VETERANS CHRONICLE AUGUST 2022 ALSO INSIDE: Women Veterans Day celebrated Making sense of VA disability rules Favored Few Support Crew reaches out TRAVELING VIETNAM WALL VISITS LIBERTY LAKE Herb Sennett, a West Palm Beach resident and U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam, bows in front of the section of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial. The Moving Wall will be making a stop in Liberty Lake Sept. 15-Sept. 19. TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
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VIEWS A VETERAN HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM Mann-Grandstaff Administration Medical Center Spokane.
The VCL’s 800 number is a continental United States (CONUS)based toll-free number that remains active. Some international calls may incur a charge, depending on the caller’s location and network provider. Veterans overseas may contact the VCL through chat at eransyou’reber:youresponderrequesthelp-now/chat/www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-Ifyoupreferaphonecall,youcanthiswithinthechatvenue.Awillcallyouatthenumberprovideatnocharge.BepreparedandsavethenewnumDial988,thenPress1.Remember,notalone.Dayornight,theVetCrisisLineishereforyou. new,
What happens if I’m overseas?
Experience gives perspective on conditions COLIN MULVANY/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW The
By Don Walker VETERANS HELP NET
Veterans
Veterans Crisis Line number
A
in
Suicide Prevention If you’re a veteran having thoughts of suicide or concerned about some one, reach 24/7 crisis support through the new Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) number: Dial 988, then Press 1. This shorter, three-digit number provides an easier-to-remember way to access the VCL. Below are answers to some questions you might have about this change. Why did the VCL get a new number? The change is a result of the Nation al Suicide Hotline Designation Act. The law authorized 988 as the new three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Under the law, all telephone service providers in the U.S. had to activate the number by JulyBecause16. VA administers the VCL through the Lifeline’s national net work, the service was affected by this transition. What does the new number mean? Since 2007, the VCL has support ed millions of veterans in crisis. This new, shorter number increases ease of access and clarity in times of crisis for both Veterans and supporters. Like the current number, to reach the VCL, veterans will press 1 after dialing to connect with VCL respond ers. Though the number is new, the Veterans Crisis Line dedicated service is still the same. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect. Is the old VCL phone number going away? No. Veterans will still be able to call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 to connect with responders. The VCL will also still be available by chat (VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat) now/chat/www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help-atorbytextat838255.
I recently spent some time in the “waiting room” for lab work at Mann-Grandstaff Veterans Affairs Med ical Center in Spokane. It was 7:58 on a Wednesday morning. I was new to the VA medical system but I wanted to get my VA Healthcare set up. This process required me to get some lab work taken care of before I was assigned a primary VA provider. I only had a short wait but the time that I sat there waiting for my name to be called gave me a glimpse of a re al-world cross section of today’s and yesterday’s U.S. veterans. The view showed me a lot. I looked around, and I counted six walkers and three wheelchairs among the 15-20 veterans waiting for their names to be called. There were six women among this group seeking help. Ages ranged from early 20s to ‘a whole lot of grey hairs.”Nobody looked happy to be there, but is anyone ever very happy when visit ing a medical facility? The medical staff were treating all with the dignity and respect they earned and deserved. No one waited very long. Men and women of all ages had one thing in common…everyone there was hurting. Some had a small hurt but many had bigger hurts caused by living, orWatchingserving. each person, it makes you wonder “What’s their story?” “What life paths got them to this VA waiting room on this day?” “What choices did they make in their life that got them into the military?” and “Did those choices lead them to this waiting room?” Whatever their choices or paths were, here they are today, looking for and get tingThehelp.Waiting Room takeaway for me was: “Thank God and the U.S.A. we have our VA medical Healthcare program to get them the help they need and the help they have earned.” Spend an hour in our VA waiting room and you will feel humbled and gracious for the folks that made their choices, and for the folks that come here every day. Give them Help and Hope. Thank you.
