2010

N o vemb er Decemb er
THE OFFICIAL VOICE OF THE DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS AND DAV AUXILIARY

BURN PITS
Toxic exposures impact Iraq, Afghanistan veterans, families & survivors

Honoring Your Sacrifices

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Women Veterans Focus

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Commanders and Adjutants Association February 27 March 2

Weve made tremendous strides working with lawmakers to improve the quality and accessibility of veterans health care and toward ensuring sufficient, timely and predictable funding for the VA medical system. Weve also developed our own 21st Century Claims Process to create a more efficient, faster solution to helping veterans receive the benefits theyve earned. Join National Commander Wallace E. Tyson as he delivers the DAVs Legislative Presentation to Congress. The support and direct action of Chapter and Department leaders from across the country is critical to supporting our agenda on the national level. The Mid-Winter Conference at the Crystal Gateway Marriot in Arlington, Virginia, February 27 March 2 is the place to be. Tell our government to make veterans a national priority, and do so face-to-face! Join us for Mid-Winter.

2011 Mid-Winter Conference

1700 Jefferson Davis Highway Arlington, Virginia 22202 703-920-3230

Single/Double Room: $197.00 Cut-off date for reservations is February 4, 2011. Check-out time is 12 noon. Rooms will not be available for check-in until after 3 p.m. Reservations requested beyond the cut-off date are subject to availability. Rooms may still be available after the cut-off date, but not necessarily at the same rate. Please apply 10.25% sales tax to room rate.

Agenda
Saturday, 2/26/11 C&A Registration Sunday, 2/27/11 C&A Registration C&A Business Session Legislative Workshop Monday, 2/28/11 Service Workshop IG/Adjutants Workshop Membership Workshop Voluntary Services Workshop Communications Workshop 12-4pm Tuseday, 3/1/11 National Service Foundation 9am-10am Charitable Service Trust Immediately following National Service Foundation Meeting National Commanders Presentation 2:00pm to the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees National Commanders Reception 6:30pm-8:30pm Wednesday, 3/2/11 DAV Board of Directors Meeting 9am-10am DAV National Executive Committee Meeting Immediately Following Board of Directors Meeting

8am-noon 9am-noon 1:30pm-4pm

9am-10:30pm 10:30am-12pm 1pm-2pm 2pm-3pm 3pm-4:30pm

Entry deadline June 30, 2010.

Celebrate and Remember

WALLACE E. TYSON
f r o m t h e N A T I O N A L C O M M A N D E RPaul W. Jackson

The holiday season is a time of joy, for celebration of family, a time to give thanks for all with which we are blessed. I wish you and your family the very best through this special time and into the new year.

s we know, there are many who will not have the opportunity to partake in the merriment of these holidays. Hundreds of thousands of Americas finest are serving in some of the most dangerous places around the globe, sacrificing their time with family and friends to protect our freedom and way of life. It is never easy to serve in desolate outposts throughout the world, but it is especially difficult during the holidays. Emails, letters and phone calls are no substitute for the joy of being with family in the warmth and love of a home. There are others still who no longer serve in uniform but sacrifice daily due to injuries or illnesses sustained in our nations defense. Many will spend this holiday season in a hospital, a nursing facility or at home but bedridden. I ask that you set aside time to remember and honor those who are forsaking their holidays so others do not have to. The United States owes them all a debt of a gratitude that cannot be fully repaid. Enjoy the holidays and our freedom to

worship as we choose. But again, give thanks that we are stronger and safer because of those who are hunting for the enemy in the freezing mountains of Afghanistan and under the desert skies of Iraq. As we ring in 2011, please keep in mind that a new Congress will soon begin work critically important to us all. We must all stand together to ensure that the change that comes will benefit our veterans. The new year will bring greater opportunity to fulfill our mission of building better lives for disabled veterans and their families. While we have lately enjoyed great success legislatively, there is still a great deal of work that needs to be done to ensure every disabled veteran and family member receives the care and benefits earned through service and sacrifice. We must continue leading the way in shaping the change our nation is undergoing. It is my sincere wish that you and your families have the most joyous holidays possible. I wish you all the blessings of the season. And I know you can be counted as we stand up for veterans in the new year.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010

November/December 2010

CONTENTS
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National Commander Wallace E. Tyson asks that we set aside time during the holidays to remember and honor those who keep our nation safe and free. National Adjutant Arthur H. Wilson calls the groundbreaking for the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial a major milestone toward achieving lasting recognition of our service and sacrice. The personal experiences and needs of family caregivers are key to programs aimed at supporting disabled veterans at home. The surge in women veterans is forcing the VA to step up efforts to provide better care, privacy and security. National Service Director Garry J. Augustine says the claims backlog is not the only problem the VA faces, but is instead a symptom of a broken, outdated veterans benets system. The DAV continues its key role in focusing attention on acute health hazards caused by open burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan. You may want to keep this list of major legislative objectives the DAV will pursue when the new Congress convenes in 2011. Auxiliary National Commander Susan M. Henry spells out just what the organization can do to Help All That Served.
The surge in women veterans is forcing the VA to step up efforts. PAGE 10 A chance encounter with an aspiring National Service Ofcer leads to success. PAGE 5

Our Cover:
Nina Berman|NOOR Survivor Jill Wilkins and her children, Keaton and McKenna, visit the site where Maj. Kevin Wilkins was interred. The major, an Air Force nurse, was exposed to the burn pit at Balad Air Base, Iraq. NOOR was founded by award-winning independent photographers who produce globally-relevant, in-depth visual reports. NOORs highly-respected documentary photographer members produce imagery about social, political, environmental and cultural issues around the world. Noor is a registered trademark of Noor Images B.V. All rights reserved. Visit www.noorimages.com. MAGAZINE November/December 2010 Contact Us: www.dav.org Toll Free 877.426.2838 3725 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, KY 41076 Volume 52, Issue 6, DAV Magazine (ISSN 0885-6400) Editorial Ofce: DAV Magazine, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301. Telephone (859) 441-7300 or toll free (877) I AM A VET. Published and circulated bimonthly bulletin by the Disabled American Veterans, a Congressionally-chartered, nonprot organization, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301. DAV Home Page is www.dav.org. Available on recording for the blind and those with physical handicaps that preclude reading printed material. The magazine is mailed free to DAV and Auxiliary members who are paid subscribers. Nonmembers may subscribe for $15.00 per year. Periodical postage paid at ofce of publication, Newport, KY 41071, and at additional ofces. Printed in U.S.A. Change of Address: When notifying a change of address, send former as well as new address, including zip code, to: DAV Magazine, DAV National Headquarters, P.O. Box 145550, Cincinnati, OH 45250-5550. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to DAV Magazine, DAV National Headquarters, P.O. Box 145550, Cincinnati, OH 45250-5550.

Wallace E. Tyson National Commander Arthur H. Wilson National Adjutant & Publisher Gary Weaver National Director of Communications David E. Autry Deputy National Director of Communications Arvel Jim Hall Assistant National Director of Communications omas L. Wilborn Assistant National Director of Communications Rob Lewis Marketing & Special Events Manager Dan Clare Assistant National Director of Communications Joseph Chenelly Assistant National Director of Communications James A. Chaney Production Manager

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Honoring Your Sacrifices

AR THUR H. WILSON

f r o m t h e N AT I O N A L A D J U TA N T

Groundbreaking for the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial on November 10 marks a major milestone in the quest to achieve lasting recognition of our service and sacrifice for this great nation.
f course, DAV members and their families have taken the lead in supporting this most worthy effort. After all, its your memorial. Along with National Commander Wallace E. Tyson and Past National Commander Bobby Barrera, I am honored to be part of this special effort to create the only national memorial to honor all whose sacrifices have guaranteed our rights as a free and democratic society. Disabled veterans have given America so much more than was ever asked of their fellow citizens when they answered our countrys call. When completed the memorial will be in plain view of the National Capitol in Washington, and it will be a permanent reminder to our lawmakers of the service and sacrifice that disabled veterans have made for our nation, for our ideals of freedom and democracy, those very ideals that politicians are so fond of talking about on Veterans Day and other patriotic holidays. As disabled veterans, you know the violence war can bring. You know the challenges of resuming productive lives. You have not only overcome disabilities, you have excelled in life. Every day you contribute to improving the lives of other disabled people by your example, inspiration and encouragement. Building this memorial is essential because America owes so much to those who have served and sacrificed for the cause of freedom. As the late Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jesse Brown called it, a solemn obligation to ensure

that the men and women disabled in our nations defense must never be forgotten or neglected. The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial will do more than pay tribute to those who continue to suffer the hardships and sacrifices of war. It will inspire future generations of Americans to recognize the power and virtue of sacrifice and to remember those who have defended our land in war and peace. Americas 3-plus million living disabled veterans and their continuing dedication to liberty remain a hallmark of our nations spirit. Sadly, the number of disabled veterans will continue to grow, because the world is still a dangerous place. Throughout our nations history, Americas men and women have paid a dear price for our freedom: limbs lost on far-flung battlefields, shattered lives and life-long disabilities. New fields of battle are being added to the history of our nations commitment to libertymost recently Iraq and Afghanistan and right here at home. Thats why its so important to complete the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. It will be an emotional affirmation that America has not forgotten the sacrifices of disabled veterans and a lasting reminder to future generations that courage, duty and honor are not lost values. By honoring our living heroes, the memorial will be a solemn declaration that America is not just grateful, but forever grateful to her disabled veterans.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010

