2018 Opelika Observer's Veterans Tribute - E-Edition

OO pb es le r i v k e a r

Nov. 7, 2018

Army Specialist Stephen “Dusty�

Hiller 1979 - 2004 See Page 9

honoring veterans of yesterday, today and tomorrow

November 7, 2018

Page 2

Letter from the publisher: The importance of Veterans Day

M

y first memory of hearing about someone in the military came at an early age.

My family would speak of a man that I never knew, my great uncle Fred Henry. "Uncle Fred" as he was referred to as, was the youngest of 12 siblings - nine boys and three girls. Five of his brothers had served in World War II but Uncle Fred had been too young to enlist during the war.

When the Korean Conflict broke out, Fred wanted to prove to his brothers that he was as much of a soldier as they had been and he hurried to enlist in the Army.

Sadly, Uncle Fred was killed in Korea on Dec. 28, 1951. He

was only 23 years old. I have been told by family members that my great grandfather, Jonah Henry, grieved himself to death after the loss of his son.

Uncle Fred's siblings would speak of him and reminisce during our annual family reunions.

The uncles that had survived WWII would quietly speak of their times of service. One of these great men, Uncle Floyd, was in the Battle of Bulge.

Another, Uncle Elmer, was on Omaha Beach during D-Day, and was the recipient of a silver star.

Thousands of families across this land have stories just like this. Stories of survival, and stories of tremendous loss.

My family is a military fam-

Opelika Observer Phone: 334.749.8003 michelle@opelikaobserver.com editor@opelikaobserver.com sales@opelikaobserver.com morgan@opelikaobserver.com robert@opelikaoberver.com

ily. My husband served in the navy, in the submarine force, for almost 21 years. While I did not truly understand as a child, the sacrifices that families like my great uncles had made, when I became a military spouse I began to understand. On Sept.

11, 2001, it really hit home.

Living near the largest nuclear submarine base on the East coast, we had to consider that our base might be the next target. Suddenly, we were at war.

War is a scary thing.

Brave men and women risk and sometimes give their lives so that those of us left at home can continue to enjoy freedom.

Veterans Day is a day that honors all veterans - both the living and those that have died. At

Publisher: Michelle Key Editor: Morgan Bryce Sports Reporter: Rick Lanier Staff Reporter: Robert Noles Sales: Doug Horn Woody Ross

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11 a.m. on Nov. 11, a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider at Arlington National Cemetary in Virginia will honor America's war dead.

Veteran's Day should be important to everyone that values their freedom and the liberties that are often taken for granted.

It is our brave men and women that have served, and are currently serving that protect those freedoms.

It is my hope that this publication can be used to honor each and every one of our veterans. It is a great privilege to share some of their stories with you. May God bless them all.

Michelle Key Publisher

Fred S. Henry - U.S. Army 1928 - 1951

Message from the Mayor

We salute you!

Veterans Day is always a special day in Opelika, as we honor the brave men and women who answered the call to serve and protect that which we hold dear: our freedom. It’s a day to reflect on the sacrifices and commitments made by our friends, neighbors, sons and daughters in uniform.

And it’s a day to remember – freedom isn’t free – and that our courageous soldiers who fought for that very freedom deserve respect and recognition for their service. We may not know them all, but we owe them a great deal of gratitude for their strength and pride in our country.

This year also marks the World War I Centennial.

More than four million American families sent their sons and daughters to serve in uniform during the Great War. 116,516 US soldiers died from combat and disease. Another 200,000 were wounded.

More than 350,000 African Americans served in the US military, as did Native Americans and members of other minority groups.

And, for the first time, women joined the ranks of the U.S. armed forces.

On behalf of our community, our State and our Nation, we thank you. We are indebted to you and

Gary Fuller Mayor of Opelika stand with you today and always.

God bless the United States of America, the State of Alabama and the City of Opelika.

Warmest Regards, Gary Fuller, Mayor

MUSIC

• ENTERTAINMENT • HONORING OUR VETS

CITY OF OPELIKA

VETERANS BREAKFAST & WWI ARMISTICE CELEBRATION

Saturday, November 10, 2018 VETERANS BREAKFAST • 8 - 9:45 a.m.

Niffers at the Tracks {917 S. Railroad Ave, Opelika} (Free to all Veterans and their families)

MAIN EVENT: VETERANS & WWI CELEBRATION • 10 a.m. • PUBLIC INVITED Courthouse Square {215 South 9th Street, Opelika} Speaker: Dr. Marty Olliff, “Armistice Day and Commemoration of the Great War” Live Entertainment: Opelika Ovations & New American Freedom Train Band

New American Freedom Train Band led by Army Veteran and Nashville recording artist Tim Maggart

Special Guest: Auburn University Southeastern Raptor Center, Golden Eagle “Aurea”

VETERANS RECEPTION • 11:30 a.m.

Museum of East Alabama {121 South 9th Street, Opelika} Military Displays & Refreshments

BRING A CHAIR OR BLANKET If it rains, the event will be moved to First Baptist Church {The 3:16 Center), 301 S. 8th Street.

For more information, call 334.705.5136.

www.opelika-al.gov

www.aotourism.com

November 7, 2018

Page 4

Air Force

Auburn's Michael Patterson continues Robyn Westbrook fourth-generation on family's military legacy in Air Force of her family to serve in military

By Rick Lanier Opelika Observer A native of Crossville, Alabama, Michael Patterson joined the United States Air Force in April 2008 as a 20-year-old just trying to do the right thing by his family.

“Truth be told, the financial challenges of 2008 were hard on me and my family. I was working as much as I could, trying to go to college and we were getting ready to have our first child - I needed to find a solid job to enable me to take care of my wife and child,” Patterson said.

Having decided to explore military service as an option, Patterson met with the Marine Corps and Army recruiters and was offered a job by both of them, but there was a catch - both required him to serve a non-paying delayed entry period before shipping out on active duty.

“I became impatient, so I went and talked to the Air Force recruiter hoping to be shipped out as soon as possible. I ended up calling all three of them back and telling them that whoever could get me enlisted the fastest, I would choose them,” Patterson said. “The Air Force called me back and asked me if I could leave

on Tuesday and the rest is history.”

After basic training and technical schooling in 2009, Patterson reported to Camp Bastion in Afghanistan as a member of the Air Mobility Command in support of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Battalion responsible for processing inbound supplies and equipment.

“The best part of my tour there were the guys I worked with, especially our Captain who always found a way to get the gear we needed to make things work. The bad was my second daughter was born two days after I arrived in Afghanistan and not being able to be there for that, or being able to call and talk to my wife … that was rough,” Patterson said. “It wasn’t the worse part however.

We hadn’t received our transfer cases yet, and all we had were heavy duty bags to place those who had perished in and were

being sent to Germany on their ride home. I’ll never forget the bagpipes man, I can’t listen to them today.”

Now a senior airman and logistician, Patterson deployed again in April 2011, this time to Iraq. While there, his unit’s primary focus was processing outbound cargo as the war efforts had begun to wind down. Shortly thereafter, however, negotiations for a status of forces agreement between the United States and Iraq quickly deteriorated, and the mission changed drastically.

“We were going to have to accelerate our departure from Iraq which meant we needed to prioritize our inventory and get what we could, as soon as we could, out of the country,” Patterson said.

Patterson’s final deployment came in September 2013 when he arrived at Kandahar Air Base in Afghanistan in support of the United States Army 101st Airborne Division efforts to remove retrograde material out of the country.

“Man it was really hot during the day - like 95 degrees, and then you would freeze at night See Patterson, page 11

By Rick Lanier Opelika Observer

Robyn Westbrook joined the United States Air Force in 2004 to become the fourth generation of military service in her family, but really, her military life began much sooner than that.

Her great grandfather, Melziade Bianchi, was an artilleryman in the Italian Army before immigrating to the United States in 1909. In 1917, Bianchi enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving as a blacksmith during World War I and earning his American citizenship.

Westbrook’s grandfather Richard Bianchi served in the U.S. Navy aboard the Escort Carrier USS Sicily (CVE-118) during World War II, and her father, Robert Bianchi, served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force as a Morse Code Intercept Officer before retiring in 1993.

Her other grandfather, Willis Fuller, flew B-24 Liberators for the 15th Air Force, 376th Bomber Group, in Italy, where he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for valor, and her mother, Lynn Fuller Bianchi, served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force as a Russian Cryptologic Linguist before retiring from active duty in 1993.

Westbrook’s military background began literally at birth, overseas at Royal Air Force Lakenheath military base in Suffolk, England. Both of her parents served on active duty until Robyn was three years old.

From there, Westbrook and her family returned stateside to San Antonio, Texas where she began making friends, going to school and paying attention to what her mom and dad were doing in life.

“I remember looking at my parents in their uniforms as a young girl.

You can’t fully grasp the military concept as a young girl, but I knew they were doing something important, just the look of them gave me that sense,” Westbrook said.

While her family had established a long and distinguished record of service, her parents had hoped for a different path for Westbrook.

