The Biden-Harris Administration announced in November that, starting on Veterans Day (Nov. 11), veterans of the U.S. Armed Services and Gold Star families can obtain a free lifetime pass to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites spread out across more than 400 million acres of public lands, including national parks, wildlife refuges, and forests.
“We have a sacred obligation to America’s veterans. This new lifetime pass is a small demonstration of our nation’s gratitude and support for those who have selflessly served in the U.S. Armed Forces,” said Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, whose father served during the Vietnam War. “I’m proud the Department of the Interior can provide veterans and Gold Star Families opportunities for recreation, education and enjoyment from our country’s treasured lands.”
Each lifetime pass covers entrance fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle (or passholder and up to three adults at sites that charge per person) at national parks and national wildlife refuges, as well as standard amenity fees at national forests and grasslands, and at lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Veterans can present one of the four forms of acceptable ID (Department of Defense ID Card, Veteran Health ID (VHIC), Veteran ID Card, or veteran’s designation on a state-issued US driver’s license or ID card) at participating federal recreation areas that nor-
mally charge an entrance fee. Gold Star Families obtain information, self-certify they qualify and download a voucher on nps.gov.
The Alexander Lofgran Veterans in Parks Act, passed in December 2021, authorized free lifetime access to federal lands to veterans and Gold Star Families. The new lifetime pass for veterans and Gold Star Families is in addition to the free annual Military Pass, which has been available to active duty servicemembers and their families since Armed Forces Day, May 19, 2012.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack commended the move.
“Our national forests and grasslands represent so much of the beauty of the nation our brave service members have sacrificed so much for,” he said. “Though they can never be fully repaid, by connecting the families of the fallen and those who served with these iconic places, we can, in a small way, say thank you.”
Lieutenant General Scott Spellmon, Chief of Engineers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, shared his view.
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engi-
neers and our federal teammates are proud to honor our veterans with free lifetime access to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas across the nation,” he said.
Chuck Sams, National Park Service director, believes it’s appropriate.
“This is a small token of appreciation for veterans who have bravely dedicated their lives to defending our freedom.” “This pass conveys our immense gratitude and respect for those who have given so much,” he said. “As a veteran, I know firsthand the many sacrifices that members of the Armed Forces and their families have made in service to our country, and I am thrilled that Gold Star Families and military veterans can now enjoy lifetime access to national parks and other public lands.”
Federal recreational land management agencies offer additional lifetime passes, including a Senior Pass for US citizens or permanent residents over age 62 and an Access Pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a permanent disability. More information is available on nps.gov.
To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise: “To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan” by serving and honoring the men and women who are America’s veterans.
The Department of Veterans Affairs carries out four specific missions to make good on that commitment.
VA’s Veterans Health Administration is the largest integrated health care network in the United States, with 1,255 health care facilities serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
Veterans can earn a range of benefits that help them transition back to civilian life in the country they fought to defend. Through the Veterans Benefits Administration, VA helps servicemembers transition out of military service, and assists with education, home loans, life insurance and much more.
The job of the National Cemetery Administration is to make sure those who served this nation are never forgotten. NCA provides dignified burial services for Veterans and eligible family members by maintaining 142 cemeteries as national shrines and providing lasting tributes that commemorate their service and sacrifice to our nation.
VA’s “Fourth Mission” is to improve the nation’s preparedness for response to war, terrorism, national emergencies, and natural disasters by developing plans and taking actions to ensure continued service to veterans, as well as to support national, state, and local emergency management, public health, safety and homeland security efforts.
Starting in January, the Veterans Chronicle will be moving inside The Spokes man-Review. It will still come out the third Friday of each month, but will be a smaller size.
Additional stories and longer stories can always be found at veteranshelpnet. com/ or on Veterans Help Net on Facebook.
We always welcome story ideas that share interesting information and resources for veterans living in Eastern Washington and North Idaho. Please contact us at don@ vethelpnet.com for story suggestions.