Healthy Foods Make Healthy Vets As a nurse I urge the DAV chapters and others that sponsor bingo nights in the VA hospitals to do a better job when it comes to providing refreshments for the veterans at those facilities. The hospitalized veterans are given physician orders as to their diets: heart healthy, diabetic, renal diets. The VA hospital where I work holds bingo sometimes four times a week, so when will the organizations do the right thing and show up with fresh fruit or vegetable trays? Forget the unhealthy foods and provide food that any of our patients can eat. Elaine Puricelli, RN, Henrico, VA Purple Heart Not for PTSD Lets be clear: the Purple Heart is awarded for physical wounds incurred as a result of hostile action. Granted, it is said that in war there are no unwounded warriors. But the historical precedent is, and should remain, as noted above. I have a Purple Heart, and I have a VA-rated disability for post-traumatic stress disorder. The reward for incurring PTSD (from hostile or non-hostile action) is, properly, compensation according to the degree of the condition. Richard E. Nelson, Burlington, WA

Bills Deserve Support Each day I read the obituary section of my local newspaper, and every day there are a number of World War II and Korean War veterans that have passed away. Many of these individuals were military retirees. They never received the free medical care that was promised when they entered the service in exchange for a 20-year military career. While Tricare for Life has provided more affordable medical care for retirees, it falls short of the governments promise because of the continuing requirement to
DAV Magazine welcomes letters. However, due to the volume of mail, we are unable to acknowledge every letter. Letters are subject to editing for clarity, style, accuracy, space, and propriety. Letters involving individual claims are referred to the DAV Service Department, DAV Magazine, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio 45250-0301.

make Medicare B payments. The right thing for Congress to do would be to enact legislation fulfilling the promise made to these individuals. Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD.) has introduced the Keeping Faith with the Greatest Generation Military Retirees Act that would waive Medicare B payments for eligible retirees. All military and veterans organizations should support this effort before all those eligible retirees are gone. LCDR Duane E. Buck, USN (Ret.), Sedona, AZ Make Your Voice Heard Our nations veterans have a deeper understanding and appreciation for our right to vote than your average American will ever understand. Our veterans have seen what happens when countries do not allow certain groups to vote or certain people to have their message heard. They have seen firsthand when countries use fear of violence to persuade voters to vote certain ways or not at all. We need to remind America that our brothers and sisters died for this right that so many of them overlook. We need to remind them that voting is our most important right guaranteed by the United States Constitution. We need to show them that casting your ballot after hearing all sides of the story is what makes this country so great. Matthew Foster, Grand Prairie, TX

DAV MAGAZINE

SERVICE

PHOTOS: GETTY/ BILL GREENBLATT

National Service Officer Daniel Knabe, left, meets with Mrs. Thomas A. Moan, right, and her daughters Theresa McAuley, center left, and Julie Kuchar, to discuss the decision in Mrs. Moans VA claim for dependency and indemnity compensation.

Chance Encounter Leads to Survivors Benefits

By Thom Wilborn he stars were aligned in the skies above the midwest when a chance encounter between an aspiring National Service Officer and the daughter of a deceased disabled veteran led to a successful claim for survivors benefits for the veterans wife. Daniel Knabe was on a flight to National Service and Legislative Headquarters for a job interview. Beside him on the plane was Theresa McAuley, who was flying to South Carolina for her fathers funeral. Thomas A. Moan, a member of Chapter 30 in Myrtle Beach, S.C., was a 100-percent disabled U.S. Air Force veteran who died last December.

McAuley was seated apart from her sister so she could be alone with her thoughts of what lay ahead. Knabe boarded and sat beside her. I had no intention of a plane ride conversation, McAuley said. I simply wanted to reflect on thoughts of my father. It was turbulence that got them talking. Then the magic happened, she said. McAuley and Knabe started talking about his interview with the DAV and what he would be doing as a National Service Officer trainee. The feeling washed over me knowing that my father had just passed away and my mother would now be considered a surviving spouse, she said. I felt truly blessed and amazed that Dan was suddenly there. McAuley told Knabe her fathers

story and, feeling confident about his future, he offered his help. Dan gave me some basic information about future possibilities for my mother, said McAuley. Before the flight ended, Dan handed me his business card and I felt he was telling me that veterans and the DAV are here for you. Take care of your fathers business and we will be waiting to help. Knabe, a disabled Iraq War veteran, was hired and assigned to the St. Louis National Service Office. He promised McAuley he would have someone at the DAV look into her mothers claim, said St. Louis National Service Office Supervisor Leonard K. Harris. With his supervisors approval, Knabe worked
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010

Order online today: visit www.davstore.org *deadline for purchase is Dec. 13th
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The caregivers personal experiences were both emotional and hopeful. They discussed the sacrifices made for their loved one, the isolation they suffer, the burnout and the dire need for medical training and financial support, all of which are addressed in the Caregivers Act.
Caregiver Michelle Briggs talks with her husband Bob in Hillsboro, Iowa.

Conference Focuses on Caregivers Needs

By Thom Wilborn & Joseph R. Chenelly

arol Martin found her relationship with her son, Jason, changed dramatically after he suffered severe brain injury in a car crash while stationed in Texas. We actually grew apart, she said. I had to develop a different way of dealing with my son. Simona Valeris marriage to Brian Isenhour also changed when he suffered traumatic brain injury while stationed in Italy. Everything changed, she said. It was like a big rock fell between us. Both are full-time caregivers for their veteran loved one, experiencing all the joys and problems associated with that role. They told their stories, sometimes interrupted by tears, at the 2010 VA Conference Supporting Veterans at Home. Their insight into what is required to care for a veteran loved one shows the importance of the new Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act, said Washington Head-

quarters Executive Director David W. Gorman. DAV spearheaded grassroots support for the legislation, which provides many services and benefits to help family caregivers. The caregivers personal experiences were both emotional and hopeful. They discussed the sacrifices made for their loved one, the isolation they suffer, the burnout and the dire need for medical training and financial support, all of which are addressed in the Caregivers Act. They also expressed joy at the rapid improvement of their loved ones thanks to the care they are able to provide. The conference in Arlington, Va., was a national training session to educate VA clinicians and related health care professionals, researchers, administrators, as well as federal, state, and local officials and veteran service organizations. Its purpose was to highlight initiatives and best practices in support of veterans and their families who provide care at home. Martin told conference participants that she was determined to give

her son as normal a life as possible. The biggest challenge was sitting there and not being able to talk to him, she said. He physically could do nothing. Valeri said her husband had to re-learn everything: smiling, talking, eating. You just keep going, getting through things. Grace Benns, who cares for her husband, Eddie, has watched his health slowly deteriorate over the past ten years because of disease. At 73, she is five years older. I have my own limitations, she said. Much like Martin and Valeri, Benns said she feels isolated with few friends or family members willing to offer the help needed. Caregiving is a full time job, according to Martin. Our friends have taken a back seat, she said. Valeri said she and Brian have good friends who help, but friends are only friends. I think one of the most important supports for us is the Caregivers Act and the ability to get training, said Martin. I think if I had medical

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010

training from the time [her son] came home, I could have given him better care. She also said that the VA could help with counseling in the home environment. It would have been really good for the issues we faced. We definitely need some kind of support from the VA when we get our loved ones home, said Valeri. The VA has been truly good to me, said Martin. They should understand that helping us in the long run is doing it for the veterans. We need short-term help during the transition of the veteran coming home, and we need counseling at home. Dr. Madhulika Agarwal, chief of VAs Patient Care Office, said caregivers need education, training and support. It is important to focus on caregivers health, she said. Sharing information and knowledge reduces the caregivers isolation. Classes and increased communications between caregivers decrease the stress, anxiety and anger and increases well-being and quality of life for the caregiver. Many caregivers report their own health deteriorates as a result of giving care, said Gail Hunt, president and CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving. About 44 percent say their health has gotten moderately worse. More than half say their health decline has also affected their ability to provide care. Stress and depression are major problems suffered by caregivers. Veteran-centered care by the VA really has to include the family, said Hunt. The average age of a veteran patient requiring a caregiver is 69. More than 60 percent of younger veterans live alone, and 89 percent of

all veteran patients are men, she said. Caregivers spend an average 29 hours per week caring for their veteran loved ones, and only a small percent receive any formal training. Caregivers of younger veterans are twice as likely to get financial help from the VA and other government agencies, said Hunt. Caregivers for veterans 50 and older are half as likely to seek financial help. Caregivers sacrifice many ways for their veteran loved ones, said Gorman. Nearly seven in ten make workplace accommodations to provide the care needed by their loved one. It can be an economic catastrophe. But the Caregivers Act is going to assist those who sacrifice jobs and careers to give the best care to those who sacrificed for our country. Meg Campbell-Kotler, manager of the Office of Education for the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, spoke about a new resource for caregiver training. This training curriculum, Traumatic Brain Injury: A Guide for Caregivers of Service Members and Veterans, can be downloaded at www.dvbic.org. A lot of people have put a great deal of work into creating a comprehensive set of tools to best support caregivers in their care of service members and veterans with TBI, Campbell-Kotler said. It provides guidance and education to family members on traumatic brain injury (TBI) symptoms and their management while assisting the caregiver in communicating with members of the health care team. The curriculum mixes online and printed training materials and is broken

into four modules. The first covers the causes, types, diagnosis and treatment of TBI, as well as possible complications and the recovery process. The second module focuses largely on the effects and treatment of TBI, noting potential impact on the patients physical and cognitive well-being. The third module teaches the caregiver how to become an effective advocate for the patient. Often we find caregivers putting their own needs so far behind their injured loved ones needs that they eventually cannot be effective because they become ill, CampbellKotler said. The entire family has to remember they have to take care of themselves, too. The fourth module is titled Navigating Services and Benefits. It covers health benefits, counseling, behavioral health, employment, housing, education, transition assistance and state benefits. It also explains the disability evaluation system and potential legal issues. Each caregiver is a given a Caregiver Companion. This prepackaged resource includes a glossary of medical and TBI terms, medication logs, contact information for members of the health care team and a home care team volunteer form. The guide is available online at www. traumaticbraininjuryatoz.org. We are very excited about this. It is going to put very useful information and tools into the hands of those who are doing such great things for Americas heroes, Campbell-Kotler said. The caregivers are heroes, too.

