coach. You can explore more mental health mobile apps at www.mobile.va.gov/appstore/mental-health.
housing security and food 211 Service
The 211 nonprofit contact center provides callers with referrals to basic needs programs such as food, shelter, health care and more. Contact: 211 Info 211info.org Dial 211 Energy Assistance
Energy Assistance Program Agencies in Oregon
Contact: Oregon Housing and Community Services www.oregon.gov/ohcs/Pages/energy-assistance-agencyservice-counties-regions.aspx SNAP Benefits
SNAP provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of needy families so they can purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency. Contact: US Department of Agriculture www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistanceprogram (855) 673-2372 National Hunger Hotline
Operated by Hunger Free America, the USDA National Hunger Hotline is a resource for individuals and families seeking information on how to obtain food.
Contact: US Department of Agriculture www.hungerfreeamerica.org/about/our-work/usda-nationalhunger-hotline 1-866-3-HUNGRY (English) 1-877-8-HAMBRE (Spanish) Rental Relief
The economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has left many Oregon families without resources to pay rent, buy food, make utility payments, and provide other necessities. Oregon Housing & Community Services (OHCS) has a COVID-19 Rent Relief Program that provides much-needed rent assistance for people who have experienced a loss of income and are at risk of homelessness due to COVID-19.
Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)
supportive services to prevent the imminent loss of a Veteran’s home or identify a new, more suitable housing situation for the individual and his or her family; or to rapidly re-house Veterans and their families who are homeless and might remain homeless without this assistance. Contact: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs www.va.gov/HOMELESS/for_homeless_veterans.asp (503) 397-3511 Moratorium on Residential Evictions EO 20-11
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Kate Brown has a moratorium on residential evections.
https://www.oregon.gov/gov/admin/Pages/eo_20-11.aspx ODVA Veteran Home Loans
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. KAte Brown has a moratorium on residential evections.
https://www.oregon.gov/gov/admin/Pages/eo_20-11.aspx Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program
The goal of this program is to provide services that assist homeless veterans to reintegrate into the community and into meaningful employment within the labor force. Contact: Easter Seals www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/hvrp (971) 317-9660 or (971) 304-7140 Housing Resource Guide
A downloadable resource guide to find housing for our homeless veterans and families across Oregon. Contact: Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs www.oregon.gov/odva/Documents/Housing%20Guide.pdf VA Home Loan Guaranty Benefit (CARES Act)
The CARES Act protects borrowers with Federally-backed mortgage loans who are experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 national emergency. Contact: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits.va.gov/homeloans/cares-act-frequently-askedquestions.asp (877) 827-3702 Limiting the Spread of COVID-19 among Homeless Veterans
Veterans who are homeless and at-risk of homelessness are vulnerable to COVID-19. To protect them and VA staff, VA personnel and grantees assigned to homelessness programs have implemented aggressive infection prevention techniques and response plans at all locations. Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness are strongly encouraged to contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at (877) 4AID-VET (877-4243838) for homeless assistance. If veterans do not have access to a phone or the internet, only then are they to visit their closest VA medical center without calling in advance.
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‘I Loved to Fly’ U
.S. Army Air Corps Capt. John F. Ward proved his mettle on his very first mission during World War II. He was stationed in the Pacific theater with the 11th Airborne Division and was flying missions into Atsugi, the home base of the 302nd Kokutai, one of the Imperial Japanese Navy’s most formidable fighter squadrons. Japanese aircraft based at Atsugi shot down more than 300 American bombers during the fire bombings of 1945. If the young captain and pilot was intimidated, he certainly didn’t show it. On his first mission, he took a sign that said, “You are entering Tokyo through the courtesy of the 11th Airborne Division.” Ward was born on Christmas Day, 1919, in Dowagiac, Mich. He met his wife, Winnifred “Winnie” Harrison when they were 13 years old. She, a native of South Bend, Ind., had been attending a weeklong Girl Scout outing at Indian Lake in Dowagiac. The pair swapped letters from then on, always beginning with “Dear Friend” and closing with “Your Pal.” And two or three times a week, John, who was then in the sixth-grade, would hop in a car to go to see Winnie. “You could drive a car in the sixth grade?” Veterans News Magazine asked. John just shrugged. “I did,” he said, adding that he drove his dad’s old Ford — without permission. “Don’t tell him,” he said. (We agreed not to.) He graduated from Dowagiak High School and went on to college at Albion, majoring in economics. He joined the Army after college, where he ultimately served in both major theaters. John traveled the world, sometimes carrying cargo for the war effort to the European front, sometimes bringing injured soldiers back for treatment.