VETERANS CHRONICLE
easier-to-remember
FROM
Page 3 Friday, August 19, 2022Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho WE BE LIE VE IN VA FINANCING Vi sit www.s po kane re al tor.c om to view VA qual ified ho me s in yo ur pre fe rr ed ar ea The United States Depar tment of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers home loans to active militar y members, reser vists, and retirees, as a benefit of ser vice in our nation’s Armed Forces. Many ser vice members are not aware this earned benefit is available to them; many sellers are not aware of the advantages to VA loans in the transaction process. We encourage all Spokane realtors to become familiar with this loan type so that we can all join in saying “We believe in VA financing!” S IN THIS ISSUE View from the waiting room .........................................................................2 Vietnam veteran searches for corpsman 4 Mann-Grandstaff recognizes outstanding employee ............................5 Moving Vietnam Wall comes to Spokane area .......................................6 Hey veterans, did you know? 7 Veteran shares his journey to receiving benefits ....................................8 The role of the Favored Few ........................................................................9 Senate passes PACT Act 10 Survivor benefits explained ...........................................................................11 Local women veterans gather ......................................................................12 VETERANS CHRONICLE A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW AUG. 19, 2022 VETERANS HELP NET Don Walker Bryan Bledsoe MANAGING EDITOR Joe Butler ART DIRECTOR Anne Potter DIRECTOR OF SALES Scott Baumbach Veterans Help Net partners with The Spokesman-Review to publish Veterans Chronicle on the third Friday of every month to increase awareness about veteran issues and to help veterans find hope and help. To share a veteran story or information about resources for veterans, please contact info@ veteranshelpnet.com or 5095.spokesman.compleaseForwww.VeteransHelpNet.com.visitadvertisinginformation,contactadvertising@or(509)459No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent of the publisher. TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall is shown in June at West Palm Beach, Fla. Visitors flock to see the names of deceased friends and honor others who served. The exhibit will be coming to Liberty Lake in September. Read more on page 6. VETERANS CHRONICLE
By Jason Davis VANTAGE POINT Editor’s note: This is part 1 of a 3-part series, which will con tinue in future issues of Veterans Chronicle. The entire piece can also be found at Blogs.va.gov/Van tage/101661/ (Content warning: This piece contains vivid and emotionally triggering memories of combat.) Bill Mulcrevy had just dug in. He and 23 others from Mike Co., 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment (3/5) – including close friends Jim Johnson and Navy Corpsman Gregory Williams –were the first wave for Operation Hastings, a multi-force task force to push the PAVN 90th Regimen back across the DMZ and prevent it from taking over the Quang Tri Province.Mulcrevy and Mike Co. built the perimeter that secured LZ Crow in a small valley just south of Song Ngan, a suspected PAVN marshaling area. Reinforcements – Operation Hastings’ second wave – were incoming. It was July 16, 1966. Mulcrevy and the first wave watched the sky. And then they watched the skyAburn.company-sized element of PAVN troops ambushed the LZ. They downed the four incoming helicopters delivering 3/5’s sec ond wave. Mike Co.’s first pla toon leader got on the radio and learned that other task force ele ments wouldn’t get there in time, that 3/5 wasn’t going to send fur ther reinforcements until first wave could remove the threat. First wave was on its own. Under attack, Mike Co. de fended its position while the lieutenant called for fire. John son, Mulcrevy and a small squad assaulted a PAVN machine gun nest. They found a heavy, tri pod-mounted 51-calibre machine gun, shot the operator, and – lack ing thermite grenades to disable the weapon – knocked it over. The lieutenant directed and watched as an F-4 delivered two 500-pound bombs, taking out several 12.7mm machine guns just 50 meters from their posi tion.On the ground, in the counter attack, Johnson took two rounds to the throat. *** Mulcrevy is lost in thought. He’s a statue, eyes frozen. In his mind, it’s 1966, back in the valley where Gregory Williams per formed an emergency tracheoto my on Jim Johnson. When Mulcrevy comes to, he apologizes and says, “It’s not easy remembering this stuff.” But he knows he’ll never forget this stuff. He won’t forget the bul lets overhead, the dirt exploding around them, or the calm, me thodic way in which Doc Wil liams went about saving John son’s life. All of it was chaos – all of it ex cept Williams. *** Three weeks after Operation Hastings, while Johnson was recovering aboard the USS Re pose, Mike Co. was patrolling a series of villages near Tam Quang for Operation Colorado when it came under sniper fire. In reac tion to the fire, the Marines ran straight into an NVA ambush. In the ensuing chaos, Mulcrevy sustained four rounds to his leg. One bullet hit his grenade pouch, sending shrapnel into his upper thigh.“I’M HIT, I’M HIT!” he yelled. In a cloud of dust, Williams found his friend and knelt by his side to treat his wounds. As with his actions during Opera tion Hastings, he gave no regard or concern for his own personal safety or the bullets flying past. The preternaturally calm Wil liams used all his strength to ap ply a tourniquet to Mulcrevy’s arterial bleed, and then pressure dressings to his other wounds. “Well, Gregory, what do you think?” Mulcrevy asked him. “Bill,” he replied, “I think the Olympics are out.” On the battlefield, under attack, with rounds spitting up around them, the two friends laughed to gether for the last time. *** Each night for decades, Mul crevy has lived with the internal chaos of these memories. Those same firefights, over and over. The horror of Johnson’s injury, over and over. His own arterial bleeding and Williams loading him onto the MEDEVAC, over and over. He used to drink a gal lon of coffee at night because he didn’t want to go to sleep. He didn’t want to go back to Vietnam.“They didn’t feel like night mares, they felt like a never-end ing movie,” he says. As age and other health issues have caught up to Bill Mulcre vy. He’s spent a whole second lifetime reliving the defining moments of his young adult life. Those moments have led to a gnawing realization: this nev er-ending movie doesn’t have a natural ending. He wondered: whatever hap pened to his friend Gregory Wil liams? Jason Davis is the managing editor for Vantage Point and an Army veteran. Nicholas Crawford is a graphic designer for the Veter ans Benefits Administration.
Vietnam veteran’s search for Corpsman who saved his life andOperationColorado,runningintoanambush.
VETERANS CHRONICLE
insavedbuddyCorpsmanfindtoOfficeExperienceVeteransoutreachedVeteranCorpstoVA’sin2019helphimtheNavywhohislifeVietnam.