A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW DEC. 16, 2022
Walker
Bryan Bledsoe MANAGING EDITOR Joe Butlerthe 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 visit www.VeteransHelpNet.com.
ART DIRECTOR Anne Potter
Veterans Help Net partners with The Spokesman-Review to publish Veterans Chronicle on
For advertising information, please contact advertising@ spokesman.com or (509) 4595095.
No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent of the publisher.
List of dead from Vietnam includes 16 with this special role
By Sean DietrichIt was a weekend. A lot of people were there. And by “a lot,” I mean folks were standing two or three deep.
It’s one of the most popular sites in D.C. Maybe the hottest spot in the whole town period. The tourist magazines don’t tell you this, but it’s true.
You can keep your trolley tours. Each year, about 5 million people visit 5 Henry Bacon Drive NW to see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Otherwise known as The Wall.
They come in throngs. You see all kinds. Average suburban Midwesterners, Northern tourists and people with Florida tags, all doing vicious battle over precious parking spots.
People crawl out of trucks, SUVs, and rust-covered economy cars. Old men in battleship hats. Harley guys with military patches. School buses full of kids.
The first thing you’ll be greeted with are signs telling you to download the Wall tour mobile app. Which you’ll want to do. Because, chances are, if you’re here, you’re looking for a name on this Wall.
Last time I visited was six months ago. I was in town for work. I toured in relative silence, reading the names of the fallen.
There, I met a guy who was praying at the wall. He was tall. Skin like mocha. Wearing a white clergyman’s collar. He was crossing himself.
Catholic, I was guessing. Maybe Episcopalian?
He was placing little pink flowers against the wall.
“Lot of people forget about the chaplains in the Vietnam War,” he said. “I come here to honor the chaplains. There are 58,000 engraved names on this wall. Sixteen are chaplains.”
He crossed himself then used his phone to locate the next name.
Meir Engel was the name. A Jewish chaplain who died at age 50.
“He must’ve been like a grandpa over there,” said my new friend, searching for the name. “Fifty years old, dealing with teenage soldiers. They were babies.”
The youngest serviceman to be killed in Vietnam was 15 years old. Chaplains were like surrogate parents to high-school-age soldiers, far from home.
We finally found the name. My friend read a brief biography about Engel. Chaplain Engel was born in Israel, he immigrated to the United States. He left behind two sons.
My friend placed a pink flower at the wall and prayed.
“Military chaplains are overlooked veterans,” said the priest. “We honor the frontline heroes, officers and even rear-echelon
guys. But we forget about the holy Joes.”
There were a lot of them in Vietnam.
There was Phillip Nichols. Army. A guitar playing chaplain. Assembly of God. Guys loved him. You didn’t get too many opportunities to sing “Amazing Grace” out in the bush, but Phillip made sure you did. He was killed by a booby trap while traveling between units.
William Barragy. Roman Catholic priest. He was meeting with the 101st Airborne Division. Offering comfort. Distributing the Eucharist. He was killed when the CH-47 he was riding in crashed. He was from Waterloo, Iowa.
Michael Quealy. Army. His superiors advised him not to go, but he did. He had to go. He was a priest, and that’s what you did.
Quealy flew into a hot zone near Saigon. He probably knew he was going to die. He was comforting bloodied soldiers, administering last rites to dying men when he was killed by incoming fire.
And lest we forget Chaplain James Johnson. Army. The only Black chaplain on the list. A special guy.
Johnson was the kind
of chaplain who accompanied his men, unarmed, on daily combat operations. He did all this against the recommendations of his superiors because Johnson took orders from a Higher Power.
You would have found him in the field alongside soldiers every day, listening to young men vent, letting teenage soldiers cry into his chest. Praying with them.
He followed dying boys onto battlefields, weaponless. He went into hospitals with them, tramped through rice paddies, boarded ships and waded through knee-deep mud alongside them.
They say he even performed baptisms in the yellow water of the Mekong River because, of course, Johnson was Baptist.
