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OREGON VETERANS NEWS MAGAZINE
ISSUE 1
‘I knew we were going to war’
102-year-old Army nurse recalls her WWII experience
INTRODUCING THE NEW VETERANS NEWS MAGAZINE TRANSITIONING FROM BOOTS TO BOOKS
NAVY'S BRAND-NEW USS PORTLAND NAMED AFTER ROSE CITY
T H E R E I S N O S I N G L E T R U T H I N WA R
A CONVERSATION WITH KEN BURNS & LYNN NOVICK
Monday, July 24, 7:30 p.m. Seating starts at 7 p.m.
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
1037 SW Broadway Street, Portland Also featuring former Air Force Chief of Staff and retired Four-Star General Merrill McPeak. Tickets available at portland5.com, the Portland’5 Box Office, TicketsWest outlets or by phone: 800.273.1530 Funding provided by: BANK OF AMERICA; CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING; PBS; PARK FOUNDATION; THE ARTHUR VINING DAVIS FOUNDATIONS; THE JOHN S. AND JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION; THE ANDREW W. MELLON FOUNDATION; NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES; THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS; FORD FOUNDATION JUST FILMS; ROCKEFELLER BROTHERS FUND; AND MEMBERS OF THE BETTER ANGELS SOCIETY.
DIRECTOR CAMERON SMITH
Humbled by the mission at hand Every day, the team at the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) feels privileged to serve our veterans and their families. At the same time, we are humbled by the mission at hand. For the first time in history, we are serving four generations of veterans who have served in our military, fought our battles in five major wars and stood guard over our peace. Amazingly, we have published veteran news for over 70 years. With this issue, we shift from the time-honored newsprint into a new format, the Oregon Veterans News Magazine. The look and feel has been updated, but this is still your Vets News, featuring the same great stories about Oregon veterans and all the important information about benefits and programs you’ve come to expect. We will continue to publish twice a year, in advance of Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Please keep your amazing stories, guest contributions and input coming as we’ll also share them broadly through our blog, social media and email subscriptions. You can always stay connected at www.oregon.gov/ODVA and www.oregondva.com. It is also fitting to note that this year marks the 100th anniversary of the United States’ entry into World War I. WWI service members that survived the battlefields in Europe did not come home to a robust system of veterans’ health care and benefits. But they banded together in service organizations and fought to advocate for the nationwide network of support we have today. The common connection across the eras is our timeless mission to better serve and honor Oregon veterans. The strength of our department also has always been based on our team, who are all proud advocates for veterans and their families. At the same time, we know that the success of our efforts depends on all of you, Oregon’s veterans and our broad community partners. Together, we continue to make a difference. Last November, veterans raised their voices and mobilized partners to support Measure 96, which will dedicate 1.5 percent of net Lottery revenues to better serve Oregon’s veterans. Oregonians stepped up to pass this constitutional amendment with an incredible 84 percent in favor. As a community, we must continue to advocate and ensure these essential funds are leveraged to best impact our veterans’ health, education and economic opportunities. This Memorial Day, Oregon veterans from across four generations will also gather in ceremonies across the state to honor and remember all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. As we kick off the start of summer and turn to enjoy Oregon’s incredible parks, beaches, rivers and mountains, we must encourage all citizens to pause and honor our fallen and Gold Star families. We stand on the shoulders of all those who came before us and will never forget our veterans’ service and sacrifice. Thank you for your continued dedication, advocacy and support!
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Published May 2017
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. When credit is given to the source, Oregon Veterans News Magazine articles may be reprinted. ODVA reaches more than 25,000 veterans and their families through this print and electronic publication. We welcome contributions about veteran concerns, issues and programs that are important, informative and/ or a great tidbit of news that other veterans would enjoy reading about.
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To inquire or submit a piece for consideration, please use the contact information below. Submissions for the next issue must be received by Sept. 15, 2017.
ODVA Attention: Vets News 700 Summer St. NE, Salem, OR 97301-1285 503-373-2389 odvainformation@odva. state.or.us www.oregon.gov/odva
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FEATURE ARTICLES
GUEST CONTRIBUTIONS
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Jean Wojnowski's World War II service took her from her home in rural Ohio, deep into the jungles of Papua New Guinea and back again. Ask her about it today, and she'll say she was just doing her duty.
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The 75th anniversary of World War II's daring Doolittle Raid is this year, and Oregon Spirit of '45 is making sure it, along with the entire WWII generation, is honored and remembered.
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Though representing a significant — and growing — portion of the veteran community, women vets often feel overlooked. But one group is out to change that with their campaign, I Am Not Invisible.
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Student veterans face unique challenges transitioning from military service to higher ed. PCC's Kim Douthit offers some quick tips on how to make the most of your college experience.
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IN THE COMMUNITY
BENEFITS CORNER
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Hillsboro native fighting veteran homelessness on multiple fronts
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Federal and state benefit updates for 2016-17
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Staff sergeant becomes first woman to complete ORANG infantry training
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Navy christens new transport ship after Oregon's largest city
Eligibility for burial in a national cemetery now can be known in advance
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Mill City sailor keeping 75 years of Seabee tradition alive
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Governor makes the most of her visit to the Oregon Veterans' Home
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An in-depth look at the recent revolution in hepatitis C treatment, and how the VA is at the forefront of it
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS 16
Your annual calendar of Memorial Day ceremonies, parades and other events taking place across the state
BOOTS ON THE GROUND 30
On hospice care from pancreatic cancer, veteran gets the chance to take her 'Dream' vacation
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in the community
By John William Howard | Hillsboro Tribune Reprinted with permission.
Homeless to hero: Air Force Reserve aims to be 'catalyst' in fight against homelessness
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eanne Babcock grew up homeless. Now, she's doing everything she can to make sure no one else ends up on the streets.
Babcock, a 2000 graduate of Glencoe High School, is a member of the Air Force Reserve, currently working as an air technician in Honduras. She's the first college graduate and first service member in her family, and she's working to slow the explosive growth in homelessness among her peers. Babcock is a contestant in the Ms. Veteran America competition, which raises money and awareness about the rise of homeless women veterans living across the country. Unlike many pagents and competitions, Ms. Veteran America has a sole beneficiary: Final Salute, which helps female veterans escape homelessness through transitional housing and other partnerships. Most competitors in the Ms. Veteran America competition have had brushes with homelessness. The issue is surprisingly common among women who have served in active duty. Homeless women veterans is the fastestgrowing homeless demographic in the nation, according to research by Final Salute. Female veterans on the street are rare, but stories of couch surfing and unstable housing are common. Around 70 percent of homeless women veterans have children. Babcock said the homeless risk screenings set up through the U.S. Department of Veterans
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Affairs often miss female veterans because they're less likely to get benefits through the VA. Babcock said female veterans are a proud group, and often don't seek out help until it's too late.
The Ms. Veteran America competition aside — Babcock mainly uses her own story to talk about the challenges veterans face — providing housing for fellow veterans is the main motivation for Babcock.
Part of Final Salute's mission is to encourage women to apply for benefits through the VA, simply so they're eligible for the housing support options.
While home on leave, Babcock bought a home in Hillsboro with the help of a former classmate. Hillsboro is and will always be home, she says, though she's stationed in northern California, and her mother lives in a condo just a few minutes away.
Babcock and her mother were homeless when she was young and didn't find permanent housing until she was 12 years old. "My father … was abusive, and was into drugs and alcohol," Babcock remembered. "Finally, after a few months of planning, we left in December 1984 and drove into Portland." Babcock was 2 years old. She and her mother stayed in the Raphael House — a landing place for victims of domestic violence — before moving on to stay with family and friends, unable to share a permanent address and not knowing how long they could stay.
She said she plans to telecommute from Hillsboro to help maintain residency, but the home was empty most of the year, so when a friend fell on hard times and needed a place to stay, Babcock was quick to lend a hand. "To buy a house in a part of town I could never have afforded growing up and provide housing to another female veteran facing homelessness … it was very bittersweet," she said. "It gives a forever home to Mom and I, a place to go, and it provides housing [to people who need it]."
"And that was not easy to do on a single parent income," Babcock said. "A village helped raise me, and I made it."
Babcock is hosting two fundraiser events in the Portland area, the first being a workout at CrossFit Code Red on May 20 in Hillsboro, the Saturday after Mother's Day. She is also taking donations online and hopes to be one of the top 25 in the competition and move on to the finals, but making lasting changes is more important.
Babcock and her mother eventually moved into a home near Bicentennial Park and attended Eastwood Elementary. After graduating from Glencoe, she moved on to serve on active duty with the Air National Guard in 2003.
"I hope to be a catalyst for Oregon," Babcock said. "I want to connect with the VA and get the word out. [Homeless women veterans] will continue to be a problem unless we do something about it."
Once she was old enough, her mother wanted to keep her in the same school district.
By Damien Weaver, Veterans News Magazine
in the community
Oregon National Guard welcomes first female infantry soldier Staff Sgt. Lindsey Cook of the Oregon National Guard received her blue infantry rope at a graduation ceremony from the 11B Infantry MOS-Transition Course in Umatilla on March 17, 2017. Photo courtesy of the Oregon Military Department.
taff Sgt. Lindsey Cook has become the first female in the Oregon Army National Guard to qualify as an 11B infantry soldier. Cook completed the 11B Infantry MOS-Transition Course on March 17, 2017, at the 249th Regional Training Institute (RTI) in Umatilla.
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squad on flanking maneuvers during live-fire exercises.
Preceded in August 2016 by two female soldiers of the Washington National Guard, Cook is now the third woman to ever complete the intense two-week Umatilla training course.
“We were all there to learn and the instructors were very supportive,” she said. “It was a group effort. I was with them every step of the way, carrying machine guns on 12-mile marches.”
