Oregon Veterans News Magazine Issue 9 by Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs

OREGON VETERANS NEWS MAGAZINE

SUMMER 2021

STRONGER

TOGETHER WOMEN VETERANS STAY CONNECTED WITH FIRST-EVER VIRTUAL CONFERENCE

REMEMBERING

NISEI VETS HONORING THE MILITARY’S MOST DECORATED WWII FIGHTING UNIT

NEW EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS PROVIDE HELP DURING PANDEMIC

H2O4Heroes State agencies partner together to show veterans the benefits of recreational therapy, connecting with nature and each other

TALKING WITH A VETERAN IN CRISIS You don’t have to be an expert to ask if someone is going through a difficult time or having thoughts of suicide. If you notice changes in a Veteran’s behavior or moods and you think they might be in crisis, it’s time to respond. The simple act of having a conversation can help save a life.

Here are some ways to approach a conversation with a Veteran who may be suicidal. First, assess the situation to determine if the Veteran may be in imminent danger. Check to see if there are any harmful objects in the area, such as firearms, sharp objects, or lethal drugs. Those at the highest risk for suicide often have a specific suicide plan, the means to carry out the plan, a time set for doing it, and an intention of following through with it. Asking whether a Veteran is having thoughts of self-harm or suicide may seem extreme, but it is important. Although many people may not show clear signs of intent to harm themselves before doing so, they will likely answer direct questions about their intentions when asked. Remember, asking if someone is having suicidal thoughts will not give them the idea or increase their risk. However, some of those who are at risk may not admit that they plan to attempt suicide. In case the Veteran won’t talk about it, be sure to look for warning signs in the box to the right.

Safety Issues: If you believe a Veteran is at high risk and has already harmed himself or herself, you need to call local emergency services at 911. • Never negotiate with someone who has a gun. Get to safety and call 911. • If the Veteran has taken pills or harmed himself or herself in some way, call 911. Veterans who are in emotional distress and are showing warning signs for suicide can be connected to the 24-hour Veterans Crisis Line: Call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, use the online chat, or text to 838255. Caring, specially trained responders are available to provide free, confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Responders are available to speak to Veterans and their caregivers, family members, or friends.

Warning Signs of Imminent Suicide Risk Acting recklessly or engaging in risky activities that could lead to death, such as driving fast or running red lights — seemingly without thinking Showing violent behavior such as punching holes in walls, getting into fights, or engaging in self-destructive violence; feeling rage or uncontrolled anger; or seeking revenge Giving away prized possessions, putting affairs in order, tying up loose ends, and/or making out a will Seeking access to firearms, pills, or other means of harming oneself If you and/or the Veteran are not in imminent danger, start a conversation to help the Veteran open up and to find out how you might be able to help. You can ask questions such as: • “When did you first start feeling like this?” • “Did something happen that made you begin to feel this way?” When responding to answers from a Veteran, remember that simple, encouraging feedback goes a long way in showing support and encouraging help-seeking: • “You’re not alone, even if you feel like you are. I’m here for you, and I want to help you in any way I can.” • “It may not seem possible right now, but the way you’re feeling will change.” • “I might not be able to understand exactly what you’re going through or how you feel, but I care about you and want to help.” Even for Veterans who do not appear to be suicidal, it is important to direct them to resources to help them face mental health challenges and more. For more information about the Veterans Crisis Line, visit VeteransCrisisLine.net For more information about VA’s mental health resources, visit www.mentalhealth.va.gov For access to more than 400 stories of strength and recovery from Veterans and their family members, visit MakeTheConnection.net

WWW.WVC.OREGONDVA.COM

DIRECTOR Kelly Fitzpatrick

Strength, Unity Will Carry Us Forward

he shared challenges our state has faced since the onset of the global health crisis, including social unrest in protest of systemic inequity and racism, economic and housing uncertainty, and — in far too many cases — the lives and livelihoods of too many veterans permanently altered, has continued to reaffirmed ODVA’s commitment and purpose. As so many Oregon veterans continue to struggle to find additional resources to help them through this unprecedented time in our nation’s history, the work ODVA and its partners do every day aligns with one singular focus — to serve all those who have served. While this year has brought unique challenges, particularly concerning public health, it has also brought innumerable triumphs of the human spirit. We have seen veterans and those who serve them come together in myriad ways, leveraging the landscape of emerging technologies to continue to provide critical services and stay connected. Delayed for one year due to the pandemic, ODVA hosted the biennial Women Veterans Conference virtually for the first time in its more than 20-year history. And though we wished we could have had the opportunity to meet in person, the conference surpassed all expectations, providing a platform for hundreds of women veterans to learn about their earned veteran benefits and connect with other women veterans across the state at a critical time. Other ODVA efforts through the pandemic has been aimed at meeting the unique needs of our most vulnerable veterans. In this issue you will read about services available to veterans involved in the justice system, information on available veteran educational programs and ODVA administered grant programs that serve an important role in improving the lives of veterans. These grant programs fund direct services to

veterans in their own communities. While these programs are important, I continue to encourage all veterans and their families to contact a Veteran Service Office to explore the full range of state and federal benefits and programs that exist across the state. Oregon’s robust network of free and local veteran services in all 36 counties across the state, including the new expansion of Tribal Veteran Service Offices on tribal land. These services that directly assist veterans in accessing resources and benefits across health, economy, and education are the result of generations of service members advocating to ensure appropriate and needed resources that are equitably available to all those who have served. Whether a veteran needs assistance navigating the VA benefit system, filing a disability claim, or has questions about accessing other resources like healthcare, housing, employment, or emergency grants, scheduling an appointment with a VSO will be the start to accessing the best resources to fit their needs. A listing of accredited and free Veteran Service Offices is located on the back page of this issue. Lastly, as our state continues to respond to the changing impacts of COVID-19 and efforts to protect the most vulnerable among us, I strongly encourage all veterans, their spouses and caregivers, and CHAMPVA recipients to consider get a COVID-19 vaccine for free at the VA. Links to VA Medical Centers in Oregon and other vaccine information is located on ODVA’s homepage.

Published August 2021

OREGON VETERANS NEWS MAGAZINE

Oregon Veterans News Magazine is a free publication by the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Each issue contains current information impacting veterans in Oregon including federal VA topics and state, regional and local happenings.

ODVA reaches more than 25,000 veterans and their families through this print and electronic publication. We welcome ideas and tips about veteran concerns, issues and programs that are important, informative and/ or a great story that veterans would enjoy reading about. This is the final print edition of Oregon Veterans News Magazine. See page 30 for more information.

Oregon Veterans News Magazine 700 Summer St. NE, Salem, OR 97301 503-373-2389 | www.oregon.gov/odva odvainformation@odva.oregon.gov facebook.com/odvavet Executive Editor: Nicole Hoeft Managing Editor: Tyler Francke Digital & Visual Editor: Sarah Paris Copy Editor: Kathie Dalton

ON THE COVER Oregon State Marine Board Director and veteran Larry Warren kayaks during a kick-off event for the H2O4Heroes campaign. See page 12.

8 Contents INTHECOMMUNITY 6

Amputees find strength in community.

Bend names new school building after local hero.

Operator spends harrowing night at Detroit Dam.

COVER FEATURE 12

Disabled veterans find healing, freedom and independence on the water.

SPOTLIGHTS 16

New state and federal programs are available to help student veterans and workers impacted by COVID-19 succeed.

The 2021 Oregon Women Veterans Conference, held virtually for the first time, was a smashing success.

The Oregon veteran community bids farewell to one of its fiercest advocates: former ODVA Director Jim Willis.

22 18 20

Honoring and remembering the Nisei veterans of World War II, who endured prejudice from home to serve their country.

OVER AND OUT 30

ODVA looks back on the history of Vets’ News before opening a new chapter.

R&R

BENEFITS CORNER

AS YOU WERE

ODVA’s incarcerated veteran coordinators stay busy during pandemic. The latest federal and state benefits and resources related to COVID-19. New federal and state veteran benefits and updates for the first half of 2021.

Unable to find work after his discharge, Army veteran R.J. Navarro turned to Project ABLE. Now, he uses his experience to help others. The latest “In-Country” reflections on service in South Vietnam from Phil Fehrenbacher, plus a look at two books by Oregon veterans.