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The first wave and the burning sky.
ILLUSTRATIONS BY NICHOLAS CRAWFORD A Marinesick
IN SpokanePERSONCounty Regional Veteran Service 1117 N. Evergreen Rd., Spokane Valley, WA (509) WA Homeless Veterans (HCHV) 504 E. Second Ave., Spokane, WA (509)
The VA Welcome Guide covers all types of benefits and services available for veterans, new recruits, active service members and their families. DAV9.com Based in Post Falls, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 9 Fort Sherman shares links and information to both local and national help organizations for veterans.
my’s
navigatorExplore.VA.gov/benefits-
Carver would remain in a coma for two months. Later, he was transferred to VA’s Poly-Trauma Cen ter in Palo Alto, Calif. There, the family opted to try a device (not approved in the U.S.) called a No va-Lung. The device cir culates oxygen throughout coma patients’ bodies. “I woke up in July of 2007 at the brain injury center at the VA hospital in Palo Alto,” Carver said. “I spent almost a year there. Once, the doctors allowed me the use of a walker to witness the birth of my firstHedaughter.”hadtolearn to walk, talk, eat, sit up and take care of himself all over again. He credits his wife Laura for her unwavering support, including work ing full time while he was a stay-at-home dad. After graduating from Eastern Washington Uni versity with grades that placed him on the Dean’s list, he worked for the Wounded Warrior Pro gram. Then his dream job came along. “I took a job at the Mann-Grandstaff VA where I had spent so much time as a patient,” Carver said. “I want to give back through VA. Now I am helping veterans get VA services.”Hesaid he initially didn’t have the profession al knowledge but he did have a first-hand experi ence as a patient. “I had been able to go through this huge life event and walk out the other side: now I had a chance to show others how to do the same thing,” he said. “I want to give back to the world that has done so much to help me at a time when I was down and needed someone there to help Christopherme.” said this ex perience has changed his view of the world. My family, my VA care teams, social workers and my fellow veterans make all the difference, and now I want to give back through VA,” he said. Bret Bowers is a pub lic affairs officer at the Mann-Grandstaff VA in Spokane.
Doctors at the Land stuhl Medical Center in Germany called his preg nant wife and parents to fly from Spokane to Europe to say their last good-byes.
Whileghanistan.andbothployedandDivision,Infantry25thhedetoIraqAfona
(509) 828-2449 SSVF helps homeless veterans and their families find housing and connects veterans with other support organizations. Healthcare for
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Christopher Carver, Purple Heart veteran, named VA hospital’s Employee of the Year Affairs website has resources on every topic relevant to veterans. VA.gov/welcome-kit
By Bret Bowers DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Christopher Carver talks the talk, with a smile. He also walks the walk, but with a limp, a slight hitch. Still, he doesn’t let his dis ability slow him down. Af ter all, he earned it and is using it to succeed in life. Some 20 years after join ing the Army on 9/11, Carv er’s heart and commitment to serve his fellow veterans, along with his profession al know-how, has earned him the honor of being named 2021 Employee of the Year for squadearnedhowalsothetientshundreds(M2VA)center’sfightingtaughtpectsIproveto“IneransmehelpedthenowbecomingnobodythingcombatMann-GrandstaffSpokane’sVA.Thejourneyhomefromoverseaswasanybuteasyin2007.“IwentfromapatientexpectedtolivetoatherapistandworkingalongsideverysamepeoplewhomotivateandtraintoservemyfellowvetatVA,”Carversaid.theArmy,Iwastaughtalwayscontinuetoimmyfightingposition.carrythatidealintoallasofmylife--theArmymetoimprovemyposition.”CarveristhemedicalMilitary2VAspecialistservingofveteranpaseekingtonavigatehealthcaresystem.Hehelpsthemtolearntofullyutilizetheirbenefits.CarverwasareconleaderfortheAr
mission, his vehicle struck an Improvised Explosive Device. The explosion launched the truck and its crew 25 feet in the air, flip ping and crashing down on top of Carver and his team. “My gunner lost his arm, another squad member was severely wounded, and another walked away from it all,” he said.
GO VA.govONLINE The Department of Veterans
477-3690 Apply for emergency services, or have any benefits or service questions answered by 5 Veteran Service Officers (VSO) and staff. North Idaho Veteran Services and Benefits 120OfficeE. Railroad Ave., Post Falls, ID (208) 446-1092 Meet with a VSO or staff for help with VA enrollment,benefitsclaims or other veteran needs. Goodwill Support Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) 130 E. Third Ave., Spokane,
435-2019 Provides healthcare and outreach for housing, job opportunities and counseling. BY resourceshealthDialIdahoWashington(208)CenterNorthpress1Veteran(208)Post120BenefitsServicesNorth(509)ServiceRegionalSpokanePHONECountyVeteran477-3690IdahoVeteranandOfficeE.RailroadAve.,Falls,ID446-1092CrisisLine(800)273-8255,1IdahoCrisis625-4884or2-1-1“2-1-1”forandhumanreferrals. Every county and state has a Veteran Affairs office to answer questions about benefits and provide assistance. There are also other useful resources for veterans in the InlandNorthwest.HOW CAN I GET HELP? If you don’t know who to call, VA has a new “Single Access Point” phone number to all VA contact centers 1-800-MyVA411 (1-800-698-2411) VETERANS CHRONICLE Spokane facility provides opportunities to give back Carver
Explore VA benefits and discover which ones you and your family may be eligible to receive.