Camp Umatilla is one of only seven infantry training battalions in the nation and the only certified Army infantry training academy west of the Mississippi River. Soldiers, like Cook, wanting to change their military occupational specialty (MOS) go there to gain knowledge in fields such as land navigation, infantry tactics, troop leadership, patrolling and urban operations. During the training, Cook recalled that she ran numerous battle drills and led her
Yet, the significance of her accomplishment was not lost on her, and Cook acknowledged the added pressure of her symbolic role as one of the first female infantry soldiers.
“We are all very proud to have a trailblazer like Staff Sgt. Cook,” said Maj. Stephen Bomar, director of public affairs for the Oregon Military Department. “She is doing the Oregon Guard and our nation proud. We look forward to putting her to work.”
The integration of women into combat roles is a recent development. The process started in 2013, but it wasn't until March of last year that the military officially opened all combat jobs to female soldiers.
Cook is an active, full-time Guard member (AGR), currently working in an administrative role. She will move into an infantry unit under the Battle Buddy System as soon as another female solider passes the 11B Infantry course.
Despite being a relative newcomer in the traditionally all-male infantry training environment, Cook said gender-based tension was not an issue for her and her fellow trainees.
Cook didn’t mince words when asked about any lingering opposition that may still exist regarding women in combat roles. “I am a very determined person, and when people tell me I can’t do something that’s when I tell them to get out of my way,” she said. Cook’s accomplishment has not gone unnoticed by her superiors at the Oregon National Guard.
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in the community
By Gary Piercy | Chairman, USS Portland Commissioning Committee
Similar in size and design, the USS Somerset (LPD-25) is a sister ship to the USS Portland commissioned in March 2014. Also a San Antonio class ship, the USS Somerset was named after the passengers of United Airlines Flight 93 during the September 11 attacks of 2001, whose actions prevented the plane from reaching the hijackers’ intended target, forcing it to crash instead in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Photo courtesy of the USS Portland Commissioning Committee.
Navy ship named for Portland
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ortland, Ore., is now the namesake of a newly launched United States Navy ship: The USS Portland, a 684foot, 25,000 ton San Antonio class amphibious transport dock ship (LPD-27). The ship launched in February 2016 and was christened in May 2016 at Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss., where it was constructed. San Antonio class ships are large and versatile players at sea, capable of supporting a variety of amphibious assault operations or expeditionary warfare missions, operating independently or as part of Amphibious Readiness Groups, Expeditionary Strike Groups or Joint Task Forces. They are 45 percent larger than the Austin class ships they are replacing, and are designed to transport up to 800 Marines with a flight deck able to accommodate CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters and MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, and a well deck that can launch and recover landing craft and amphibious vehicles. LPD ships also feature such facilities as two operating rooms, two dental rooms, and a 24bed hospital ward. Additionally, their sizeable sea decks can be converted into a dry transport deck or emergency ward, as they have been during numerous non-combat, humanitarian missions. This ship is now the third U.S. Navy ship to bear the name USS Portland. The first, named for Portland, Maine, was a famous 613-foot, 9,800-ton cruiser (CA-33) which saw extensive service in the Pacific theater of World War II,
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earning 16 battle stars and becoming one of the most decorated ships in the U.S. fleet. The second, named for both Portland, Maine, and Portland, Ore., was a smaller Anchorage class dock landing ship (LSD-37) based on the East Coast and serving from 1970 to 2003. The current USS Portland holds the distinction of being the only U.S. Navy ship ever named exclusively for Portland, Ore. Gary Piercy, chairman of the USS Portland Commissioning Committee and a Portland resident since 1997, called the ship “something we can be proud of.” “This is a great honor to our city to have a major ship of the fleet bearing our name,” Piercy said. “The USS Portland and her dedicated crew of 371 sailors will not only carry our name, but our city’s pride and commitment to world service.” The ship is currently undergoing system testing while the new crew is being appointed and trained. After sea trials, which can last from 12 to 18 months, the ship will come to dock in Portland for a week-long commissioning event and a formal ceremony — a journey that Piercy said should make for quite a spectacle. “Imagine a ship longer than two football fields, rising 14 stories tall but drawing only 22 feet of water (in a river channel depth of 43 feet) cruising down the Columbia, and then the Willamette rivers, then docking just out from the Freemont Bridge,” he said, adding that a
Navy survey has been conducted to ensure the ship can fit under the region's bridges. Commissioning of a ship is the ceremony that places the ship and its crew into active service of the U.S. Navy and is based on naval tradition. This is when the formal transfer of the ship to its commanding officer takes place and the order is given to “Man our ship and bring her to life!” Once the orders are read, the crew runs aboard and mans the rails. The USS Portland then becomes part of the active Navy fleet. Portland will see visits from senior-level military, government and civilian dignitaries to attend events though the week. Ship tours will be conducted, along with city tours, entertainment and social events for the ship’s 500-plus sailors and Marines. Up to 5,000 people will be able to attend the free, open-tothe-public commissioning ceremony itself. The commissioning date has not yet been finalized by the U.S. Navy, but it is currently targeted for April 21, 2018. Free tickets to attend the event may be requested through the USS Portland’s website at http://www.usspdx. org. The public is also welcome to support the ship and crew through donations on the site. The Navy does not use public funds for anything except the commissioning ceremony itself. Any additional events or gifts for the crew are paid for by donations. For more details, you can follow the progress of the USS Portland and its crew on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PORTLANDLPD27.
By Alvin Plexico | Navy Office of Community Outreach
in the community
Mill City sailor continues 75 years of Seabee tradition
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e Build, We Fight has been the motto of the U. S. Navy’s Construction Force, known as the “Seabees”, for the past 75 years. Petty Officer 2nd Class Donal Guffey, Mill City native and Stayton High School graduate, builds and fights around the world as a member of a naval construction battalion center located in Port Hueneme, Calif. Guffey works as a builder in the Navy. “I've been a carpenter my whole life, so I enjoy being able to do that in the Navy as a Seabee,” Guffey said. The jobs of some of the Seabees today have remained unchanged since World War II, when the Seabees paved the 10,000-mile road to victory for the Allies in the Pacific and in Europe, according to Lara Godbille, director of the U. S. Navy Seabee Museum. “I like the diversity in the Navy,” Guffey said.
"You get to see a lot of different people and get to do a lot of interesting things. Our training allows us to go to different places like Guam, the Philippines and Japan.” For the past 75 years, Seabees have served in all American conflicts. They have also supported humanitarian efforts using their construction skills to help communities around the world following earthquakes, hurricanes and other natural disasters. “I am proud of the hard work that Seabees do every day,” said Rear Adm. Bret Muilenburg, commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command. “Their support to the Navy and Marine Corps mission is immeasurable, and we look forward to the next seven decades of service.” Seabees around the world will take part in a yearlong celebration in 2017 to commemorate the group’s 75-year anniversary. The theme of the celebration is “Built on History,
Constructing the Future.” “Seabees deploy around the world providing expert expeditionary construction support on land and under the sea, for the Navy and Marine Corps, in war, humanitarian crisis and peace," said Capt. Mike Saum, commodore, Naval Construction Group (NCG) 1. “Seabee resiliency, skill, and resolution under hostile and rough conditions prove our motto ‘We Build, We Fight.’ The Seabee patch we wear on our uniform signifies to the warfighter and civilian alike that they're in good hands.” Serving in the U.S. Navy has allowed Guffey to continue learning about himself and the legacy he wants to leave to future Seabees. “The prolific history the Seabees have since World War II is amazing,” Guffey said. “The Seabees have done a lot for such a short period of time, compared with the Navy's 200 plus year history. As long as we continue to do great things we'll be around for a long time to come.” 9
Oregon Governor Kate Brown visited the Oregon Veterans’ Home in Lebanon on March 31 to tour the facility and hold a listening session with Oregon veteran community leaders. Inset: Oregon veteran community leaders met with Governor Brown for a listening session to discuss current resources available for veteran services across the state. Photos by Tyler Francke.
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By Bryan Hockaday, Press Sectretary, Oregon Governor's Office
in the community
Gov. Brown calls for increased investment in state's veteran services
regon Governor Kate Brown visited the Oregon Veterans’ Home in Lebanon (OVHL) on March 31 to tour the facility and hold a listening session with Oregon veteran community leaders.
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fund dollars to support the current level of veteran services, allowing that new Measure 96 Lottery funds be fully focused on expanding services for Oregon veterans for their health, education and economic opportunity.
After the meeting with veteran leadership, she held a press conference at the OVHL in which she called on the Legislature to support additional investments in veteran services and to provide a home for every veteran in Oregon. “In a difficult budget environment, I am proud that we were able to almost double funding for veterans efforts in my proposed budget,” Brown said, speaking to residents, staff, and veterans' advocates at the OVHL. “This has always been the starting point and over the last few months, I have heard from veterans across the state about how we can best support veterans and their families. Thanks to their input, I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with our veterans to support general fund resources for current services and an even greater level of investment with Measure 96 Lottery funds.”
“With these additional resources, I am calling for further investments in veteran services and a focused initiative to end veterans' homelessness in Oregon,” Brown said. “Together with a broad group of public and private partners, we must continue to fund affordable housing and homeless prevention efforts to ensure every Oregon veteran has a roof over his or her head.” Brown also directed the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs and Oregon Housing and Community Services to combine forces and work with front line partners to marshal state, federal, and local resources with nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and others to expand veterans' housing.
With a better than expected revenue forecast by the Office of Economic Analysis, an additional $200 million in state revenue decreases the previously projected budget gap in the next biennium from $1.8 billion to $1.6 billion. With that increase in revenue and veterans' community strong advocacy, Brown said she supports using state general
Several regional communities including the city of Eugene, Lane County, the city of Portland and Multnomah County have shown a pathway with focused innovation and collaboration to ensure a home for every veteran. Brown called on state leaders to invest in similar, proven local initiatives to expand homeless prevention resources and permanent affordable housing options for veterans and their families throughout Oregon. 11
Jean Wojnowski, pictured here in uniform, served as a U.S. Army nurse during World War II, from January 1942 to January 1946.