“I felt a sense of military tradition in the

family, but I never felt pressured into going that direction. I was 18 years old and my parents were very much in favor of me going to college, especially at the time I decided to join, because the United States had just began to drop bombs in Iraq,” Westbrook said. “They were very surprised that I wanted to join the military and not go to college.”

Westbrook’s deployment in 2005 took her to the United Arab Emirates in support Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom where she served in the communication support field as an information manager.

Although she knew that she had to report for her deployment, the timing of the assignment could not have come at a worse time for her.

“I did not want to go.

I was a newlywed and it was very hard being away from my husband; I was miserable,” Westbrook said.

Once deployed, she focused all of her attention to the task at hand and tried to make the best of it.

“We lived in tents, separated by gender of course and it was 120 degrees. There’s nothing See Westbrook, page 25

November 7, 2018

Isham J. "Ike" Dorsey, U.S. Air Force

Page 5

Henry Harrison Brice, U. S. Air Force

Col David L Oakes USAF Ret.

November 7, 2018

Page 6

Army Following a calling: Opelika's Todd Rauch shares story of sacrifice, service

By Arnecia Walker For the Opelika Observer Many high school graduates go straight to college after receiving their diploma, but Opelika resident Todd Rauch’s story is much different.

As a drill team commander in JROTC during high school, Rauch said his dream was “to be in the ‘Old Guard,’ the guys that spin the rifles” but desired a career as a military police officer.

Having an uncle that had been in the same line of work, Rauch would later follow in his uncle’s footsteps and enlist in the U.S. Army.

After high school graduation, Rauch worked as a lifeguard during the summer months, but on Aug. 22, 2001, he joined the Army and traveled to Fort Leonard Wood.

Twenty days later, Rauch and the lives of all Americans were forever affected by

the events of 9/11, a tragedy that occurred while Rauch was in basic training.

During the midst of 9/11, Rauch and his comrades were sitting through a communications class when a drill sergeant came in asking if anyone had ties to New York.

Moments later, the sergeant returned and informed the class that another plane had crashed into the World Trade Center, meaning it was time to prepare for war.

“During basic training, we can’t watch TV; we had no way to read newspapers and they didn’t make any special accommodations for us to watch anything and nothing was cancelled. Everyday was normal and it wasn’t until midDecember that I saw what had happened,” Rauch said.

After graduating from basic training in December, Rauch was stationed in Germany and got acquainted with an ASV, which was a new vehicle in

the United States Military Police Corps.

“It was kind of an urban vehicle that was armored and the Army had just brought it in a year before,” Rauch said.

Rauch’s unit was one of the first units to have an ASV. He was trained in the vehicle using combat scenarios, which made Rauch and his team specialized, eventually becoming the number one training team for the ASV. The team taught other military police units how to integrate the vehicle during urban combat situations. “(By) Valentine’s Day of 2003, we had gotten orders and were shipped out to Kuwait,” Rauch said.

Rauch, 19 years old at the time, was sent to Camp Virginia, which is close to the southern part of Iraq.

Before going into combat on March 19, 2003, he and his team were informed that they would be the first military police unit to drive across

the border from Kuwait into Iraq.

The actual ASV that Rauch and his team drove, nicknamed “Swamp Monkey,” is currently on display outside of the Fort Leonard Wood gates.

After taking over an Air Force base in Tallil, Iraq, some of Rauch’s unit headed to Baghdad, but he and others stayed behind in Tallil.

Following the mission, Rauch traveled for eight hours on the back of a Humvee that was being towed to Baghdad. After uniting with the rest of his unit, he spent the next month training Iraqi police officers how to arrest or catch people and search homes.

“We got shot at every single night ... it was always after curfew, so we would take the Iraqi police out and train them how to apprehend these people, how to catch them and use flanks,” Rauch said.

“You never know when you’re getting

shot at if it’s just a tactic to lure you outside the gate.”

Things were different on the night of Aug. 21, 2003.

“I was thinking we were going to capture about 20 guys,” Rauch said.

As a safety precaution, the unit took a different route each time they went somewhere, and on this night, Rauch chose the path. In the staggered formation, he was always in the back, and this time it was no different.

“We were walking down this road and I saw someone in the corner of my eye running across the road … it could be anyone,” Rauch said.

The person Rauch saw turned out to be a young child in the area, but as he turned around and took three steps, and an IED went off, which was remotely detonated.

“I thought that I had broken my arm just from the blast ...

I don’t hear anyone,

no one is yelling out, which is not a good sign,” Rauch said. “I just started getting shot at...immediately.”

Rauch was shot in his right thigh causing him to be down on a knee during the gunfire, with only a pistol and a knife.

“Everything you have is a weapon at that point,” Rauch said.

Later, Rauch found himself in a knife fight after the gunfire, which resulted in his ID tag being cut off.

After calling the extraction team, Rauch was transported to the nearest surgical tent. As he was getting out of the Humvee, he recalls everything getting foggy following a massive loss of blood.

Rauch suffered from severe damage to his hand from the explosion, damage to his entire rotator cuff in his right arm from a piece of shrapnel See Rauch, page 7

“Remember the hours after Sept. 11 when we came together as one! It was the worst day we have ever seen, but it brought out the best in all of us.” - Sen. John Kerry, D-Massachusetts

November 7, 2018

Rauch, from 6

and a gunshot wound to his right thigh.

After several surgeries in Iraq, Rauch was sent to a base in Germany for a few days before receiving another identity card and being sent to Walter Reed Medical Center, where his treatments were furthered.

While at Walter Reed, Rauch was able to focus on what he wanted to do, and he knew that he wanted

Page 7 to pursue Psychology. After watching several Auburn University football games with another wounded soldier, Rauch decided to attend the school, eventually receiving his bachelors degree in psychology.

Rauch was most recently a candidate for the Alabama House of Representative’s House District 38 seat and created the “Veterans Task Force,” a group dedicated to meeting, serving and supporting local veterans.

Todd Rauch - US Army

Wayne Wommack - US Army

November 7, 2018

Page 8

Martin - U.S. Army

Timothy Lowery, U.S. Army

Thomas J. Brantley - U.S. Army

Veterans appeals process undergoing major changes Special to the Opelika Observer The VA appeals process is going through its biggest change since the 1980s. In 2017, Congress passed the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act. This act takes apart the current appeal system and replaces it with a new process aimed to improve the experience for all involved in the process.

Let’s take a brief look at what stays the same and what is changing. Then we can talk about how the process works.

There will still be a rating decision after every claim is filed.

A claimant will still have the opportunity to

have a more seasoned adjudicator review the decision in the regional office. The claimant can still appeal to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.

What’s gone? State of the case, gone. VA Form 9, gone. Reopened claims?

Not anymore. The need for new and material evidence, gone. DRO decision, gone. What is replacing these? Supplemental claims, relevant evidence, higher level review, one NOD filed directly to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.

Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act Now, when a veteran files a new claim, the VA will issue a rating decision that must contain the

following: what issues were decided, summary of evidence considered by the VA, summary of applicable laws and regulations, identification of findings favorable to the claimant, explanation of why claim was denied, explanation of how to get evidence used in making the decision, and identification of criteria that must be satisfied to grant service connection or the next higher level of compensation. After this rating decision, you have one year to take action. You are to appeal for a higher review at the RO, file new evidence or file an NOD to go to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.

Higher Level Review You have one year

from the initial claim to seek this route. This lane allows for a quality check on the original opinion while still at the VA regional office. Now, you cannot submit additional evidence or request a hearing here. The review is de novo, which means review without giving weight to the prior decision. If the decision is favorable, your original claim date is preserved.

If it is unfavorable, you have an option to file a supplemental claim or to file an NOD to appeal to the board.

Supplemental Claim Welcome to the new evidence lane. You have one year from the date of your decision to file additional evidence. Under

the new law, this is now referred to as a supplemental claim. In this lane, you may submit additional evidence that is new and relevant. Upon receipt of your new evidence, VA will attempt to make a decision within 125 days.

Your effective date, the day from which the VA will pay your benefits, will be the day you file the first claim.

Once the adjudicator makes a decision, you must ask yourself, are you satisfied with this decision? At this point, you get to choose from the three options again: one, as you’ve already done, you can submit additional evidence within a year and preserve the date of your claim; two, you can

request a higher level review; or three, board review lane.

Board Review Lane This is where you file an NOD and your case moves from the regional office to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. Here, there will be three lanes to choose from: one, fully developed appeal, a claim that is ready for decision by the BVA and there is no further evidence to submit; two, hearing request with the chance to submit additional evidence; or three, request to submit evidence but not hold a hearing. If the decision is favorable, your original claim date is preserved. If it is unfavorSee VA, page 11

November 7, 2018

Page 9

Observer commemorates service of Opelika's 'Dusty' Hiller on front of veterans publication

By Morgan Bryce Editor

Jim Perry - U.S. Army

Opelika native Stephen "Dusty" Hiller, pictured on the front of this special Veterans Day publication, was one of eight Americans that lost their lives in an Iraqi militia ambush near Sadr City, Baghdad.

Dusty deployed with the First Cavalry Division of Fort Hood, Texas, on a peacekeeping mission to Iraq but lost his life four days later on April 4, 2004.