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VETERANS CHRONICLE
Robert C. “Maverick” Anderson, a Marine and Vietnam veteran, visited the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall in June at West Palm Beach, Fla., to see the name of a deceased friend and honor others who served. The exhibit will be coming to Liberty Lake in September.
The Moving Wall, a half-size traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washing ton, D.C., will be on display at Lib erty Lake’s Pavillion Park. Access is free and it can be visited from Thursday, Sept. 15 to 8 a.m. Sun day, Sept. 19. It will be hosted by The Gal lant Guards of Liberty, an orga nization comprised of veterans, family, and friends of veterans, in cooperation with the City of Lib ertyTheLake.Moving Wall serves as a tribute to the more than 58, 281 brave and courageous fallen heroes, men, and women, who served and sacrificed their lives in the Vietnam War, which remains one of the most regretful and chal lenging times in America’s history and one we will never forget. It provides residents of Liberty Lake and surrounding commu nities the opportunity to honor and remember those who sacri ficed it all and the impact of those sacrifices on those who returned home.The Gallant Guards of Liber ty and the City of Liberty Lake wish to remind all who share in the experience to never forget that freedom is not free and there are those military members of all branches of the United States Armed Forces who continue to protect those freedoms whether at home or abroad. The Moving Wall was devised by John Devitt after he attended the 1982 annual commemoration ceremonies celebrated in Wash ington, D.C., for Vietnam veter ans. He felt that he needed to share his experience with those who did not have the opportunity to go Devitt,there.Norris Shears, Gerry Haver, and other Vietnam veter ans volunteered to build the Mov ing Wall. It went on display for the first time in Tyler, Texas, in October 1984. Two structures of The Moving Wall now travel the United States from April through November, spending five or six days at each site. Veterans' organizations contact his company, Vietnam Combat Veterans, Ltd., to arrange local visits.On its visits, the Moving Wall is often escorted by state troop ers or volunteer organizations such as the Combat Vet Riders and the Patriot Guard Riders, who accompany the memorial on motorcycles. The first Moving Wall structure to retire has been on permanent display at the Vet erans Memorial Amphitheater in Pittsburg, Kansas since 2004. For more information about The Moving Wall and the Vietnam veterans it honors please visit www.gallantguards.com. Information provided by The Gallant Guards of Liberty.
Moving Wall coming to Liberty Lake in September
TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
... If you are a Vietnam veteran, heart attacks and disease might be covered Have you had a heart attack? If so, then you may qualify med ical and disability benefits (a monthly check) through the VA. Ischemic Heart Disease is one of the 17 presumptive diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. If you are diagnosed with these disease you will Ischemicqualify.Heart disease is characterized by a reduced sup ply of blood to the heart that leads to chest pain. To find out more contact one of the Veter ans Service Officers (VSOs) list ed in the “How Can I Get Help” section in this publication.
HEY VETERANS,
Just because the VA is paying for your hearing aids does not automatically mean that it has service connected your hearing loss with your military service. Veterans Services Office staff regularly has to educate veter ans on the difference between “Disability Compensation” and “VADisabilityHealthcare.”Compensation is a monetary benefit paid to veter ans determined to be disabled due to an injury or illness in curred or aggravated during ac tive military service. It is man aged by the Veterans Benefits Administration.VAHealthcare is an integrat ed health care system provid ing health care services similar to other health insurance/care providers. It is managed by the Veterans Health Administra tion.If the VA treats a veteran for a particular condition, that con dition is NOT presumed to have been incurred or aggravated during active military service. The VA Healthcare System cannot automatically service connect a veteran for a disabil ity while they are being treat ed. The VA health care system can help develop or provide evidence to support disability claims, but it cannot directly approve disabilities for claims and/or assign disability benefits.
...? VETERANS CHRONICLE
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... How to understand your disability rating Your disability rating is one of several factors that affects your eligibility for benefits and services. There are a number of services available only to veter ans with a disability rating. VA gives you a rating to de scribe how much your ser vice-connected disability im pacts your daily life, particularly your ability to work. A “service connected” disability is an inju ry, disease, or condition that re sulted from or was made worse during military service. Disabili ty ratings range from 0%–100%. A 0% rating means your disabil ity does not affect your everyday life. Any rating, including a 0%, makes you eligible for certain services. While you might feel your condition is not serious, you should still consider apply ing for a rating. You must file a claim for dis ability. VA determines your rat ing based on the evidence you provide (which includes med ical records and DD214) and the severity of your condition. To find out more about filing a claim, call 800-827-1000 or ploymentclude:accessed:file-claim.www.va.gov/disability/how-to-visitWhatbenefits/servicescanbeSomebenefitsandservicesin•DisabilityCompensation•VeteranReadinessandEm(VR&E)•EnrollmentinVAhealthcare•Federalhiringpreference•VAHomeLoanfeeexemption•SpeciallyAdaptedHousingAssistanceVisitbenefitsatva.gov/BENEFITS/derivative_sc.aspforacomprehensivelistofVBAbenefitsandservices.