DAV MAGAZINE

VA Links New Illnesses

By Thom Wilborn ew federal regulations add Parkinsons disease and ischemic heart disease to the list of presumptive serviceconnected illnesses linked to Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam veterans. The rule also expands the presumption for leukemia to include chronic B-cell leukemia, such as hairy cell leukemia. Veterans who served in Vietnam between Jan. 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, are presumed by VA to have been exposed to harmful herbicides. If they suffer from any of the diseases, it is presumed that their illnesses are service connected, making them eligible for compensation and VA health care. The VA estimates that more than 150,000 veterans will submit claims in the next 12 to 18 months, and 90,000 previously denied claims, including death claims, will be reviewed for possible entitlement to service connection. Vietnam veterans with these illnesses will have an easier time obtaining their earned compensation and health care thanks to the new presumptive service connection rule, said Washington Headquarters Executive Director David W. Gorman. Our nations Vietnam veterans have suffered signi cantly from their exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides. The DAV is grateful for VA Secretary Eric K. Shinsekis dedication to ensure that their sacri ce is recognized. VA of cials anticipate that veterans will receive a 100-percent disability rating for Parkinsons disease and the forms of leukemia. It is estimated that the average rating will be 60 percent for veterans with ischemic heart disease. The price tag for the new presumptions is estimated to be $42.2 billion over the next 10 years. The decision to proceed with the presumptive service connected disability was based on ve individual studies which have linked exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides to the diseases.

UPDATE

Some members of Congress have been concerned about the overall cost of the policy change and the inclusion of ischemic heart disease, which affects many older Americans who are not veterans. But without evidence to the contrary, and the inability to determine the cause, the VA sided with veterans based on the evidence it received. The Institute of Medicine report found enough new evidence of ischemic heart disease and Parkinsons disease associated [with Agent Orange exposure], said VA Radiation and Physical Exposures Director Dr. Victoria Cassano. Secretary Shinseki has portrayed determination and leadership in pursuing the nal regulation based on the latest evidence from a 2008 study by the Institute of Medicine concerning health problems associated with exposure to herbicides, like Agent Orange, Gorman said. The DAV is urging Vietnam veterans with these three diseases to submit their claims for compensation as soon as possible. In anticipation of the regulatory change, DAVs highly trained professional National Service Ofcers began ling claims for veterans with these disabilities last October, said National Service Director Garry J. Augustine. We encourage those who feel they may have a claim to contact their nearest National Service Of ce to begin the claims process. You can nd your nearest National Service Of ce at www.dav.org.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010

June Moss at the VA Medical Center Palo Alto, Calif., continues her battle with Post Tramatic Stress Disorder.

Women Veterans Focus on Health Care, Service

By Thom Wilborn he Department of Veterans Affairs admits it is playing catch-up providing adequate health care, privacy and security for our nations women veterans. During a July 28 Forum for Women Veterans, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said change was overdue for women veterans. Shinseki said the crucially important forum, sponsored by the DAV and other veterans service organizations, would help resolve the problems of huge numbers of women veterans needing VA services. We are late, he said. The surge in women veterans has begun and will continue for the foreseeable future. It is estimated that within 10 years

women will make up 16 percent of all veterans. Six percent of all veterans who use VA health care services are women, and the VA expects that number to double in ten years. Last year saw a 20-percent increase in women using VA health care services. We must anticipate and address the challenges faced by women, said Shinseki. The VA has lagged in its programs and services for women veterans due to funding cuts in the 1990s, said Washington Headquarters Executive Director David W. Gorman. But it is quickly making up for lost ground. Last year VA mandated that all regional offices and medical centers have a women veterans coordinator. Today all 57 regional offices and 144 medical cen-

ters have full-time women veterans program managers. The DAV has long sought to ensure that sufficient resources are allocated to women veterans programs, Gorman said. The programs will provide even better care, privacy and security for women veterans. More than 175 clinicians, benefits experts, VA leaders and women veterans from across our nation attended the forum to determine how to best provide VAs quality health care, benefits, mental health services, homeless services and other VA benefits to women veterans. Patricia Hayes, chief consultant for the VAs Women Veterans Health Strategic Health Care Group, said that 125,000 women veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have

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DAV MAGAZINE

PHOTO: AP/ERIC RISBERG

100%

75%

w men veterans v wo
78% seeking VA health care today are younger than age 40. 16% needing health care turn to the VA. About 21% have reported MST (military sexual trauma). About 5% are homeless and 11% live in permanent federal housing. 20% of the 245,000 women who served in Iraq or Afghanistan will su er from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).
DAV CHART: K. KREMER

50%

25%

used VA care and that 78 percent of women veterans seeking VA health care today are younger than age 40. It is very important that we ensure women veterans get comprehensive, quality health care in a safe environment, she said. We want the VA to be the best in health care for women. We have to make sure what we do is absolutely the best health care anywhere. It is estimated that 16 percent of women veterans who need health care turn to the VA. The most common health concerns among women veterans are depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and military sexual trauma (MST), said Hayes. The VA screens all veterans for sexual trauma and about 21 percent of women veterans have reported MST, said Amy Marcotte of the Sanford, Maine, VA Vet Center. This is just the tip of the iceberg. We know there are many more than that. Women comprise about ve percent of the estimated 104,000 veterans who are homeless each night, and 11 percent of those living in permanent federal housing are women veterans.

Dr. Antonette Zeiss, VAs Deputy Chief of Mental Health Services, said that mental health services for women veterans have improved since 2004 and that 55 percent of the psychologists, 72 percent of social workers and 41 percent of psychiatrists in the VA are women. Dr. Natara Garovoy, a clinical psychologist at the VAs Palo Alto, Calif., Health Care System, projected that one in ve of the 245,000 women who served in Iraq or Afghanistan will suffer from PTSD. Women veterans are more likely to seek treatment for PTSD, but are also more likely to develop chronic PTSD and are slower to respond to treatment, she said.

They suffer the risks of combat support roles or MST or both, said Dr. Garovoy. And women veterans are more isolated and lack social support. It is clear that the women who serve our country have been in the shadows, said National Adjutant Arthur H. Wilson. The DAV is determined to work with the VA to provide them with the excellent care they have earned through their sacri ce. Like men, women are veterans who served our nation with honor and courage, he said. The DAV is committed to ensuring that they receive the care and bene ts earned on the battle eld, and that their service to our nation is validated by our highest esteem.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010

PHOTO: USMC/ LCPL PAUL MILLER

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DIRECTORS COMMENTARY
GARRY J. AUGUSTINE
f r o m t h e N AT I O N A L S E R V I C E D I R E C T O R Paul W. Jackson

Laying Cornerstones for New Claims System

ur National Service Department has leveraged its extensive knowledge and experience into developing detailed recommendations for the VA in the ongoing effort to revamp the claims processing system. As those recommendations are presented to Congress and the VA, I wanted to take some time to break down this critical issue for you. The backlog of pending claims is not the only problem the VA faces; it is actually a symptom of the much larger problem, which is a broken, outdated veterans benefits system. This means that too many veterans wait far too long for often incorrect decisions on their benefit claims. Unfortunately, most of the attention has been paid to the backlog and the tendency for VA to focus only on the number of claims pending. This has led to an over-emphasis on production to the detriment of quality and accuracy. If the VA just looks for ways to increase production the result will be more claims being decided wrongly, which leads to more notices of disagreement, appeals, remands and additional appeals, further clogging up the system and exacerbating the existing problems. The sensible, long-term solution is to rebuild the system in a way that focuses on getting claims done right the first time. This will require VA to invest sufficient time and resources to build a new modern, paperless

claims processing system. Although this path could result in longer processing times during the transition and implementation of the new claims system, with proper training and quality control, processing times will shorten, error rates will drop and the backlog will steadily decline and eventually disappear. Over the past year, weve had the opportunity to review dozens of new initiatives and pilot programs to modernize the claims process. The most important of these is the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS). The new information technology solution is to serve as the backbone of the VA claims process. The first VBMS pilot is being field tested at the Providence, R.I., regional office. While we applaud the continuing progress of this essential IT system, we continue to be disappointed that no veterans service organization experts, nor any service officers from DAV or other veterans service organizations, have been involved in the development of this system. Since more than half of all claims are represented by VSO service officers, we collectively offer a wealth of expertise that is essential to finding long-term solutions, and we continue to stand ready to work with the Veterans Benefits Administration in the further development of this system. The VBA also has more than four dozen other pilots and initiatives at various regional offices around the country. To fully benefit from all this experimentation, VBA must
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This sizable group of Auxiliary members was on hand to attend their very rst Auxiliary Fall Conference.

Center, Attending their rst Auxiliary Fall Conference, Department of Alabama members Connie E. Demand (left) and Alfreda Thomas. Below, on hand to address attendees are, from left, Washington Headquarters Executive Director David W. Gorman, National Commander Wallace E. Tyson, National Headquarters Executive Director Marc Burgess and Inspector General Edward E. Hartman.