The horrendous stories of that day are told through a book titled "The Long Road Home, "

written by ABC journalist Martha Raddatz. Last fall, National Geographic released a short miniseries of the same name based on that book.

Dusty's mother Beth, who works as a revenue assistant for the City of Opelika, said in an official city statement last year prior to the release of the miniseries that the book had evoked many of the emotions she felt during that chaotic time.

"Being in the military was Dusty’s dream,” Beth said. “It was definitely hard reading the book in 2007 because it was like reliving 2004. I was mad,

angry and sad all at one time.”

The miniseries is available for viewing on most streaming services.

It is veterans like Dusty who gave their lives protecting and serving our country that we recognize during this day of remembrance and recognition that we call Veterans Day. The Observer is grateful for American veterans of all wars who sacrifice so much to protect the beliefs and ideals that make our country so great, and in turn, attempt to share those with the world to make it a better place.

Thank You.

WE SALUTE ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY.

701 Second Avenue, Opelika 1605 East University Drive, Auburn | 1684 South College, Auburn

800.763.4444 | www.charterbank.net |

November 7, 2018

VA, from 8

able, you have an option to file a supplemental claim within a year, or you can file an appeal to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. You only have 120 days to file this appeal though.

File an appeal with the CAVC and win, and your original claim date is preserved. If you do not prevail, then you have a year to file a supplemental claim. Should you win after that, you still preserve your original claim date.

In our first segment, we gave an overview of the whole system. In this view, we’re going to focus on the new appeal process that takes places at the regional office, known as the RO where you file your claim. This is the new layout for the VA Appeals System. Once an initial decision is reached, the veteran has three options for keeping the claim going.

The first option is to file a supplemental claim with new and relevant evidence. The second option

Patterson from 4 as the temperature would drop to 25 at night,” Patterson said.

Patterson served one last tour at Little Rock AFB in Arkansas where he was promoted to Staff

Page 11 is to ask for higher level review. Lastly, you can file a NOD to go direct to the Board of Veterans Appeals, also known as the BVA. Let’s start from the beginning.

Filing a claim When you file a claim, the VA has a duty to assist you to win your claim.

This duty could mean the VA must go to get service records, medical records and social security records. Sometimes the duty to assist includes getting the veteran a C&P exam.

The VA’s goal it to issue a rating decision within 125 days. Although similar to the way the rating decisions used to be laid out, now it must include the following: Identification of the issues decided.

Summary of evidence considered by the VA. Summary of applicable laws.

Identification of findings favorable to the claimant.

The VA is then bound by these favorable findings throughout the adjudication appeal. Absent clear and convincing evidence to the contrary.

If denied, identification

of elements leading to denial.

Explanation of how to obtain or access evidence used in making the decision and identification of criteria that must be satisfied to grant service connection or the next higher level of compensation.

Once an initial decision is issued, a veteran can hire an attorney or agent to help decide what way to move the case forward.

If you disagree with the decision, then you have three choices to move forward. Those options again are: File supplemental claim.

Higher level review at the RO or NOD to the BVA. (The veteran has one year to enter his claim into one of these lanes if he wants to continue his case.)

Supplemental Claim Let’s look at the supplemental claim. To file a supplemental claim, the veteran must submit new and relevant evidence. New and relevant evidence replaces the current new and material evidence standard. Relevant is defined as evidence that tends to prove or disprove

a matter in issue. Importantly, this new standard is lower than the old new and material evidence standard. The main benefit of this lane, is that it allows the veteran to file new evidence whereas higher review does not. If the claim is again denied, then the veteran still has all three options going forward.

Another supplemental claim, the higher level review or an appeal to the Board of Veterans’ Appeal. The next option is higher level review.

Within one year of the decision, a claimant can request higher level review. You can request it to be at the same RO or a different RO. No new evidence may be submitted. Review is de Novo, which means the new decision maker is not bound by what the old one decided.

Notice of the higher level review decision must include a statement indicating whether evidence was submitted and not reviewed, and the options for having that evidence reviewed.

An important takeaway with this lane is that

the decision maker will not consider evidence that was not before the adjudicator that made the first decision. If you submit new evidence, then you will most likely have to have it considered through a supplemental claim if you want it considered again in the RO. If you disagree here, then you can file another supplemental claim or make an appeal to the BVA, which is the third and final choice in the new VA Appeals’ Process.

Board of Veterans Appeals The Board is the last stop for an appeal in the VA system. To go to the BVA, you file a notice of disagreement AKA the NOD within one year of the decision. It used to be that the veteran had to file an NOD. Get another decision from the RO called the statement of the case and then file a subsequent appeal. Now, the NOD takes you straight to the BVA. The NOD must be filed directly with the BVA. There are certain requirements for the NOD. It must be in writing and identify the specific

issues with which the veteran disagrees. It must be on the VA’s specified form. The veteran can request a hearing before the BVA and/or submit additional evidence with the NOD or, they can request a review without a hearing or additional evidence. The VA is required to develop a policy to allow for modification of the NOD after it has been filed.

Effective Date Lastly, it is important to understand how this new program protects the effective date of a potential award. The effective date is the date from which the VA will pay benefits.

Usually, it is the date of the last re-opened claim.

With the new system, as long as you choose one of the three lanes within a year, then your effective date of any claim granted should be the date of the claim you filed at the beginning.

Written by Matthew Hill of Hill & Ponton Disability Attorneys. For more information or to watch videos on this topic visit www.hillandponton. com/changes-va-appealsprocess/.

Sergeant and transferred from the Air Mobility Command to the 34th Combat Training Squadron. There, he supervised Army and Air Force personnel through the rigors of establishing forward operating bases in unknown and hostile locations.

He was honorably discharged in 2017 and re-

turned to Auburn to finish his degree in economics and pursue law school.

“I’ve never been around such a great group of people as I have here at Auburn and at the Veterans Resource Center.

Around people with the highest integrity, and who will do whatever it takes to get you back on the right track,” Patterson

said. “This is more than a place to study, it’s a place to heal.”

A smile comes across his face when he thinks back to the most rewarding experiences of his military career.

“That’s an easy one.

I’m proud to have been a member of a team that helped our fellow brothers and sisters, no matter

what, even in tragedy. I remember a time in Afghanistan when a fellow servicemember's wife and children had been killed in a car accident,” Patterson said. “As you can imagine, the only thing he was thinking about was getting home – I would have too. Sometimes leaving Afghanistan is very hard to do, they’re no direct

flights, but all he wanted was to get home. My guys understood that, did what they had to do, and we he got back home.”

His advice for someone thinking about joining the military: “My best advice is preparation.

Be prepared for what is going to be asked of you, personally, professionally, mentally and physically.”

November 7, 2018

Page 12

Auburn student, veteran reminsces on Army career

By Rick Lanier Opelika Observer A native of Chelsea, Alabama, Daniel Robinson, like so many others, remembers watching “Shock and Awe” video coverage out of Iraq in 2003, and although he was still in high school, he would not soon forget the intense images he had watched on television.

Little did he know he would soon experience them first-hand.

A common thread in most veteran’s background seems to be a correlation between his/ her family history and military service - Robinson's family is no exception. Their military history can be traced as far back as the Civil War where his two great, great uncles fought – one for the Confederacy and the other for the Union.

Robinson’s father served in the Army, his grand-

father the Air Force and his step-father the Coast Guard.

Even with all of his family’s past military history, Robinson never really thought much of military service until that changed one day. “I had no intentions of joining the military until my senior year in high school when I made the decision to join. Kind of weird how I decided actually - I was over at a buddy’s house hanging around, really bored with nothing to do. No cable, no movies, no nothing except an Army recruiting DVD my buddy had so I said “dude, throw that in.”

After about eight minutes of guys running, gunning, rappelling, jumping out of planes, I said that’s it, I’m joining the Army.””

Robinson went home to talk it over with his parents, “naturally my mom was not thrilled with the idea, my dad

didn’t mind I suppose, he just didn’t want me to do infantry, but that’s what I did anyway.”

After completing basic training and specialized schooling in 2004, Robinson's unit began preparations for an undisclosed deployment to the Middle East scheduled for early 2005. Almost a year later, an 18-yearold Robinson stepped off of a helicopter in central Baghdad, Iraq as a rifleman with his unit.

The first thing he saw? “I looked up and saw those crossed sabers that I had previously seen during “Shock and Awe” on television. It was surreal, like I had been there before, but when I saw them I knew it was real.”

Robinson returned stateside to Fort Stewart for a brief period before deploying again from October 2007 to December 2008, this time to South Western Baghdad.

“Things were a little

different on this deployment. On my first one, I was a brand new Infantry Rifleman Private that needed a good Sergeant to lead me in order to survive. This time I was the Sergeant leading a four man fire team doing close quarters battle every single day for 14 months.

It was intense and but I brought them all home healthy, I got lucky.”

According to Robinson, not all missions in Baghdad were dark and evil, some were very rewarding. “The job was always dangerous, and I hated to see some friends of mine get hurt, but it was not always dreadful. I’ll never forget the feeling I had joining the Iraqi army in handing out school supplies at the local schools where kids had nothing. No electricity, no running water, no heat, real poverty - The Iraqi kids loved us and seeing their faces when

they received a ruler and a pencil, I can’t describe that.”