Other chaplains on the Wall I haven’t named are: Don Bartley, Robert Brett, Merle Brown, Vincent Cappodanno, William Feaster, William Garrity Jr., Ambrosio Grandea, Roger Heinz, Aloysius McGonigal, Morton Singer and Charles Watters.
As our tour came to a close, the priest placed the last of his flowers against the wall. “These were good men,” he said.
“It’s a tragedy,” I said.
The priest looked at me. “Tragedy? What do you mean?”
“All these good chaplains, dying like they did.”
He smiled. “Oh, these men aren’t dead, brother. Nobody on this wall is.”
Sean Dietrich is a blogger who also writes a daily column and the blog “Sean of the South.”
The Vietnam War officially began on Aug. 5, 1964, and ended on May 7, 1975. Below are some facts and demographic features of veterans who served during this time:
Approximately 2.7 million veterans served in the Republic of Vietnam out of the 8.7 million Americans who served in the Armed Forces during the Vietnam era.
Although segregation in the military officially ended in 1948, the Vietnam War was the first major conflict in which military units were fully integrated.
Approximately 7,500 women were stationed in Vietnam during the war.
More than 300,000 veterans were wounded during the Vietnam War.
VA’s Veteran Population Projection Model estimates that there are approximately 6.1 million living Vietnam War-era veterans, as of 2021. (Learn more at www.va.gov/vetdata/veteran_population. asp)
The median age of Vietnam War-era veterans is approximately 73 years old.
As of November 2020, nearly 1.6 million Vietnam veterans were being served by the various programs of the Veterans Benefits Administration. An additional 320,000 surviving spouses, nearly 5,000 children, and 542 parents of Vietnam War Veterans were also receiving VA benefits.
Thanks to all our Vietnam veterans who served and for their sacrifices.
If you’re a veteran seeking assistance or know someone who is, the following organizations can point you in the right direction.
American Legion
VA Medical Center, 4815 N. Assembly, Bldg, 6A, Spokane, WA 99205 (509) 434-7750
Services: Claims assistance
Spokane County Veterans Resources
www.spokanecounty.org/1122/ Veteran-Services 1117 N. Evergreen Road, Spokane, WA 99216 (509) 477-3690 vetstudy@spokanecounty.org Services: Burial expenses, claims assistance, emergency financial assistance, food assistance, homeless support, rental assistance, transportation assistance, utility assistance, work-specific necessities to gain employment
Veterans of Foreign Wars Vet Center, 13109 E. Mirabeau Pkwy., Spokane, WA 99216 (509) 444-8387 spokanevso@vfwwa.org Services: Claims assistance
Work Source www.worksourcewa.com/ Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. 130 S Arthur St, Spokane, WA 99202 (509) 532-3000
Spokane Vet Center
www.va.gov/spokane-vet-center/ Monday: 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday: 7 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Wednesday: 7 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Thursday: 7 a.m.5:30 p.m. Friday: 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Sunday: Closed 13109 E. Mirabeau Pkwy., Spokane, WA 99216 (509) 444-8387
www.va.gov/spokane-healthcare/ Open 24 hours 4815 N. Assembly St., Spokane, WA 99205 (509) 434-7000
VA Health Care For Homeless Veterans 504 E. Second Ave., Spokane, WA 99201 (509) 462-2500
Goodwill SSVF Program discovergoodwill.org/veterans/ 130 E. Third Ave., Spokane, WA 99202 (509) 838-4246
Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center
Contact the Spokane Veterans Center at (509) 477-3690 for a list of counselors.
Spokane Tribe of Indians Veterans Program spokanetribe.com/government/ administration/#vfw (509) 258-7331 cheryl.covington@spokanetribe. com
Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center
www.va.gov/spokane-healthcare/ 4815 N. Assembly St., Spokane, WA 99205 (509) 434-7608; (509) 434-7000
For more local help, see “How Can I Get Help?” in this publication.
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 Inland Northwest.
The Department of Veterans Affairs website has resources on every topic relevant to veterans.
VA.gov/welcome-kit
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.