In the community

By Tyler Francke, Veterans News Magazine

Strength in Numbers

Ample resources, including peer support groups and visits from a trained and certified peer visitor, exist to help veterans and their loved ones dealing with limb loss.

or thousands of veteran amputees and other wounded warriors, support, understanding and healing often comes from one place: other wounded warriors. That’s something the nonprofit Amputee Coalition knows well. The organization’s goal is to support veterans and their families with education, advocacy and information about further limb loss prevention — a mission that has become all the more pressing during COVID-19 “To veterans who are living with limb loss: we see you; we hear you,” the coalition said in a Veterans Day message last year. “No one should go through their limb loss journey alone.” The organization can arrange peer visits with an experienced, trained and certified peer visitor who will offer encouragement and information from a place, and at a pace, that an individual living with limb loss can better relate to. Arrangements for a visit may be made through the federal VA system of care, or you can request an online visit by using the secure online form, their peer support mobile app, or by calling 888-267-5669, extension 1. The coalition also partners with the VA to help veterans find 6

VETERANS NEWS MAGAZINE

Support groups and peer support Location: Salem Hospital, Building D (and Zoom) Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m. every Thursday Contact: Karisa Bonney karissa_bonney@yahoo.com 1-702-203-3022 To find groups and resources in your area, visit www.amputee-coalition.org.

rehabilitation and prosthetic services and maintains an online database of support groups and other resources in your area — and throughout the entire United States. If you have questions about the Amputee Coalition or living with limb loss, please call the National Limb Loss Resource Center at 888-267-5669, and press 1, or visit www.amputee-coalition. org.

By Tyler Francke, Veterans News Magazine

In the Community

Leaving a Legacy The newest building at Bend High School is being named in honor of the city’s most famous veteran.

new building at Bend’s Senior High School is being named after the community’s most famous veteran, the late Medal of Honor recipient Robert D. Maxwell — and it’s right on top of where the longtime teacher taught automotive repair classes. “He was a man who made great contributions to not only our school system, but to our country and our world, and it’s an honor to be able to name a building after him,” board member Amy Tatom said when the Bend-La Pine School Board voted to approve the proposal in June. Maxwell — who died in May 2019 at the age of 98 — was not only a former teacher at Bend High, but he also received the Medal of Honor in 1945 for risking his life to save fellow American soldiers the year prior while his infantry division was in Besancon, France during World War II. When German soldiers lobbed a grenade at his group, the 23-year-old Army technician fifth grade grabbed a blanket and fell on the explosive, severely wounding himself but saving the lives of four American soldiers, including a battalion commander. Maxwell received many other awards for his selfless and courageous actions in World War II, including two Silver Stars, two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, the Croix de Guerre and Legion d’Honneur. After returning to the United States, he eventually settled in Oregon, where he taught auto repair and service at Bend High School and Central Oregon Community College. After spending time in Lane County and Arizona, Maxwell and his wife, Beatrice Maxwell, permanently moved back to Bend in 1996. Maxwell was deeply immersed in the Central Oregon veteran community and was an integral part of Bend Senior High’s annual Veterans Day celebration. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living Medal of Honor recipient — and the only recipient still living in Oregon. “His character withstands the test of time,” said Bend High

World War II veteran Robert Dale Maxwell was awarded the Medal of Honor for jumping on an enemy grenade to protect his fellow soldiers.

Principal Chris Reese. “He was a phenomenal teacher; he was a phenomenal human. It was truly an honor to get to know Bob Maxwell and all he represented.” The proposal required the school district to make an exception to its longstanding rule of requiring school or building namesakes to have been deceased for at least five years. But surveys showed the school and greater Bend community were overwhelmingly in favor of the idea. It was also the unanimous choice of a naming committee made up of Bend High administrators, teachers, students and other locals, including members of the local Band of Brothers veterans’ group, Reese said. “As a student, I know we view him as one of our own family members in the Lava Bear family,” Bend High senior Molly Hodson, who was on the committee, told the school board. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs clinic in Bend was also renamed after Maxwell in 2020 — on what would have been the Medal of Honor recipient’s 100th birthday. “If he was here, he would say ‘don’t make a big deal out of it,’” one of Maxwell’s daughters, Linda Maxwell, said at the time. “He would be humbled and appreciative of it all,” added Maxwell’s daughter Bonnie Spies. Maxwell’s humility was well-known. “For those lucky enough to know Bob Maxwell personally, he was ever modest about his heroic deeds, preferring a life dedicated to giving back to his community,” ODVA Director Kelly Fitzpatrick said at his memorial service in 2019. “His warmth, kindness, sense of humor and positive spirit will be forever missed.” The building will include a large multi-purpose room and four new classrooms and is part of the 2017 construction bond. The new building will sit on the same site where Maxwell taught automotive classes for decades. The Robert D. Maxwell Center is slated to open in the fall of 2021. OREGON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

The Longest Shift U.S. Army Corps of engineers operator trapped at detroit dam during beachie creek wildfire Dam operator Mike Pomeroy, trapped at Detroit Dam for over 30 hours during the 2020 Labor Day wildfires, took pictures of the facilities shrouded in smoke and haze. 8

VETERANS NEWS MAGAZINE

n Monday, Sept. 7, 2020 — Labor Day — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers power plant operator and Navy veteran Mike Pomeroy said goodbye to his wife, Ronda, the way he always did: with a promise. “See you in 14.” Then he headed down the road for his shift at the Detroit Dam, aware that the surrounding communities and forest lands were in “red flag” conditions as the Beachie Creek Fire consumed vast acreage in the northeast — and seemed to be pushing determinedly toward the Santiam Canyon. Through the night, the fire surged south as Pomeroy went about his work, driving between Detroit Dam and Big Cliff Dam three miles to the northwest. Dam operators manage both dams while on shift. Around midnight, the “main line” blew at Big Cliff, and he drove to the dam to reset it. “I knew conditions were deteriorating” Pomeroy said. “While traveling to Big Cliff, the wind had kicked up to 50 or 60 miles an hour.” At the time, county emergency managers issued level 3 (“Go Now”) evacuations alerts for the area, something Pomeroy learned from a state trooper who had to shout to be heard.

By Tyler Francke, Veterans News Magazine

Pomeroy returned to Detroit Dam and began to prepare the plant to be in an “unmanned” state. “I knew time was critical,” he said. “It was a race to get things in the best state possible before I left.” Finally, in the morning, Pomeroy received the notice to evacuate. He finished readying the dam, and called his wife. He climbed into his Chevy Spark and turned onto Highway 22—a familiar route that was now a war zone. Fires raged around his vehicle. Embers, smoke, deadfall, rocks and flames littered the road. Pomeroy only made it a few miles. Roads were completely blocked by fire from the east and west. He radioed his supervisors and told them he could not make it out. They said they could not make it to him. He took the only choice left: shelter in place at the dam, where he would have relative safety — but limited resources and little to no contact with the outside world. At the dam, Pomeroy continued to secure the site. “I was doing as much as I could to keep the powerplant, the equipment and myself safe,” he said. “I kept brainstorming to keep myself busy: ‘what else could I do?’” Pomeroy brought vehicles into the main bay of the powerhouse. He opened the gate and unlocked the penthouse for anyone seeking refuge from the fire. “It was a hundred little details that kept me moving, kept me preparing for whatever would come next,” he said. When he wasn’t preparing the facility, Pomeroy was stocking supplies in anticipation of a last stand inside the concrete walls of the dam. He staged water, food and a self-contained breathing apparatus. He soaked cloth air masks in water to prepare for smoke. He brought in a cot, spare clothing, a sleeping bag from his locker — in his words, “anything I could think of.”