When asked about his feelings in retrospect, Robinson said, “I wouldn’t change it for anything. I don’t miss the Army, but I miss my friends. In combat, I was conditioned to not care and frankly I didn’t, I couldn’t. Now that I have distance from that environment, it really scares me sometimes, especially when I realize that I could have gotten killed, like I said earlier, I’m lucky and blessed.”

“I’m proud of my service, always will be, but it will never define me” Robinson said in closing.

“I would encourage anyone to join the military, just pick a specialty that will benefit you after your time in service, and as my dad tried to tell me, do not go Infantry (laughter)” Robinson said jokingly.

ADAH to host 'Armistice Centennial Concert' Nov. 11 Special to the Opelika Observer

On Nov. 11 at 3:30 p.m. the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH) will host "Remembering World War I: An Armistice Centennial Concert" on its front terrace. This special event, held on the 100th

anniversary of the end of World War I, will feature a performance by the 151st Army Band of the Alabama National Guard along with dramatic readings by the Alabama Shakespeare Festival’s Greta Lambert and Rodney Clark.

The band will perform musical selections from

the World War I era. The readings by Lambert and Clark are excerpted from historical letters, poems, and other materials from the Archives’ collections.

“This event will provide an opportunity to commemorate and remember the service of Alabamians in a unique way. As the sun sets at the end of

the concert, we hope the audience will leave with a renewed sense of the sacrifices made a century ago,” said Steve Murray, ADAH Director. In 1940, the ADAH building was dedicated as the state’s World War I Memorial.

Admission to the event is free. Seating will be provided, but attendees

are welcome to bring their own folding chairs.

In the case of inclement weather, the event will be moved inside the ADAH. For more information, call (334) 353-3312.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History is the state’s government-records repository, special-collec-

tions library and research facility, and home to the Museum of Alabama, the state history museum. It is located in downtown Montgomery, directly across the street from the State Capitol.

To learn more, visit www.archives.alabama. gov or call (334) 2424364.

November 7, 2018

Page 13

Local businesses offer specials to veterans Every year, many restaurants and retailers across America offer specials to military veterans in honor of Veterans Day. The list below is just some of the local businesses that will be offering a special for veterans. Most will require proof of eligibility so be prepared.

Academy Sports + Outdoors -- Current and former military members and their immediate families get 10 percent off their entire purchase, Oct. 31 - Nov. 11.

Applebees – Free meal from a limited menu on Nov. 11 Buffalo Wild WingsVeterans and active duty military personnel receive one small order of wings and a side of fries for free on Nov. 11.

Chicken Salad ChickFree Chick Meal Plus drink (Includes a scoop or sandwich, one side, or a bowl of soup.

Chipotle -- Active duty military, reserves, national guard, military spouses and

retired military get a buyone-get-one (BOGO) deal on Nov. 11 Chuck’s BBQ – Offers free drinks to military year round Cracker Barrell – Veterans get a slice of Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake or a Crafted Coffee on Nov. 11 CyberZone - Will have 2-hours of unlimited arcade play for $12 every Monday, and on a national holidays they open at noon and offer unlimited laser tag for $25 per person ($20 for guests w a military ID) Dunkin' Donuts -- On Nov. 11, Free donut at participating location Freddy's - Will offer a free combo meal coupon to veterans and active duty military. Coupon is valid thru Nov. 30.

Full Moon – 10% discount for all veterans.

Golden Corral – Military Appreciation Night free dinner will be available on Nov. 12, from 5-9 p.m. Military

retirees, veterans, active duty, National Guard and Reserves are all welcome.

Great Clips: On Nov. 11, veterans and current military members can receive a free haircut or a card for a free haircut to use in the future.

IHOP - Veterans and active military men and women will receive a free stack of Red, White, and Blueberry pancakes on Nov. 12.

Krispy Kreme - Free doughnut and coffee Little Caesars - Veterans and active military members receive a free $5 Lunch Combo from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on November 11 LongHorn - Free Free appetizer or dessert on Nov. 11 O’Charleys – Free dinner from $9.99 menu on Nov. 11 - 12 Outback SteakhouseFree Bloomin’ Onion and beverage, Olive Garden - Free meal from a special menu on Nov. 11 Publix Supermarket - Veterans, active military

personnel, and their families are invited to save 10% on groceries on Nov.11. This offer excludes prescriptions, alcohol, tobacco, gift cards, lottery tickets, postage stamps, money services, Publix Delivery, and Publix Curbside Susie K's - All Veterans

take 50% off a lunch or dinner entree on Nov. 12 Target -- Active duty military, veterans, and their spouses and/or dependent children can receive a 10% discount on their purchases – in-store and online at Target. com – from Nov. 4-12 Tractor Supply Com-

pany - Veterans, active-duty military and their dependents can receive 15 percent off their purchases at Tractor Supply Company stores on Nov. 11.

Wild Wing Café – Veterans eat for free all day from select items on Nov. 11 at participating locations

November 7, 2018

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Walking Hats

t doesn’t matter where we are. Jody is always talking to someone. He loves old timers. He can sit and talk to the old men sitting out front of the filling station for hours.

He is an old soul. I laugh and pick on him, because he has more friends over 65 than he does his own age. But in today’s world, that isn’t such a bad thing.

Jody has a hidden radar deep inside that can detect a veteran within a five-mile radius. He knows his people. He makes it a point to speak to every single man or woman who has sacrificed themself in the form of service to our country. If he sees a person wearing a “Vietnam War” hat he stops them and shakes their hand briskly while welcoming them home. Sometimes the person in the hat will smile and thank him.

Sometimes the person in the hat will simply nod their head and walk on.

He always says he likes to recognize them and give them the welcome home they never received.

He deployed to Iraq three times himself and always received the hero’s treatment upon

return. While grateful, he wishes all those before him, particularly Vietnam veterans, could have experienced the same.

The Korean War, often referred to as the “forgotten war,” has fewer living veterans simply because it was so long ago. Those warriors have passed on only to leave with us their stories of war.

If there happens to be one, I can assure you that Jody either knows them personally or will find a way to thank them for their service and commitment to our country. It’s just what he does, feeling it’s not only his duty but also an honor.

Jody just took Abigail to the store. I stayed at home perched at the kitchen table to write this article about Veterans Day. I struggle when I’m given an “assignment,” because I seem to write better when it’s not planned.

As he was walking out of the door, he turned to me and asked, “Do you know the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day?” I laughed and said, “Of course, I do.

I’m not stupid.” He was serious. He wanted to make sure I knew

and understood.

Memorial Day is a day to honor the fallen men and women of war while Veterans Day is to honor

By Lucy the men and women who have served. After he left, I realized that he wasn’t trying to put me on the spot. He was making sure that I indeed knew the difference.

Our country falls short on these two honorable days. We are so busy planning our trips to the lake or backyard cook-outs that we forget what we are actually celebrating. We make a list of items to purchase: paper plates, hamburger meat, buns, beer, chips, potato salad.

We rush to the grocery store and walk up and down the aisles in such a hurried frenzy that we forget to look for the hats. You know, the hats that the old men wear. The navy ones or the black ones. Some say “Vietnam War” in gold embroidery. Some say “World War II”, “Korea”, etc. Some-

times the hats walk a little slower or with a cane, so we try to ease past them without making eye contact. We Fuller are in a such hurry to get home to prepare for our Memorial Day bash or just to get home to enjoy our day off work for Veterans Day. The walking hats— We see them everywhere. They are at the grocery store, the pharmacy, and the convenience store.

Sometimes they are alone. Sometimes they are with their spouse.

Sometimes they are with their grandchildren. Sometimes they don’t leave the house.

Sometimes they are the same age as you or me.

Sometimes, they might not be wearing that hat. Wearing that hat is as much of a choice as was their decision to fight for our freedom.

They had as much of a choice to enlist as they do to wear the hat that carries with it a horrifically powerful memory of courage, brother-

hood, and the bloody cost of freedom… and they wear that sucker with pride. Although many were drafted, ultimately, they still had a choice.

My grandfather didn’t have a hat that read “World War II” nor did he have a special car tag. He chose not to have either. He never spoke of the war or showed evidence of it except with his silence. I dare say that there are many more men out there like him. They choose not to speak. They choose not to make it known.

I don’t blame them. I could never imagine what dragons they fight on a daily basis.

The war may have been long over, but the memories never fade.

For some, it may be easier for them to stay silent. I get that. I respect that. It must take a lot to wear the hat.

I have a challenge for you as well as myself.

When you are out and about, rushing through the grocery store or pumping your gas, look for the hats. Try to see how many you can spot in one day. Make a valid attempt to speak. Whether it be a simple “hello,” “thank you for your service,”

or “welcome home,” I can assure you that your words will mean more to the person under that hat than you realize. What those walking hats did for us, how ever many years ago, is untouchable.

They did for us what we are unable to do for ourselves.

Respect the hats. Be more like Jody and talk. Take the time to shake someone’s hand.