Okinawa, Japan. He was discharged in December 1945. After the war, he continued flying with Pan American-Grace Airways, stationed in Lima, Peru, and flying from Panama to Argentina — and all stops in between, including Ecuador, Chile, and Brazil. “I would fly from the top of South America — to the western part — all the way to Buenos Aires,” he recalled. A severe bout with amoebic dysentery and other bacteria eventually forced the family to return to the U.S. He worked briefly in sales for the U.S. Rubber Co., but was soon back in the sky, joining Cessna Aircraft Co. as a regional sales manager. After five years with Cessna, he wanted to spend more time with family, so he joined the Michigan Bank of Detroit, where he became the head of the newly created “Aircraft Finance Division.” But if that job description conjures Oftentimes, the most precious cargo images of a life spent sitting behind a desk was the plane itself. He remembers and shuffling paperwork — think again. shuttling an astonishing array of different This is John Ward we’re talking about, aircraft from one base to another, after all. wherever they were most needed. “I had access to many airplanes that “I guess, or I would have crashed,” the Michigan Bank had picked up,” he John said with a laugh when asked if he said. “I would fly them out to people who knew how to fly them all. bought them, all over the country.” On a return trip from an Air Force He eventually became vice president base, John took a detour to South Bend of the bank and spent 25 years there. He to see if his “pal” still lived there. Luckily, retired, and he and Winnie moved to she did, and the two soon became good Green Valley, Ariz., where they spent 10 friends again. Within a very short time, “enjoyable years,” playing golf, bridge, John proposed marriage and Winnie enjoying the weather, volunteering to accepted. serve the less fortunate, and, of course, The wedding was originally set for taking to the skies whenever the desire Feb. 5, 1944, but that day, John was flying seized him. a B-24 Bomber to Montreal, Canada, and Asked if he spent more time in life at bad weather prevented him from making the controls of a plane than the steering it to South Bend. The ceremony went off wheel of a car, he said there’s no doubt. two days later, without a hitch. “I loved to fly,” he said. The couple was stationed at many In 1994, they moved to their “favorite bases during John’s service, from Michigan city,” Roseburg, to be closer to their two to Maine. His final assignment was in daughters, Sally and Susan.
U.S. Army Air Corps Capt. John F. Ward flew daring missions to Antsugi and Okinawa during World War II. Even after the war ended, he couldn’t stay out of the sky, working as a commercial pilot, a small plane salesman and a banking VP of aircraft finance. 26
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By Tyler Francke, Veterans News Magazine
As you were
OREGON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS
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oregon military history:
By C. Douglas Kroll, Ph.D.