At this point, the gloomy sky was raining ash, and Pomeroy said he could barely tell it was daylight. Pomeroy would take short naps throughout the day, setting alarms to sleep for only 15 minutes at a time. “There was an exhaustion factor, but I didn’t like the idea of sleep,” he said. “It felt like putting chance in charge.” Pomeroy continued to watch for the fire, and Tuesday evening, he saw it approaching as he watched the security cameras. In the time he had left, he made his way to the dam and powerhouse. Recognizing the plant may be destroyed in the fire, he went into the concrete dam. It was around 11:30 p.m. when he closed the dam door behind him with a single fellow refugee: a chipmunk that ran inside the powerhouse earlier. Pomeroy decided to shelter in the lower level, believing it to be the best and most secure place. There, deep inside the dam, Pomeroy laid down on his cot and pulled his sleeping bag around him. It was so cold he could see his breath. Knowing he’d done all he could do, he closed his eyes as fire erupted around the dam. Ronda, Pomeroy’s wife of 38 years, could not bring herself to sleep that night. “I finally laid down around 2 a.m., but I couldn’t sleep – I didn’t want to miss a call from him,” she said. When Wednesday morning came, she tried the phone to the powerhouse and Pomeroy’s cell phone but couldn’t reach

In the Community

him. She began to cry. “I thought I’d lost him.” Eight hours after entering the dam, Pomeroy poked his head out of the door. “I didn’t hear or see fire,” he said. “I saw daylight.” He tried his radio. Lookout Point, more than 100 miles away, answered him. “That was a happy moment.” Around 11 a.m., Pomeroy’s coworkers, escorted by law enforcement and fire officials in the still dangerous evacuation area, left for Detroit. It took an hour of navigating through roadways littered with debris to reach the powerhouse operator. Pomeroy had been alone for 30 hours when he saw his supervisor and coworkers arrive. “It was exhilarating to see them,” he said. “There was a lot of hugging.” But after greetings, Pomeroy began to work. He and his team began to bring the plant back up, and get the generators running. “We still had a job to do,” Pomeroy said. Pomeroy spoke about the team that supported him from afar through the disaster. “I’d like to thank them all – their efforts to get to me, their constant communication with my family,” he said. “I can’t thank them enough.” The experience didn’t prevent him from returning to the line of work. On Sept. 18, Pomeroy returned again to Detroit Dam for his shift.

Pomeroy recounts the harrowing ordeal of being trapped at Detroit Dam as the massive Beachie Creek wildfire ravaged the Santiam Canyon. OREGON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

State Offers Help In uncertain times, grant opportunities abound to meet needs of oregon veterans Above: The Grant County People Mover, one of the local providers that partners with the state and federal government to transport Oregon veterans to their medical appointments each year through the Highly Rural Transportation Grant program. 10

VETERANS NEWS MAGAZINE

he Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs is proud to offer many funding opportunities to cover a variety of needs for Oregon veterans. Active grants available to individual veterans include the Veteran Educational Bridge Grant for student veterans, and Emergency Financial Assistance Funds available to veterans and their immediate family. Both of these grants continue to be available; you may apply individually or ask for assistance through your local County Veteran Service Office (CVSO). Find your CVSO at oregon.gov/odva/ Services/Pages/County-Services.aspx.

The Veteran Educational Bridge Grant is specifically designed to help Oregon veterans complete their educational goals by providing financial assistance to veterans who are unable to complete their education or training due to the unavailability of one or more required classes. To date, ODVA has awarded over $220,000 to nearly 50 student veterans in academic and training programs that include traditional degrees, professional certificates, flight programs and apprenticeships. More information about this program is available on page 16.

By Sarah Paris and Jacqueline Kemp, Veterans News Magazine

In the Community

Emergency Financial Assistance Funds are available to veterans and their immediate family (spouse, unremarried surviving spouse, child, or stepchild) who need emergency financial assistance. Assistance includes, but is not limited to, emergency or temporary housing and related housing expenses, such as expenses for utilities, insurance, or house repairs; mortgage or rent assistance; emergency medical or dental expenses; and emergency transportation expenses. Assistance is granted one time only and average award amounts vary. To learn more and apply, visit oregon.gov/odva/

Benefits/Pages/Emergency-Assistance. aspx.

The Campus Veteran Resource Center Grant, administered by ODVA and funded by Lottery dollars through Measure 96, is designed to expand Campus Veteran Resource Centers and bolster other services aimed at improving outcomes for student veterans at Oregon’s public universities and community colleges. In 2020, all 14 of the public universities and community colleges that applied for a grant received a portion of the available grant funds. The one-time grants ranged from $25,830 to $ 79,290. The Veteran Service Grant, another ODVA-administered program supported by Measure 96 Lottery dollars, funds key projects that will improve veterans’ access to transportation, housing, health care and other vital services across the state. In 2020, a total of 20 organizations received one-time grant awards ranging from $10,000 to $102,179. Organizations eligible to apply for this grant must be designated as a nonprofit or veteran organization, or a tribal, regional or local government. Both of these grant programs have been renewed for new cycles of funding. Two programs aimed at helping rural veterans gain health care access are the Highly Rural Transportation Grant, a federal VA program administered by ODVA, and the Rural Veterans’ Health Care Transportation Grant, which was Lottery-funded and jointly administered by ODVA and ODOT. The first grant is an annual program offering funding to local transportation

providers in counties designated by the federal VA as “highly rural.” The second program is similar, offering grants of between $10,000 and $50,000 to providers in areas not served by the Highly Rural program. To learn more about ODVA’s grant programs and subscribe to updates, visit

oregon.gov/odva/agency-programs/ grants/Pages/default.aspx.

Above: Project ABLE received grant funding for peer support and recovery, hope and wellness programs in Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties. More on page 28. Right: Rogue Community College’s Campus Veteran Resource Center has been one of the beneficiaries of the Campus Veteran Resource Center Grant program. OREGON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

VETERANS NEWS MAGAZINE

By Kathie Dalton, Veterans News Magazine

Cover FEATURE

Getting in the Flow of Things State agencies partner together for the new H2O4Heroes campaign, which aims to connect more Oregon veterans to the benefits of healing on the water.

hen I’m out on the water, I’m completely free,” said Oregon State Marine Board (OSMB) member Craig Withee. “I have no disability.” Although not himself a veteran, Withee felt veterans would benefit from recreational therapy such as paddling or boating and suggested the board put together something for veterans. He felt strongly that connecting in nature, and being on the water, helps heal the soul. Withee is not alone in that thinking. OSMB Director Larry Warren, a former Army medic in the 82rd Airborne, is a big advocate for veterans and the healing benefits of nature. “I want to encourage everyone to get out in the outdoors and experience the freedom and the healing that comes from being out on the water,” he said. OSMB soon reached out to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The Oregon State Parks Department also joined the team.

The four agencies joined forces to raise awareness for veterans and persons with disabilities around different outdoor adventures that aid in the healing process and to uncover some of the lesserknown water recreation opportunities in the outdoors. The purpose of the H2O4Heroes campaign is to bring a focus on veterans healing on the water. The campaign promotes benefits available to veterans through all four of the agencies. The group hopes to remove barriers and improve information sharing to better connect people to the water so healing can happen. Three of the agency directors met at Keizer Rapids Park near Salem for an informal kick-off to the H2O4Heroes campaign. (OSPRD Director Lisa Sumption was unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict. “We are excited about this partnership to build awareness of the many recreation benefits and opportunities available to Oregon veterans to enjoy our beautiful state,” said ODVA Director Kelly Fitzpatrick. “The mental and physical healing that is experienced by being in the outdoors is so important to the

As the Oregon State Marine Board’s boating safety education coordinator, MariAnn McKensie takes to the water to demonstrate the proper way to paddle a kayak during a recent event kick-off event for the H2O4Heroes campaign at Keizer Rapids Park in Salem. OREGON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

overall recovery and well-being of so many of our state’s veterans who have served our nation.” “Focusing on water recreation, we recognize the great healing powers of water and time spent outdoors with the birds, the wildlife and the fish if you are so lucky to catch one,” ODFW Director Curt Melcher said. The partnership goes beyond veteran benefits though to include providing grants for ADA access on waterways and in parks, as well as land-based improvements and new dock designs to provide ADA accessibility. “Our agency has a long-term vision on how we want to serve veterans. We want to find events, support them, build access, and awareness,” said Warren. Director Fitzpatrick had one message to Oregon’s nearly 300,000 veterans: “Go out and have fun!” Through the end of the year, the agencies will highlight opportunities for veterans and persons with disabilities to get on the water to boat, fish, and enjoy other forms of outdoor recreation. Additional outreach will include blogs/vlogs highlighting personal stories, agency licenses or pass discounts, grant opportunities, interactive maps of ADA facilities, and trip planning tips. Information is shared ODVA’s recreation page at www.oregon.gov/odva/

Benefits/Pages/Recreation.aspx.