Helping All That Served Highlights Auxiliary Fall Conference

By Jim Hall ore than 350 members and guests joined Auxiliary National Commander Susan M. Henry to support her theme of Helping All That Served (HATS) during the 2010 Auxiliary Fall Conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sept. 30 through Oct. 2. It was a great opportunity to learn and have fun for everyone, Commander Henry said. The conference was well attended, and many members were on hand for their rst conference. We mixed things up a bit this year by eliminating skits from a number of reports and added a funlled carnival complete with witches and cotton candy. The carnival was also a unique learning experience. The conference session got underway in a spacious ballroom at 7 p.m. Thursday evening with a VA Voluntary Services presentation by Frances Costa, Nancy Mooney and

Melody Whitaker. The momentum continued into the evening as 2nd Jr. Vice Commander Susan Miller presented the National Legislative program, followed by the presentations on Social media by National Judge Advocate Kathryn Wiley. Also presented were Americanism by 3rd Jr. Vice Commander LeeAnn Karg, Membership by 1st Jr. Vice Commander Donna Adams and Community Service by 4th Jr. Vice Commander Linda Stake. The Past National Commander Outstanding Member Award and the submission process for the organizations highest individual award was presented by PNC Donna Tanner. Friday morning it was back to business with a special guest speaker from the Cleveland VA regional of ce followed by presentations on Junior Member activities by Laurie Stopyra, hospital activities by Kim Stake, and the Mae Holmes program for candidates for

Outstanding Auxiliary Units by Sr. Vice Commander Patrice Rapisand. An in-depth outline of the progress of the Auxiliary Strategic Plan was resented by PNC Sandra Dobmeier, and National History Chairman Linda Bailey revved up the audience with a skit and plenty of information on the National History program. Friday afternoon was carnival time. Presenters set up tables and activities, and for the price of a ftycent ticket, members could play games to win prizes. Oh yes, there was one catch, before you could play, you rst had to correctly answer a question regarding something the presenter had covered in their earlier presentations. Prizes included lots of goodies and even cotton candy. There were even tickets drawn for special prizes on Friday night. It was great to see everyone having fun and learning at the same time, National Adjutant Judy Hezlep said. It seemed as though (Continued on page 22)
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COVER STORY

Black plumes of smoke were generated around the clock at Balad Air Base in Iraq. Below, Kelly Kennedy, who broke the story on burn pits through Army Times, received the Bugle Award from the DAV for her coverage on this and other health issues impacting military members, veterans and their families.

BURN PITS
Toxic exposures impact Iraq, Afghanistan veterans, families and survivors
n a 2006 memorandum to the Pentagon, Air Force Lt. Col. Darrin Curtis, who was in charge of assessing environmental health hazards at Balad Air Base in Iraq, raised serious concerns about toxic exposures from burn pits. The letter, which was signed by Lt. Col. James R. Elliott, the Air Forces chief medical officer at Balad, confirmed the environmental dangers that open air burn pits posed to the soldiers and airmen who lived on one of the largest U.S. installations in Iraq. Smoke from burning plastics, Styrofoam, paper, wood, rubber, waste, metals, chemicals and oils were contaminating the air. Based on studies he conducted on the ground, Curtis cited an acute health hazard to troops from the black plumes of smoke the burn pit generated around the clock.

Like many military facilities, the air base at Balad had been captured after the 2003 invasion of Iraq and was used to advance the war effort. At the time military commanders had few options for ridding themselves of the waste their forces generated. But as the war effort intensified, Balad Air Base and its adjacent Army Logistics Support Area Anaconda, became a hub for personnel, equipment and operations. By 2006, the base had ballooned into a city with 25,000 men and women. Hundreds of thousands of tons of trash were burned daily. Without enough incinerators, smoke from the open air pits smoldered and lingered low to the

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PHOTO: NINA BERMAN | NOOR

ground, often cascading over housing areas and giving Kennedys reporting, along with the DAVs advocacy the base a signature stench. and legislative initiatives, have brought the issue to naAs the city grew, so did the type of trash it was gen- tional prominence. As a result thousands of veterans and erating. While considered an interim solution, use of active military members have come forward with their the pits at Balad went on for years. Its amazing that exposure concerns. The VA also has issued a 30-page letter training its the burn pit has been able to operate without restrictions staff on the environmental hazards veterans may have over the past few years, Curtis wrote. Defense Department documents dated for 2007 in- faced through burn pits and other exposures, said Nadicated that dioxin levels at Balad were 51 times what tional Commander Wallace E. Tyson. Were horrified to the military considered acceptable. Similarly, particulate hear about how some veterans who have stepped forward exposure was 50 times higher than was considered ac- have been treated, but were hopeful that were not going ceptable. For people deployed at the base for more than to repeat the mistakes we made with Agent Orange. The training letter marks the first time that the VA has a year, volatile compounds and cancer risks from dioxin addressed an environmental hazard while troops were exposures were twice as high as acceptable. When the DAV learned of Curtis study, its leader- still being exposed. This issue speaks to the very reason why we are ship was concerned. Of peak interest was information regarding cancer-causing dioxins that had left thousands united as a community of veterans, said National Adjutant Arthur H. Wilson. The veterans who are suffering upon thousands of deployed troops exposed. Further, Balad wasnt the only base where burn pits right now deserve the benefit of the doubt. They need someone to stand up for them were in use. Throughout Iraq, and for our government to Afghanistan and their areas own up to its responsibilities of operations, burn pits to them. wereand remaina major Were going to go to bat for concern. I am a Vietnam War vetthese veterans in Washington eran, and when I hear about ,and our National Service Ofdioxins, it raises an immediate ficers are going to help them red flag especially when we with free representation in their look at the long-term impact communities, said Washingthat Agent Orange exposure ton Headquarters Executive has had on our community, Kelly Kennedy accepts the Bugle Award from National Director David W. Gorman. said National Service Direc- Commander Bobby Barrera, left, and National Adjutant We dont know what impact tor Garry Augustine. It Arthur H. Wilson. this is going to have in the long makes you wonder if were not looking at something term, but were going to be there to fight for them as long much, much bigger. as were needed. A number of lawsuits have been filed against Defense Then a member of the DAVs legislative staff in Washington, D.C., sent a copy of Curtis report to Army Times Department contractors from burn pit victims and their reporter Kelly Kennedy, who writes about health issues. survivors since Army Times first reported the story. In Kennedys story, Burn Pit at Balad Raises Health that time, legislative efforts have largely curbed the use Concerns, was the first major news report about an of burn pits though not completely. issue she has followed ever sinse. I think the burn pits have already left a legacy. I was in For the past few years, Kennedy has chronicled the Afghanistan, and theyre still burning, and everyone here governments response to exposure concerns. The seems very aware about the potential health hazards, Defense Department first denied any long-term health Kennedy said. Id rather see those fires extinguished, consequences related to exposures, but information and but Im glad that people know enough that they can talk data have since pointed to long-term health problems to their doctors about them if medical problems, such as from exposures. respiratory problems or cancers, develop. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010

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BURN PITS PROFILES

The Krawczyks | Erie, Pennsylvania efore leaving for Iraq in December 2004, Army 1st Sgt. Bill Krawczyk ran six to eight miles a day. He coached and played sports. In his reserve unit, there were only two soldiers who could outpace the 46-yearold on his physical fitness test. They were teenagers. He was awarded the Army Physical Fitness Badge and maintained his combat readiness in civilian life. I used to be really healthy, he said. Since returning from Iraq, he rarely leaves the house. Hes gained 25 pounds, mostly the result of steroids, one of 22 different medications he takes daily. He doesnt know the extent of his illness. His body can no longer fight infections. His immune system is attacking his body, he said. Hes had 15 surgeries, 12 hospitalizations and numerous antibiotic-resistant staph infections. Hes suffered from kidney failure. He gets cysts and has had to undergo cancer treatment to increase the hemoglobin in his blood. At Balad, the first sergeant worked less than 200 yards

from the burn pit. He was responsible for ensuring the hundreds of thousands of soldiers who cycled through the base made it home or to their assigned areas within the country. The smoke was so bad some days you couldnt even see if you walked outside, Krawczyk said. Youd go in and shower and youd come out and there would be so much sand and grit and soot that your teeth would have actually turned black from the particles that were in the air. They burned everything with jet fuel. They didnt care what was burned, he said. He saw Air Force personnel dumping clothing they had taken from the wounded.

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PHOTO: NINA BERMAN | NOOR

One time I saw a dog run down the street with a human arm or leg right next to the burn pit, he recalled. Some of the stuff was absolutely horrible. In May of 2005, while he was still in Iraq, he had three cysts drained. While working 16-hour days he was accustomed to being tired. The majority of the infections came shortly after he returned home. He was unable to continue his work as a production manager for a Fortune 500 company ,and his wife, Paula, quit her job to care for him. The illness has been financially devastating. While he receives VA and military benefits, he is not allowed to draw combat-related compensation from the Army. I cant get my combat special compensation package processed because the Army does not feel that infectious The Wilkinses | Eustis, Florida
n 2006, Maj. Kevin Wilkins, an Air Force Reserve nurse, went to Balad Air Base, Iraq, to save lives, leaving behind his wife, Jill, and their children, Keaton, McKenna and Serrine. When he returned home, he seemed more tired than usual. He had a constant headache that Jill said lasted for almost a year. We were kind of thinking sinus infection, or the pollen or the orange blossoms here in Florida, Jill recalled. Never one to complain, the Air Force Reserve major deployed again the following year. His headaches continued. In March 2008, he was so affected that the visit to the hospital where he worked landed him in the emergency room. Following a CAT scan, Jill said the physician who knew Kevin started asking him questions about things he may have been exposed to. They had found a mass in his brain. It was the first time I had heard Kevin describe the items that were thrown into the burn pits. I was extremely surprised at the details of the burn pits, because we never spoke about it, Jill said. Five days later, despite removal of the tumor, the major died. He had just turned 51. There was not one thing wrong with him when he went over there. When he came back he was sick, said Jill. If he was the only person who came back sick or with a brain tumor, then I wouldnt question it. But I already know other people with brain

disease is part of war, he said. The military diagnosed his illness as recurrent fevers. Every civilian doctor weve spoken to says this is the result of some type of exposure, said Paula Krawczyk. Weve had a couple of military doctors who have agreed with that. But nobody in the Army will put it on the record. Krawczyk said hed gladly trade his Bronze Star, Combat Action Badge and all his military decorations to regain his health. Its a different kind of wartheres different kinds of illnesses, Paula said. And yeah, theyre responsible. He didnt go on vacation to Iraq. He was assigned there to do his duty because hes a soldier. So the government and the military need to be responsible.
tumors. There are others, said Jill. Since her husbands death, Jill Wilkins focus in life has been on the victims of the burn pits. Shes organized a Facebook page where veterans and survivors get information and support one another. Shes also been involved in a class action lawsuit against the Defense Department contractor that ran burn pit operations in Iraq. Something just keeps pulling me to keep doing it, Wilkins said about her efforts to support fellow victims. Its almost a way for me to keep boasting about [Kevin]. He was a wonderful husband, father, nurse. He was all of the above.