Walk over to the car next to you pumping gas and just say “thanks.” You may not start meeting up every Saturday morning at 5 a.m. for cold coffee at the filling station, or maybe you will! Fine tune your radar and start looking for them.

After all, November is the time to be thankful.

May you have a blessed Veterans Day and to all of the walking hats reading this “Thank you for your service” and “Welcome home.”

Lucy Fuller is a lover of nature, animals, gardening, and old houses. She is a full time mother and wife.

She currently resides in Opelika with her husband, two daughters, 3 dogs, and cat. She can be reached at fullalove2017@gmail.com

"Never was so much owed by so many to so few." –Winston Churchill

November 7, 2018

Page 15

Marine Corps Kyle Venable reflects on career, part of being military 'tribe'

By Morgan Bryce Editor During his 17-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps and now as the two-term president of Auburn University’s Student Veterans Association, Kyle Venable views himself as a part of a large “tribe” that helps him find a sense of purpose and fulfillment in his life.

“When you’re in the service, your units are so close. And then when you’re moved to a new unit, you have to find yourself a new tribe,” Venable said.

“Everywhere you go after is the same way, and I love the one I’m in here at Auburn too.”

Born in Lafayette, Louisiana, Venable said he grew up staying busy in high school through being a Boy Scout, participating in band and playing sports.

Growing up with aspirations to attend the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Venable said a conversation with a recruiter as a 17-year-old high

school junior helped him decide that a career in the Marines was the best match for him.

“It took little convincing for me to want to join but my mom was a whole ‘nother story.

My stepfather did a couple of years in the Army National Guard but he was not called into wartime deployments or hard-core assignments,” Venable said. “So, when I told her of my decision, she was like most mothers and asked me, ‘why? Why are you doing that?’ My recruiter ended up talking to her, and she changed her mind once she realized that I could sign the paperwork anyway when I turned 18.”

Graduating from high school in May 1994, Venable headed for boot camp in July and finished in October. His first role out of boot camp was a Marine Integrated Maintenance Management Technician, repairing equipment and vehicles.

Four years into his Marines career,

Kyle Venable - USMC Venable married his highschool sweetheart, who wanted to further her medical schooling. Unable to find any openings for relocation, he left the Marines.

Back home in Lafayette, Venable enrolled in courses at the nearby University of Louisiana. Following he and his wife’s divorce that fall, he reenlisted in the Marines.

For most of 1999, Venable attended the Marine Corps CommunicationElectronics School in Twentynine Palms, California. There, he earned his certification as a ground electronics communication maintenance technician, equipped with knowledge on how to repair computers, radios and SAT phones.

Venable served in

his first deployment in 2008, being shipped overseas with his Inspector Instructive staff. He was an LAV crewman, responsible for a driver, gunner and four infantry scouts who occupied the back of the vehicle.

“We had to become a family. When you’re deploying, you’re relying on your driver, because you’re riding at night, riding through IEDs and other dangerous situation,” Venable said.

“It’s important for the group to be aware but be comfortable around each other at the same time.”

Their important task was to protect and maintain the safety of those voting in the country’s 2008 elections, especially Christians who were targeted for their faith and voting convictions.

Venable returned home briefly in late 2008 to be with family before going on his second and final deployment to Afghanistan in early 2009.

There, he worked at a command operations

center, responsible for the whereabouts of his fellow soldiers and units present at that location.

Seeking a break from active duty, Venable took a role with a non-deployable unit based at Camp LeJeune in North Carolina. In 2013, he retired from the Marines but continued for two more years as a civilian telecommunications specialist at the base.

In 2015, needing to break away from that career, Venable returned to school at Coastal Carolina Community College in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, relying on the G.I Bill, retirement and disability benefits for wounds he suffered during his deployments to fund his education.

Venable and his family relocated to Montgomery from North Carolina in 2016 in order for his wife to pursue a career teaching military history at the Air Command Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base in MontSee Venable, page 27

"This will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave." – Elmer Davis

November 7, 2018

Page 16

Veterans Resource Center provides students connections, help for furthering education

By Rick Lanier Opelika Observer

As a land grant university, Auburn University maintains a long and distinguished tradition of training American soldiers. Auburn's early military service dates as far back as the Civil War when the campus served as a training ground for the Confederate Army, and "Old Main" served as a hospital for Confederate wounded.

On Oct. 1, 1918, nearly all of Alabama Polytechnic Institute's able-bodied male students 18 year or older voluntarily joined the United

States Army, resulting in 900 hundred student-soldiers and the formation of the academic section of the Student Army Training Corps.

During World War II, the Alabama Polytechnic Institute trained U.S. military personnel on campus between 1941 and 1945 producing over 32,000 troops for the war effort. Additionally, Auburn (known as API from 1899-1960) required all able bodied male students to enroll in either the Army or the Air Force basic course Reserve Officers’ Training Corps until 1969.

Auburn Universi-

ty’s deep rooted relationship with military service continues today as veterans from all branches of service march the Plains as members of the student body, faculty and administrators. While the university continues the tradition of training military officers for future service in the Reserve Officer Training Corps, Auburn has also been nationally recognized as a military friendly campus in part as a result of the campusbased services it provides to student veterans.

In the 1970s, Auburn’s student veteran enrollment was

composed primarily from a corps of Korean and Vietnam War era veterans intuitive enough to have enrolled in the Vocational Education Assistance Program.

From 1975 - 2008, fewer than 100 student veterans were enrolled on the Plains, however that would soon change in 2009 when Congress enacted the “Post 9/11 GI Bill” that greatly expanded veterans educational benefits. Perhaps one of the biggest changes was the option for veteran’s to transfer educational benefit eligibility to his/her dependents.

This option was

a game changer for many veterans as it instantly provided a college fund for their children (or spouse) who otherwise may never have had the chance of obtaining secondary education.

Following the enactment of the Post 9/11 GI Bill in 2009, Auburn’s veteran enrollment grew from 100 to 400 students, overwhelming the student services efforts of Mary Martin Hall. To help ease the administrative burden of the federally mandated certification process associated with student veterans, a Veterans Affairs office within Martin Hall was

commissioned and staffed with a fulltime faculty member and a student veteran work study. In its infancy, Auburn’s Veterans Affairs concentrated solely on the certification of educational benefits necessary to satisfy the payment of tuition and book fees, as well as, any financial aid due the veteran.

Within two years, Auburn’s enrollment included over 700 student veterans. By 2012, even more veterans were shouting “War Eagle!”

1,282 of them in fact, according to the National Center for See VRC, page 20

'Veterans Task Force' connects area veterans to community resources

By Arnecia Walker For the Opelika Observer During Todd Rauch’s House District 38 campaign, he formed a Veterans Task Force with an aim to provide support and help to local veterans in Opelika, Lee County and surrounding areas.

The VTF has five key focus areas: pen-

sion and disability, education, veteran nonprofits, veteran service organizations and jobs.

Rauch’s life took a dramatic turn when he was wounded in combat on Aug. 21, 2003, during the heart of the War in Iraq.

With little-to-no idea about the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and how

to utilize its services, Rauch said he knew he would have to learn to navigate on his own. During his time at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, he said he spent a lot of his time researching the processes.

In the years since, Rauch said his conversations with other veterans yielded the same results: confu-

sion and frustration because of a lack of understanding of the VA’s structure worked.

These served as the pillars of the VTF’s founding and its five focused areas.

Examples of lessons learned from the task force include teaching veterans how to file a claim through the VA, filing for educational benefits,

engaging with local nonprofits geared toward veterans, involving younger veterans and helping them find lasting careers after their military days are over.

“It is hard to find a job as a veteran … over the span of five years, I applied for hundreds of jobs and not once did I get a single interview or

call back and that’s frustrating,” Rauch said. “Anything I can do to reach out to veterans and let them know that this process is frustrating and cumbersome; I want to be able to help them with the process.”

For more information, call Rauch at 334-610-1820 or email veteranstaskforce38@gmail.com.

We're going to take care of our military - the people in our military, the finest people we have.

- President Donald J. Trump

November 7, 2018

Page 17

Local services offered in Lee County for veterans

By Wendy Hodge For the Opelika Observer The Veterans Administration is a national organization that, through its state and local offices, offers many services and benefits to veterans and their dependents. Here is a brief summary of the programs and benefits available.

HOUSING AND HOME LOAN GUARANTEES FOR VETERANS A VA loan (also known as a Veterans Administration (VA) home loan) is one of the most useful military benefits. If you qualify, you can buy or refinance a home mortgage with as little as $0 down, with great rates and financing up to $424,000.

VETERANS' EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICE VETS is an independent agency within the Department of Labor created specifically to assist veterans in making the transition from military to civilian life, train for and find good jobs, and to protect the employment and reemployment rights of veterans, Reserv-

ists and National Guard Members.

In partnership with other federal agencies, state and local governments, veterans service organizations, business and community groups, and professional associations, VETS provides services to both employers and veterans. VETS is committed to providing every veteran with the opportunity to participate fully in the 21st Century's expanding economy and to grow with the nation.