... Veterans Service Officers want to help Veteran Service Officers (VSOs) are trained, certified and accredited ADVOCATES FOR YOU! They are not VA employ ees. Assistance is FREE. Contact them before you call the VA; it could save you a lot of grief.Every state and most counties have a Veteran Affairs section, and Veteran Service Organiza tions such as DAV, VFW and American Legion, also have VSOs. Below are a couple: • In Washington, The Spo kane County Regional Veteran Services Center is at 1117 N Ev ergreen in Spokane Valley. The office has 5 VSOs and a great staff.•In Idaho, The North Idaho Veteran Services and Benefits Office is at 120 E Third Ave in Post Falls. You’ll find two VSOss and a great staff. Need local help or know someone who does? See “How Can I Get Help?” on page 5 of this publi cation. DID YOU KNOW
... VA health care, compensationdisabilityareseparate
In order for the VA to service connect a disability and then provide compensation, veterans MUST file a disability claim for the condition believed to have originated from military service. Veterans normally would seek a VSO for assistance with prepar ing and filing a claim. As part of the disability claims process, the VA will likely re quire an applicant to receive a C&P (Compensation & Pension) Exam. Because veterans need to see a doctor as part of their dis ability claim, the line can some times be blurred between the C&P and VA healthcare. To avoid confusion, these ex ams are considered assessments to help determine the validity of a claim. VA Health Care is treat ment.The condition that causes the most confusion is hearing claims. Because many veterans get their hearing aids from the VA Healthcare, they assume that the VA has accepted that their hearing is service connected be cause the VA paid for the hear ing aids. This is not the case! Payments are not automatic without a claim being filed and an award being rendered. Contact the Spokane County Veterans Services Office at (509) 477-3890 for more info, or if you live in Kootenai County call (208) 446-1098 to learn more or to schedule an appointment.
Chuck enjoyed the job and his buddies. His crew chief James, was easy to work with, and they became fast friends. “I loved it – it was exciting. You knew you were there help ing the guys – picking them up. It felt like you were really doing something,” he said. Chuck came home to Orondo in December 1969 and worked with his dad in the orchard for the next 10 years. In 1980, he started his career with the Douglas County Fire District No. 2 as a firefighter, and be came Fire Chief in 2007. Chuck retired in 2012 after serving 32 years with the department. Chuck kept in contact with his Army buddy James, who was receiving VA benefits due to Agent Orange exposure. When Chuck mentioned he’d had some medical issues, James suggested – many times – filing a VAChuckclaim.saw his primary doc tor on Oct. 9, 2020; a doctor who had been an Army surgeon in Iraq and was all too familiar with chemical warfare. He re ferred Chuck to a neurologist on the spot. On Oct. 21, 2020, Chuck was diagnosed with Par kinson’sChuck’sdisease.daughter Kelsey immediately began the online process of filing a VA disability claim. She set up an ID.me ac count and spoke with the VA disability office on what paper work should be submitted. “I found the online filing pro cess relatively easy” said Kelsey, “but I’m somewhat computer savvy. The easiest way to upload the info was to take a picture with my phone, then I emailed pictures of the diagnosis from the doctors to the VA.” They submitted the claim on Nov. 3, 2020, and it was ap proved on February 11, 2021. The first payment arrived five days later, including two months retroactive pay.
Chuck is a member of the Rathdrum American Legion and has been married to his lovely wife Willynne since 1987. They have two daugh ters, Kelsey and Amy, and four grandchildren.TheVAclaims process can be scary, overwhelming and frustrating. Or not. Kelsey was methodical and kept on top of requesting updates and submit ting evidence in a timely man ner. Chuck is very grateful for her help and thankful for his VA benefits.Veterans need to be aware of the resources and benefits avail able to them. Get familiar with the Veterans Administration website; take time to browse; search out specific topics. Con tact your local county Veteran Service Officer to ask questions or set up an appointment. Does this sound like someone you know? Find local help in the “How can I get help?” section located in this edition. Or go to VA.gov for online applications and help.
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VETERANS CHRONICLE
FROM VIETNAM TO THE VA Chuck claimsnavigatelearnedFentontotheprocess
Chuck Fenton, left, who served as a helicopter door gunner in Vietnam, and his friend and crew chief, James Bock. COURTESY PHOTOS Chuck Fenton and his helicopter crew.