The one-stop resource includes status maps for parks and waterways, disabled angler access maps and Boat Oregon online maps. You can also find links to reserve a campground or facility or read the ODFW Recreation Report with up-to-date information on fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, and more. It will help you Pick, Plan, and Prepare to enjoy a safe and successful day with nature. People are invited to also subscribe to a weekly email at public.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORDVA/ subscriber/new to stay up to date on recreational veteran benefit information.

VETERANS NEWS MAGAZINE

Oregon Veteran Recreational benefits Free Hunting and Fishing Passes: A free hunting and angling license for disabled veterans with a federal VA-rated service-connected disability of 25 percent or more is offered through the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Veterans must be Oregon residents for at least six months. Also, non-resident uniformed service members are able to hunt or fish in Oregon for the same cost as a state resident. Administered by the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. Special Access Pass for Disabled Veterans: Serviceconnected disabled veterans can apply for the Special Access Pass for Veterans with Disabilities from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Passes are valid for four years and allow free year-round camping and day-use privileges at RV and tent sites at 25 Oregon State Parks. Administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Reimbursal for State Park Visits: Active duty military members on official leave are eligible to be reimbursed for state park visits. After your visit, send the camping receipt for the dates of your stay, and a letter from your CO on official letterhead stating you were on leave for the dates you camped. Administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. America the Beautiful Park Pass: The America the Beautiful Parks Pass Series is a ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites. A free annual pass (normally $80) is available to active duty military, reserve and National Guard members and their dependents. A free access pass is also available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a permanent disability. Administered by the U.S. National Parks Service.

Continued from previous page

Cover FEATURE

Above: From left, OSMB Director Larry Warren, ODVA Director Kelly Fitzpatrick and ODFW Director Curt Melcher gather to kick off the H2O4Heroes campaign in July. Right: OSMB Board Member Craig Withee says he does not feel disabled when he is on the water and suggested a program to get the word out to veterans about the healing power of being on the water. Below: Oregon State Marine Board Director Larry Warren shares a message with ODFW videographer Adam Baylor, with the beautiful backdrop of the Willamette River behind him.

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

Higher Ed Opens Doors to Brighter Future Grant funding and new vocational opportunities offer chance for retraining to student veterans, workers impacted by covid-19

he coronavirus pandemic upended virtually every aspect of Americans’ lives, with disproportionate impacts being felt by many students, both K-12 and higher education, who were forced to transition to a remote learning environment — and stay there for months. For many student veterans, who can already face challenges in their return to civilian life and the structure of class schedules and the classroom, the shift was particularly disruptive. In Oregon, a new grant program that had been in the works for years before COVID but happened to launch in the summer of 2020 provided some much-needed help. The Oregon Veteran Educational Bridge Grant program, which is administed by ODVA, was conceived to help student veterans achieve their educational goals. It provides grants to eligible student veterans to alleviate the financial stress during a gap period when required courses are unavailable, allowing them to stay in school or their apprenticeship training and finish their program. “The financial reality of many student veterans’ situations is that they can’t simply take a semester off,” noted ODVA Director Kelly Fitzpatrick. “And we know that many of those who have to seek employment to provide for themselves and their families may never return to the classroom to finish their education.” The program awarded more than $220,000 to Oregon student veterans during the 2020-21 biennium, with students receiving an average of $4,419. “This helped out a ton,” said one student veteran who received a bridge grant. “It took a load off of my family.” “The process was super smooth and very much needed at the time,” agreed another. “I’d give it an AAA+ rating.” The program has been renewed for another biennium. For questions or to apply, contact coordinator Joe Mah at EBG@odva. state.or.us or visit www.oregon.gov/odva/agency-programs/ grants/Pages/Educational-Bridge-Grant.aspx. Other programs and resources that may be useful to Oregon student veterans or workers impacted by COVID-19 include: The Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program (VRRAP) is a program through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that offers veterans who are unemployed due to COVID-19 education and training for high-demand jobs. Eligible vets can receive up to 12 months of benefits equivalent to Post 9/11 GI Bill® to complete a qualifying program 16

VETERANS NEWS MAGAZINE

Find veteran Services on your campus Many Oregon college campuses have a veterans resource center to assist you in all things veteran. For a complete directory of contact information and links to campus resource centers in your area, visit www.oregon.gov/odva/Services/Pages/ Campus-Veteran-Services.aspx.

of education or training. The program is open through Dec. 11, 2022, or until the funding or participant caps are reached. Veterans must be between 22 and 66, not eligible for other VA education benefits, not rated totally disabled and not receiving unemployment benefits to qualify. To learn more, apply for VRRAP, and view participating schools, visit www.va.gov/education/other-va-educationbenefits/veteran-rapid-retraining-assistance. The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship is a federal VA scholarship that allows some Post 9/11 GI Bill® or Fry Scholarship recipients to extend their benefit up to nine months if they are enrolled in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) field of study and will exhaust their benefit before they complete their degree. View the full eligibility requirements, list of eligible degree programs, and application online: www.va.gov/education/ other-va-education-benefits/stem-scholarship. Finally, the Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses (VET TEC) is a VA program that pays the equivalent of Post 9/11 GI Bill® Tuition and Housing benefits to veterans who enroll in courses that lead to employment in high technology fields. VET TEC benefits do not count against GI Bill® months of entitlement. VET TEC participants are limited to approved courses at participating schools. Learn more, view participating schools, and apply online at: www.va.gov/education/about-gi-billbenefits/how-to-use-benefits/vettec-high-tech-program/

By Tyler Francke, Veterans News Magazine

Program Spotlight

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

VETERANS NEWS MAGAZINE

By Tyler Francke, Veterans News Magazine

Program Spotlight

Stronger Together ODVA and its Women Veterans Coordinator are working hard to connect with and serve Oregon’s women veteran population throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

he theme of the 2020 — later, 2021 — Oregon Women Veterans’ Conference was selected months before the coronavirus pandemic hit. And yet, the theme, “Stronger Together,” couldn’t have been more appropriate for addressing the need for women veterans to band together and support each other in the midst of the challenges wrought by COVID-19. After being canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, the Women Veterans Conference was held earlier this summer in a purely virtual format, and by all accounts, it was a smashing success. “I think the conference exceeded everyone’s expectations,” said ODVA Women Veterans Coordinator Jessica Bradley. “It was such an amazing opportunity for women veterans to connect and share their stories.” While the virtual environment presented some challenges, it also had its benefits. For one thing, it made following up with, and connecting women veterans with needed resources and online applications for benefits, far easier than it would have been at a traditional conference. More than 400 women veterans registered for the conference, with the largest group in the over55 demographic, Bradley said. The event featured keynote remarks by three outstanding women veteran leaders (Maj. Gen. Tammy Smith, Brig. Gen. Donna Prigmore, and Dr. Betty Moseley Brown), breakout sessions on topics such as access to health care, employment and education resources, and a virtual listening session with Bradley and Director Kelly Fitzpatrick — the first woman to lead the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs. “I think it was extremely important for this community to come together, even if we had to do it virtually this time,” Bradley said. “We had so many women veterans connecting across generations and eras of service, offering advice, and sharing experiences and resources. I think it was really important to give them a place connect and to share those stories.” Bradley was still in her first few months as ODVA’s new Women Veterans Coordinator when she began planning the first-ever virtual conference. Using the valuable information gained from the conference, she will now transition to focusing on other aspects of her role: working to improve advocacy and outreach to women who have served in the military, ensuring access to earned benefits, and helping to advance the level of care and support provided to Oregon’s women veterans. For more information, visit www.oregon.gov/odva/resources/pages/women-veterans.aspx.