LOCAL VETERANS EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM (LVER) LVERs conduct active outreach programs with employers, community and veterans organizations, unions, and local counseling and social services agencies to ensure that veterans know about and receive the services for which they are eligible. They work with veterans to place them in federally-funded employment and training programs. They also assist veterans in developing job interviewing and resume writing skills.

They help veterans conduct a productive job search and access job listings

through electronic data bases, including Americas Job Bank VA MEDICAL CENTERS AND HOSPITALS Montgomery, Tuskegee, Birmingham, and Tuscaloosa offer the closest VA medical facilities for Lee County residents. Free or low-cost medical care and pharmaceutical care as provided by the VA Health Administration, has its roots as far back as 1812 when the first naval home care service began in Philadelphia. President Hoover created the VA in 1930 and hospitals were built across the country in the 1940s dedicated solely to the care of veterans. In 1988, President Reagan elevated the VA to cabinet-level administration when he signed the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Since that time, the VA has had its share of struggles within its own administration. However, local veterans are still being served every day. Here is a list of the services offered by the VA Health Administration in our area: - Blindness Rehabilitation - Post Traumatic

Stress - Traumatic Brain Injury - Agent Orange Exposure - Gulf War Syndrome and Related Illnesses - Radiation Exposure - HIV/AIDS Treatment - Alcohol/Drug Dependency Treatment - Blind Veterans Service - CHAMPVA - Combat Veteran Healthcare Eligibility - Online Health Services for Veterans In addition to the federal VA programs, Alabama offers several additional services through its state funded veteran’s program.

THE ALABAMA G.I. DEPENDENTS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM This nationally renowned program was created by Act 633 and approved October 1947 by the Alabama Legislature. It is administered by the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs and is governed by the Code of Alabama 1975, Section 31-6-1. The veteran must meet certain criteria to establish the eligibility of his/her dependents. A dependent

is defined as a child, stepchild, spouse or the un-remarried widow(er) of the veteran. Depending upon the veteran’s disability rating, the dependent could receive five standard academic years (10 semesters) at any Alabama Statesupported institution of higher learning or a prescribed course of study at any state– supported technical college to be used for undergraduate courses of study at the in-state tuition rate.

THE ALABAMA STATE VETERANS HOME PROGRAM This program offers an alternative to assisted living or nursing home care for veterans. The Bill Nichols State Veterans Home in Alexander city is one such facility.

Services include 24 hour nursing staff, physician on call 24 hours a day, speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and pharmacy services.

ALABAMA STATE VETERANS MEMORIAL CEMETERY The Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery is located at Spanish Fort, Alabama.

Pre-registration is available and allows a veteran and their spouse to establish, in advance, their eligibility for burial at the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Spanish Fort. There is no cost for pre-registration and it does not obligate the veteran to be interred at the cemetery. Pre-registration is intended to simplify and assist the veteran's nextof-kin at the time of death.

TUITION WAIVER FOR PURPLE HEART RECIPIENTS Public institutions of higher learning in Alabama, including two- and four-year technical colleges, community colleges, and junior colleges, may waive tuition and fees for recipients of the Purple Heart medal for undergraduate studies.

DISABLED MILITARY VETERAN’S FRESHWATER FISHING LICENSE Alabama law allows a discounted fishing license for an Alabama resident to fish the freshwaters of Alabama. The veteran must be certified by the USDVA to be 20% or more disabled. The disSee Services, page 19

Page 18

November 7, 2018

Federal government rolls out new dental and vision insurance plan for retirees Special to the Opelika Observer

Coverage of the TRICARE Retiree Dental Program (TRDP) for its customers will end Dec. 31, 2018, but members and their family members can purchase dental coverage under the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP).

Sponsored by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, FEDVIP serves federal civilian

and U.S. Postal Service employees, retirees and their family members.

Vision benefits under FEDVIP are available for the first time, as long as one as enrolled in eligible TRICARE health plan. OPM and the Department of Defense are working together to achieve a smooth transition between the TRDP and FEDVIP. If one is currently enrolled in a TRDP plan, they will not be automatically enrolled in FEDVIP plan for 2019.

To take advantage of this coverage, one must enroll during Federal Benefits Open Season, which runs from Nov. 12 - Dec. 10 for coverage starting Jan. 1, 2019.

FEDVIP offers a choice between 10 dental carriers and four vision carriers. This gives people flexibility in selecting the coverage for both individuals and families. Visit tricare. benefeds.com to sign up to receive updates when new information is available and key dates

approach.

Delta Dental will continue to process eligible claims (received within one year date of the service) for services under TRDP received through Dec. 31. The last premium allotment for TRDP coverage will be paid by the November retirement pay. If one pays their premiums via electronic funds transfer or credit card, their last payment will be Dec. 5.

For more information, visit www.trdp.org.

Paul D. Phipps - U.S. Army

November 7, 2018

Services, from 17 counted license can be issued at an Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries District Office, Probate Office, or License Commissioner’s Office.

VETERANS SMALL AND DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ASSISTANCE The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization helps small businesses obtain information on acquiring contracts with VA. Like other federal offices, VA is required to place a portion of its contracts and purchases with small and disadvantaged

Page 19 businesses. VA also promotes business with veterans by encouraging VA contracting offices to include veteran-owned contractors in mailings to solicit bids.

These businesses are identified from the Procurement Automated Source System and Procurement Marketing and Access Network through the Internet, which are maintained by the Small Business Administration.

Contact information for Lee County Residents: Lee County VA Director Sean Gathers and Christopher Williams- Assistant Veterans Service Officer 334-737-3626 The office is open from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Monday thru Friday and is located at 100 South 6th St.

HONORING ALL WHO SERVED

This Veteran’s Day, we want to thank you for serving America with honor, courage, and commitment.

From our family to yours.

in Opelika.

District II Robert W. “Bob” Higgins, District Manager Phone: (205) 554-3572 Debra Perry, Administrative Support Assistant Fax: (205) 554-4633 3701 Loop Road East Box 37, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35404 Serving: Autauga, Bibb, Calhoun, Chambers, Chilton, Choctaw, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore, Greene, Hale, Jefferson, Lee, Marengo, Perry, Randolph, Shelby, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa and Wilcox counties.

For more assistance and information, visit va.state. al.us or military.com.

Steven Carroll - U.S. Army

November 7, 2018

Page 20

Local author releases book chronicling Alabama soldier's service during WWI

By Arnecia Walker For the Opelika Observer Montgomery native Nimrod T. Frazer, held a program at Pebble Hill in Auburn last month to discuss his latest book, “The Best World War I Story I Know: On the Point of Argonne,” which gives readers insight on the mission of three U.S. Army divisions and the

VRC, from 16

Veterans Analysis and Statistics. This exponential increase of student veterans within a three-year period completely overwhelmed the Veterans Affairs office at Martin Hall and signaled a call to action for change.

On Veterans Day 2012, Auburn University held a ribbon cutting ceremony at Foy Hall to commission a new stateof-the-art Veterans Resource Center designed to accommodate both the administrative as well as physical needs of Auburn’s student veterans. The new center featured a six-station computer lab, printing services,

quest of capturing the Cote de Chatillon during WWI. Frazer highlighted several Alabama soldiers’ involvement in the WWI battle and their journey to capture the Cote during the Meuse-Argonne offensive. There was a total of 16 divisions used in this battle, but he chose to concentrate on the three point divisions, 1st, 35th and 42nd. that were on study rooms, a fully functional conference room and a designated space for the newly formed Auburn University Student Veteran Association members.

The new center was staffed with four full-time faculty members, a receptionist and eight student veteran work studies with the goal of helping leverage university resources to make the veteran’s transition from combat to classroom as seamless as possible.

For the student veteran, however, the center represented much more. Now, a student veteran had a place to muster and surround themselves with the familiarity of like-minded peers, somewhere to support each other and problem solve

the front leading edge of combat from Sept. 26 Oct.16, 1918.

“Each division had the same order, to take the Cote de Chatillon,” Frazer said.

During the event in Auburn, Frazer showed many authentic photos and stories from the event and a detailed-look of the struggles American divisions face during the 47-day battle.

as only they can, a place where they can feel comfortable and feel like they belong, much like a fraternity or a sorority.

During the last six years, Auburn’s Veteran Resource Center has made enormous strides in identifying student veteran issues and implementing a wide array of assistive resources and support programs to better support their complicated and often isolated transition. Veterans Resource Center Director Paul “Puck” Espisito, a 30-year Navy veteran, and his staff believes that a student veteran possesses a unique maturity and capability that enhances Auburn’s diversity, and presents the university with a possibility of cultivating

In 1950, a then 17-yearold Frazer enlisted in the National Guard and received the Silver Star for Gallantry in Action for his military service in Korea as a tank platoon leader. He is also a graduate of Harvard, and was inducted into the Alabama Business Hall of Fame.

For more information or to purchase a copy of the book, visit uspress. ua.edu.

future leaders in our communities, states and country.

Academic and veterans advocates alike warn that many colleges are unprepared to deal with the unique needs of former service members.