Warren C. Gill, U.S. Coast Guard
Forgotten Hero B
orn in 1912, Warren Calavan Gill grew up in Lebanon, Oregon, in farm country not far from the state capital of Salem. Gill longed to go to sea and signed on with a ship in Seattle during his junior year of high school. He returned home to graduate and earn a law degree from the University of Oregon, moving to take a position in an admiralty law firm. On Dec. 7, 1941, a day that lived in infamy for the nation, Gill’s fate too was changed. For on that date he happened to attend a concert in New York where his soon-to-be future wife, Vadne Scott, was performing. They married within the next month. A few days after their wedding, Gill enlisted, receiving an ensign’s commission in the Coast Guard Reserve. By August 1942 Gill had become an Assistant Beach Officer, helping direct amphibious landings at Morocco. Once North Africa was captured and Allied planners shifted their focus to Italy in July 1943, Ensign Gill was placed in command of a small craft flotilla landing elements of General George Patton’s Seventh Army on the island of Sicily. During the landing, not a single man was lost in Gill’s flotilla. For his leadership, Gill received the Legion of Merit Medal and promotion to lieutenant (junior grade). Gill next saw combat in midSeptember 1943 when he took part in the invasion of Italy’s western coast. While the biggest challenge faced by the landing at Sicily had been an inconveniently timed storm, the landing at Salerno would be far different. Allied troops expected to meet only light resistance since Italian dictator Benito Mussolini had been deposed and placed under arrest, and the new Italian leadership had signed an armistice with the Allies the day before the landings. Unknown to Allied forces, the
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Germans had rushed large numbers of battle-hardened troops to Italy to prevent its fall. The Germans installed sound monitoring devices miles offshore and had their artillery ranged for amphibious vessels. As the invasion ships approached in the pre-dawn darkness, German artillery opened up. Gill’s landing craft was waiting to lead the first wave to the beaches when the first salvo hit his boat, the LST 357. An 88mm shell sent shrapnel tearing through Gill and his assistant. Several more crew-members and 25 soldiers were wounded by the same shell hit. Although severely injured and fighting for breath, Gill remained at his post and oversaw the landing of his craft on the beach. After the deadly explosion, the medical officer aboard the LST gave Gill an immediate blood transfusion. Gill refused to take morphine or be transported away until he received word that the boats had beached successfully and the Germans were falling back. He would later be awarded the Purple Heart for the wounds he sustained at Salerno. Gill spent the next three months in a British hospital in the North African desert before transferring to an American hospital in Algiers. While hospitalized, he was awarded the Navy Cross Medal, the Navy’s second highest decoration for valor in combat, becoming one of only six Coast Guardsmen to be awarded the Navy Cross during the war. During a 20-month stint at the Navy Hospital in Long Beach, California, Gill became a prominent figure in the war bond campaign in Southern California. The student newspaper at the University of Southern California heralded his presence as the guest of honor at a war bonds rally, “Lt. Warren C. Gill, known as the Coast Guard’s most decorated man, will appear today.”
Despite multiple surgeries, doctors were unable to remove all of the shrapnel in Gill’s upper body. Gill returned home to Lebanon upon his discharge in 1945 and was medically retired from the Coast Guard the next year. Since the Secretary of the Navy had commended him for performance of duty in combat, Gill received the rank of lieutenant commander. Back home, Gill practiced law and cultivated a political career. From 1949 to 1957 he served as a state representative and then state senator, becoming the Republican leader of the State Senate in his final term. In 1958, he ran for the gubernatorial nomination of the Republican Party but was narrowly defeated by the up-and-coming Secretary of State Mark Hatfield, who went on to serve nearly 10 years as governor and 30 years as a U.S. Senator. Gill retired from politics to devote his later years to his hometown of Lebanon, holding the office of Lebanon City Attorney from 1961 until his death. His personal interests returned to the water where he founded Lebanon Boat Works, built boats and joined the Lebanon Outboard Racing Association. Gill became an avid racer himself, building three hydroplanes named after his wife Vadne. In 1981, Gill was chosen as the Linn County (Oregon) “Veteran of the Year.” When he learned of the recognition, he called it “my greatest honor” because his fellow veterans had selected him. Warren Gill died in October 1987 at the age of 75 while making a series of take-offs and landings in an ultralight “autogyro” aircraft he had built himself. His valor in combat during World II and his service to his state and community truly made him a great Coast Guard combat hero and honorable citizen of the State of Oregon.
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Volunteer Oregon Veteran Legacy Project myo re go n . gov / 2 0 2 0 / 0 6 / 0 5 / wwii-oral-histories
ODVA has launched a project to honor and preserve the memories of Oregon’s treasured WWII vets: collecting oral histories about their experiences during the war. See how you can participate at the website above.