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By Tyler Francke, Veterans News Magazine
‘I knew we were going to war’
feature profile
Oregon resident H. Jean Wojnowski has lived a life that exemplifies the courage, resilience and dedication of the remarkable group of Americans history remembers as “The Greatest Generation.” Wojnowski served four years as an Army nurse during World War II, a journey that took the smalltown daughter of a Congregational minister from New York City to the then-brand new Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia, to the untamed jungles of Papua New Guinea, and back home again, to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where she worked until the war ended. After the war, she married an Army officer, Arthur Wojnowski, and continued her career as a nurse and nursing educator. She later served as director of nursing at an Ohio nursing school before retiring in 1973. She turns 102 this May. She sat down with Veterans News Magazine earlier this year to talk about her thoughts and experiences before, during and after serving her country.
VN: First of all, Jean, I know you have a birthday
coming up soon, so I wanted to say happy birthday, and congratulations. Did you ever think 102 was a mark you would reach?
JW: (Laughs.) No, I did not. As I recall, I never expected to be 100. No one in my family, that I know of, lived to 100. I was born in 1915. I just feel very thankful, because I think I’m very fortunate. VN: What’s your secret? JW: I think, moderation. I believe in living as fully as you can, but I do think moderation is the key word. VN: Well, you mentioned you were born in 1915. Let’s talk a little bit about your early life, where you were born, where you grew up. JW: Well, actually, I’m from Ohio, and I was
born in southeastern Ohio at my grandparents’ house, out in the country. I had one brother, four and a half years younger. My father was a minister, so we moved around several times.
didn’t go out to work like they do now. They stayed at home and took care of the family. VN: That’s one thing I wanted to ask you about: What do you think about the ways you’ve seen the culture change, in terms of women and their roles? JW: Well, the role of women has really changed. When I was growing up, women didn’t go out and work, unless they had to. They took care of their family and their home. Not like now, when women want to go out and work and be independent. I think independence wasn’t as important then as it is now. I think they accepted their role as fitting and appropriate. I know my mother never would of thought of going out to work. VN: So, what do you think of the way times
have changed? Do you think it was positive, or do you feel like maybe things should have stayed that way?
VN: Your mother, did she work?
JW: Oh, no, I think it’s been an improvement, definitely. I feel like women have much more freedom today than they did then, and they have the right to have such freedom.
JW: (Chuckles.) Nooo. In those days, women
VN: Well, back then, when it might have been
strange for a woman to even work a regular job, I can only imagine what it must have been like for a woman to join the military. What was your experience like? JW: Of course, by then, the war had started, and
I signed up. We had the Army Nurse Corps, and the WACs (Women's Army Corps) came into being during World War II. But before that, I don’t think there was much military opportunity. It just wasn’t considered, in those days, a proper role for women.
VN: What did your family think of you joining the military? Your father, he must have been fairly conservative. JW: I don’t really remember that he had any
reaction to it, but I’m sure he would have been in favor if it’s what I wanted to do. He would have been supportive. My brother went into the military, too. He was a Marine. He signed up, because if he hadn’t, he would have been drafted.
VN: Did you grow up wanting to enlist in the military? JW: Oh, no. Uh uh. It was something I felt I should do, but growing up, the military was the 13
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last thing I ever thought I would be involved in. I wanted to be a nurse, and I was a nurse, but an Army nurse? No, I never thought that was what I would be. VN: So why did you decide to enlist? JW: Well, because we got into the war. After Pearl Harbor. There was no peer pressure. I just felt it was the right thing to do, as a loyal citizen. VN: Tell me about what stage of life you were in then. Had you graduated college yet? JW: Oh, yes. In those days, you had to be a
college graduate to be a nurse, and I had graduated. But I was living at home at the time, because my mother had passed away, and she had asked me to take care of Dad. So that’s what I did for a year. I stayed at home and took care of him.
VN: Did you enlist by yourself, or did you have
some friends or co-workers who enlisted with you?
JW: It was me and a few friends. We were
working at University Hospital in Cleveland, and we had said that if we got into the war, we would join up. I remember, I was at home, sleeping after a night shift, when I heard on the radio that Pearl Harbor had happened. That was a transforming moment, because I knew we were going to war. VN: You and the other nurses who were
mobilized ended up gathering at New York City to be deployed overseas. Do you recall what you were feeling back then?
JW: Oh, yes, I was excited to enlist. I was really enthusiastic, I remember that much. VN: You had no fears about what you were doing? JW: No, I didn’t. I know some of my companions were not as comfortable as I was, but I was not the least bit apprehensive. I just didn’t feel afraid at all. VN: You also thought you were going to England. JW: That’s right! They told us to bring a foot locker and a winter dress. We thought we were going to England, until we started going through the Panama Canal. (Laughs.) VN: So you were really had no idea where you were going to be stationed? JW: No, we didn’t know where we were going. 14
(Above) A photo of Jean and her unit that was published in a Cleveland newspaper shortly after they were activated. Jean appears in the front row, far right. (Right) Another of Jean's service photos.
We speculated, but no one knew. We never dreamed we were going to go to Australia. When they told us to bring a warm winter dress, we just thought we’d be going to England.
JW: Yes, he was actually the provost marshal
VN: Had you ever traveled by ship before?
VN: Were you able to spend much time together then?
JW: No. VN: Did you get seasick? JW: No. (Laughs.) I tell you, almost everyone else did. It was awful! But it didn’t bother me at all. I ate every meal and enjoyed it. VN: I take it your accommodations were a little nicer than some of the enlisted men’s. JW: Oh, it is a sad story. Because the officers — and the nurses were officers, in order to be able to insist that the troops take their treatment and their medicines — we had rooms on the upper decks. But the troops were down in the hole, and they were jammed in there and miserable. It was a terrible thing to do to them.
on the trip.
JW: Oh yes, we’d get together and talk about, you know, things we were both interested in and what we were going to do when the war was over. VN: You played piano in those days, right? JW: Yes, and he loved the piano. That’s why he liked me: They were looking for someone to play the piano, and when they found out I could play, that was one of the first things that attracted him to me, I think. (Laughs.) VN: How long were you on the ship? JW: Let’s see. From our port of embarkation to Melbourne, it was 33 days.
VN: Your water was rationed, wasn’t it?
VN: What was Melbourne like?
JW: Oh yes. We were allowed one quart of fresh water — outside of meals — once a day. That was the amount of fresh water we could have to brush our teeth, take a sponge bath, or whatever. That was it. We could have all the salt water we wanted, but fresh water, only one quart was what we were allowed.
JW: They had just built the Royal Melbourne Hospital, and they were just about ready to get into it when the war started. But they were so happy to have us there, that they turned their brand-new hospital over to us, and they stayed in their old one until the war was over.
VN: You met your husband, Arthur, on the ship,
right? He was also in the Army?
VN: Was the work kind of what you expected? JW: Not exactly. We would have thought we
feature profile
' I didn’t need any medals or recognition or anything of that nature. I was just happy that I could do it, and that I did do it.' would be treating mostly wounded patients, especially in New Guinea. But in Melbourne, we were mostly treating run-of-the-mill illnesses and things. VN: You have one story you like to tell about a
POW at the hospital in Melbourne.
JW: Yes, we had a POW there, with a guard at his side in case any of the troops went berserk and tried to attack him. But actually, the men were very nice to him. They brought him treats and cigarettes from the PE — Post Exchange — and before long, they were able to communicate through sign language about their families and their former lives. That, to me, was very heartwarming to see them share this common bond. VN: You also got a special visit from someone
while you were in Melbourne, didn’t you?
JW: Oh yes, I should mention that Eleanor
Roosevelt came to visit.
VN: You got to meet her? JW: Oh yes, the poor woman. She shook hands with everybody! (Laughs.) She was such a noble person. I’ve always admired her. VN: Did you see Arthur at all during your deployment? JW: Oh, yes, we continued our romance in
Melbourne. We would go on dates and we had favorite restaurants there. And we ended up being stationed together in New Guinea as well. He was sent there before I was. VN: Yes, your unit was transferred to Papua New
Guinea about three years in. That must have been quite a switch, wasn’t it?
JW: Oh yes! It was a tent hospital, very similar to what you may have seen on “M*A*S*H.” And there was mosquito netting over every bed. We got to take cold showers, and the food was O.K., but you had to watch out for snakes. One of the nurses found a snake in her bed, and that wasn’t too pleasant. I just about had a heart attack. VN: Tell me about the natives you saw there. JW: The natives were interesting. Of course, we only saw the men. We never saw any of their women or children. But the men, their main garment was this sort of loin cloth, with a spear. That was their costume. They would shimmy up trees and get coconuts for us. VN: What kinds of patients did you see in New
Guinea?
JW: The big problem we had with the troops there was not wounded soldiers, it was malaria. Because we were at war with Germany, we couldn’t take quinine. So every day, we all had to take Atabrine, which was a yellow pill that substitutes for quinine. We had to take it every day, and it turned your skin yellow. VN: Yikes. I imagine some of the troops didn’t want to take medicine with those kinds of side effects? JW: No, but that’s why they classified it as an SIW — a self-inflicted wound — if you got malaria, because we had Atabrine. VN: You were sent home early from New Guinea, weren’t you? JW: Yes, because I got jungle rot on my fingers. In New Guinea, we were wet all the time, because it was so hot, and it rained every day. And I got an infection on my fingernails, and that’s how I got to come home, because my fingernails and fingers were affected. VN: What do you remember about returning home? JW: It was really an indescribable emotional experience, as the Golden Gate came into view as we approached San Francisco. It felt wonderful to be back in my native land.