"If colleges are not prepared to help transition soldiers from combat you do run the risk of losing an entire generation," said Tom Tarantino of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. "The GI Bill isn't a thank you for your service. It really serves as a readjustment benefit. It is given as an opportunity to do something that is constructive for their mind and their body, it gives them a mission and allows them to move forward in

life. It's a backstop so you're not walking right off the plane from combat in to the civilian world. It was designed to be a soft landing."

As more veterans complete their service obligations and are drawn to traditions of the “loveliest village on the plains," the surge of student veterans at Auburn will not only increase the demands on support services and the staff, it will also introduce more complex veteran related issues requiring improved campus-based resources implemented to effectively handle them. Studies have shown that some strategies work to keep veterans in school.

They include specialized orientation

programs, helping veterans connect with one another, training faculty and staff on challenges veterans face and offering more counseling and financial aid.

However, some recent data indicates that many schools are lacking in such efforts, but not Auburn.

Auburn University has distinguished itself as a veteran friendly institution through centuries old history and traditions; forward leaning, innovative policies and procedures and the unparalleled efforts by the professionals of the Veterans Resource Center.

Veterans helping veterans, together they believe in Auburn and love it.

For more information, call 334-8448167.

November 7, 2018

• Nov. 9 - Honor Bus for Veterans museum tour hosted by Batson-Cook Construction - Sponsored

by Batson-Cook Construction, veterans in the Auburn-Opelika area will be provided a free trip to the National Infantry Museum in Fort Benning, Georgia.

To request a reserveration go to www.honorbustour. com - Space is limited.

• Nov. 9 -Veterans Day Program at Opelika Middle School - 8:30 a.m.

• Nov. 10 - Join Flags for Vets at Big Swamp Harley-Davidson for a flag raising ceremony to benefit FFV Inc.

Page 21

-Flag Raising Ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. CST. Backwater BBQ will serve lunch at 2 p.m. CST. Bikes, cars, trucks are all welcome to ride. *Registration for the Poker Run will begin @ 8 a.m. CST. *$25/bike & $5 per passenger (Lunch included w/ registration) *We will have Food ONLY vouchers for $6 if you do not wish to be on the Poker Run. *KSU @ 11 a.m.

• Nov. 10 - Veterans Breakfast and WWI Celebration The City of Opelika

Events Calendar

will hold a Veterans Day celebration Nov. 10. The day kicks off with a breakfast from 8 - 9:45 a.m. at Niffer's at the Tracks. At 10 a.m., the celebration will be held at Courthouse Square, featuring a message from Dr. Marty Olliff and patriotic music from local groups.

• Nov. 10 - Veteran's Receiption at 11:30 a.m. at the Museum of East Alabama located at 121 S. 9th Street.

• Nov. 10 - Veterans Day Parade at 10 a.m. EST 2018 Tri-City Veterans Parade in downtown Columbus for veterans

who reside in Columbus, Phenix City and Smiths Station.

• Nov. 11 -Remembering WWI : An Armistice Centinnial Concert at 3:30 p.m. at the Alabama Archives Front Terrace located at 624 Washington Ave. in Montgomery.

• Nov. 11 - Unveil-

ing of Auburn University Vietnam War Memorial 3 - 4 p.m. Join the Auburn Heritage Association and Auburn Student Veterans Association this Veterans Day as they dedicate a memorial to the fallen members of the Auburn University family who fell in the Vietnam War.

Ceremony will be held at Pinetucket Cemetery off of Wire Road.

• Nov. 11 - Boggin on the Plains starts at 4:30 p.m.

• Nov. 12 -Veterans Day program at 10 a.m. in room 104 of the Administration Building on the SUSCC Opelika Campus.

"Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost, a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11." - President Barack Obama

November 7, 2018

Page 22

Navy Starcrossed: Two Veterans, One Flag, One Marriage

By Vanessa Poulson For the Opelika Observer Enlisting in the military is a sacrifice made to both the one choosing to spend their livelihoods serving their country and to their family that they leave behind.

While it is not rare to have a family member decide to make that sacrifice, what is all the more unusual is the occurrence of a married couple both being enlisted in the military.

Rick and Karen Lanier

of Opelika are the exception.

Rick made the decision to enlist in the Navy at 18 years old because of the economic situation in Opelika back in the 1980s.

He saw it as his only option and the only chance he had to make something of himself, and prove to his parents that he had the chops to succeed. He ended up serving for 28 years in total, transitioning from enlisted to an officer program, and served on various commissions. He retired as a Lieutenant

Commander.

“It made me who I am,” says Rick. “It gave me everything that I have.”

Karen came from New Jersey, and chose to enlist because she wanted to get back at an ex-boyfriend who had not been able to serve due to his inability to pass the weight standard.

She found her footing in the military and was one of the first women allowed on the Navy Ships at the time and served overseas in Italy. She persevered through countless bouts of harassment for being a

woman and managed to come out on top.

“I had to work twice as hard as the one standing next to me to get half the appreciation,” said Karen.

“And when I worked hard and moved up in the ranks, it wasn’t liked. Every chance that they got, they would attempt to put things in my way. But if someone told me that I couldn’t do something, I did it anyway.

I made it… I made it.”

The two met while serving in New Jersey. Karen See Lanier, page 23

November 7, 2018

Lanier, from 22

worked in the barracks that Rick lived in and credits him as one of the rulebreaking trouble makers.

“He would walk around with no shoes and no socks on… That’s taboo up there, you don’t do that… I was like ‘who is this guy?’,” Karen said.

However, the moment both of them credit as the one that brought them together was when Rick was out washing his car and Karen drove up and asked him to wash hers as well.

Though the comment was a joke, Rick took things seriously and when Karen came off of work, the car was spotless. The two started talking from there and the rest is history.

Page 23 Serving together was far from easy. They struggled to find ways to both be doing their jobs, while also raising their children and creating a good life for themselves. The two of them participated in the Spouse Coalition Program, a program where one member of the family would be on the ship, while their spouse would stay on the shore.

Even though Karen allowed for Rick to take the harder positions that would allow him to move up in the ranks while she stayed home to take care of their family, she was able to advance in her military career and retired as a Chief Petty Officer.

This ensured that one of them was always around for their kids, for the most part it being Karen, while Rick continued to

Terry Hanners - USN

advance his career. It was a challenge for the both of them, but Rick credits this sacrifice that Karen made as being one of his biggest regrets.

“It almost did us in,” Rick said. “But it didn’t, and I’m forever grateful for that.”

Rick, after struggling through high school, has since gone on to work hard and eventually get his degree from Auburn University and has since retired. He would love to one day end up working in a press booth for a sporting event or a radio show, and maybe even tell his story through a novel. Karen supported him throughout his educational journey and now spends her time working on their business Red Bird Embroidery and Designs. They make pillows, towels, t-shirts, and

other sewn goods.

After being so used to having to do so many different tasks at once, Karen now reminds herself and others to take things one task at a time and starts everyday by simply making her bed.

“I put one foot in front of the other and accomplish another [after that],” Karen said.

As for advice to other young people and couples considering taking on the military together, Rick and Karen offer the advice to jump in and do it. Both remind people to stay motivated, remember their values, but be open to gaining new perspectives outside of their own. They both credited their incredible opportunities and chances to see new countries, gain valuable skills, and even fall in love.

David W. Dorsey USN

MMC William J. Key, U.S. Navy -Retired

John Braswell, USN

November 7, 2018

Page 24

Naval career served as life compass for Auburn's VRC Director 'Puck' Esposito

By Morgan Bryce Editor For Paul “Puck” Esposito, retired Navy captain and director of Auburn University’s Veterans Resource Center, the Navy was not just a career - it was a way of life.

“You have to look at the military, I don’t care what branch, what service or for how long, it is a lifestyle - and if you treat it like a job, you’re going to fail miserably,” Puck said.

An understanding and

appreciation of that lifestyle came from Puck’s father Herman Esposito, an enlisted sailor who served in both WWII and the Korean War. Puck and his family grew up in Bethpage, New York, a hamlet on Long Island. Throughout his school days, he stayed involved in school activities, particularly sports.

After high school, Puck pursued a degree in marketing management from Siena College in central New York. In 1986, he graduated and took a job selling payroll services in

Manhattan.

Several meetings and conversations with a Navy recruiter helped Puck see that he needed a change of careers.

“That job wasn’t cutting it for me. That recruiter asked me one day, ‘do you want to fly?’ I said, ‘yes, I do’ and he said ‘take the test,’” Puck said. “I took the test the first time and I failed. He told me to study a book and retake it in a few weeks, and I crushed it.

I made a snap decision,

Aviation Candidate School was housed in Pensacola. During the course of 15 long weeks, Puck and his comrades underwent strenuous physical training and educational courses in aerodynamic science, aviation history and more.

During flight school, Puck said he decided that he wanted to fly Paul “Puck” Espisito - U.S. Navy helicopters, and his joined the Navy, went first role after trainhome and told my family ing was a member of then my job about my carrier-based squadron plans.” aboard the USS Forrestal The Navy’s Officer in Jacksonville, Florida.

In the midst of the Cold War, Puck and his squadron group members were responsible for anti-submarine warfare support and search-and-rescue missions.