Explore.VA.gov/benefitsnavigator
Explore VA benefits and discover which ones you and your family may be eligible to receive.
Spokane County Regional Veteran Service
1117 N. Evergreen Rd., Spokane Valley, WA (509) 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 Office 120 E. Railroad Ave., Post Falls, ID (208) 446-1092
Meet with a VSO or staff for help with VA benefits enrollment, claims or other veteran needs.
Goodwill Support Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) 130 E. Third Ave., Spokane, WA (509) 828-2449
SSVF helps homeless veterans and their families find housing and connects veterans with other support organizations.
Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) 504 E. Second Ave., Spokane, WA (509) 435-2019
Provides healthcare and outreach for housing, job opportunities and counseling.
Spokane County Regional Veteran Service (509) 477-3690
North Idaho Veteran Services and Benefits Office 120 E. Railroad Ave., Post Falls, ID (208) 446-1092
Veteran Crisis Line 1 (800) 273-8255, press 1
North Idaho Crisis Center (208) 625-4884
Washington or Idaho 2-1-1 Dial “2-1-1” for health and human resources referrals.
... Receiving disability benefits can help quality of life, access?
National Guard members without active duty service now can be eligible for a VA home loan.
A new law allows National Guard and Reserve members who have at least 90 days of service to be eligible for the home loan program. Thirty of those days must have been consecutive.
Currently, only Guard and Reserve members who had at least 90 days of active service are eligible for home loans.
Need more information? Check with your unit personnel office or contact one of the resources found in the “How Can I Get Help?” section in this publication.
According to Department of Veterans Affairs, many veterans are unaware of VA’s disability benefits.
VA disability compensation is a monthly, tax-free payment designed to compensate veterans for an injury or illness incurred or made worse from active military service, regardless of when they served. A disability can apply to physical conditions, such as a chronic knee condition, as well as mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. Brad, an Army veteran, finds the compensation he receives helps give him a better quality of life.
“Sometimes I can’t do the things that I used to because of my injuries. But the compensation helps out,” says Brad.
Service-disabled veterans may also be entitled to health care, employment counseling and other benefits at no cost. For example, if your disability limits your mobility, you may qualify for a payment to buy or modify a vehicle to get around easier.
One way for veterans to start the application process is to enlist a person or an organization to help them with their claim. A Veterans Service Officer (VSO), claims agent or accredited attorney can help veterans determine which claim fits them best. Though this step is not required, most veterans find that assistance from veteran advocates make the process much easier by helping them prepare and submit their claim. VA provides additional resources and information at www.va.gov/disability/get-help-filing-claim/ or refer to “How can I get help?” on page
5 in this publication.
A quarter of all veterans, and maybe more, may be eligible to receive health care services from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
An independent survey of veterans indicated that they are highly satisfied with VA health care and would recommend it to their friends.
Plus, 1 out of every 3 employees of the Veterans Health Administration is a veteran themselves.
To find out how you can benefit, submit an application form online, by mail, or in person. Then the VA will send you written notification of your eligibility status. You can explore health care options at va.gov/health-
care or look at “How can I get help?” in this publication.
New rankings of veteran populations around the country show that Idaho has the seventh-highest amount of veterans living within its borders and Washington ranks No. 13.
Idaho has 121,327 veteran residents, which is 9.3%. Washington has 520,226 which works out to 8.9%. Of these, Idaho has 24,245 veterans who served in wars after Sept. 11, 2001, and Washington has 124,157.
Both states have Vietnam veterans, 46,036 in Idaho and 185,141 in Washington. They also both have high numbers of veterans who are employed, 76.0 percent in Idaho and 78.1% in Washington.
There are also 6.4% of veterans who live in poverty in Idaho and 5.8% in Washington, plus 201 homeless veterans in Idaho and 1,585 in Washington.
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... Rule change makes it easier to quality for VA home loans (especially reserve and National Guard members)?
Applications now being accepted for veterans, surviving spouses
By Ruth Aresvik VETERANS HELP NET CORRESPONDENTIt is not difficult to understand the rules and regulations, policies and procedures, entitlement and eligibility factors of various government programs. Said no one ever!