VN: What was your experience like reintegrating back home? JW: I wondered about it. I wondered how it would feel to try to go in and buy civilian clothes. I was so used to the military costumes. My sister-in-law went with me to go shopping for civilian clothes to wear. It was just an outstanding question in my mind, how I would adjust to civilian clothes. VN: You finished your enlistment working at the Walter Reed Medical Center, right? JW: Yes, after I came back, I had a choice of which place to go and I chose Walter Reed. That’s where I was when the war ended. VN: What were your feelings when you heard that the war was over? JW: Oh, wonderful. Very, very happy that the war
was over, and we could go back to normal living.
VN: Had you and Arthur planned on getting married after the war ended? JW: No, I thought when the war was over and I got
back to Ohio, I probably wouldn’t see him again. But sometime later, I was at my grandparents’ house and I got a phone call from him. He told me where he was in California, and I was planning on going out to California anyway, and we picked up from there. I remember he met me on the train, and he had a hat and looked very spiffy.
VN: And the rest, as they say, was history? JW: (Laughs.) I guess you could say that. VN: Now, I know that you’re very proud of your service today, but I’ve been wondering if that was something you felt immediately or if it grew over time? In other words, did you always “feel” like a veteran, or was that a more recent development? JW: You know, it’s hard to remember now. That was so many years ago. But I think I just felt good that I had done it. I didn’t need any medals or recognition or anything of that nature. I was just happy that I could do it, and that I did do it. VN: Do you have any advice that you would offer to younger women veterans or those currently serving? JW: Let me think. I would just tell them: Be proud
of what you did, and be thankful.
15
2017 Statewide Community Memorial Day Events The most current list of statewide community Memorial Day events is available online www.oregondva.com/2017MemorialDay.
Albany
Memorial Day Ceremony. May 29, 11 a.m. to noon, at Linn County Veterans Memorial, located in Timber Linn Park, 900 Price Road S.E., Albany. Organized by American Legion Post 10, VFW Linn Post 584 and the Linn County Veterans Memorial Association. Contact: Jim Willis, 503-559-1806.
Baker City
Memorial Day Ceremony. May 29, 11 a.m. to noon, at Mount Hope Cemetery, 910 S. Bridge St., Baker City. Organized by VFW Post 3048. Contact: Jerry Hunter, 541-5196675.
Beaverton
Memorial Day Event. May 29, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Beaverton Veterans Memorial Park, intersection of 7th and Watson streets, Beaverton. Organized by American Legion Beaverton Post 124. Contact: Adjutant Fred Meyer, adjutant124@gmail.com.
Bend
Bend Parade of Flags. May 29, 6:45 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Bend Heroes Memorial, 37 N.W. Drake Road, Bend. Organized by Bend Heroes Foundation. Contact: Dick Tobiason, 541-390-9932, dtobiason@bendcable.com. Online: Bendheroes.org. 16
The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs will hold its annual statewide Memorial Day ceremony at 2 p.m. May 29, 2017, at the Afghan-Iraqi Freedom Memorial. This monument is dedicated to the military men and women who died while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as all who have served, and is located on the grounds of ODVA at 700 Summer St. N.E. in Salem. The program will include a color guard presentation by Western Oregon University’s Army ROTC cadets, singing of the national anthem, the playing of “Taps” and a reading of the 142 names of the Oregonians killed in Iraq and Aghanistan, which are inscribed on a granite wall at the memorial. A keynote address will be given by Wendall Pelham, whose son, Army Spc. John Pelham, was killed on Feb. 12, 2014, while serving during Operation Enduring Freedom. At this time, Spc. Pelham was the last Oregonian killed in action in either Iraq or Afghanistan. In recognition of the 100th anniversary this year of the United States’ entry into World War I, speakers will wear poppies and the poem “In Flanders Field” will be read by retired Air Force Maj. Hank Lutz, a great-grandson of WWI hero and Medal of Honor recipient Edward C. Allworth.
Bend
Memorial Day Service. May 29, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., at Deschutes Memorial Gardens, 63875 N. Highway 97, Bend. Organized by VFW Post 1643. Contact: Bob Cusick, 541-419-8463, cusickrobert@yahoo. com.
Brookings
Vietnam Veterans Reading of the Names. May 26, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Brookings City Hall, 898 Elk Drive, Brookings. Organized by Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 757. Contact: Sam Vitale, 541-469-6443, rpdsamv@gmail.com.
Canby
Memorial Day Ceremony. May 29, 11 a.m. to noon, at Zion Memorial Cemetery, 2010 S. Township Road, Canby. Organized by American Legion Post 122. Contact: Lyle Hilley, 503-278-6613.
Canby
Memorial Day Lunch. May 29, noon to 1 p.m., at American Legion Post 122, 424 N.W. 1st Ave., Canby. Organized by American Legion Post 122. Cost: TBD. Contact: Lyle Hilley, 503-278-6613.
Central Point
Memorial Day Commemoration. May 29, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., at Don Jones Fallen War Heroes Memorial
Park, New Haven Road, Central Point. Organized by the city of Central Point. Contact: Cory LeeAnn Long, 541-664-3321 x265, cory. long@centralpointoregon.gov.
Charleston
Blessing of the Fleet and Memorial Day Service. May 29, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Charleston Fishermen’s Memorial, Charleston Marina, 63534 Kingfisher Road, Charleston. Organized by Charleston Fishermen’s Memorial Committee. Contact: Margery Whitmer, 541297-2095.
Columbia City
Columbia City Veterans Park Memorial Day Ceremony. May 29, 11 a.m. to noon, at Columbia City Veterans Park, 62601 Columbia River Highway, Columbia City. Organized by City of Columbia City. Contact: Leahnette Rivers, 503-3974010, lrivers@columbia-city.org. Online: www.columbia-city.org.
Coos Bay
30th Annual Memorial Day Parade. May 27, 11 a.m. to noon, at downtown Coos Bay. Parade starts at the intersection of 4th Street and Golden Avenue and ends at the intersection of 2nd Street and Hall Avenue. Organized by the city of Coos Bay. Contact: Coos Bay Parks Department, 541-269-8912.
memorial day events 2017
Cornelius
Memorial Day Ceremony. May 29, 11 a.m. to noon, at Veterans Memorial Park, 1251 W. Baseline St., Cornelius. Organized by VFW Post 2666, American Legion Post 104 and the city of Cornelius. Contact: Glenn Colangelo, 503-945-0190.
Corvallis
Benton County Veterans Memorial Day Progra.m.. May 29, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., at National Guard Armory, 1100 N.W. Kings Blvd, Corvallis. Organized by Benton County Veterans Memorial. Everyone welcome. Contact: Becki Goslow, 541-753-6410, Becki. Goslow@gmail.com. Online: www. vetsmemorialbtco.org.
Corvallis
Memorial Day Ceremony. May 29, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Crystal Lake Cemetery, SE Crystal Lake Drive, Corvallis. Organized by Legion Post 11. Contact: Charles R. Nelson, 541231-2356, cowboycharlie2014@ gmail.com.
Dallas
Memorial Day Ceremony. May 29, 11 a.m. to noon, at Dallas Cemetery, 2065 S.W. Fairview Ave., Dallas. Organized by American Legion Post 20, VFW Post 3203 and Auxiliaries. Contact: Dennis Johnson, 503-6233727, drdblj@q.com.
Eagle Point
Memorial Day Ceremony. May 29, 11 a.m. to noon, at Eagle Point National Cemetery, 2763 Riley Road, Eagle Point. Organized by Eagle Point National Cemetery. Contact: Teri Stacey, 541-826-2511.
Eugene
Memorial Day Ceremony. May 29, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., at West Lawn Memorial Park, 225 S. Danebo Ave., Eugene. Organized by Musgrove Family Mortuaries & Cemeteries. Contact: Dee Harbison, 541-686-2818. Online: www. musgroves.com/events.cfm.
Eugene
Catholic Memorial Day Mass. May
29, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., at Mount Cavalry Cemetery, 220 Crest Drive, Eugene. Organized by Musgrove Family Mortuaries & Cemeteries. Contact: Dee Harbison, 541-6862818. Online: www.musgroves.com/ events.cfm.
Eugene
Memorial Day Ceremony. May 29, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Lane Memorial Gardens, 5300 W. 11th Ave., Eugene. Organized by Musgrove Family Mortuaries & Cemeteries. Contact: Dee Harbison, 541-686-2818. Online: www. musgroves.com/events.cfm.
Gold Beach
Memorial Day Ceremony. May 29, 11 a.m. to noon, at Curry County Veterans Memorial, 94080 Shirley Lane, Gold Beach. Organized by VFW Post 4439. Contact: Sam Vitale, 541-419-8463, rpdsamv@gmail. com.
Grants Pass
Boatnik Memorial Day Ceremony. May 29, noon to 1 p.m., at Riverside Park, 304 E. Park St., Grants Pass. Organized by Grants Pass Active Club. Contact: Gerrin Beck, 541-6595535. Online: www.boatnik.com
Gresham
Memorial Service. May 29, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., at 400 S.W. Walters Drive, Gresham. Organized by VFW Post 180. Contact: Val Shaull, 503-8058991, shaull26@gmail.com.
Gresham
Memorial Day at the Heroes Memorial. May 29, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., intersection of U.S. Highway 26 and N.E. Roberts Ave., Gresham. Organized by VFW Post 180. Contact: Val Shaull, 503-805-8991, shaul26@gmail.com.
Harrisburg
Salute to Veterans. May 25, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Lifegate Christian School, 21211 Coburg Road, Harrisburg. Organized by Lifegate Christian School. Contact: Norm Hoffman, 541-688-6069 bghoffman@yahoo.com.