Attendees of the 2021 Oregon Women Veterans’ Conference shared photos and stories in connecting with other women veterans during the virtual event in May. OREGON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

State Mourns Passing of Veteran Leader, Advocate

he Oregon veteran community lost one of its greatest friends and fiercest advocates this year with the passing of former Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs Director James “Jim” Willis. He died June 14, 2021, at the age of 78. Willis was a decorated Vietnam-era veteran of the United States Air Force and a longtime leader and advocate in the veteran community — both on the state and national levels and in his hometown of Albany. Willis was born Jan. 12, 1943, in Portland. He grew up in Albany and graduated from Albany Union High School in 1961 before joining the United States Air Force. He served eight years, being stationed at bases in Texas, Mississippi, California, Hawaii and Oregon, plus spent 13 months at Phan Rang in South Vietnam. “We did air base security,” Willis told the Albany DemocratHerald in 2013. “I was an armorer and we provided combat convoy escorts between air bases,” said Willis. “That wasn’t good, because the convoy can only travel as fast as the slowest vehicle. We were fired upon many times.” Willis earned numerous medals and ribbons during his time in service, including the Air Force Commendation medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, two Air Force Outstanding Unit medals, two Good Conduct medals and more. After his military discharge, Willis became a deputy sheriff in Douglas County, working out of Roseburg. He spent 15 years in southern Oregon, rising to the rank of lieutenant. He then became undersheriff in Washington County for two years before becoming head of leadership training at what is now the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. He was promoted to deputy director and then commander during his four years there. In 1978, he was awarded the Oregon Police Medal of Valor and in 1993, he received the L. Dale Morris Award for dedicated service to Oregon Law Enforcement. That same year, Willis became bureau commander for the Oregon State Police in Salem, a job he held for 10 years until Gov. Ted Kulongoski appointed him director of the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs in 2003. Willis served in that position for nearly a decade. Among his achievements was his dedication to ensuring Oregon provided award-winning skilled nursing care to all veterans, spouses and Gold Star Families. In 2014, he spearheaded the development of the state’s second Oregon Veterans’ Home located in Lebanon. Jim was also a fierce advocate for recognizing and honoring the service and true sacrifice of veterans and their families — working with organizations to build two wartime-era memorials in Oregon dedicated to the service members who

fought and gave their lives in service to their country. On Aug. 19, Willis’ family, former colleagues and many friends gathered at the Best Western Premier Boulder Falls Inn to reflect on these achievements — and much more, the outsized impact he made on those around him through his kindness, dedication, firm principles and sense of humor. “In truth, these accomplishments barely scratch the surface of all that Jim accomplished in a life well-lived,” said current ODVA Director Kelly Fitzpatrick. “Above all else, Jim’s unwavering commitment to serving all veterans defined his tenure — and his life. He will be truly missed by the untold number of lives he touched.” Fitzpatrick said she was grateful to have known Willis for the short time that she did. “He was a mentor who continues to serve as an inspiration to me as I strive to serve Oregon veterans and their families every day,” she said. Army veteran Tonja Pardo, who emceed the memorial, in particular reflected on his sense of humor — which the proud Air Force vet frequently deployed to tease those who served in the other branches — including when they first met. “I told him I was Army Airborne, and being Air Force, he immediately said, ‘Why would you jump out of a perfectly good airplane?’” Pardo recalled. “He had a wonderful sense of humor, and he became a very good friend.” Randy Martinak, a Navy veteran and one of Willis’ high school friends, spoke at length about his law enforcement career. The number of times Willis was involved in a physical confrontation while on duty could be counted on one hand, Martinak declared, despite cutting his teeth on the rough roads of rural Oregon. “Jim Willis was the kind of guy who could take a drunk driver to the county jail in July and have him singing Christmas carols by the time they arrived,” Martinak quipped. “That was just the way he dealt with people. He seldom had to use force, and he could talk the bark off a tree.” Don Weber, department commander for the American Legion of Oregon, recited a poem honoring fallen veterans that Willis (a gifted writer, among his many other skills) had penned. “There are three things we know about Jim,” Weber said. “He loved his family. He loved the United States Air Force. And he loved veterans of the United States of America.” “I am grateful to have known Jim,” Fitzpatrick concluded. “He was a mentor, and through the legacy of his contributions will continue to serve as an inspiration, reminding us that, in Oregon, every day is Veterans Day.”

Scenes from the Aug. 19 Celebration of Life for Jim Willis, which was staged at the Best Western Premier Inn in Lebanon. Willis’ friends, former colleagues and many friends gathered to celebrate and remember Willis and the remarkable impact he made on so many. 20

VETERANS NEWS MAGAZINE

By Tyler Francke, Veterans News Magazine

Veteran Spotlight

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

Honoring Nisei Veterans japanese-American service members fought world war ii enemies abroad — and were seen as enemies back home

n the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, the Empire of Japan attacked the United States’ military base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, marking the beginning of World War II for the U.S. While it was a “day that will live in infamy” for all Americans, Japanese-Americans and those of Japanese descent (known as “Nisei”) in particular faced prejudice at home. Three days after the attack, members of the 298th and 299th Hawaii National Guard had their rifles stripped from them because of their ethnicity. And yet, just a few months later, as the critical Battle of Midway was underway, 1,432 Nisei members of the Hawaii National Guard boarded the U.S. Army transport USAT Maui under the cover of night without saying goodbye to their families or loved ones. Under the title “Hawaiian Provisional Infantry Battalion,” the week-long journey took them to a port in Oakland, Calif., where they were designated the 100th Infantry Battalion. It would eventually gain the unofficial nickname of the “Purple Heart Battalion” and — along with another Japanese-American combat unit, the 442nd Infantry Regiment — would go on to fight in Europe earning themselves the title of the most decorated American units of World War II. Initially, the 100th was an “orphaned battalion,” meaning it was not assigned to any larger unit. The unit was known to its members as “One Puka Puka.” The word “puka” is Hawaiian for the term “hole,” referring to the zeros in the number. In May 1943, the 100th participated in training maneuvers in Louisiana. That August, the 100th deployed across the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, where they took part in the Italian campaign. The men selected the motto “Remember Pearl Harbor” to reflect their anger at the attack on their country. In September 1943, the 100th engaged in combat in southern Italy near Salerno. The fighting in Italy was tough, and the men of the 100th were a driving force during the campaign. In January 1944, they fought at Cassino and later accompanied the 34th Infantry Division to Anzio. In May and June of that year, the battalion took part in the breakout from Anzio and successfully pushed the Germans north of Rome. Following the Italian campaign, on Aug. 10, 1944, the 100th was officially integrated into the 442nd Infantry Regiment and

VETERANS NEWS MAGAZINE

participated in the invasion of Southern France. In total, the men of the 100th spent 20 months in Europe and fought in six campaigns across Italy and France. The battalion was awarded six Distinguished Service Crosses during the first eight weeks of combat and earned three Presidential Unit Citations. Along with the 442nd, the 100th Infantry Battalion is recognized as the most decorated American unit for its size and length of service. Some Nisei service members were women, like Susan Ahn Cuddy, the first female gunnery officer in Navy history. The daughter of the first married Korean couple to immigrate to the United States, Cuddy grew up hearing about her father An Chang-ho’s fight to free Korea from Japanese imperialism. When World War II began, Cuddy was determined to help the United States in any way she could, becoming the first AsianAmerican woman to enlist in the U.S. Navy in 1942 as a member of WAVES (Women Accepted for Emergency Volunteer Service)

By Tyler Francke, Veterans News Magazine

As you were

Despite facing prejudice in their home country of America, the 100th Infantry Battalion would gain the unofficial nickname of the “Purple Heart Battalion” and earn the title of the most decorated fighting unit of the Second World War. Opposite page: Susan Ahn Cuddy, who also served during World War II as the first female gunnery officer in U.S. Navy history.

— despite first being rejected because of her race. Cuddy also worked as a combat air tactics instructor, training naval personnel before they deployed, and as a Navy codebreaker. As a young, Asian-American woman training men, she often faced discrimination because of both her sex and her race. But she quickly gained recognition for her skill as an instructor. “It was funny because she was tiny,” her son Philip Ahn Cuddy later said in

an interview. “She would have to really contort herself to pull back on the firing mechanisms to load the machine gun.” On Sept. 2, 1945, Japan officially surrendered, ending World War II and breaking Korea free from Japan’s rule and occupation. Cuddy’s father’s dreams of Korean independence were finally realized. He eventually became a national hero in South Korea for his activism on behalf of Korean independence. Cuddy left the Navy in 1946. In her waning days with Navy intelligence, she

met Chief Petty Officer Francis Cuddy, an Irish American code-breaker who also worked on matters pertaining to Korea’s independence. The two fell in love and married in April 1947. As a civilian, Cuddy worked as an intelligence analyst and section chief at the National Security Agency and ran a think tank during the Cold War. She worked on top secret projects for the Defense Department and supervised more than 300 scholars and experts in Russian affairs. OREGON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