By Ruth Aresvik VETERANS HELP CORRESPONDENTNET Have you ever heard of Oper ation Ranch Hand? How about Agent Orange? Of course. It was part of the U.S. military herbicidal warfare program during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1971. Its long-term ef fects have been battled by an untold number of veterans in their fight for VA benefits. Thankfully for Chuck Fenton, it was a no-struggle victory. Chuck grew up in Orondo, Washington, and lived on an ap ple and peach orchard with his mom, dad, and older sister. He attended Eastmont High School in East Wenatchee. In October 1967, at the age of 19, he joined the“MyArmy.brother-in-law’s buddy was an Army recruiter” said Chuck, “And he wanted me!” After basic training in Fort Lewis, Wash., Chuck went through Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Belvoir, Va. And then it was on to Viet nam as a combat engineer for Company 588. In May 1968, he headed to Vietnam and began duty as a combat engineer for Company 588. Chuck arrived six months af ter the Tet Offensive so a lot of equipment had been destroyed. “We were on stand-by,” he said. “There wasn’t a lot to do.” Chuck would sit with his crew and hear the helicopters fly overhead. When he asked about the aviation unit, he was told he would have to extend his enlistment an extra six months. He did. As a result, Chuck was as signed to the 118th Assault Helicopter Company as a door gunner – “We would go out ev ery third day on a mission.”
Favored Few Support Crew Fund helps quality of life of Fairchild personnel, families
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BY MAIL: Donations (checks) can be mailed to Innovia Foundation 421 W. Riverside Ave., Suite 606 Spokane, WA 99201. Please indicate Favored Few Support Crew Fund in the memoInnovialine.can also help with gifts of stock or retirement funds. Questions? Call the Gift Planning Team at (509) 624-2606.
ERICA BULLOCK/JOURNAL OF BUSINESS
Annie Murphey, of Spokane Regional Domestic Violence Coalition, and Charlie Duranona, of Favored Few Support Crew, recently helped restock a Fairchild Air Force Base food bank.
Buy
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Support fellow Veterans and be a part of Operation Fly Together A portion of all merchandise proceeds go into a Veterans Fund. OperationFlyTogether.com
The Inland Northwest has a long and rich history of supporting our military service members, both at home and abroad. A dedi cated group of local leaders, recognizing an opportunity to further welcome active duty military and their fam ilies into our community, founded the Favored Few Support Crew at Innovia Foundation.ThatSupport Crew group, consisting of Honor ary Commanders and civic leaders, seeks to strengthen the overall quality of life of military personnel and fam ilies at Fairchild Air Force Base.Funds raised will be used to provide grants for large and small projects and ini tiatives that provide men tal health, wellness and/or quality of life support for military personnel and their families stationed at Fair child.Founding Support Crew member and Fairchild Hon orary Commander Charlie Duranona (U.S. Navy; 200207) was initially inspired when he was on the tarmac when the 384th Air Refuel ing Squadron returned from deployment to be greeted by excited family mem bers brandishing “welcome back” signs. “I had been on the oth er side of that interaction before, but to see the emo tion from the family side hit a little different,” Dura nona said. “I wanted to do something with my Honor ary Commander title that would help families and provide a Duranona,boost.”an appropri ately titled “professional friend maker,” spoke with active duty military mem bers as well as other Honor ary Commanders, learning about how similar funds exist at many other bases across the country, support ing lik-eminded efforts for our airmen. He originally sought to start a nonprofit for the cause, reaching out to Annie Murphey, a fellow Honorary Commander and Executive Director of the Spokane Regional Domestic Violence Program. “After speaking through it (plans to create a nonprof it,) we realized it would be more advantageous for us to work with Innovia and create a fund, utilizing ev eryone’s time and skill in a more effective way,” noted Murphey. “This allows us to use the money to sup port our active duty military mostDuranonaefficiently.”says the Fa vored Few Crew are hon ored to bring this fund to Fairchild and are excited for the positive impact it will make in the lives of our Air men and their families. Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Kitara Johnson, the Fund Founder and the first to contribute to the fund, is hopeful that the community will help bridge the gap to meet the needs of our mili tary“Thesemembers.are the people leaving to protect us,” John son said. “As a community and as a country, we have an obligation to support them. I saw the challenges, both as active duty and as a spouse at home, doing the best you can.”“There are resources the bases have, but there are also gaps in how that money has to be spent,” she added. “These men and women get up every day, trying to accomplish the mission of keeping us safe. This fund will help provide a place to recover mentally and phys ically.”Examples of program ming that may be funded through grants from the Favored Few Fund include purchasing school supplies for junior enlisted, filling and maintaining the onbase food pantry, organizing deployed family picnics and events, as well as education al and support programs. “Spokane is such a sup portive military town. When groups want to put on a mental health support ing event, take families to a ball game, do a picnic or something, it usually falls outside of ‘big Air Force’ funding, so they have to go out and ask for donations,” Duranona added. “People here are always willing to chip in, so this fund creates a supply for those type of quality of life, morale-boost ing events.” Information provided by Innovia Foundation.