Hillsboro
3rd Annual Memorial Day Salute to Veterans Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show. May 29, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Hare Field, 1151 N.E. Grant St., Hillsboro. Organized by VFW Post 2666. Contact: Lynn Kirwan, 503780-4679, lynnkirwan1@comcast. net. Online: VFW2666.org.
Hillsboro
Washington County’s Memorial Day Ceremony. May 29, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the Veterans Gateway, intersection of N.E. 34th and Veterans Drive, Hillsboro. Organized by Washington County. Contact: Vicki Horn, 503-846-3051, vicki_ horn@co.washington.or.us.
Hillsboro
Oregon Remembers Ceremony. May 29, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Fir Lawn Cemetery, 1070 W. Main St., Hillsboro. Contact: Glenn Colangelo, 503-945-0190.
Hillsboro
Memorial Day Salute to Veterans. May 29, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., at Hare Field, 1151 N.E. Grant St., Hillsboro. Organized by VFW Post 2666 and American Legion Post 104. Contact: Dan Fink, 503-799-2665, usafa64@ aol.com.
Junction City
Memorial Day Ceremony. May 29, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Rest Lawn Memorial Park, 94335 Territorial Highway, Junction City. Organized by American Legion Post 61. Contact: Margaret Kimbro, 541-998-6192, 4margaretkimbro@comcast.net.
La Grande
Memorial Day Ceremony and Avenue of Flags. May 29, 11 a.m. to noon, at Grandview Cemetery, intersection of Grandview Ave. and S. 20th St., La Grande. Organized by American Legion Post 43. Contact: Duane Yocum, 541-962-5424, duane.yocum@gmail.com.
La Pine
La Pine Memorial Day Ceremony. May 29, 11 a.m. to noon, at La Pine Cemetery, Reed Rd., La Pine. 17
Organized by American Legion Post 45 Honor Guard. Contact: Alan Wakefield, 541-433-2305, aandawakefield@gmail.com.
pendleton.k12.
Myrtle Creek
Portland
Memorial Day Ceremony. May 29, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Cemetery, 37295 Cemetery Road, Lebanon. Organized by American Legion Post 51. Contact: Larry Wiser, 541-409-5439.
6th Annual Memorial Day Breakfast for Veterans. May 29, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., at Veterans Memorial Building, American Legion Post 123, 252 S. Old Pacific Highway, Myrtle Creek. Organized by American Legion. Veterans eat for free; donations accepted for all others. Contact: Roy Brogden, 541-863-3857, roymarybrogden@gmail.com.
Malin
Newberg
Lebanon
Memorial Day Breakfast. May 29, 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., at Malin Park Community Hall, 2307 Front St., Malin. $7.50 per person, $20 per family. Contact: Dennis Chabot, 541723-2110.
McMinnville
Post 21 Memorial Day event. May 29, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at American Legion Post 21, 126 E. Atlantic Ave, McMinnville. Organized by American Legion Post 21. Donations accepted. Contact: Jerry R. Perry Jr., 503-8578207, jerryrperryjr@gmail.com.
Milwaukie
69th Annual Memorial Weekend Boat Races. May 27, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Rogers Landing, N.E. Rogers Landing Road, Newberg. Organized by Columbia Outboard Racing Association. Contact: Richard Baker, 503-550-3057, richard822@frontier. com.
Newberg
Memorial Day. May 29, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Memorial Park, Blaine St, Newberg. Organized by Lester C. Rees Post 57 Newberg and VFW Post 4015. Contact: Faith Gerstel, 503538-9151, fagerstel@msn.com.
3rd Annual Fort Kennedy Fundraiser. May 20, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., at Stadiums Sports Bar, 16065 S.E. McLoughlin Blvd., Milwaukie. Organized by Fort Kennedy. Contact: Tina Kennedy, 503754-7900, fortkennedy@gmail. com. Online: www.facebook.com/ events/1659184867722857.
Ontario
Molalla
Oregon City
Memorial Day Ceremony. May 29, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Adams Cemetery, S. Adams Cemetery Rd, Molalla. Organized by VFW Post 3973. Contact: Jason Carroll, 503824-3608.
Monmouth
2nd Annual Memorial Day Banquet. May 30, 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Western Oregon University, 345 Monmouth Ave. N., Monmouth. Organized by Western Oregon University Veterans Success Center. $5. Contact: Andrew Holbert, 503-838-9246, Holberta@wou. edu. Online: www.facebook.com/ 18
events/1155947214516131.
Memorial Day Service. May 29, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Evergreen Cemetery / Sunset Cemetery, 1155 South Park Blvd., Ontario. Organized by American Legion Post 67, DAV Chapter 18 and VFW Post 5452. Contact: Connie Tanaka, (541) 8896649, veterans@malheurco.org. Memorial Day Commemoration Service. May 29, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Mountain View Cemetery, 500 Hilda St., Oregon City. Organized by the city of Oregon City. Contact: Debra Allen, 503-657-8299, cemetery-info@orcity.org.
Pendleton
Pendleton High School Assembly: Honoring Our Military Veterans. May 26, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Pendleton High School, 1800 N.W. Carden Ave., Pendleton. Organized by Pendleton High School. Contact: Chris Bettineski, assistant principal, 541-966-3807, Chris.Bettineski@
Memorial Day Work Party. May 20, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., at Vietnam Memorial, Washington Park, 4001 S.W. Canyon Road, Portland. Organized by Vietnam Veterans of Oregon Memorial Fund. Contact: Jerry Pero, 503-866-3990.
Portland
Memorial Service. May 28, 11 a.m. to noon, at the Oregon Korean War Veterans Memorial, Willamette National Cemetery, 11800 S.E. Mount Scott Blvd., Portland. Organized by The Chosen Few, Oregon Chapter. Contact: Bill Chisholm, 503-789-0476.
Portland
Memorial Day Ceremony. May 29, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Vietnam Memorial, Washington Park, 4001 S.W. Canyon Road, Portland. Organized by Vietnam Veterans of Oregon Memorial Fund. Contact: Jerry Pero, 503-866-3990.
Portland
Memorial Day Ceremony. May 29, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Willamette National Cemetery, 11800 SE Mount Scott Blvd., Portland. Organized by U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Contact: Roger Huntley, 503273-5250, roger.huntley@va.gov.
Portland
The Remembrance Rug. May 23, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Portland Community College, Sylvania Campus, 12000 S.W. 49th Avenue, Portland. Organized by PCC Sylvania Veterans Resource Center. The event is free but there is a charge to park on campus. Public transit to campus is available. Contact: Kim Douthit, 971-722-8793, kimberly.douthit@ pcc.edu. Online: www.facebook. com/events/434351713580048.
Prineville
Bob Ervin Veterans Memorial Paver Dedication. May 29, noon to 1 p.m., at Crook County Fairgrounds, Main Street, Prineville. Organized by Prineville Band of Brothers. Contact: Nancy Eck, 503-349-7176,
memorial day events 2017
na_neck@yahoo.com.
Prineville
Memorial Day Parade. May 29, 10:30 a.m. to noon, intersection of 4th and Main streets, Prineville. Organized by VFW Post 1412, American Legion Post 27 and Band of Brothers. Contact: Jim Taylor, 541-350-9766.
Redmond
Memorial Day Event. May 29, 11 a.m. to noon, at Redmond Memorial Cemetery, 3545 S. Canal Blvd., Redmond. Organized by American Legion Post 44 and VFW Post 4108. Contact: Dennis Guthrie, 541-2805161, crazyhorse@coinet.com.
Roseburg
Memorial Day Tribute. May 29, 11 a.m. to noon, at Roseburg National Cemetery, 913 N.W. Garden Valley Road, Roseburg. Organized by American Legion Post 16. Contact: Carol Hunt, 5035048198, Carolhunt15@msn.com.
Salem
Memorial Day Movie Event. May 23, noon to 3:30 p.m., at Chemeketa Community College, 4000 Lancaster Drive N.E., Salem. Organized by Chemeketa Veterans Services. Contact: Jon Terrazas, 503-5897702, jon.terrazas@chemeketa.edu.
Salem
Salem City View Cemetery Memorial Day Observation. May 29, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at City View Cemetery, 390 Hoyt St. SE., Salem. Organized by Greater Salem Area Veterans Organization. Contact: Capt. (Ret.) Steven Baxter, U.S. Navy, 619-5193144, steven.baxter224@gmail.com.
Salem
Statewide Memorial Day Celebration. May 29, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., at Afghan-Iraqi Freedom Memorial, 700 Summer Street NE, Salem. Organized by Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Contact: Tyler Francke, 971-2396640, tyler.francke@state.or.us.
Salem
Oregon Remembers Ceremony. May
29, 11 a.m. to noon, at Restlawn Memorial Garden, 201 Oak Grove Rd. NW, Salem. Contact: Glenn Colangelo, 503-945-0190.
Scappoose
Veterans Day Service and Lunch. May 29, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at St Wenceslaus Church & Cemetery, 51555 Old Portland Road, Scappoose. Organized by Catholic War Veterans, American Legion Post 42 and Knights of Columbus 3302. Donations accepted for local veteran charities. Contact: Sgt. 1st Class (Ret.) Bernard Offley, U.S. Army, 503-706-6693, obernard@q.com.
Scappoose
Memorial Day Ceremony. May 29, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Heritage Park, S.E. 1st St., Scappoose. Organized by VFW Post 4362. Contact: Tom Ford, 503-543-7381.
Siletz
Memorial Day Ceremony. May 29, 11 a.m. to noon, at the Tribal Community & Cultural Center, 402 Park Way, Siletz. Organized by Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. Contact: Delores Pigsley, 541-270-5017, dpigsley@msn.com.
Sisters
Memorial Day Ceremony. May 29, 11 a.m. to noon, at Village Green Park, Fir St. and Washington Ave., Sisters. Organized by American Legion Post 86, VFW Post 8138. Contact: Bill Antilla, 541-549-1132.