Chatter and comparisons abound around coffee cups and lunch counters when folks talk about what they were told/what they heard/what their neighbor said. A simple comment can become misinformation that is picked up and passed on.
With the November opening of the North Idaho Veterans Home in Post Falls, conversations are already flowing, making veterans remove their U.S. Navy (or other branch of service) cap and scratch their heads.
In these types of situations, reliable information is usually best received from the true source.
According to the Idaho Division of Veterans Services, applicants to live at this 24-hour skilled nursing facility must be a veteran (wartime or peacetime), or the spouse, widow, or widower of a veteran who would be eligible for admission.
There are FOUR SPECIFIC requirements:
1. Proof of honorable service in the United States Military, (DD2114 or Military Discharge) showing a minimum of 90 days active-duty service, or discharged from military service earlier than 90 days under honorable conditions because of service-connected disability.
2. Spouses, widows, or widowers eligible for nursing care must provide a copy of the veteran's honorable military service on whose service they are qualified, and proof of marriage (license or certificate) and/or a death certificate, when applicable.
3. Applicants must be a resident of the State of Idaho at the time of admission to a home.
4. All veteran residents must also either be in receipt of or apply for a VA pension.
General information of interest: the maximum daily resident rate is $370 plus other ancillary, special items, and service charges. Each resident is liable for the payment of this charge not provided or paid for by VA, Medicaid, Medicare, or other insurance.
Veterans with a disability rating
of 70% or greater pay nothing, or a much lower rate because of VA assistance. The veteran DOES NOT lose or forfeit his/her VA disability or retirement pay while residing in a VA contracted nursing home.
The VA Home will accept veterans for rehabilitation once the service is VA and Medicaid certified. Most of these residents utilize their Medicare Part B to cover these services.
A special addition to the North Idaho Veterans Home includes the office of the Idaho Veterans Services Officers. Scott Thorsness and Matt Ranstrom are certified to assist current residents or incoming residents to acquire additional service-connected benefits or veterans/survivor pension benefits which can help in the cost of residency.
Would you like to go to a Taylor Swift concert? Go to Ticketmaster. com – and good luck with that! Would you like more information about the North Idaho Veterans Home? Go to Veterans. Idaho.gov. Click on the "Veterans Homes" tab, then Post Falls Home, then “news.” This will also give you the link for the admission application.
Earlier this year, the first phase of the Liberty Lake Hometown Heroes banner program was unveiled with 25 installed around town.
The banners honor American veterans and active-duty service members, alive or deceased.
They are currently mounted on light posts along Country Vista Road west from Liberty Lake Road.
Now that Phase 1 is complete, the organization is seeking 25 more veterans to honor.
The application period began in October and closes Dec. 31 or when the quota is met.
The current and future banners will be displayed each Memorial Day to Veterans Day. Each one includes the Hometown Hero’s name, branch of service, honors, and military photo.
Hometown Heroes has received support from Avista, the Liberty Lake Rotary Club and the City of Liberty Lake.
For more information, including an application and information about how to sponsor a banner, visit libertylakehometownheroes.com. Or look at “Liberty Lake Hometown Heroes” on Facebook. Applications can also be found at City Hall or by calling Don Walker at (509) 998-6484.
In a solemn ceremony at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery, military personnel, private citizens, and other dignitaries recently gathered to memorialize and honor 106 American heroes and their families. The 106 heroes were those whose cremated remains were unclaimed.
On a cold, overcast day, five urns were placed beneath folded U.S. flags as a representation of the fallen veterans.
The “Forgotten Heroes” ceremony was the result of two years of research, authentication and locating the remains of more than 200 sailors, soldiers, Marines, Coast Guard members and Merchant Marines that had gone unclaimed.
The Nov. 16 ceremony was this year’s final ritual coordinated by Missing In America, an organization whose job it is to find the remains of those left behind, unclaimed. MIA officials spent months preparing the unclaimed remains of veterans, their wives and their children for the ceremony.