benefits corner

By Sarah Paris, Veterans News Magazine

Incarcerated Veteran Coordinators Stay Busy During Pandemic

n Oregon, an estimated six percent of the approximately 12,000 inmates throughout Oregon’s prisons are veterans. Justiceinvolved veterans may still be eligible for benefits, either at a full or reduced level. Helping them to navigate this process are Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs Incarcerated Veteran Coordinators, Pat McGuffin and Shane Hagey. Through constant contact with Oregon’s correctional institutions, the incarcerated veteran coordinators foster connections with inmates, counselors, and staff to educate them about available benefits and resources. The pandemic changed the structure of their outreach from in-person visits to remote, but they were able to find ways to adapt. “We found workarounds for what we weren’t able to do in person,” Hagey said. “We maintained our workload.” One example was McGuffin’s recent transfer to the Snake River Correctional Institution in eastern Oregon, where he continues to serve incarcerated veterans on behalf of ODVA. Snake River has the most veterans in custody among Oregon correctoinal facilities. Another was the creation of their own Veterans in Custody Resource Guide, a pocket guide that they’ve distributed over a thousand copies of to date to the incarcerated veterans they visit. “We’re happy to have been able to keep things up at all the prisons around the state,” commented Hagey. In-person outreach efforts have resumed, and the coordinators are excited to continue their work in keeping veterans connected to benefits that help with successful re-entry to their communities. For more information or to connect with the ODVA incarcerated veteran coordinators, visit www.oregon.gov/odva/ Resources/Pages/Justice-Involved-Veterans.aspx or email incarcerated.vets@odva.oregon.gov. How Incarceration Affects Eligibility for VA Benefits

VA can pay certain benefits to veterans who are incarcerated in a Federal, State, or local penal institution; however, the amount depends on the type of benefit and reason for incarceration. Disability compensation, pension, and education benefits are examples of affected benefits. The VA may also be able to take a portion of the amount that an incarcerated veteran is not receiving and pay it to his or her dependents, if they can show need. When a veteran is released from prison, his or her compensation or pension benefits may be restored. More information: benefits.va.gov/persona/veteranincarcerated.asp 24

VETERANS NEWS MAGAZINE

Health Care for Re-entry Veterans (HCRV) Program

The HCRV Program is designed to help incarcerated veterans successfully reintegrate back into the community after their release. A critical part of HCRV is providing information to veterans while they are incarcerated, so they can plan for re-entry themselves. A primary goal of the HCRV program is to prevent veterans from becoming homeless once they are reintegrated back into the community. More information: va.gov/homeless/reentry.asp Veterans Courts

There is a growing effort nationally and in Oregon to institute veterans’ courts or dockets to allow district attorneys to send military members and veterans into treatment, rather than jail, when they commit a non-violent offense. These courts are staffed by people who take into consideration the charges and challenges facing veterans who return home from war. They may allow some military members to enter into mental health diversion programs as treatment for non-violent infractions as opposed to automatically jailing the offender. To learn more, contact your local District Attorney’s office. More information:odaa.oregon.gov/members.htm Veterans Justice Outreach Program (VJO)

The VJO initiative is designed to help veterans avoid unnecessary criminalization of mental illness and extended incarceration by ensuring eligible justice-involved veterans receive timely access to VA health care, specifically mental health and substance use services (if clinically indicated) and other VA services and benefits as appropriate. More information: va.gov/homeless/vjo.asp

COVID-19 UPdates Federal Vaccine eligibility through the federal VA expanded

At the time of publication, many VA health facilities and clinics now offer COVID-19 vaccines to these groups: • All veterans • Spouses and surviving spouses of veterans

COVID-19 UPdates

• Caregivers of veterans. For COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, we define a caregiver as a family member or friend who provides care to a veteran. Caregivers may help a veteran with personal needs like feeding, bathing, or dressing. They may also help a veteran with tasks like shopping or transportation. • Recipients of Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) benefits More information: va.gov/health-care/covid-19vaccine/#who-can-now-get-a-covid-19-vac Copayment refund notification letters mailed to veterans

vaccine to Veterans, especially veterans who live in rural areas. Thanks to VEText, a text message appointment reminder system for veterans with the potential to decrease no-shows, developed through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Innovation Ecosystem (VHA IE), VA already had systems in place to begin doing just that. VEText is alerting veterans about COVID-19 information, vaccine availability and scheduling. More information: va.gov/HEALTH/VEText.asp

The American Rescue Plan (ARP), passed in March 2021, included a provision that canceled VA copayments for medical care and pharmacy services received between April 6, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2021. Refunds will be sent to veterans who paid copayments for health care and pharmacy services received during this period. On May 12, 2021, VA began mailing letters to each veteran with information on refunds, timing of when informational patient statements will resume, and when VA will begin normal collection of copayments. VA will resume normal billing and collections Oct. 1, 2021.

Federal VA has resumed in-person exams nationwide

More information: va.gov/COMMUNITYCARE/revenue_ops/ Medical-debt-relief.asp

More information: benefits.va.gov/COMPENSATION/ claimexam.asp

NCA lifts restrictions on attendance at committal services, adjusts COVID safety precautions

Post office sees rise in COVID vaccination scams targeting veterans

VA’s National Cemetery Administration (NCA) announced it would lift all restrictions on gathering sizes at committal and memorial services in VA national cemeteries starting on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. Consistent with the new CDC guidance, NCA will still require persons who are not fully vaccinated to practice the safety procedures recommended by the CDC — such as wearing face coverings and maintaining physical distancing — while visiting a cemetery or attending a service. More information: cem.va.gov/alerts.asp Details on FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Expense Reimbursement Program

VA’s National Cemetery Scheduling Office and VA national cemeteries have received many calls from family members and funeral homes asking how they can apply for the Funeral Expense Reimbursement Program that covers funeral expenses when a loved one’s death was related to COVID-19. This new program, which began on April 12, 2021, is run entirely by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). VA has no role in creating or tracking claims for this reimbursement program. More information: fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/ economic/funeral-assistance/faq VEText: From local innovation to national COVID-19 support

VA is focused on quickly administering the COVID-19

Although the pandemic has caused Compensation & Pension examinations to accumulate, VBA has now safely resumed inperson exams everywhere in the country and will schedule them as soon as possible. If your in-person examination was not completed due to the pandemic, you can reschedule directly with the contract vendor identified in your original appointment letter. All examinations completed at contract examination facilities are held to the same safety guidelines as those conducted at VA facilities.

Postal service leaders are warning veterans to be wary of a new round of financial scams targeting their families by promising quicker coronavirus vaccines and extra money for virus-related medical care. Officials from Operation Protect Veterans — a joint effort from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and AARP that is focused on scams directed at veterans and military members — said they have seen an increase in recent weeks in the number of illicit offers for veterans to “cut in the vaccination line” if they provide cash to third-party groups. The group also warned of scammers offering “cash payments or other incentives around obtaining a COVID vaccination.” They also said any veteran with questions about an unsolicited offer or program should check out the deal with a family member, friend, or local Veterans Affairs office. Callers who demand veterans act immediately on such a transaction are like scammers. More information: uspis.gov/veterans American Rescue Plan to enable modernization, reduce claims backlog

The pandemic and the corresponding economic crisis have had a tremendous impact on the health and economic well-being of millions of veterans. Now, the American Rescue Plan will help America’s veterans bounce back. The $1.9 trillion coronavirus economic relief package for Americans allocates $17 billion in support of VA’s nationwide response to the pandemic. More information: whitehouse.gov/American-Rescue-Plan OREGON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

Federal My HealtheVet Advanced accounts will be discontinued

Beginning in September 2021, My HealtheVet Advanced accounts will be discontinued. If you have an Advanced account today and do not upgrade to a Premium account, your account will revert to a Basic account. If that occurs, you will lose access to the pharmacy features, including the ability to request and track your VA prescription refills. If you have an Advanced account, there are three ways to upgrade to Premium level: in person, online or through a video appointment. Upgrading your account is free. More information: va.gov/VAntage/90996/healthevetadvanced-accounts-will-discontinued VA to re-adjudicate some veteran and survivor claims

VA will re-adjudicate claims for veterans who served in the offshore waters of the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. VA will determine if benefits can now be paid retroactively based on the veteran’s presumption of herbicide exposure through the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019. Contact your local veteran service office for help filing or refiling your claim. Directory on page 31. More information: va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardousmaterials-exposure/agent-orange VA plans expansion of benefits for disability claims for conditions related to certain toxic exposures