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PHOTO: NINA BERMAN | NOOR

PROFILES

BURN PITS

The Wymores | St. Charles, Missouri

efore his deployment to Balad, Tech. Sgt. Tim Wymore was constantly on the move. The father of three and Air National Guard member played softball and golf. His children played soccer and football. He and his wife, Shanna, rode motorcycles on the weekends and traveled with the teams. We were constantly gone. I always made a joke, Why do we have a house? Were never home, Shanna said. When he came home from Iraq, it was completely different. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) became a prevailing theme in the Wymores lives. Tim would take different routes home when they were out, not that the 18-year veteran felt like leaving home often. He was overly cautious. He was also physically ill. Wymore suffered from three lesions on his brain, which doctors are now calling a white matter disease. He experienced a thickening in his right lung. His lungs are so damaged that doctors have to adjust their cardiogram images to see his heart functioning. Shortly after returning home, Wymore lost most of his colon to a bacterial infection. He said he suffers from chronic fatigue, sleep apnea, erratic white blood cell counts, enlarged prostate, hypertension and chronic pain. He also is showing early signs of multiple sclerosis and can barely walk. In December 2009, the former machinist went on

disability when he blacked out at work. His PTSD symptoms have improved with care. However, his physical illness has advanced. He has trouble breathing and walking and spends his days in a wheelchair or on the couch. While civilian doctors have told the Wymores the combination of symptoms must have come from environmental exposure, the government has given the veteran no clear diagnosis. Shanna said his VA neurologist said his problems are the result of PTSD, a claim he said his PTSD care providers dismiss. While Wymore has been granted total disability benefits through the VA, they have not been made permanent, and he fears for the future of his Nina Berman is a documentary phofamily if he dies. tographer with a primary interest in the I never smoked in American political and social landscape. Her work has been extensively published, my life. Ive never done exhibited and collected, receiving awards anything to affect my resin art and journalism from the New York piration in my life, said Foundation for the Arts, the World Press Wymore. Its just a sad Photo Foundation, the Open Society situation that a person at Institute and Hasselblad among others. 44 has to go through, and She is the author of two monographs, Homeland and Purple HeartsBack from there are so many others Iraq, both published by Trolley. Her out there like me. photographs of wounded veterans from Wymore eventually was the Iraq war have been exhibited at galgiven an appointment at the leries and museums worldwide including VAs War Related Illness the Whitney Museum of American Art in and Injury Study Center in New York. In 2009, she became a member of the NOOR photo collective. East Orange, N.J. They still have no real answers on the extent of his illness or his long-term health prospects. Shanna doesnt receive aid and attendance benefits and their bank has moved to foreclose on their home. Were hanging on by a string, she said. This project was funded by the DAV National Service Foundation. Meet the veterans featured in this site and learn more about burn pits by visiting www.dav.org.

PHOTO: NINA BERMAN | NOOR

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Meeting Unmet Needs Among Those Whove Served and Sacrificed

n March 14, 2006, John D. Barnes was unloading a military vehicle in Iraq when an enemy mortar changed his life forever. The soldier, a proud member of the 101st Airborne Division, took the brunt of the blast that saw 17 soldiers awarded the Purple Heart. Shrapnel tore through Barnes helmet and cut into his brain. Like so many of his fellow service members, he would not have survived the blast in any previous war. And while hed been given the gift of life, the challenges he faced seemed insurmountable. After teetering on the brink of survival, the life hed known as a soldier was shattered. He suffered memory loss, seizures, paralysis and depression. He couldnt care for himself. And as a nal blow, his marriage fell apart. He would have been alone in the world if not for the love of his mother, Valerie Wallace, who soon became his primary source of support and advocacy. When a son or daughter is wounded in combat, you quickly nd out there is a world of unmet needs, said Wallace, whose second marriage was a casualty of the focus and care she paid to her sons needs. There were times when the challenges we faced seemed insurmountable. Wallace was there for her son through the darkest moments. After

the ght for survival, a new and deeper struggle awaited Barnes. He slipped into a cycle of selfmedication with alcohol and drugs. All his mother could do was provide encouragement when her son left their home to live independently and do her best not to enable negative behaviors. Through her love and the support of members of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) support group, John Barnes was able to nd sobriety. Today, he and Wallace focus on their recovery and the needs of other veterans, spouses and care providers undergoing similar challenges. Their experiences and sense of concern for their community of disabled veterans and families is the reason why Barnes and Wallace

Code #11322
support the Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust. By giving through workplace campaigns including the Combined

Federal Campaign, donors are able to support a variety of programs that help meet the needs of veterans and care providers after warriors suffer traumatic brain injuries and a wide range of other disabilities. The Charitable Service Trust helps veterans who might otherwise fall through the cracks. Until youre injured, you dont understand what lies ahead, Barnes said. The Trust is there for them. Trust grants make a difference in a wide variety of ways and give thousands of veterans the opportunity to lead worthwhile lives. Trust initiatives help veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and those who are homeless or teetering on the brink of self-destruction. Grants support rehabilitative therapy, family assistance, prosthetics research and a wide array of services and programs that help veterans. Trust initiatives aid wounded warriors who are returning home and support the families of those living and departed. The Trust provides a lifeline to veterans and their loved ones. I was proud to serve my country and I dont feel sorry for myself, Barnes said. My concern is for my fellow veterans who need and deserve our support. When someone supports the DAV Charitable Service Trust, they are donating to a worthy cause and giving those whove served a chance to make the most of their lives.

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DAVs Legislative Agenda 2011

hen the 112th United States Congress convenes in January, we need to be ready to educate new and returning lawmakers about the issues vital to disabled veterans and their families and

survivors, said National Adjutant Arthur H. Wilson. Ensuring that this country lives up to its responsibilities is one of the DAVs primary objectives. As the official voice of Americas service-connected disabled veterans, our task is to build government and public support and awareness of veterans issues and help secure adequate federal funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs that will ensure the viability of programs for our nations disabled veterans. Our nationwide grassroots effort has been very successful in preserving and improving veterans pro-

grams, said National Legislative Director Joseph A. Violante. While our record of service and advocacy is second to none, we must continually defend against efforts to curb or eliminate benefits and services for disabled veterans and their families. Guiding our organizations advocacy for disabled veterans are the legislative goals drawn from resolutions adopted by the delegates to our National Convention each year. The following are some of the major objectives our organization will pursue during the 112th Congress.

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The willingness of Americas veterans to sacrifice for our country and its ideals has earned them a place of honor and our lasting gratitude. National Commander Wallace E. Tyson Disability Compensation & Other Benefits Support reform in the Veterans Benefits Administrations disability claims process. Support legislation to remove the offset of Survivor Benefit Plan payments and VA dependency and indemnity compensation. Oppose any change that would redefine serviceconnected disability or restrict the conditions or circumstances under which it may be established. Oppose any proposal that would offset payments of Social Security Disability Insurance benefits or any other federal benefits by the amount of VA compensation. Support legislation to provide service connection to atomic veterans for all recognized radiogenic diseases. Support legislation to remove the prohibition against concurrent receipt of military retired pay and VA disability compensation. Oppose any scheme to means test disability and death compensation. Reduce the 10-year rule for dependency and indemnity compensation. Oppose any recommendations by any commission to reduce or eliminate benefits for disabled veterans. Seek legislation to exclude veterans disability compensation from countable income for government programs. Support interest payments for VA retroactive awards of one year or more. Support legislation to provide a realistic increase in VA compensation rates to address loss of quality of life. Support legislation to cap attorney fees for benefits counseling and claims services before the VA. Medical & Health Care Services Ensure that priority access and timely, quality health care services are provided to service-connected disabled veterans. Ensure proper screening and treatment for traumatic brain injury and post-deployment mental health issues. Support comprehensive quality medical services and benefits for women veterans. Support the repeal of VA and Department of Defense copayments for medical care and prescription medications. Support legislation to provide comprehensive support services for caregivers of all severely wounded, injured and ill veterans. Support repeal of beneficiary travel pay deductibles for service-connected disabled veterans and support increased beneficiary travel reimbursement rates. Congress and the Administration must assure full implementation of legislation to guarantee sufficient, timely and predictable funding for VA health care programs. General Issues Support increases in grants for automobiles or other conveyances available to certain disabled veterans and to provide for automatic annual adjustments based on the increase in the cost of living. Provide an increase in the specially adapted housing grant. Support legislation to reduce premiums for Service Disabled Veterans Insurance consistent with current life expectancy. Extend eligibility for Veterans Mortgage Life Insurance to serviceconnected veterans rated permanently and totally disabled. Seek the immediate release of any American prisoners of war and seek immediate return of the remains of any Americans who died during any conflict. Provide educational benefits for dependents of serviceconnected veterans rated 80% or more disabled. Increase the burial allowance for service-connected disabled veterans. Extend military commissary and exchange privileges to service-connected disabled veterans. Extend space available air travel aboard military aircraft to 100% service-connected disabled veterans. Eliminate the delimiting date for eligible spouses and surviving spouses for benefits provided under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code. Support legislative measures assisting disabled veteran owned businesses. Support limited dual entitlement to vocational rehabilitation and the Post 9/11 Education Assistance Program under Chapter 33. Support legislation that would exempt the benefits paid to wartime service-connected disabled veterans from the PAYGO provisions of the Budget Enforcement Act.