“Today we have 106 military men and women, 19 wives, and 8 children,” said Tom Keating, Project Coordinator for MIA.
Preparation for the Washington State Veterans Cemetery event began in September 2020, Keating noted. He said the remains of three U.S. Navy sailors were buried at sea.
Among those being hon-
ored at the inurnment rite was the wife of Army Capt. John Kenzie, a veteran of several Indian battles dating back to the late 1800s.
Rudy Lopez, cemetery director, said most of the cremated remains came to the Medical Lake cemetery via regional and statewide funeral homes.
“These men and women have relatives who want the forgotten warriors buried here so they can visit the graves, Lopez added.
The ceremony, sponsored by Service Corporation International, a large Texas-based conglomeration of funeral homes and cemeteries worldwide, included full military honors performed by the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard, and the Naval Reserve Center, whose sailors presented the traditional Bell Ringing ceremony reserved for honoring fallen sailors.
Lopez led the program with a minute of silence respecting the lives and the commitment of the veterans.
“I have a heartfelt appreciation for those who have transported these remains of our Forgotten Heroes to us today,” said Alfie Alvarado Ramos, director of the Washington Department of Veteran Affairs. Many of the urns were transported from Tahoma National Cemetery, located in Renton, to the Medical Lake facility. A similar memorial service honoring the veterans was held Nov. 11 at the western Washington location.
Ramos also recognized
See CEREMONY, 9
State Veterans Cemetery makes sure all veterans properly buriedPHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID SUTTON The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard presented colors at a ceremony at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery that laid 106 service members to rest. Bagpipe music was also played as part of the ceremony, provided by Kenyon Fields. The ceremony at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery laid 106 service members to rest.
Continued from 8
and thanked the efforts of the MIA for the hard work they did to make the ceremony possible.
“People often ask why are cremated remains forgotten or gone unclaimed at local funeral homes,” said Rob Goff, CEO of the Washington State Funeral Directors Association. “Many times, the families do not want to endure the emotional pain suffered in claiming their loved ones.”
Goff also noted that many times the family will designate someone to claim the remains and that person will forget to make the claim. Most of the time family and friends are just not around anymore, he added.
Those attending the event were community
representatives, friends and neighbors. Some of them volunteered to help unload vehicles carrying the cremated remains so they could be placed in designated spaces.
“The community has come today to make sure their heroes receive a descent burial with honors. We commend them for their love and concern,” said David Puente, WDVA Deputy Director. “This is a very dignified burial.”
Those who attended the ceremony remained solemn as the events of the day continued. One of the featured speakers, former U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Jerry Herker, informed the audience that the “mission of the Veterans of Foreign Wars was to honor their fellow comrades-in- arms as they are laid to rest.”
“We believe that no
fighting warrior or support personnel should ever be left behind or forgotten,” he said. Herker is a member of VFW Post 3386 in Airway Heights.
As Kenyon Fields played the bagpipes in the background, the Dignity Memorial hearse began to depart the WSVC chapel to deliver the Forgotten Heroes to their final resting place. A dozen men from the American Legion Patriot Riders honored their departed comrades with extended hand salutes.
The day of honor, respect and dignity had ended.
Dr. David Sutton is an Army veteran and served on the staff of the Commander- in-Chief Pacific, Camp Smith, Hawaii. He is retired and does freelance writing. He resides in Spokane with his wife, Vickie.
Quotes help recognize value of veterans
“This will remain the land of the free so as long as it is the home of the brave.”
– Elmer Davis, American journalist
“On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a nation, let it be our pledge that when they return home, we leave no veteran behind.”
– Dan Lipinski, former U.S. Representative
By David Sutton VETERANS HELP NET CORRESPONDENT
Things happen!
Nobody knows why or how, but even the Army makes mistakes. And that is exactly what happened when I was told that I had died in combat in Vietnam!