VA announced two major decisions related to presumptive conditions associated with Agent Orange and particulate matter exposures during military service in Southwest Asia. Agent Orange: VA has added three conditions to the list of those presumptively associated with exposure to herbicide agents, more commonly known as Agent Orange. Those conditions are bladder cancer, hypothyroidism and Parkinsonism. Vietnam War-era veterans and their survivors who previously filed and were denied benefits for one of these three new presumptive conditions will have their cases automatically reviewed without the need to refile a claim. VA will send letters to impacted veterans and survivors. Particulate Matter Exposures: The federal VA has added new respiratory conditions, including asthma, sinusitis and rhinitis, to the list of chronic disabilities for veterans who served in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War and/or after Sept. 19, 2001, or in Afghanistan and Uzbekistan during the Persian Gulf War. The VA will now be processing these claims on a presumptive basis if the conditions manifested within 10 years of a qualifying period of service. Contact your local veteran service office for help filing or refiling your claim. Directory on page 31. More information: publichealth.va.gov/exposures/index.asp Community emergency care now easier for veterans to report 26

VETERANS NEWS MAGAZINE

Using an online tool or a central phone number, it’s now easier to notify VA within 72 hours when a veteran receives emergency care at a community provider. VA’s centralized online Emergency Care Reporting (ECR) portal assists with coordination of an eligible veteran’s care at a community emergency department and transfer to a VA medical center if necessary. Eligible veterans who require emergency treatment can receive care at a local community emergency department without prior approval from VA. Usually, eligible veterans can receive VAauthorized emergency care at an in-network community facility if VA is notified within 72 hours of the start of care. Veterans, their representatives or community emergency department providers should submit treatment information through the ECR portal at EmergencyCareReporting. CommunityCare.va.gov, or by calling 844-72HRVHA (844-7247842). VA.gov site becomes central login for accessing benefits

Veterans and their families began accessing their VA benefits and services on the new and user-friendly VA.gov website starting April 30, 2021. Users are now to access information about VA benefits and services through a single site rather than through multiple locations. All benefits-related features previously located in the eBenefits web portal are available on VA.gov. Veterans are encouraged to start logging into the site using their current Digital Service (DS) Logon or creating a new account using ID.me. More information: va.gov Veterans get updates through new digital notifications feature

Veterans, their families and caregivers can now receive digital notifications through VANotify, a new paperless platform. While veterans already receive appointment notifications through VEText, VA sends most notifications via postal mail. With VANotify, veterans can now receive even more VA notifications by email and text. Veterans do not have to sign up for VANotify. VA is automatically using it on the back-end to streamline communications to veterans who receive services from VA, as long as the veteran’s contact information with VA is up to date. More information: blogs.va.gov/VAntage/85891/veteransget-updates-through-new-digital-notification-feature Veteran eligibility and access to VA home loans expanded

New changes passed by Congress and signed by the president have expanded veteran eligibility and access to the VA’s home loan program. The Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 makes the following changes: 1. Broadens the timeframe of veterans qualifying for the Vietnam War era and has been revised to include those who served from November 1, 1955. The previous date was February

2021 State and Federal Benefit Updates

Benefits corner

The federal VA has expanded COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to include all veterans, spouses and surviving spouses of veterans, caregivers of veterans and CHAMPVA benefits recipients.

28, 1961. 2. Authorizes benefit access for service members and veterans mobilized to perform full-time National Guard duty for not less than 90 cumulative days, including at least 30 consecutive days. 3. Veterans, service members, and certain surviving spouses with VA-guaranteed home loans in areas that have been declared major disasters by the president and whose residences have been substantially damaged are now eligible to be charged a first time use funding fee on a new VA-guaranteed loan rather than a subsequent use funding fee. The new VA-guaranteed loan must be for the repair or construction of the dwelling and closed within three years of the presidential declaration of the disaster. More information about the VA Home Loan Program, visit va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans.

STATE Honor flights to resume after yearlong wait

Some 25 veterans from Central Oregon, their guardians, and administrative people plan to fly out of Redmond Airport on

Sept. 22, after a yearlong delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic. More information: www.honorflightofcentraloregon.org

South Willamette Valley Honor Flight, is taking off again: their next scheduled flight leaves on September 30 and returns on October 4. More information: www.swvhonorflight.org Memorial honoring Vietnam War veterans on Oregon Capitol grounds moves forward

Legislators and veteran groups are moving forward with a new memorial to Vietnam War veterans on the southeast corner of the Oregon Capitol grounds. The current design of the memorial will include black granite columns along State and Cottage streets with the names and hometowns of Oregonians who died in the war. More information: www.salemreporter.com/posts/4317/ memorial-honoring-vietnam-war-veterans-on-oregoncapitol-grounds-moves-forward OREGON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

R&R

By Kathie Dalton, Veterans News Magazine

Peer-Led Project ABLE Aims to Improve Veterans’ Lives

rmy veteran R.J. Navarro’s experience transitioning out of the military was unfortunately not that unusual. He worked on Humvees and other unarmored vehicles while in the Army. After one tour in Iraq, Navarro was hoping to come home and find a mechanic position. He had difficulty finding someone that would recognize his military training. “Collect unemployment and figure out where you want to go from here,” was the advice Navarro got in 2010. “It was a struggle and there was not really a lot of help,” he said. After 18 months in prison for a marijuana charge, Navarro was released and in 2012 was homeless and struggled with recidivism. His probation officer was able to get him into a SOAR program which allowed him to attend college courses and paid for his housing — provided he stay clean and sober. After one of his courses at Chemeketa Community College, he went into the Veterans Lounge. He didn’t feel like he was a vet, but had heard they had free coffee. He was persuaded to apply for his veterans benefits and ended up using his GI Bill to pay for some of his college. He became a representative in student government. Navarro was introduced to Project ABLE, an organization providing mental health and behavioral services. They soon asked Navarro to join them as a Peer Support Specialist focusing on veterans. He left his good paying welding job and focused on his own self care as well. He redid his VA claim, which he had avoided for a long time. It was hard to talk about his military experience and answering questions made him relive his experiences in Iraq. He got his 40% rating and continued working with Project ABLE. Two years later Project ABLE was at its height with 52 veterans served on a monthly basis. Then COVID hit, they lost funding 28

VETERANS NEWS MAGAZINE

Army veteran RJ Navarro walks through the plan for a recent Kayaking 101 event hosted by Project ABLE. Navarro is the organization’s veteran coordinator and is responsible for events and peer counseling.

and had to get creative. A grant from ODVA for $23,278 to expand peer support & training opportunities to underserved veteran populations was just one of those ways. Project ABLE has been able to build up their reach in the last few years, with about 50% staying with the organization for a year or more. Navarro felt that partnering with other organizations is what helps the organization the most. In the past they have partnered with Project Healing Waters and Battle Buddies as well as others. If there is one message Navarro would like to make clear, it is that Project ABLE is here for all veterans. “We ensure that we are able to serve individuals. Peacetime, combat, not out of the continental U.S., whatever — you are welcome here. Those who identify as LGBTQ have been horribly attacked by the previous administration. Not here. We don’t judge. We are inclusive,” he said. “We

want people to enjoy recovery. We use a very broad definition of a veteran — at least one day in the military and signing that blank check.” Navarro heads veteran related activities with a coffee each Friday and activities throughout the month, rotating each week through diet and exercise, activities, mindfulness, and time in nature and how it relates to self-care. Veterans are taught how to navigate VA benefits, plus a wide variety of options are available, including peer-topeer support, group activities, workshops, and classes. Peer Specialists for veterans are veterans themselves and support is always free. Project ABLE also offers Veteran Informed Training (VIT) online which is approved by the Oregon Health Authority. A recent Kayaking 101 event was a big success with over 30 participants, many already asking when the next one would be scheduled. “A few of them had been part of our events before. This was a nice change from

In-Country and Book Recommendations

R&R

Books by Oregon Veterans Remembrance (Volume 1) Ken Buckles

Phil Fehrenbacher is a U.S. Army veteran and cartoonist. His digital strip “In-Country” explores his memories and experiences serving in South Vietnam. Find his work on Facebook at In-Country.