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Auxiliary Fall Conference (Continued from page 13) nearly everyone was participating and having fun, including me. There was plenty of time for questions and answers during the presentations to discuss and clarify topics, and the carnival was another great way to have fun and test what we learned. A reception on Friday evening, complete with music and dancing, gave everyone an opportunity to get to know each other better. It also included a hat judging contest by the now notorious Pinks, made up of Past National Commanders who specialize in fun and laughter. On Saturday morning DAV National Commander Wallace E. Tyson joined Auxiliary members in the Audience to hear National Headquarters Executive Director Marc

Burgess, Washington Headquarters Executive Director David W. Gorman and Inspector General Edward E. Hartman provide information and answer members questions. Following the DAV speakers, Business Coach Wayne Bergman of ActionCOACH, conducted a leadership seminar for attendees. He was followed by a presentation on the Auxiliary Strategic Plan by Marty Densmore, a representative from the Service Corps of Retired Executives who is working with the Auxiliary in the development of their strategic plan. The conference concluded with an Education Scholarship Fund presentation by PNC Kay Egan, after which donations to the fund were accepted. During his keynote address at the banquet on Saturday evening, Commander Tyson praised the work of

Auxiliary members, saying, I look out at you wonderful people who know all too well that an injury or disability reverberates in the lives of families for generations after the wars last shot is fired. Im proud to be a part of what you do. And theres no reason not to ask the majority of the public who are interested in being a part of our cause to take a tangible stake in our movement. We face many challenges in the future. But as surely as there are obstacles to overcome, there are also tremendous and abundant opportunities for us to achieve when they arise. Rising to meet challenges and making the most of opportunities is the nuts and bolts of Helping All That Served. Its what the DAV and Auxiliary do to help build better lives for Americas disabled veterans and their families every day.

Auxiliary National Commander Susan M. Henry (left) congratulates DAV National Commander Wallace E. Tyson.

Above, making sure they would be noticed Unit members from the State Department of Wisconsin brighten the conference with their own luminous green T-shirts. It was reported, but not confirmed, that they glowed in the dark. Right, Junior Auxiliary member Kitana R.A. Riley (left) joins her mother, State Department of Washington Commander Robi A. Riley for all the fun, excitement and learning at the 2010 Auxiliary Fall Conference.

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Chance Encounter (Continued from page 5) jointly with the Chicago National Service Office on Mrs. Moans claim for dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC). McAuleys family quickly followed up with Knabe and met to start the claim process. He assisted my mother through each form, said McAuley. Dan continued to monitor the claim status, all the while keeping me and my family updated on its progress. Then the unthinkable happened. The DIC claim was misplaced at the VA regional office in Chicago. But thanks to Knabes tenacity working with the VA and the veterans family led to the discovery of the claim file, and within six months Mrs. Moan was awarded the DIC benefit, plus retroactive payment. NSO Knabe worked closely with the Chicago National Service Office to search for the misplaced claim and the familys documentation and records that were sent to the VA regional office. He never gave up, knowing that the claim had to be there, and that it would turn up, Harris said. I knew my fathers time of service and sacrifice had not been forgotten, said McAuley.

This is not just a job for Dan, she said. He cares deeply for others and he loves our country as much as my father did. He is a true ambassador [for the DAV]. Dan did what he felt was the right thing to do as a veteran himself, said Harris. His actions show he is motivated and he has told me on several occasions that he loves being a part of the DAV NSO corps. This is a story of kindness, selflessness and honor, said McAuley. These are not everyday happenings, but the actions of a person who cares enough about another to give of himself so freely. This is Dan Knabe, DAV National Service Officer.
Mrs. Thomas Moan holds a photo of her late husband, remembering his service and sacrifice.

NSO Karl Brown Dies

Karl H. Brown, 45, a National Service Officer at the Detroit, Mich., National Service Office, died July 25. Karl Brown dedicated more than three years of service building better lives for Americas disabled veterans and their families as a professional National Service Officer, National Adjutant Arthur H. Wilson said. We are deeply saddened by his death and extend our condolences to his family and loved ones.

Brown

Born in Miami, Fla., Brown served in the U.S. Army from 1984 through 1987 and was a member of the Army Reserve from 1988 to 1990. He was honorably discharged at the rank of specialist. Brown joined the DAV professional staff as an NSO in May, 2007. He was assigned to the Detroit National Service Office until his death. A life member of Chapter 102, Flat Rock, Mich., Brown is survived by three children, his father, sister, two nieces, a nephew, and other family and friends.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010

PHOTOS: GETTY/ BILL GREENBLATT

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Suicide
Takes 18 Veterans Lives a Day
The VA has created the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. (1-800-273-TALK) Additionally, the VA created an online chat option at www. suicidepreventionhotline.org. All of VAs 135 medical centers have suicide prevention coordinators.

PHOTO: AP/DAVID PHILLIP

By Thom Wilborn
Julie Oligschlaeger holds a photograph of her son, Marine Cpl. Chad Oligschlaeger.

hen war ends, the warrior is left. The memories belong to them, as well as the wounds that last a lifetime. Whether putting socks on part of a foot or strapping on a prosthesis every morning, there are constant reminders of war. Sometimes it becomes too much. The nightmares become too vivid. The summer storm beneath an awning brings back the memories of war. The patter of rain becomes the sound of machine guns. The loud thunder becomes the sound of artillery. And the fear returns, accompanied by feelings of loss experienced when a comrade falls. For those who re-experience their wars in isolation, it appears there is but one escape: bringing an end to it all. The despair and hopelessness which often lead to suicide too often is at tragic proportions. The West Texas VA Health Care System estimates that 20 percent of U.S. suicides each year take veterans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 30,000 to 32,000 suicides each year in the United States. According to those figures, 18 veterans commit suicide each day. This is both a telling number and a national tragedy, said National Adjutant Arthur H. Wilson. Not only has our nation failed some veterans in need, it also DAV MAGAZINE

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leaves families with the lost promise of the future and the ever-present questions of What if? Since the ballooning rate of suicides was recognized, the VA has created the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Opened in 2007, it is the rst of its kind in the country. The timing has become crucial. During its rst year, the hotline received 10,000 calls. By 2008, the number had increased to 70,000 calls. The following year, 120,000 calls were taken by the hotline. In the rst six months of 2010, the line received 100,000 calls. The need for this crucial intervention tool is obvious, as is its bene cial effect for troubled veterans, said Executive Director Washington Headquarters David W. Gorman. It is out there, and it is being used, saving many lives. The hotline is staffed by trained professional counselors taking calls around-the-clock from veterans, family members or worried friends of veterans. In 2009, the VA added an online chat option which allows veterans and their loved ones to consult anonymously with a trained counselor. To identify those at risk, all of VAs 135 medical cen-

ters have suicide prevention coordinators. VA continues to improve screenings for suicide, develop education materials about suicide prevention for families and increase training for VA chaplains about the warning signs of suicide. It also provides funds for research on suicide prevention and is developing priorities for suicide prevention research. Still, 18 veterans a day take their own lives. Often the rst to see the warning signs are family members and loved ones. VA currently provides brochures about suicides for the families of veterans with traumatic brain injury and is exploring support groups and educational materials for the families of suicidal veterans. Our veterans are our nations treasures, said Gorman. They have experienced the worst that life has to offer and strive to overcome the disabilities they have received in the service to our nation. It is a national priority that we do our best for them. We should all work toward the day that the 18 remain with us, he said. The DAV is here to help and is dedicated to building better lives for them. After the darkest days of their lives, Americas veterans deserve all the bright days we can give them.

Experiencing dramatic mood changes; Looking for ways to kill oneself by seeking access to rearms, drugs or other means;

The warning signs family members should be aware of include:

Talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide when it is out of the ordinary; Feeling hopeless; Feelings of rage or uncontrolled anger or seeking revenge; Acting recklessly or engaging in risky activities; Feeling trapped with no way out; Increasing use of alcohol or drugs; Withdrawing from friends, family and society; Feeling anxious, agitated or unable to sleep, or sleeping all the time; Threatening to hurt or kill oneself or talking about wanting to; Seeing no reason for living or having no sense of purpose in life.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010

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THE

Disabled American Veterans

Department of Veterans Affairs

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TH DISABLED VETERANS
NATIONAL

WINTER
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SPORTS CLINIC

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DR. CHARLES W. EDWARDS, JR.