Springfield
Memorial Service. May 29, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., at Willamalane Park, 1276 G St., Springfield. Organized by American Legion Post 40. Contact: Frank Blair, 541-998-2839.
Springfield
Memorial Day Ceremony. May 29, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Springfield Memorial Gardens, 7305 Main St., Springfield. Organized by Musgrove Family Mortuaries & Cemeteries. Contact: Dee Harbison, 541-6862818.
Terrebonne
Memorial Day Ceremony. May 29,
9 a.m. to 10 a.m., at Terrebonne Pioneer Cemetery, 485 N.W. Larch Ave., Terrebonne. Organized by VFW Post 4108 and American Legion Post 44. Contact: Jack Newcombe, 541526-1371.
Tigard
Memorial Day Ceremony. May 29, 11 a.m. to noon, at Crescent Grove Cemetery, 9925 S.W. Greenburg Rd., Tigard. Organized by American Legion Post 158. Contact: American Legion Post 158, 503-624-2332.
Tualatin
Tualatin Memorial Day. May 29, 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., at Winona Cemetery, 9900 S.W. Tualatin Road, Tualatin. Organized by VFW Auxiliary Post 3452. Contact: Dale Potts, 503-692-1832. Online: TualatinMemorialDay.org.
Vancouver (Wash.)
Vancouver’s Memorial Day Observance. May 29, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Bandstand at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, 1301 Officers Row, Vancouver. Organized by Community Military Appreciation Committee (CMAC). Contact: William Hauser, 360-6086672, bhauser1952@msn.com.
Vernonia
20th Annual Memorial Day Service. May 19, 11 a.m. to noon, at Vernonia Memorial Cemetery, 2080 Bridge St., Vernonia. Organized by the city of Vernonia. Contact: Jeff Hoyt, 503-357-2161, jwhoyt09@aol. com.
Wasco
Memorial Day Celebration. May 29, 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., at Wasco Railroad Depot & Museum, intersection of Fulton Street and Clark Street, Wasco. Contact: Carol MacKenzie, 541-442-5079.
Wilsonville
Memorial Day Ceremony. May 29, 11 a.m. to noon, at Oregon's Korean War Memorial, S.W. Courtside Drive, Wilsonville. Organized by Oregon Trail Chapter, Korean War Veterans of America. Contact: Bob Cassidy, 503-476-9012. 19
Maria Carolina Gonzรกlez-Prats is a U.S. Army veteran and one of the subjects of the new campaign, I Am Not Invisible. Photo by Tyler Francke.
20
By Damien Weaver, Veterans News Magazine
FEATURE ARTICLE
Pop-Up Photo Exhibit Shines Spotlight on Oregon Women Veterans
T
here are more than 28,000 women veterans in Oregon — a number that has risen steadily over the past three decades — representing almost one-tenth of Oregon’s veteran population. And yet, as Air Force veteran Dayle Shulda Hite and Navy veteran Eileen Garlington describe it, the term “veteran” is still coded as male in the popular imagination. Indeed, the general public often, though erroneously, conflates the term “veteran” with “combat veteran,” which, given the only-recently lifted policy barring women from combat roles, further connotes military service as a masculine enterprise. This leaves many women veterans feeling alienated, unrecognized, and less likely to utilize the veteran benefits to which they are entitled. As Liz Estabrooks, ODVA’s Women Veterans Coordinator, put it, “Women veterans are too often invisible, overlooked, without a voice.” One effort to address this issue has resulted in the I Am Not Invisible (IANI) campaign, an ongoing traveling exhibit featuring the portraits and stories of 22 Oregon women military veterans from across multiple generations and five branches of the armed forces. The project, which is a joint effort of the ODVA and Portland State University’s Veterans Resource Center, is intended to shine a spotlight on women veterans, whose contributions, experiences and needs are too often ignored or overlooked socially, politically and legally. “We commissioned this project last year as a result of hearing consistent concerns from women veterans, here at PSU and across the state,” said PSU Veterans Resource Center Director Felita Singleton. “Our goal is to increase awareness and dialogue about women veterans and to enhance the public’s view of the myriad experiences — both good and bad — of women who have served in the military, including the collective inequities that abound for them as veterans.” Some of those experiences are reflected in the personal history of Maria Carolina González-Prats, a U.S. Army veteran who is among those featured in the IANI exhibit. She, like many veterans, initially struggled to transition from military to civilian life, first in navigating corporate culture and the politics of senior management, and then later in coping with the effects of post-traumatic stress while pursuing a graduate degree. Despite these challenges, González-Prats said she was heartened by the camaraderie and guidance she received from other veterans she encountered after leaving the service, which contrasted sharply with the enmity that characterized so many of her active duty relationships.
Speaking of her supervisor at her first post-service job, a Marine Corps Reserve officer who was later deployed overseas, GonzálezPrats said, “He was the type of leader that, if I had served under him while in the military, I would have never gotten out.” It was a series of negative incidents, frequently tinged with gender bias and, at times, explicit gendered aggression, that ultimately contributed to her decision against making the Army a career. She later recalled speaking with a counselor at a VA Vet Center — a Vietnam combat veteran whom González-Prats could not help but feel “silly complaining to” — whose acceptance and validation of her feelings took her by surprise. She said she had always felt her experiences were less traumatic than combat (and thus, less worthy of attention), but the VA counselor told her, “It’s not worse, it’s different. There’s nothing normal about what happened to you, and it’s not O.K.” Since then, González-Prats has gradually come to embrace her identity, not just as a veteran, but as an advocate for other veterans. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in social work at PSU, focusing her research on ways to improve the military’s response to persistent gender inequality, sexual harassment and sexual assault among service members. Victoria Huckaby, a U.S. Navy veteran and another of those featured in the IANI campaign, echoed González-Prats’ sentiments when she expressed the strong sense of “emotional gratification” that accompanies being a member of the veteran community. “To be able to meet other veterans and hear their stories, struggles, and great advice,” Huckaby said, “has helped me feel pride, joy, and (reassurance) that I’m not alone. We are all connected through a greater purpose.” It is precisely this sense of belonging and visibility that the IANI campaign seeks to promote in the public consciousness, said Estabrooks, herself a U.S. Army veteran. “When we take a moment to acknowledge these narratives, we begin to peel away the cloak of invisibility that is heavy with years of words and actions that tell us (women veterans) that we are not seen,” she said. “And when we ask you to think ‘woman’ when you think ‘veteran,’ it is not because we seek a ‘special’ place, but an equal place beside our brothers, a place where our contributions are also acknowledged.” To learn more about the IANI exhibit, or request a display in your community, visit www.iani.oregondva.com. 21
Doolittle Raiders: 75 years later, their spirit lives on
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eventy-five years ago this April, 80 courageous Americans carried out one of the most amazing and heartstirring military operations in our nation's history. Under the leadership of Lt. Col. James Doolittle, 16 B-25B bombers left the deck of the USS Hornet on a one-way mission. Doolittle's men (known as the Doolittle Raiders), selected from the 17th Bomber Group based in Pendleton, were flying antisubmarine patrols in the Pacific. Their objective: bomb the Japanese on their homeland. All 16 planes delivered their payload on Tokyo. The message was clear: Japan was not safe from America’s wrath and we would not tolerate their unprovoked attack on Pearl Harbor. We were coming. The damage that day was heavy. It instilled fear in the Japanese people and it emboldened Americans across the country. These brave Doolittle Raiders were successful. It told the world that the United States will fight, and, no matter what it takes, we will win. Of the 80 men who left the Hornet 75 years ago, 62 survived the war. Four of their planes crash-landed; 11 more crews bailed out. Three of the Raiders died, eight were captured, three were executed and another died of starvation in a Japanese prison camp. The last crew made it to Russia. The entire World War II era was an incredible time that will forever be part of our American history. Americans came together as one people, one nation. It was a time, from the battlefield to home front, where everyone served and as a nation, we were proud to. Sixteen million men and women were in
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uniform. One-half of all men between the ages of 18 and 50 served; 417,000 lost their lives. Here in Oregon, over 152,000 served and almost 4,000 names are engraved on the World War II Memorial within the Capital grounds in Salem, honoring their ultimate sacrifice.
Remembering the Sacrifice In 2010, Congress unanimously passed a resolution to designate the second Sunday of every August as Spirit of ’45 Day. The goal was to remember all that was sacrificed and accomplished by the WWII generation and to more importantly, be inspired by their values of courage, sacrifice, “can-do” attitude, spirit, unity and service. In 2013, Oregon became the first state in the country to recognize a permanent Spirit of ’45 Day, to be celebrated on the second Sunday of every August. After Oregon passed legislation, my mother — a WWII war bride from England — and I continued to carry the torch for our WWII veterans and the entire generation. In 2015, I formed the nonprofit Oregon Spirit of ’45 Inc., to ensure this generation is honored and celebrated. In August 2015, this organization featured Oregon’s 234th Army National Guard Band and sponsored a six-city, one-week tour across the state to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the end of WWII.