In the next five years, Puck would serve deployments in the Mediterranean, cruises with the Canadian Air Force groups in the North Atlantic and along the Grand Banks and in combat in Somalia from 1992 - 1993.

Per Navy guidelines, See 'Puck', page 25

"Freedom itself was attacked ... and freedom will be defended." - President George W. Bush

November 7, 2018

'Puck', from 24

Puck was required to undergo a brief hiatus from flying and was sent aboard an amphibious ship in the Adriatic Sea outside Croatia as a safety and security officer.

Puck resumed flying in 1994 and flew until 1999, when the Navy retasked him and sent him to the Pentagon, where he worked as a staff officer until 2004.

He was sent back out into deployment for a mission in the Philippines, and was home seldomly during the next three years.

In 2007, Puck returned. To be considered for promotion, he was sent to earn a master’s degree in national

Page 25 resources at what was once was known as the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C. (currently named the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy.)

Puck returned to the Pentagon from 2008 2010 and worked as executive secretariat in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. In April 2010, he was selected as the commander of the Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Atlantic, a Norfolk-based squadron that was the largest in the Navy at that time.

The following July, Puck was promoted to commodore, leader of the entire squadron.

After completing as his time as commodore, Puck was given the option of retiring, return-

ing to the Pentagon, or leading Navy ROTC programs at Auburn and Tuskegee universities.

Auburn’s Navy ROTC program had long been established, but Puck was tasked with helping create one at Tuskegee.

Following three “wonderful” years of being the commanding officer of the AuburnTuskegee Consortium, Puck retired from active duty and took over as director of Auburn University’s Veterans Resource Center in August 2016.

There, Puck oversees the day-to-day operations of the organization that connects and provides resources to student veterans to ensure a smooth transition from active duty to civilian life for them.

In addition to the VRC,

Puck is a mentor and coordinator with Lee County Justice Center’s Veterans Court, an alternative sentencing program for veterans who have committed non-violent crimes, providing them with a means of avoiding incarceration and becoming productive civilians.

Looking back over his military career, Puck said the Navy also served as a compass for his life.

“Without the Navy, I don’t know where I’d be. It was my life and my family’s life,” Puck said. “I couldn’t be anywhere else because I don’t fit in anywhere else.”

For more information about the VRC and its programs, visit www.auburn.edu/vtcenter.

Westbrook, from 4

like stepping off the aircraft and seeing nothing but sand, I had never seen anything like that before,” Westbrook said.

From her deployment, Westbrook reported to the Joint Intelligence Operations Center in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, for a joint services intelligence assignment.

“It was a brand new experience for me, I found myself with a top secret security clearance and going to work in a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility every day,” Westbrook said.

For her, it was good to finally get back to the reasons she decided to join in the first place.

“Sometimes we focus a little too much on the Middle East, so it was good to be reminded of the other

things we do and why our military is so important to the world. It was, by far, the most diverse, most rewarding assignment and my favorite assignment ever,” Westbrook said.

When asked what advice she would give to an 18-year-old woman who was contemplating joining the armed forces, she encouraged them to “make sure (their) body and mind is ready for the physical challenges that lay ahead.”

After completing her active duty obligation, Westbrook attended Auburn University as a student veteran, where she received her undergraduate degree in history in 2009. Currently, she is employed at Auburn where she serves as a student services coordinator for the adult education program and is pursuing her master’s degree in adult education.

She is also an ASVA advisor and member of the ACVC.

'Iron Bowl Ruck March' will be joint venture for good between rivals

By Rick Lanier Opelika Observer In 2013, the Veterans Administration released a study which showed that roughly 22 veterans were dying by suicide per day, or one every 65 minutes. Today, the average number of veterans who die by suicide daily is 20, remaining virtually unchanged.

On Nov. 21, as part of “Iron Bowl” week, student veterans from Auburn and Alabama will

join forces to participate in the 2018 Iron Bowl Ruck March in support of “Mission 22” and their campaign to reduce veteran suicide. To coincide with the Mission 22 campaign, each participant will load up a ruck sack (back pack) with 22 pounds of various sundry items collected by each university’s veteran’s center for donation to the Bill Nichols State Veterans Home in Alexander City.

Also included as part

of the march is an official Iron Bowl game ball that the participants hope to deliver to game officials on game day.

Founded by three former Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, Mission 22 offers a yearlong program with the goal to eliminate or reduce the symptoms of trauma by addressing the underlying physiological and psychological imbalances. Their hope is that by the end of the program, the veteran feels calmer

in his/her body and more connected to those around them.

“As a Mission 22 Ambassador, I always try to push the message that one veteran lost to suicide is too many; but 22 is just astonishingly far too many and we desperately need to save our brothers and sisters,” said Kyle Venable, president of the Student Veterans Association at Auburn University. “Being so dear to my heart, the first idea I thought of was

marching with 22-pound rucksacks.”

The march will begin at 8 a.m. at Jordan-Hare Stadium Nov. 21, when participants will begin the four-day, 150-mile trek, leading them through Notasulga, Wetumpka and Prattville before heading for Tuscaloosa’s Bryant-Denny Stadium. On Thanksgiving Day, the participants and supporters plan to pause to partake in a Thanksgiving Day meal before reaching their

destination.

“This ruck march will not only build the camaraderie of the student veterans from both schools, but it will also bring awareness of Mission 22 to the area and let those who are struggling know we are here,” said Kody Pemberton, Campus Veterans Association President at the University of Alabama. “I look forward to the hike as I hope it continues on as a tradition for years to come.”

November 7, 2018

Page 26

Photos needed of local vets for 'Faces Never Forgotten' project Special to the Opelika Observer The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation project “Faces Never Forgotten” needs help obtain-

ing missing photos of Vietnam veterans from Alabama.

These photos will help complete an electronic “Wall of Faces” in the new education center at

the Vietnam Memorial Wall.

Below are the names of four Lee County veterans who served in the Vietnam War whose pictures could not be found.

Following are instructions on how to upload pictures of missing veterans on the site: 1. Go to: www. vvmf.org/Wall-ofFaces/

2. Click Advanced Search, to the right of the search box 3. Input a city, county, or state name based on the desired search 4. Scroll to the last

box and check: Does Not Have a Default Photo 5. Hit Submit Thank you for your incredible effort in support of this mission.

November 7, 2018

Page 27

Flags for Vets has reached more than 250 veterans, plans to expand

By Morgan Bryce Editor 2018 has been an exciting year full of positive changes and growth for nonprofit Flags for Vets, which is headed by Opelika native and retired U.S. Marine Jamie Popwell.

Launched in January 2017, Popwell’s idea behind starting the organization was to “pay it forward” to veterans by the placing of a flagpole in their yard and most importantly, building lasting friendships through conversations of their shared sacrifices in military service.

In the nearly two years since its founding, Flags for Vets has reached more than 250 veterans in 20 different states,

Venable, from 15

gomery.

From there, Venable continued his education at Auburn University, beginning classes in fall 2016.

At Auburn, Venable has made a name for himself as president of ASVA and at the school’s Veterans Resource Center.

garnered multiple local corporate sponsorships, honored 12 Medal of Honor recipients and has entered into a partnership with the Tommy Tubberville Foundation.

“Things were not bad to start with, but they’ve also gotten a lot more efficient. It used to take 2.5 hours to install a flag, and now I can do it under an hour,” Popwell said. “The outreach to veterans has grown and improved also.

At first, I was seeking veterans out myself, and I’m being inundated with requests and have waiting lists of them waiting for flag poles themselves.”

Future endeavors for the organization include the fullfledged launching of

Flags for Vets chapters in other states, including West Virginia and New Mexico and the installation of 300 or more flagpoles by year’s end.

As a nonprofit, Popwell relies on donations, gifts and sponsorships which can be made through www.flagsforvets. us. Flags for Vets merchandise is available through www. shopflagsforvets.com which also help fund the organization.

A silent auction will be held during the Auburn Student Veterans Associations’ third annual gala Nov. 8 at the Auburn Marriott Opelika Hotel & Conference Center at Grand National to benefit Flags for Vets. The auction will feature one-of-a-kind items from Medal of

Through his efforts, he has increased fundraising efforts for studentveterans scholarships, coordinated major events like the Veterans Gala and coming Iron Bowl Week “Ruck March,” raising awareness and serving as a mentor to others.

In May, Venable will graduate with a degree in information systems management, with a goal of working in digital forensics. How-

Honor recipients.

For more information, to donate or to

ever, he has not ruled out the possibility of working with other veterans organizations in the future.

“Through my time in the Marines, the values that everyone thinks of when they think of are integrity, commitment, discipline, which were instilled in me. I try to keep those values and teach them to my kids,” Venable said. “I try to do the same as

follow Flags for Vets calendar of events, like and follow their

president of the ASVA too … I’m 42 years old, so there are some students that I encounter who are older or younger than me.

I also try to be there for anybody that has a need, I still try to be that senior enlisted guy that you can come to.”

For more information on Venable’s efforts through the ASVA, like and follow its Facebook page.

social media pages or visit their websites.

Ronal Russell - USMC Retired

VETERANS, GET YOUR PLAN IN PLACE

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