CHAPLAINS CORNER
f r o m t h e N AT I O N A L C H A P L A I N
Love, That for Which I Am Most Thankful During the Thanksgiving season each year, all of us pause to consider how bountifully we have been blessed and to give thanks for our blessings. In approaching the Thanksgiving season this year, 2010, I have spent some time in considering the question, Of all my blessings, what is the one thing for which I am most thankful? My conclusion: I am most thankful for the capacity to love and to be loved. There is something wonderful about the love of a parent for a child, and of a child for a parent. One cannot help being moved when a young man comes and puts his arms around his mother, and tells her of his love for her. One cannot help being moved as he watches a small child reach up and take the hand of a strong and understanding father. There is beauty in the love of a teacher for a pupil, and a pupil for his teacher. There is something beautiful about the love of a man or woman for some unknown one who is hungry, who needs clothing or shelter. Though their names and faces are never known, they are loved by those who provide in meeting their needs. The greatest thing of all is love. Paul said in I Corinthians 13:13 when he concluded his great tribute to love with the words, But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love. The central principle of the universe is love. As we think of our blessings, let us be thankful that we have been created in such a way that we have the capacity to love and to be loved. Let us continue to love families, our friends, our organization, the Disabled American Veterans, and our country, the United States of America. May we continue to develop this ability to love; for through it we will be blessed, our families will be blessed, and the world in which we live will be blessed. Wishing you every happiness this holiday season and throughout the coming year.

NSO Alfred Brodeur Dies

Alfred A. Brodeur, 77, a retired National Service Officer, died at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass., on June 7. Alfred Brodeur dedicated more than 12 years of his life to building better lives for Americas disabled veterans and their families as a professional NSO, National Adjutant Arthur H. Wilson said. His commitment to providing the best possible service to veterans, their dependents and survivors positively impacted the lives of those he served so capably. We are saddened at his passing and extend our condolences to his family and loved ones. Born in Quebec, Brodeur later moved to Warren, Mass., where he lived most of his life. He attended the University of Massachusetts, NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010

where he studied psychology, sociology and law. Brodeur served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1958. He served in the Navy until 1967. His service included four years in Vietnam. Brodeur was an outreach worker for the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission and as a disabled veterans outreach assistant and a claims interviewer for the Massachusetts Division of Employment Security. He joined the DAV professional staff as an NSO at the Boston National Service Office, where he served from 1982 until his retirement in 1994. Brodeur was a life member and past Commander of Chapter 59, West Brookfield, Mass. His sisters, Jeanne Bastiste and Diane Fontaine, survive him.
Brodeur

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National Service Director (Continued from page 12) develop and implement an effective plan to analyze the results so that they can synthesize the best practices into a new claims process. It is vital, however, that VBA resist the temptation to focus on initiatives that provide only short-term production increases, rather than enhance accuracy and quality, cornerstones of a 21st century claims processing system. I strongly believe in the vital role of training and the primacy of

quality over quantity. The only way that VBA can make any tangible and lasting gains toward clearing the backlog will be by producing better quality decisions the rst time. One of the keys to solving this problem is training. VBA must undergo a cultural change that focuses on the accountability of managers and employees to ensure the training is being accomplished on time and with consistency. At DAV, accountability for training and quality are emphasized at every level among our employees as well as supervisors and managers. VA

must infuse the same level of accountability within its regional of cers. Those efforts will be most successful if the VBA adopts a carrot and stick approach to both performance standards (the stick) and by linking training requirements to advancement, bonuses and awards (the carrot). This common-sense change would be a catalyst to producing better quality decisions for veterans and their families. We urge VBA to be rm in holding managers and employees to a much higher level of accountability in ensuring that training requirements are being met.

December 7, 1941

he attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, remains the greatest disaster in American naval history, with over 3,000 casualties. Most of the servicemen lost on that day were abourd the USS Arizona. On that single vessel 1,177 lives were lostmore than one third of the total. After the intense heat of the explosion and subsequent res, only a few of those bodies were recoverable. The wreck, still visible today, is the burial place of the rest. The end of World War II was still two years away when talk rst began, in 1943, of a memorial to the USS Arizona. Admiral Arthur Radford took the rst concrete steps when he ordered a agpole erected over the sunken battleship in 1950, and on December 7 of that year a commemorative plaque was placed at the base of the agpole. In 1955 the Commander of the 14th Naval District, which included Pearl Harbor, wrote to the Secretary of the Navy urging him to recognize that this burial place for 1,102 men is a rusted mass of junk[and that] an appropriate memorial should be constructed. Most shipwrecks look like rusted masses of junk, and many of those are the burial places of their sailors. What was and still is unique about the USS Arizona is its visibility from the surface of the water. Never out of sight means never out of mind, and so an appropriate visual tribute was essential for doing justice to the memory of the lives lost, the damage sustained, and the national destiny forever changed on December 7, 1941. In 1958, President Eisenhower approved the creation of the memorial, which the navy specied was to be a bridge oating above, but not touching, the battleship below. Alfred Preis, the Honolulu architect commissioned to design the memorial, was the witness to another dark segment of the war, having spent three months in the Sand Island Detainment Camp in Hawaii, due to his Austrian origin. President Kennedy dedicated the memorial in 1962, and since then the site has been the place of sea burials for survivors of the attack. After Preis died in 1993, his ashes were scattered off the memorial. Today, it is Hawaiis most visited tourist destination. Besides the USS Utah, also destroyed in the attack, it is one of only seven shipwrecks to be designated a National Historic Landmark. Did you Know? The bond between USS Arizona shipmates went beyond being comrades; there were 37 sets of brothers assigned to the USS Arizona on December 7, 1941. (National Park Service)

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The HATS We Wear

SUSAN M. HENRY

f r o m t h e A U X I L I A R Y N AT I O N A L C O M M A N D E R articipation in Auxiliary programs is what makes us strong. Be it legislation, membership, Americanism, voluntary service or any of our many other endeavors, our strength comes from everything we do, and we need you to be a part of it. It is important for Auxiliary members to find their own way to Help All That Served. The HATS we wear must address a wide range of duties and challenges as we work to maintain and build our great organization to meet the needs of disabled veterans and their families today and into the future. When I think of Helping All That Served, I see the H in the acronym HATS standing for highlighting the Auxiliary to increase public awareness of our organization and the activities and services we bring to our community. The more we highlight who we are and what we do, the more others will positively interact with us and support our efforts. It also makes others want to be a part of what we are, and that means a greater opportunity to build membership. I know you are proud of all we do to build better lives for Americas disabled veterans and their families, so be sure to highlight what we do so others can share in our accomplishments. The A in HATS stands for adding value and programs. We need to make sure our activities are making a difference in the lives of disabled veterans and their families. Use existing programs to accomplish this or find a special activity to help in your area. And be innovative. There are always ways to make a difference in the life of someone who needs assistance. It can be a hot meal for a shut-in veteran, a respite break for a caregiver or something as simple

as looking after a pet while a disabled veteran or spouse is hospitalized. The possibilities are nearly endless, and the value is beyond measure. The T in HATS represents training. We are currently exploring a variety of ways to increase and improve training for Auxiliary programs. This includes training in the development and implementation of policies and procedures, and how to use them to accomplish the most for our disabled loved ones and their families. Training through instruction and mentoring prepares our members in proper administrative procedures and leadership traits. Both of which enhance our organization at all levels. The S in HATS is for strategic planning. The Auxiliary has begun and will continue to work on a five-year strategic plan which will shape and ensure the future of our Auxiliary specifically through fundraising, communications, membership, education and programs. Based on our four great principles of comradeship, loyalty, devotion and service, the Auxiliary is committed to supporting the principles of the Disabled American Veterans and fulfilling the purpose and goals to which our organization is devoted. As advocates for the well-being of disabled veterans and their families, we are dedicated to pursuing legislative initiatives for veterans, instilling patriotism in our fellow Americans, promoting youth involvement in all programs and encouraging voluntary service. These are the HATS I wear, because I know the future of the Auxiliary is in our hands. Join me now. Put on your HATS and start building a stronger Auxiliary. Start Helping All That Served by making a difference in the lives of disabled veterans and their families today.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010

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By Rob Lewis hanks to the support of the DAV Charitable Service Trust, disabled veterans have more career opportunities and Americans can count on a safer, sturdier future. This year, a Trust grant has funded scholarships for disabled veterans through the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) Foundation. The foundation is a subsidiary of NACE International, a world authority on the protection of infrastructure through corrosion engineering. Since April, the $25,000 Charitable Service Trust grant has allowed seven disabled veterans to attend classes at the NACE training center. The classes are not covered under the G.I. Bill education benefits, so the NACE Foundation is providing the scholarships for the education and training. Classes are open to disabled veterans or their spouses who are seeking employment in the field of corrosion engineering. NACE International is a professional technical association dedicated to promoting public safety, protecting the environment, and reducing the economic impact of

Engineer Program

CST Grant Funds

corrosion. Established in 1943, the association has more than 21,000 members worldwide and offers technical training and certification programs, sponsors conferences and produces industry standards, reports, publications and software. NACE International recognizes that as a nation the United States is facing a shortage of trained professionals skilled in the application of corrosion engineering processes. NACE reports that nearly half of the corrosion engineers currently on the job are over 50 years of age. As experienced corrosion professionals approach retirement age (44 percent within the next ten years), fewer in-

dividuals are pursuing careers in corrosion engineering to take their place. In an effort to address the growing workforce needed in the corrosion field, the NACE Foundation has adopted Workforce Development as one of its premiere programs. The first phase of the program will focus on military veterans and their families and will include both training and job placement. National Commander Wallace E. Tyson said, The impact of unemployment in this rough economy has been felt more deeply by veterans, so any work-training opportunity is a blessing. Disabled veterans have strengthened America through their sacrifice and service to our nation, Commander Tyson said. Through this Charitable Service Trust grant and the NACE Foundation, disabled veterans now have a new opportunity to provide a brighter, safer future for America. For more information, including ways to support the Charitable Service Trust, check out www.cst. dav.org. For more information on the NACE Foundation, go to www. nace-foundation.org.
Congresswomen Meets Capitol Commander... District of Columbia Auxiliary Department Commander Juanita Lancaster, left, meets with her Congresswoman, Eleanor Holmes Norton, during the Department Convention in June. Commander Lancaster said the ten-term congresswoman was very interested in progress on the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial, which will be built near the nations Capitol.