It all began when I decided to go to graduate school and use my military education benefits. After graduating from Eastern Washington State College (now Eastern Washington University) I had calculated that I had almost all of my benefits available to me. I had been drafted in the middle of my junior year in college when the war in Southeast Asia was at its peak.
I did not plan on going to graduate school when my wife and I were planning my career path. So money was not the issue. Getting a job as a newspaper reporter with my degree in journalism was the issue. So my G.I. Bill could be saved for another time.
One hardly ever knows what’s in the future. Neither did we, so when the decision was made to head for Ft. Worth, Texas, we were confident the U.S. Army would take care our educational needs.
All the applications were filled out, the proper officials were notified at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, housing was arranged, and my pregnant wife and I headed south.
Everything we owned was stuffed into two GI footlockers strapped to the top of our rustic Toyota. Alphalfa and Buckwheat, our dogs, rested quietly in the back seat.
My first call in Texas was
to the local Army Information Center in Ft. Worth informing them that we had arrived. I wanted to confirm our address and make sure our G.I. Bill would be sent to us. The sergeant assured me he would check into it and let me know.
Meanwhile, with my college diploma in hand, years of experience in my field as a newspaper reporter under my belt, and an intense desire to pay the rent and buy groceries....I was hired to pump gas at the local Mobil station!
Thirty days passed and there was no check. Veterans at school heard about my dilemma and approached me with a sincere desire to help. Groceries and rent money were supplied with a trust that we would pay it back as soon as we straightened things out.
Sixty days whizzed by. Ninety days came and went.
We shared books, borrowed furniture and accepted many invitations to dinner. The school community was a blessing and the veterans seemed to tighten the bonds we had established.
Finally, after five months, the results of my research paid off. The local Army recruiter had experienced the same dilemma when he was younger. He gave me the phone number of the military “check writers” in Kansas City.
The sergeant listened to my story, my plea, and asked some routine questions. Then I was put on hold.
“Sir, our records show that you were killed in action in Vietnam,” he said. “You certainly do not sound dead to me,” he added.
My benefits check arrived within three days and included all backpay. We contacted all the veterans who stood by us and all
the students who helped in so many ways and we paid them back and thanked them for their generosity
and trust. The next night we had enough money to do some fine dining at the local Mc-
Donald’s. Why is this story so important?
First, it renewed my faith in the U.S. Army when they promised to take care of their own. Second, it reassured me that veterans gather together to help other veterans in need. And finally, it strengthened my belief that positive action far outweighs negative complaints.
My benefits ran out the day I graduated with my master’s degree. Surely most of my education took place outside the classroom. Veterans, things do happen but they can be fixed. I am a proud veteran and I am so thankful for having been part of a giant organization that (eventually!) takes care of their own.
Dr. David Sutton is a U.S. Army veteran and has been a freelance writer all during his 47 years as a minister. He resides in Spokane with his wife, Vickie.
Army bureaucracy made it difficult to change status from dead to alive
Last month you read two great articles in this section: “What is a Veteran?” and “Thanks to all the veterans.” One type of veteran that was overlooked, however, is the woman veteran. You may say, “of course women are serving in the Armed Forces, so they are veterans.”
But not every woman veteran identifies as a “veteran.”
For many years when the term “veteran” has been used in reference to a former member of the Armed Forces, our mind may think of Marines in the Battle of Iwo Jima, Marines freezing in the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea, or Army grunts wading through rice paddies in Vietnam. These pictures that we most see of veterans today are old men from those eras.
Until recently, a woman veteran’s service has not been widely recognized in the media, in veteran organizations or our communities. Yet they have volunteered and served in our Armed Forces, and it is time for them to be recognized!
There has been an increased effort in reaching out to women veterans by service officers, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and other veterans. Instead of asking a woman if she is a “veteran,” they ask if she served in the Armed Forces of the United States… then they respond in the affirmative, that they served.
With the number of women veterans increasing, there
is a great need to reach out to those women who have served to make sure that they get the veteran benefits that they have earned.