Looking to the Future Our ultimate objective is to help our state “Remember and Be Inspired” by all the courage and achievements of the WWII generation. In an effort to meet this objective,
we are collecting WWII-era service photos. The goal is to collect as many WWII-era pictures of Oregonians who served as we can. In addition, we know many of our Oregonians have parents, family and friends who enlisted and served from other states. We want their photos, too. In that way, we can honor native sons and daughters along with the families of all Oregonians. These photos will be preserved on our website for future generations. They can also be made into posters, which will be carried in Oregon parades throughout the year, for a donation to cover the cost of printing. Send your photo to www.orspiritof45.org/photo and have your hero’s face carried on a poster in an Oregon parade by one of our youth. Also, please join us later this year for Oregon’s Spirit of ’45 Day, which we celebrate at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, where thousands of our WWII veterans rest. This year’s celebration will be at 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 13. Guest speakers include the granddaughter of Lt. Col. James Doolittle, Jonna Doolittle-Hoppes, and Ben Berry, son of a Tuskegee Airman. Between now and Aug. 14, 2020, our nation will commemorate the 75th anniversaries of World War II: from the Battle of Midway, to D-day, the Battle of the Bulge, MacArthur’s return to the Philippines, Iwo Jima, and ultimately, V-E Day and V-J Day. Help celebrate our WWII generation by attending Spirit of ’45 day at Willamette National Cemetery and honor this generation by sending in your loved ones’ WWII-era service photos. More information can be found online at www.orspiritof45.org.
By Barbara Jensen, Founder/President of Oregon Spirit of ’45, Inc.
guest contribution
Eighty American airmen, originally stationed at the Army Air Force Base in Pendleton, volunteered for the daring Doolittle Raid in 1942. It was the first air strike ever to strike the Japanese Home Islands, and 77 survived the initial assault (eight were captured as POWs, four of whom were ultimately executed or died in captivity). The 75th anniversary of their courage and sacrifice was recognized in April of this year.
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Many student veterans face various challenges transitioning from military service to higher education. Fortunately, most — if not all — postsecondary institutions offer services to help student vets make the most of their college experience. Photo by Ho'oulu, student newspaper of the University of Hawai'i-Maui.
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By Kim Douthit, Veterans Resource Specialist Portland Community College, Sylvania Campus
guest contribution
Transitioning from boots to books: Quick tips for student veterans
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any student veterans struggle with the transition from military service to higher education. Some of the common issues they face include difficulties adjusting to the classroom environment (physical discomfort of restrictive desks, test anxiety, etc.), feeling out of place on a campus made up of younger students, uncertainty about how their education benefits “work�, and being overwhelmed by all the decisions they need to make (what to major in, what classes to take, etc.). Most, if not all, post-secondary institutions offer services to help student veterans make the most of their college experience. Here are some of my quick tips for veterans who are wading into the world of higher education:
Find Your Community One of the best predictors for overall satisfaction for any student is their feeling of connectedness to the campus. Students who access campus services, participate in clubs, or find other ways to connect with peers have a more enriching college experience and are more successful in completing their degree. With that in mind, here are some ways student veterans can connect to their campus community: Find out if your campus has a Veterans Center. Many campuses now offer lounge space for student veterans that includes amenities like free coffee and computer labs. They often organize events and social activities specifically for their veteran population. Veterans Centers are a great way to connect with other student veterans, get referrals to services, or even just get the gouge on which professors are the best! If your campus does not have a designated Veterans
Center, there might be a student group or club for veterans. Student groups can provide a sense of support and unity. The more experienced student veterans on your campus can be a good resource for everything from navigating campus services to finding good, cheap places to get lunch. If your campus is lacking a student veterans club, there is support (including funding!) available through Student Veterans of America (studentveterans.org) to get a club started at your school.
Access Campus Services Many campuses offer great services such as career counseling, job placement assistance, academic advising, tutoring and classroom accommodations. You are paying for these services with your tuition, so you may as well use them! An example of an under-utilized service on my campus is Disability Services. We have an incredible system set up to request classroom accommodations, but many students don’t think they need or qualify for them. Students are often surprised to find out how easy it is to get help with note-taking, or even permission to take a test in an alternate location. Look into the services available on your campus and make an effort to find out how they can benefit your classroom experience. I think I speak for my fellow student services professionals when I say we are 100 percent here for the students. It sounds corny, but student success truly is our success. The best recommendation I can make to any student veteran is to seek out and utilize the services on their campus. The staff is there for the sole purpose of doing whatever is necessary to help students be successful in achieving their educational goals. 25
Polk County opens veteran services office
Previously served by ODVA Statewide Veteran Services in Salem, Polk County veterans now have their own local veteran services office. More info: www.co.polk. or.us/vso.
Rural veteran transport program renewed
Oregon counties have received a renewed provision of the federal government’s Highly Rural Transportation Grant, assisting with transportation costs for Oregon’s ten counties which are considered “highly rural.” The half-million dollar grant is leveraged locally to maximize the benefit to veterans.
President signs resolution authorizing National Desert Storm War Memorial
March 31, 2017 — Veterans of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm will soon have their own memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., thanks to Senate Joint Resolution 1. The National Desert Storm War Memorial will honor veterans who served in the Gulf War in 1990 and 1991. Sponsors of the memorial will soon begin the process of fundraising, choosing a location and selecting a design.
VA now providing online daily burial schedules for its national cemeteries
March 24, 2017 — The federal VA now offers a new online schedule for all VA national cemeteries, though some scheduled services may not be included if families opt out of publicly posting the information.
expansion of mental health care to former service members with other-than-honorable discharges and in crisis
March 8, 2017 — Federal VA Secretary David Shulkin announced that a plan will be finalized this summer to expand provisions for mental health care needs to former service members with other-thanhonorable (OTH) administrative discharges. The plan proposes that former OTH service members would be able to seek treatment at a VA emergency department, Vet Center, or by contacting the Veterans Crisis Line.
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VA dental insurance pilot program extended for enrolled veterans
MyVA311: One number to call to reach VA
VA to recognize tribal organizations as veteran representatives
Vets.gov adds GI Bill benefits application feature
Feb. 2, 2017 — The federal VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP) piloted in 2014, originally set to end in 2017, has now been extended through 2021. Individuals already enrolled in VADIP will automatically receive coverage for 12 months.
Jan. 31, 2017 — The federal VA is now allowing eligible tribal organizations to become accredited by the VA so that they may train tribal employees as veteran service officers (VSOs). Tribal organizations must meet the same stringent requirements expected of state and national VSOs.
New rule establishes a presumption of service connection for diseases associated with exposure to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune
Jan. 13, 2017 — The federal VA has published regulations to establish presumptions for the service connection of eight diseases associated with exposure to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The presumption applies to active duty, reserve and National Guard members who served at Camp Lejeune for a minimum of 30 days between Aug. 1, 1953 and Dec 31, 1987, and are diagnosed with any of the following conditions: adult leukemia, aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or Parkinson’s disease.
New regulation changes copayment cost of outpatient medication
Jan. 12, 2017 — Effective Feb. 27, the federal VA changed regulations concerning copayments charged to veterans for medications required on an outpatient basis to treat non-service connected conditions. Copayments will be on a tiered system meant to keep costs low for veterans. Veterans who do not currently have a copayment or are exempt by law will not be affected by the change.
Nov. 14, 2016 — The federal VA introduced a new national toll-free number as a go-to source for veterans and their families who are unsure what number to call. By dialing 1-844-MyVA311 (1-844-698-2311), callers can access information on services, nearby locations, and crisis resources.
Nov. 10, 2016 — Veterans and servicemembers are now able to apply for their GI Bill benefits online at www. vets.gov with a simplified, easier-to-use interface. Application processing times are expected to remain 4-6 weeks.
Social Security and Veterans Affairs partnership speeds disability decisions for veterans Nov. 9, 2016 — Social Security and the federal VA created a partnership to expedite processing of disability cases by obtaining medical records electronically in a convenient and secure fashion.
VA launches nationwide study on the health of Vietnam Era Veterans
Nov. 2, 2016 — In November 2016, federal VA researchers began recruiting participants for the Vietnam Era Health Retrospective Observational Study (VEHEROeS) in order to better understand the long-term health consequences of Vietnam War service. Volunteers are not being accepted for this study.
real time notifications and information about veteran benefits
Stay up to date with the latest veteran benefit news by subscribing to email updates from the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs. ODVA allows users to subscribe only to the benefit topics that they are most interested in receiving updates and information about. To sign up, visit ODVA's website, www.oregon. gov/odva, and click eSubscribe. This information is also available on the agency blog at www.oregondva.com.
veteran benefit corner
VA National Cemeteries Now Offering Pre-Need Eligibility Determinations
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any individuals would like to know, in advance, whether they are eligible for burial or memorialization in a Department of Veterans Affairs national cemetery. To assist them, the federal VA has launched the “Pre-Need Eligibility Determination Program,” through which veterans and their family members can, upon request, learn if they are eligible for interment in a VA national cemetery prior to their death.
email to Eligibility.PreNeed@va.gov; or regular mail to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office, P.O. Box 510543, St. Louis, MO 63151.
The program, announced in December 2016, is aimed specifically at helping individuals with burial planning and making sure their deceased loved ones’ wishes are known well beforehand. It comes as part of a larger initiative, MyVA, focused on enhancing the overall VA service experience for veterans and VA employees.
Those generally eligible for burial in a national cemetery include active duty military members, veterans who have met minimum active duty service requirements as applicable by law and who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, and members of the reserves and National Guard who have 20 years of service creditable for retired pay, or died while on active duty, or were activated and served a full term of active service. Veterans’ spouses, minor children and, under certain conditions, dependent unmarried adult children may also be eligible for burial even if they predecease the eligible veteran.
“MyVA is about looking at the VA from the veterans’ perspective, and then doing everything we can to make the veteran experience effective and seamless,” said former Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald. “This new program reaffirms our commitment to providing a lifetime of benefits and services for veterans and their families.” To apply, you must submit a VA Form 40-10007, Application for PreNeed Determination of Eligibility for Burial in a VA National Cemetery, along with supporting documentation, such as a DD 214, to the VA National Cemetery Scheduling Office by toll-free fax at 1-855-840-8299;
The federal VA will review applications and provide written notice of its determination of eligibility. That determination and supporting documentation will also be kept on file to expedite future burial arrangements at the time of need.