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VETERANS CHRONICLE
Organization also focuses on mental health, wellness How ONLINE:donatetohttps://bit. ly/3JtzmLe
VETERANS CHRONICLE Updates on Agent Orange exposure, VA disability compensation
• Create a framework for the establishment of future presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure;•Add23 burn pit and toxic exposure-related conditions to VA’s list of service presumptions, including hypertension;•Expandpresumptions related to Agent Orange exposure;
• And set VA and veterans up for success by investing in VA claims processing; VA’s workforce; and VA health care facilities. For more info, including details about eligibility or how to file a disability claim, update a pending claim, or re-visit a denied claim, veteran-eligibilityand-your-va-benefits/#vietnam-era-www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-visit
• Includes Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam, American Samoa, and Johnston Atoll as locations for Agent Orange exposure;
If a claim was denied for any of these conditions in the past, the VA will auto matically review your case again. You don't need to file another claim. You’ll be sent a letter to let you know your case is being re viewed. Am I eligible for VA disability benefits based on exposure to Agent Orange? You may be eligible for VA disability benefits if you meet both of these re quirements.Bothofthese must be true:• You have an illness that’s caused by exposure to Agent Orange, and • You served in a loca tion that exposed you to Agent Orange Requirements for AgentpresumptiveOrangediseases
Agent Orange was a tac tical herbicide the U.S. mil itary used to clear leaves and vegetation for military operations mainly during the Vietnam War. Veter ans who were exposed to Agent Orange may have certain related illnesses. If you have an illness caused by exposure to Agent Orange during mili tary service, read below to find out if you may be eligi ble for disability compen sation and how to apply. Three more presumptive conditions were recently added related to Agent Or ange exposure, which ex pands benefits for veterans and survivors with these presumptive conditions:
When sound medical and scientific evidence shows that an illness is caused by Agent Orange exposure, we add it to our list of presumptive diseases. If you’ve been diagnosed with one of these illnesses, you don’t need to prove that it start ed during – or got worse because of –your military service.Ifyou have an illness that’s not on the official list of presumptive diseas es, but you believe it was caused by Agent Orange exposure, you can still file a claim for VA disability benefits, but you’ll need to submit more evidence.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following heavy criticism from veterans groups, many Senate Republicans reversed a previous position to approve legislation designed to aid veterans fighting health conditions that could be linked to toxic exposure. The final vote was 86-11 which sends the PACT Act to President Joe Biden.
Although there was initial support for an earlier version last spring, lawmakers resisted approval primarily due to concern over other bills that Democrats were championing.
GOP leaders claimed that there were some procedural questions holding up their support, including where the funds would come from. However, public pressure was strong claiming they broke their word to veterans, including attention from comedian and activist Jon Stewart and national veteran organizations.
Senate approves PACT Act
The act advises the Department of Veterans Affairs to presume that certain illness faced by veterans may have been due to exposure to authorized burn pits in Afghanistan and Iraq. It places any burden of proof on the VA vs. affected veterans.
Officially called the Sgt. 1st Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022, the legislation will:
• Expand VA health care eligibility to more than 3.5 million toxicexposed Post-9/11 combat veterans;
• Strengthen federal research on toxic exposure; • Improve VA’s resources and training for toxic-exposed veterans;
Page 10 Friday, August 19, 2022 The Spokesman-Review
• Bladder cancer • Hypothyroidism • Parkinsons
Added amounts for surviving spouses (EFFECTIVE DEC. 1, 2021) If descriptionthis is true… You thisqualifymayforbenefit (inmonthlyAddedamountU.S.$)
• If the veteran’s eligi bility was due to a rating of totally disabling, they must have had this rating for at least 10 years before their death, since their release from active duty and for at least 5 years immediately before their death; or for at least 1 year before their death if they were a former prisoner of war who died after Sept. 30, 1999 (Note: “Totally disabling” means the veteran’s injuries made it impossible for them to •work.Surviving spouse rates if the veteran died on or af ter Jan. 1, 1993 If you’re the surviving spouse of a veteran Your monthly payment rate is: $1,437.66, effective Dec. 1, 2021. You may also be eligible for added amounts based on certain factors. Find any descriptions in the ta ble below that are true for you. Add the amount list ed in the Added monthly amount column of each de scription to your monthly payment. This is your total monthly payment.
Am I eligible for VA DIC as a surviving spouse or dependent?
The veteran had a VA disability rating of totally disabling (including for forunemployability)individualatleastthe8 full years leading up to their death, and You were married to the Veteran for those same 8 years 8-year provision 305.28 You have a disability and need help with regular daily activities (like eating, bathing, or dressing) Aid Attendanceand 356.16 You can’t leave your house due to a disability allowanceHousebound 166.85 You have 1 or more children who are under 18 apportionmentbenefit,TransitionalandDIC rate 306.00 for the first 2 years after the Veteran’s death 356.16 for each eligible child HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR PAYMENT If you’re the surviving spouse of a Veteran, your monthly rate starts at $1,437.66. For each additional benefit you qualify for, add the amounts from the Added amounts table. In this example: You’re shown the total monthly payment for someone with two children under 18, and who qualifies for the 8-year provision and Aid and Attendance. Total monthly payment for the first 2 years: $1,437.66 (monthly rate) + $356.16 (first child under 18) + $356.16 (second child under 18) + $305.28 (8-year provision) + $356.16 (Aid and Attendance) + $306.00 (transitional benefit for the first two years after the veteran's death) = $3,117.42 per month Total monthly payment after 2 years (when transitional benefit ends) $3,117.42 (monthly payment with transitional benefit) - $306.00 (transitional benefit) = $2,811.42 per month Find the details of these rates in title 38 U.S.C. 1311(a, b, c, d, f) and 38 CFR 3.461(b).