To address the needs of women veterans the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs created the Women Veterans Advisory Committee over 10 years ago. They have held yearly women veteran summits for women to gather from across the state to learn about their benefits and get connected.
The mission of the WDVA
Women Veterans Advisory Committee shall be to ensure that Washington's women veterans have equitable access to federal and state veterans' services and benefits, along with:
• Connect women to their identity as veterans.
• Change the public perception of what veterans look like.
• Connect women veterans to benefits.
• Connect women veterans to community.
You can read more about it on our website: www.dva.
wa.gov/councils-committees/ women-veterans
Many women veterans in Washington have never heard of the WVAC. We are here to assist. To learn more please contact me, Tzena M. Scarborough, WVAC Eastern Washington Representative; at (509) 8918588 or ladyveterans@comcast. net. Or call the WDVA state office: Liza Narciso, (360) 7252157, Lisan@dva.wa.gov
Education is needed to honor these women who have volunteered to serve. So, when you
see a woman parking at the Home Depot parking spot that says ‘Reserved for Veterans,’ don’t yell at them and tell them they can’t park there because they aren’t veterans! Thank you!
Tzena M. Scarborough is a U.S. Army veteran, Women’s Army Corps WAC, Cold War Veteran, 1976-1983. She serves as an American Legion Post 241 service officer and assists veterans and families to connect to their benefits in the Spokane area.
State advisory committee works toward equitable access, changing perception
AARP is launching a free twice-monthly e-newsletter for veterans and their families that will celebrate the military through stories about uniformed service to our country while also providing practical help in areas such as health, money, work and benefits.
The first issue of AARP Veteran Report was published Aug. 11. A new issue comes out the second and fourth Thursday of each month.
AARP ambassador Gary Sinise said the newsletter will have a useful purpose.
“AARP Veteran Report will play a significant role in raising awareness,
offering help and telling personal stories of service.
AARP has a vast reach, and the potential audience is huge,” he said. “We have around 18 million veterans in this country. They are our defenders, and we can never do enough for them as far as I’m concerned. I applaud AARP for extending its hand to as many veterans as possible.”
Sinise said the sky is the limit in terms of readership.
Pete Jeffries, national director of AARP’s Veterans and Military Families Initiative, said nearly 6 million of AARP’s 38 million members nationwide are veterans or current military service
members.
“We are committed and honored to provide those who served our nation with free resources, timely information, local programming and access to discounts in the areas of family caregiving, fighting fraud, securing employment and connecting with earned service benefits.”
“At AARP, we’re on a mission to support America’s veterans and military families, and the AARP Veteran Report newsletter is another important step on our journey to better serve those who served.”
To sign up, visit https:// bit.ly/3Bql2R9.
Vet Tix provides tickets to events which reduce stress, strengthen family bonds, build lifelong memories and encourage service members and veterans to stay engaged with local communities and American life. The organization supports our troops by honoring their service and providing positive family and life experiences, during and after their years of service to our country.
Vet Tix provides tickets to all branches of currently-serving military and honorably-discharged veterans, including immediate family of troops killed in action.
Through a variety of partnerships with ma-
jor sports teams, leagues, promoters, organizations, venues and ticket holders, the Veteran Tickets Foundation is able to provide free or discounted tickets to more than 21 million military members and their families.
These can include sporting events, concerts, performing arts, and educational and family activities across the nation.
To participate, create a free account online and share your proof of service, such as a DD214. Once this is verified, you’ll have the ability to put in requests for tickets to events that interest you.
The VetTix staff will work to find tickets and make them available on-
line or through a base where someone is currently serving. A small delivery fee is charged for this service.
Veteran Tickets Foundation is concerned that too many veterans are missing out on the All-American moments for which they have fought and sacrificed, especially since the costs of events are so high these days. These events provide essential community reintegration opportunities, family bonding experiences and improve quality of life. Donated tickets show our military that their community supports their service.
Visit www.vettix.org/ to learn more or sign up.
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‘AARP Veteran Report’ combines inspirational stories of service with information
Vet Tix provides free or discounted tickets to veterans and their families