If you are deemed eligible, you will be entitled to the same benefits that you would receive were a determination made at the time of death, including any or all of the following, at no cost to the family: burial in any open VA national cemetery, perpetual care of the gravesite, government-furnished headstone or marker, burial flag, and Presidential Memorial Certificate. 27
The VA Hepatitis C Revolution
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hris, a Vietnam-era Army veteran, lived with hepatitis C for years. Now, thanks to new and effective treatments provided by the federal VA health care system, he’s cured.
change for the better, according to Chang. New drugs and treatments began to be developed, ones that did not rely on interferon and had minimal side effects. Cure rates started to rise dramatically.
Chris enlisted in the early ’70s and was stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas. After discharge, he worked as a wood cutter for 23 years and is now an over-the-road truck driver. He doesn’t know when he contracted the virus (it can be carried for decades before symptoms manifest), but he got a positive diagnosis in 2004.
“Over the past few years, there’s been an explosion of options,” Chang said.
“I got real sick back then,” he recalled. “It wasn’t even the hep C. I had pneumonia. But what happened was, I went to the hospital, and the doctors said that my eyes were a bit yellow. I had some jaundice. They drew some blood; they did the test right there and said, yeah, I needed to go see somebody.”
The only remaining barrier was cost. But that changed in 2016 and 2017, when Congress appropriated a total of $3 billion to the VA for hepatitis C treatment. That has opened the door for any eligible veteran to receive the treatment if they wish.
Symptoms of hepatitis C, a virus that primarily affects the liver, include fever, fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain and yellowish pigmentation of the skin (also called jaundice). In more serious cases, it can cause liver disease or cirrhosis, which could eventually lead to cancer or liver failure. Unfortunately, the interferon-based treatments available at the time were cumbersome, expensive and had a number of adverse side effects. Dr. Michael Chang, section chief for GI and hepatology at the Portland VA Medical Center, said that because of these side effects, the average dropout rates (30 percent) were higher than the cure rates (about 26 percent). “The cure rates were abysmal,” he said. “It was something that a lot of patients didn’t really want to go through unless they had a lifethreatening case.”
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The new treatment regimens are orally based and typically last just eight to 12 weeks. And they are extremely effective, with cure rates of 94 percent or even higher, according to VA statistics.
“It’s a re-education process,” said registered nurse Dana Smothers, nursing care coordinator for the Portland VAMC’s hepatitis C program. When veterans call the confidential hep C hotline, Smothers is the voice on the other end of the call. “We hear people say all the time, ‘Oh, I don’t need the treatment. I’m not sick enough.’” “We’re clarifying what are now misconceptions,” Chang agreed. “Anyone with hepatitis C now has access, and we are actively encouraging everyone to participate.” The campaign has led Chang and Smothers to go public with some startling, but true, statistics. For example, the VA estimates that three out of four people living with hepatitis C don’t know that they have the virus, because they’ve never been tested and their symptoms have yet to surface.
Chris said that, back in 2004, he was interested in the treatment anyway, but his doctors advised against it.
Baby boomers are at higher risk for carrying the infection, and veterans are more than twice as likely to be hep C-positive as the general population. Why?
“I guess the treatment was pretty harsh, and they didn’t think I would make it through very well,” he said. “I wanted to do it, but now I understand why they didn’t. My liver wasn’t at risk. I have no hard feelings about it.”
“The single biggest risk factor for hepatitis C is being stationed outside the United States,” Chang said. “That’s the main reason veterans are at higher risk, especially Vietnam veterans.”
In 2011, the state of hepatitis care started to
A common misconception is that hepatitis
C is a sexually transmitted disease. It is actually rare for the virus to be contracted this way because it requires direct blood-toblood contact. However, it can be transmitted through intravenous drug use, nonsterile tattoos or body piercings and blood transfusions or organ transplants prior to 1992. Smothers said the virus can be spread through combat injuries, vehicular accidents, even sharing razors. A simple blood test can determine whether someone is infected, and the results are typically known within 24 hours. Because of the higher prevalence in veterans born between 1945 and 1965, the VA — along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force — is recommending that everyone in this generation be tested. “They’re the need-to-know generation,” Smothers said, of baby boomers. "This is vital information for them." Chris was contacted about the new VA program in 2016 and quickly got on board. He was prescribed a daily dose of Harvoni (generic name: sofosbuvir) and ribavirin. Thanks to the congressional funding, the treatment cost him just a few dollars — the same copay as a multivitamin. The regimen consisted of the daily pills, as well as routine labs at his local clinic once a month. “After three months, I went in to get tested one last time, and they said they couldn’t find the virus in me anymore. I was completely hep C-free,” he said. “That felt really good to hear.” He said he encourages other veterans who may be living with hepatitis C to call the confidential hotline and get tested. “I do recommend the treatment, especially to anyone who has been diagnosed,” he said. “I know, for me, I didn’t think it was a big deal. But when your immune system gets attacked, you wind up with other problems.” For more information about the VA’s hepatitis C program, call 503-220-3471.
By Tyler Francke, Veterans News Magazine
veteran benefit corner
Portland VA Nursing Care Coordinator Dana Smothers, left, and Dr. Michael Chang, discuss the results of a Fibroscan assessment at the Portland VA Medical Center. Fibroscan is a fast, accurate, painless and noninvasive technology that replaces the uncomfortable liver biopsy. Official VA Portland Health Care System photo by Kelli Roesch.
Local hep C clinics helping break barriers
To help reduce barriers to receiving life-changing hepatits C treatment, the VA Portland's team is visiting other clinics on the following days:
Vancouver: April 24 and May 22 bend: July 28, Aug. 25 and Sept. 22 Salem: May 19, June 16 and July 14 West linn: Every Wednesday a.m. 29
boots on the ground
By Jolene Guzman | Polk County Itemizer-Observer Reprinted with permission
Veteran’s dream granted Jill Starbuck to take final trip to Hawaii with loved one thanks to ‘Dream’
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n a Monday morning earlier this year, Jill Starbuck, and her partner, Richard, boarded a plane to fulfill a dream.
Starbuck, a military veteran, has pancreatic cancer and is on hospice. She wanted to make a last trip to Hawaii before she becomes too weak. Most of all, though, she wanted to share the experience with Richard, whom she calls “my rock and my love.” Dreams for Veterans, part of the nonprofit Dream Foundation, which grants the wishes of terminally ill adults, gave her that opportunity after receiving a heartfelt appeal from Starbuck. “Richard and I have been together for four years, and for half of that time, I have been sick,” Starbuck wrote in her letter to the foundation. “He is my rock. He has supported me and cared for me, and has done that because he loves me. I know he could have left our relationship at any time. He had no obligation to stay. We both feel overwhelmed sometimes, but he has never faltered.” Starbuck has been unable to work since her diagnosis, so the couple can’t afford to pay for the trip themselves. “I would like to go someplace with Richard to create a special memory for us both,” she wrote. She’s been to Hawaii before — and recalls 30
Photo by Jolene Guzman
fondly the sense of calm that particular location on the earth provided her. “I have never seen another place quite like it,” Starbuck wrote. “I long to see this again before I die. And I long to share it with my rock and my love, Richard. ... Most of all, I want to sit by the beach, holding his hand and watching the waves come in, in the beautiful Hawaii of my most peaceful memory.” The couple will stay at Coconut Condos on Maui, attend a VIP luau for two, and have a dream wedding on the beach. Dreams for Veterans worked with Maui’s Angels, Coconut Condos, Hertz, Hyatt and Alaska Airlines to make Starbuck's dream possible. Those types of partnerships have made it possible for the organization to fulfill the dreams of every qualified applicant since Dreams for Veterans began in 2015. Thursday, Polk County’s Veteran Services Officer Marie McCandless, VSO office assistant Stephanie Torres, and Polk County commissioners Jennifer Wheeler and Mike Ainsworth delivered a basket full of beachready swag.
Hospice caretakers. “These hospice people are the most wonderful people in the world,” she said. “They are the ones that encouraged me to apply for this.” Starbuck said she thought her service didn’t stack up to what others had given. She didn’t go to war, she said. McCandless wasn’t hearing any of that. “You are a veteran, right? You served our country,” McCandless said. “We are very thankful to you for your service.” Starbuck said enjoyed her time in the Marine Reserves. She served from 1984 to 1987. “It was the time of my life, one of them. There’s the other time of my life,” she said, pointing to Richard. “I just wish I got that time of my life a little sooner.” Monday morning the couple was flying toward what they hope will be another “time of their lives.”
“In this basket, there’s some goodies for you, along with your plane tickets,” McCandless said.
“When we get back, I will be glad to tell you all about it,” Starbuck told McCandless. “I know he is going to like it.”
Starbuck still seemed in that shock the foundation granted her wish. She heard of the program through her Willamette Valley
For more information about Dreams for Veterans, visit the Foundation's website at www.dreamfoundation.org/veterans.
locate a veteran service office
Filing a veteran claim is always free The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs, local county veteran service officers (CVSOs) and national service organizations provide claims assistance to all veteran and familiy members. Veteran service officers are accredited by the federal VA and certified by the state of Oregon. The disability claim process begins the moment you file a claim. Service officers are also available to assist with other veteran benefits and resources. To schedule an appointment, please contact the office nearest you.
PORTLAND (ODVA)
503 412 4777
SALEM (ODVA)
503 373 2085
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
541 247 3205
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
MALHEUR
541 889 6649
MARION
503 373 2085
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
AMERICAN LEGION
541 475 5228
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS
541 774 8214
503 412 4750
JEFFERSON
MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART
541 475 5228
JOSEPHINE
541 474 5454
KLAMATH
541 883 4274
503 412 4770
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR BLACK VETERANS OF AMERICA
LAKE
503 412 4159
LANE
PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA
541 947 6043 541 682 4191
LINCOLN
541 574 6955
LINN
541 967 3882
504 412 4762
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS
503 412 4757
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