As a ELIGIBILITYspousesurviving You may be eligible for VA benefits or compensa tion if you meet these re quirements.Oneofthese must be true:•You lived with the vet eran or service member without a break until their death, or • If you’re separated, you weren’t at fault for the sep arationOne of these also must be•true:You married the vet eran or service member within 15 years of their discharge from the period of military service during which the qualifying ill ness or injury started or got worse, or
• You remarried on or af ter Dec. 16, 2003, and you were 57 years of age or old er at the time you remar ried, or • You remarried on or after Jan. 5, 2021, and you were 55 years of age or old er at the time you remar ried BRING EVIDENCE You’ll need to provide evidence with your claim showing that one of these descriptions is true for the veteran or service mem ber. Evidence may include documents like military service records, doctor’s reports, and medical test results.The evidence should show that one of these is true:•The service member died while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive-duty training, or
• The veteran died from a service-connected illness or injury, or • The veteran didn’t die from a service-connect ed illness or injury, but was eligible to receive VA compensation for a ser vice-connected disability rated as totally disabling for a certain period of time
Page 11 Friday, August 19, 2022Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho VETERANS CHRONICLE
• You were married to the veteran or ser vice member for at least 1 year, or • You had a child with the veteran or service memberNote:If you remarried, you can receive or continue to receive compensation if one of these describes you:
Page 12 Friday, August 19, 2022 The Spokesman-Review When you’re ready to build, buy or update your home, our experts can help you achieve your dreams. We’re here to guide you through the lending process and offer the right financing solution for your situation. We put you right at home. Member FDIC Purchase | ConstructionRefinance|Remodel | Lot loans Let’s create tomorrow, together.bannerbank.comChad Kubik NMLS# Residential609985Loan Officer509-227-5449DeidreArnold NMLS# Residential643782Loan Officer 509-227-5497 Lisa Knight NMLS# Residential785378Loan Officer 509-462-5809 Laura Lund NMLS# Residential507140Loan Officer 509-227-5492 Mike Coffey NMLS# Residential699335Loan Officer 509-995-4158 Monica Lay NMLS# Residential720624Loan Officer 509-435-5639 Laura McGuigan NMLS# Residential141693Loan Officer 509-322-1561MarcyBennett NMLS# Residential507122Loan Officer 509-227-5461 By Tzena M. Scarborough SPECIAL TO CHRONICLEVETERANS The FIRST Women Veterans Day Event in Eastern Washington was held on June 12 at VFW Post 1474 in Hillyard. This event celebrated 70 years after women were first al lowed to serve as perma nent members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The celebration is about connection, not only to each other, but to the women who paved the way, said organizer Tze na Scarborough. She is an Army veteran that served from 1976-83, during the Cold War, two tours in West Germany and one at Ft. Eustis, VA. She was one of the first women Cobra Helicopter electronics ar mament specialists in the Army.“My hope is that we would be able to connect with women veterans in Eastern Washington to have camaraderie,” Scar borough said. “And to honor those who have gone before us.” With a short timeline to make this event happen, over 37 women veterans attended. Several support groups were there. VFW Commander Mike Fagan welcomed all of the wom en, saying, “You are not in visible to Womenus.”Veterans Day is recognized by numerous states and is celebrated on June 12. It marks the date in 1948 when President Harry Truman signed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, allowing women to be regular, fulltime members of the mil itary. Before that, women were allowed to serve only during wartime and not as official military members.Scarborough has been a member of the Wash ington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA), Women Veterans Affairs Committee (WVAC) since 2019. There are a total of about 11 women that serve on this committee. She joined to represent women veterans on the east side of Washington, that sometimes get forgot ten. This was the first re gional event for this side of theTherestate. are two new members of the WVAC on this side of the state, Carolyn Parisot, an Army veteran that served 198892 and USAR 94-96, and Nadel Fouts, who served in the Navy 2002-09 and has been an Army Reserve Judge Advocate since 2018.Many women veter ans don’t know about the WVAC. The mission of the WVAC shall be to ensure that Washington's women veterans have equitable access to federal and state veterans' services and ben efits.1. Connect women to their identity as veterans 2. Change the public perception of what veter ans look like 3. Connect women vet erans to benefits 4. Connect women vet erans to community If you would like more information about the WVAC contact Tzena Scarborough at (509) 891-8588, and join our Facebook page “Women Veterans in the Spokane Area.” Find us on the Internet at Chronicleeransarticlesthetoveterans.committees/women-dva.wa.gov/councils-www.Wearelookingforwardmoreregionaleventsinfuture.LookformorebywomenvetinfutureVeteransissues. Eastern Washington women veterans celebrate Local group gathered for first time COURTESY OF ARMY VETERAN NOEL C. PIERCE The first Women Veterans Day Event in Eastern Washington took place in June at VFW Post 1474. VETERANS CHRONICLE