See Virtual Museum Tours We Are The Mighty
by Phil Fehrenbacher, Oregon Vietnam Veteran See more at www.facebook.com/InCountryCartoons
Race of Aces: WWII’s Elite Airmen and the Epic Battle to Become the Master of the Sky John R. Bruning
The astonishing untold story of the World War II airmen who risked it all in the deadly race to become the greatest American fighter pilot, sparked by a daring challenge by the country’s deadliest fighter pilot, the legendary “ace of aces,” Eddie Rickenbacker. What developed was a wild threeyear sprint for fame and glory, and the chance to be called America’s greatest fighter pilot. The story has never been told — until now.
The Wax Bullet War: Chronicles of a Soldier & Artist Sean Davis
On Sept. 12, 2001, Sean Davis strolled into the Oregon National Guard’s recruiting office and reenlisted. After dropping out of art school and working a dead-end government job, September 11 gave him a new sense of purpose. Follow Sean Davis’ life as he loses his best friend in a violent ambush; returns, critically wounded, to confinement in a place that’s not his home; deals with the fallout of PTSD and the horror of what he experienced; and finally, as he rediscovers art and its power to heal.
From the Louvre to the Tate Modern, the world’s greatest museums are now available to you from the comfort of your own home thanks to digital archives and tours that let you explore to your heart’s content. Start today at www.wearethemighty.com/MIGHTYSURVIVAL/virtual-museum-tours.
Listen Free Online Concert Series Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Military Bands are offering free online performances during the coronavirus pandemic to bring people together virtually. For a list of available bands, schedules and how to tune in, visit www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/74350/ military-bands-offer-free-onlineperformances.
Remember Create an Online Memorial Veterans Legacy Memorial
The Veterans Legacy Memorial is a place where family and friends can create online tributes to veterans who are meaningful to them. The website currently contains information on the 3.7 million veterans in national cemeteries. OREGON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS
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veteran service office Directory The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs, county veteran service officers (CVSOs) and national service organizations provide claims assistance free of charge to all veterans and family members. Service officers are also available to assist with other veteran benefits and resources. To schedule an appointment, contact the office nearest you. BAKER 541 523 8223 BENTON 541 758 1595 CLACKAMAS 503 650 5631 CLATSOP 503 791 9983 COLUMBIA 503 366 6580 COOS 541 396 7590 CROOK 541 447 5304 CURRY 866 298 0404
Find easy to understand information about VA’s new Mission Act and how it impacts and enhances your options for care including:
DESCHUTES 541 385 3214 DOUGLAS 541 440 4219 GILLIAM 541 384 6712 GRANT 541 575 1631 HARNEY 541 573 1342 HOOD RIVER 541 386 1080 JACKSON 541 774 8214 JEFFERSON 541 475 5228 JOSEPHINE 541 474 5454 KLAMATH 541 883 4274 LAKE 541 947 6043 LANE 541 682 4191 LINCOLN 541 265 0570 LINN 541 967 3882 MALHEUR 541 889 6649
Visit www.missionact.VA.gov
MARION 971 707 4400
MORROW 541 922 6420 MULTNOMAH 503 988 8387 POLK 503 623 9188 SHERMAN 541 565 3408 TILLAMOOK 503 842 4358 UMATILLA 541 667 3125 UNION 541 962 8802 WALLOWA 541 426 0539 WASCO 541 506 2502 WASHINGTON 503 846 3060 WHEELER 541 763 3032 YAMHILL 503 434 7503 CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF UMATILLA 541 429 7389 AMERICAN LEGION 503 412 4706 DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS 503 412 4750 MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART 503 412 4770 NABVETS OF AMERICA 503 412 4159 PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA 503 412 4762 VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS 503 412 4757 VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA 541 604 0963
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PRSRT STD U S Po s t a g e PA I D Pe r m i t N o . 2 2 Salem, OR
700 SUMMER STREET NE SALEM, OR 97301-1285
celebrating 75 years of service to oregon veterans learn more about the evAlution of veteran services in oregon oregon.gov/odva or follow us on facebook
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Serving Oregon Veterans Since 1945 | 700 Summer Street NE | Salem, Oregon 97301 | Headquarters 800 828 8801
Serving Oregon Veterans since 1945