For 24 years, Ken Buckles has brought American veterans from all over the United States to high schools in Oregon to share their military experiences during times of war with the students. As he met and brefriended these veterans, many of them also shared their personal stories with him, dozens of which have been compiled to form the first volume of this book Remembrance contains stories that veterans from various eras of service wanted to be remembered, some of which they had never told before, even to friends and family. ‘‘This book is also unique as it includes chapters from American veterans of many races, all of whom have served their country with great pride,’’ Buckles said. ‘‘We must not forget these stories, lest we forget the cost they gave for our freedom.’’

The Vault: A Journey of Discovery Steven Weaver

weekend trip camping or fishing,” said Navarro. “It was short and sweet and it was accessible.” The organization held a woodcarving class in July and discussions are under way for another kayaking event in August. Project ABLE was the first peer-led organization in the State of Oregon to receive accreditation from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) in 2010. Since that time, they have trained thousands of peers from all over Oregon to become certified Peer Support Specialists (PSS). In 2018, Project ABLE was awarded a grant by ODVA and became the first veteran program in the state to offer vet-to-vet pear support and Veteran Informed Trainings. Some topics include understanding mental health in the military, effective communication, relationship issues and conflict management, person centered planning, self-care, women veteran’s health, veteran benefits, navigating resources. Individuals who complete the 20-hour training are eligible to for credits towards keeping their Peer Support Specialist certification current under the Oregon Traditional Health Worker (THW) program requirements. Today, volunteers support hundreds of individuals in 6 Oregon counties. Learn more about their program at www. projectable.org.

This debut novel by Oregon veteran Steven Weaver is a historical fiction/sci-fi mashup that takes young readers (aimed at grades 4-6) on an adventure back to World War II, to a time when Hitler was stealing art across Europe. Weaver’s story has been frequently and positively compared to the 2014 blockbuster film The Monuments Men, though his book predates the movie. The Vault tells the story of Daniel, an 11-year-old boy who discovers an underground chamber and a locked vault in his new home. With the help of Emily, his neighbor and newfound friend, Daniel is led on a trek through time, following a series of breadcrumbs left behind by the property’s mysterious former owner. As the danger increases, so does Daniel’s determination to find the truth. What he discovers leads him to a decision between having the life he always dreamed of for him and his family and doing the right thing.

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

Over and out

By Tyler Francke, Veterans News Magazine

A New Chapter A fter 75 years of near-continuous publication, the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs has made the decision to end print publication of Oregon Veterans News Magazine. In the past 10 years, ODVA has diligently built our online and social media presence into one of the largest, most trusted and most visited sources of veteran information and resources. We will continue to invest in these valuable lines of communication — and will explore and expand on other media as we work to ensure we are reaching and regularly connecting with as many people as possible in our Oregon veteran community. In this piece, we wanted to look back on and celebrate the 75year legacy of this remarkable publication. The publication that you now know as the Oregon Veterans

VETERANS NEWS MAGAZINE

after 75 years, the print version of vets news bids farewell

News Magazine began as the Oregon Veterans News Letter, with its first issue being published on Aug. 16, 1946. It was a sparse, typewritten document that no doubt evoked the spartan memos and other military correspondence that the newsletter’s audience (primarily, recently discharged service members from World War II) would be used to seeing. The newsletter conveyed information about veteran benefits and resources in a straightforward manner, from how to apply for terminal leave pay to how to take advantage of the so-called “Sweetheart Bill.” Legion and VFW Post masters were asked to post a copy of the newsletter on their bulletin boards and read the contents at their meetings, time permitting. The “Vets’ News-Letter” began to gradually take on a new look in January 1949 under ODVA Director W.F. Gaarenstroom,

veteran service office Directory

with a cover printed on colored paper and displaying the contents contained therein. Beginning with issue 200 in 1963, ODVA staff began experimenting with a series of cover drawings and illustrations that changed monthly, from simple geometrical designs to elborate patriotic scenes from colonial America. The newsletter adopted a standard cover design in March 1967, which continued until the early 1980s, when the early onset of photos and digital printing first appeared in our publication. The newsletter was again significantly revamped and rebranded in 1987 as a tabloid newspaper known as Vets’ News, the name by which many veterans and Oregonians (including our staff) tend to refer to it today. Then-Director Jon Mangis explained that the masthead was designed with the help of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs and depicted the different generations of veterans served by ODVA. Though the design and style continued to evolve and improve, Vets’ News retained its tabloid style format throughout the ’90s and 2000s. Publication was gradually reduced from monthly, to every other month, to twice a year in 2016, when it was revamped yet again, as the glossy magazine you are now holding. It has been an honor to produce this publication and engage with the Oregon veteran community in this way. But, if this research exercise has taught us anything, it is that this last issue is certainly not a “goodbye.” It is simply the next step in our continued evolution and improvement in the ways we reach, connect with and inform our veterans.

Connect with ODVA ODVA Blog: oregondva.com ODVA Site: oregon.gov/odva Facebook: facebook.com/ orvet Subscribe for Email Updates: public.govdelivery. com/accounts/ORDVA/ subscriber/new

The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs, local veteran service officers (VSOs) and national service organizations provide claims assistance free of charge to all veterans and family members. Service officers are also available to assist with other veteran benefits and resources. To schedule an appointment, contact the office nearest you.

Veteran Service LAKE Officers 541 947 6043

503 412 4750 NABVETS OF AMERICA 503 412 4159

BAKER 541 523 8223

LANE 541 682 4191

BENTON 541 758 1595

LINCOLN 541 265 0570

PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA 503 412 4762

CLACKAMAS 503 650 5631

LINN 541 967 3882

VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS 503 412 4757

CLATSOP 503 791 9983

MALHEUR 541 889 6649

COLUMBIA 503 366 6580

MARION 971 707 4400

VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA 541 604 0963

COOS 541 396 7590

MORROW 541 922 6420

CROOK 541 447 5304

MULTNOMAH 503 988 8387

CURRY 866 298 0404

POLK 503 623 9188

DESCHUTES 541 385 3214

TILLAMOOK 503 842 4358

DOUGLAS 541 440 4219

UMATILLA 541 667 3125

GILLIAM/ SHERMAN/ WHEELER 541 993 9144

UNION 541 962 8802

GRANT 541 575 1631 HARNEY 541 573 1342 HOOD RIVER 541 386 1080 JACKSON 541 774 8214 JEFFERSON 541 475 5228 JOSEPHINE 541 474 5454 KLAMATH 541 883 4274

WALLOWA 541 426 0539 WASCO 541 506 2502 WASHINGTON 503 846 3060

Tribal Veteran Services BURNS PAIUTE TRIBE (NO TVSO/TVR) 541 573 2088 CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF COOS, LOWER UMPQUAA AND SIUSLAW INDIAN RESERVATION (NO TVSO/TVR) 541 888 9577 CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF SILETZ INDIAN RESERVATION (NO TVSO/TVR) 541 444 8330 CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF UMATILLA INDIAN RESERVATION (TVSO) 541 429 7389 CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF GRAND RONDE INDIAN RESERVATION (TVSO) 503 879 1484

YAMHILL 503 434 7503

CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF WARM SPRINGS INDIAN RESERVATION (TVR) 541 553 1196

National Veteran Services

COQUILLE INDIAN TRIBE (NO TVSO/TVR) 541 888 9494

AMERICAN LEGION 503 412 4706

COW CREEK BAND OF UMPQUA BAND OF INDIANS (TVR) 541 672 9405

DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS

KLAMATH TRIBES (TVR) 800 524 9787 x148 OREGON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

700 SUMMER STREET NE SALEM, OR 97301-1285

PRSRT STD U S Po s t a g e PA I D Pe r m i t N o . 2 2 Salem, OR

Experience the healing power of being on the water.

Explore your veteran recreational benefits online: www.oregon.gov/odva/Benefits/Pages/Recreation.aspx 32

VETERANS NEWS MAGAZINE

Oregon Veterans News Magazine Issue 9

Articles inside

A New Chapter

Peer-Led Project ABLE Aims to Improve Veterans’ Lives

2021 State and Federal Benefits Updates

Incarcerated Veteran Coordinators Stay Busy During Pandemic

Honoring Nisei Veterans

State Mourns Passing of Veteran Leader, Advocate

Stronger Together

Higher Ed Opens Doors to Brighter Future

Getting in the Flow of Things

State Offers Help

The Longest Shift

Leaving a Legacy

Strength in Numbers

Strength, Unity Will Carry Us Forward