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Know the Warning Signs and Seek Treatment

If you think you have PTSD, its important to get treatment, and early treatment can help reduce long-term symptoms. When To Seek Assistance: Feeling out of sync Jumpiness Worry Irritability Cant sleep Relationship issues Sadness Low motivation

PTSD

Need for speed Suicidal thoughts Substance abuse Work problems Isolating If You Think You Have PTSD: Talk to your family doctor. Talk to a mental health professional, such as a therapist. If youre a veteran, contact your local VA hospital or Vet Center. Talk to a close friend or family member. He or she may be able to support you and nd you help. Talk to a religious leader. Y You can also ll out an online PTSD screening and take it with you to the doctor. The online screen, avail able on the National Center for PTSD web site (ncptsd. va.gov), asks about stressful military experiences.

PTSD Claims Simpli ed

I Veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) will nd the disability claims process much easier under a new VA rule that eliminates the requirement for documented evidence of an in-service stressor. Under the rule, if a veteran claims service connection for PTSD, VA will reduce the evidence needed if the trauma claimed is related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity and is consistent with the places, types and circumstances of the veterans service. A VA examination will be conducted to con rm that the stressor recalled by a veteran supports a PTSD diagnosis and that the veterans symptoms are related to the claimed stressor. This is a major step forward for veterans claiming service-connected PTSD, said National Service Director Garry J. Augustine. Veterans will be required to undergo a Compensation and Pension examination by a VA or VA-contracted psychologist or psychiatrist in order to qualify under the new rule. This new rule will reduce the time needed to adjudicate a veterans claim, said Augustine. It also means

that needed health care and therapy can be provided to veterans sooner. The rule applies to claims received by VA before July 13, 2010, but not decided; claims on appeal on or after that date; claims at the Board of Veterans Appeals, but not decided on the effective date; and claims pending because of remands by the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. PTSD claims denied before July 13 can be resubmitted to the VA for adjudication. The rule also has no geographic requirement, so veterans who did not serve in Iraq or Afghanistan, but suffered a stressor related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity do not have to present documented evidence of the event. The new rule is also not limited to service in a combat zone or land, but applies to all veterans who served on active duty and were discharged or released from duty under conditions other than dishonorable. Our corps of National Service Of cers is knowledgeable and pro cient with the new rule, said Augustine. Veterans can obtain our free assistance by calling their nearest DAV National Service Of ce, or they may nd one on our Web site at www.dav.org.

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DAV Day at the Ballpark

PHOTO: BEN VANHOUTEN

Baseball Honors DAV in Record Numbers

Past National Commander Bradley S. Barton presents National Commander Awards to Seattle Mariners Chairman Howard Lincoln, left, and President Chuck Armstrong, right and both flanked by Mariners ballgirls, Lydsey,left,and Sarah, to express appreciation for the teams decade of support for the DAV Day at the Ballpark Program and for honoring our nations disabled veterans.

he DAV Day at the Ballpark program scored big in its 11th season, with 90 Major and Minor League baseball games saluting veterans at stadiums across our nation. During the season nearly 5,000 DAV members and their families joined in team salutes to veterans at games and honoring veterans, said National Adjutant Arthur H. Wilson. In doing so, they remind Americans that the service and sacrifice of our nations disabled veterans should never be forgotten. Our members have thrown out a first pitch at many of these games, and our members are recognized during on-field pre-game ceremonies, Adjutant Wilson said. Participating in our national pastime has galvanized what baseball does
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to honor our nations veterans. In Philadelphia on the July 4th weekend, DAV members joined in a touching salute to those who serve our nation. The response to this night is incredible, said Philadelphia Phillies Entertainment Director Chris Long. The fans got on their feet as soon as they saw our large American flag come out on the field and didnt sit down until the National Anthem was over. In Detroit, the Tigers July 4th pre-game ceremony featured Department of Michigan Commander Frank Shepard and Sgt. Matthew Alexander of the U.S. Air Force both throwing out a ceremonial first pitch. The Detroit Tigers partner with Selfridge Air National Guard Base, the Detroit VA medical center and the DAV to invite servicemembers and veterans to participate in

our special events for the day, said Tigers Community Affairs Manager Alexandrea Thrubis. In addition to providing nearly 1,000 free tickets to DAV members and veterans, many teams provided tables for Chapters and Departments to provide information about the DAV to fans, and some teams recognized the DAV with donations to Chapters and Departments. A DAV Day at the Ballpark is a fun experience, but the program is more about serving our veterans, said Wilson. Our DAV baseball cards are messages to our nation about our free service programs offered to all veterans. The cards have become collectibles for many fans and remind everyone that when the guns fall silent, we must remember our veterans who carry their wounds and injuries for a lifetime. DAV MAGAZINE

Past National Chaplain Stump Remembered

Past National Chaplain, The Reverend Gerald V. Stump, Jr., 65, of Kernersville, N.C, died on Aug. 28. Rev. Stump was a great man of the cloth who was always there for those in spiritual need, National Commander Wallace E. Tyson said. He cared deeply for people and sought to nurture the goodness in all with whom he had contact. I am proud to have known him and prouder still to have called him my friend and a friend to all disabled veterans. Rev. Stump was born in Akron, Ohio, April 30, 1945. He earned a diploma in Christian Ministry from Southern Baptist Theological Rev. Stump Seminary in Louisville, Ky., and a B.A. degree in religion from Franklin College in Franklin,

Ind. His career in the ministry began in 1972, and he was ordained to the Gospel Ministry in 1974. He served churches in Alabama, Indiana, Ohio and North Carolina for more than three decades. Rev. Stump was a loved and respected spiritual leader of the DAV, National Adjutant Arthur H. Wilson said. His spiritual guidance and faith nurtured and strengthened our organization as we endeavored to build better lives for Americas disabled veterans and their families. We extend our condolences to his family and loved ones. A life member of Chapter 20, Greensboro, N.C., Rev. Stump served as a chaplain for his Chapter and Department. He was elected National Chaplain at the 2001 National Convention, serving as such through August 2005. Rev. Stump is survived by his wife, Sharon; mother; two sons and two daughters; a brother and sister; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Retired NSO Robert Jordan Dies

Robert R. Jordan, 70, a retired National Service Officer, died in West Hills, Calif., on Aug. 19. Bob Jordan was a man who celebrated life and worked passionately to build better lives for Americas disabled veterans and their families, National Adjutant Arthur H. Wilson said. For nearly 30 years, Bob honed his skills as an NSO and trained others to best represent and advocate on behalf of disabled veterans and their families. His legacy are the countless lives he made better and the many NSOs he trained who serve in our ranks today. We are saddened at Bobs death and offer condolences to his family and loved ones. Born in 1940 in Ravenna, Neb., Jordan joined the U.S. Army in 1959. Jordan was seriously wounded by multiple gunshots in 1965, while serving with the 1st Infantry Division during the Vietnam War. He was medically discharged as a result of

Jordan

his wounds June 9, 1966. His awards and decorations include the Purple Heart Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Vietnam Campaign Medal and Vietnam Service Medal. On Feb. 1, 1967, Jordan joined the ranks of the DAV as an NSO trainee and attended the NSO training program at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Following graduation, he was assigned to the National Service Office in St. Paul, Minn. He was reassigned to the St. Louis, Mo., office in June 1971, where he served until being promoted to supervisor of the National Service Office in Los Angeles, Calif. He served as supervisor of the Los Angeles office until his retirement in July 1995. A life member of Chapter 5, Los Angeles, Jordan is survived by his wife of more than 50 years, Renee; two daughters; two brothers and a sister; three granddaughters and a grandson. He was preceded in death by his son.

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New Vans on the Road to Help Disabled Veterans

By Jim Hall ne hundred seven new Transportation Network vans have departed National Headquarters, bound for VA facilities nationwide to make sure sick and disabled veterans can get much-needed medical care. The strikingly decaled Ford vans are made possible through a continuing partnership between Departments and Chapters and the Columbia Trust. The 24 seven-passenger vans, 70 twelve-passenger and 13 4x4 vans represent a combined investment of nearly $2.7 million dollars in Transportation Network purchases for 2010. Volunteers from throughout the nation began picking up the vans in late spring to put them into service helping our nations sick and disabled veterans. It was the first trip to National Headquarters for some volunteer drivers. They and others who have previously visited have an opportunity to tour the Headquarters, meet members of the staff, obtain information and buy DAV fraternal items at the Purchasing Department before leaving.
Larry DAngelo, left, and Charles Clark prepare to deliver a new Ford van to the VA outpatient clinic in Ft. Myers, Fla., to transport sick and disabled veterans to VA medical facilities for needed medical care. Clark is Transportation Coordinator at the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System and DAngelo coordinates transportation between Lee County and Miami.

Volunteer driver Dave Pickard, Treasurer, Chapter 90, Boone, N.C., attaches a license plate on a new Ford van bound for Boone to provide transportation for sick and disabled veterans to and from the Mountain Home, Tennessee, VA Medical Center.

Edgar Meiser, Past Department Commander and Commander of Chapter 47, Big Spring, Texas, behind the wheel of a new Ford van joining the Transportation Network at the VA medical center in Big Spring.

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Volunteer drivers bid farewell to National Headquarters before departing for Iowa with new Ford vans for the Transportation Network. The new vans will be used to transport sick and disabled veterans to VA medical facilities for needed care. Volunteer drivers are, from left, Ron Hunt; Dave Rollie, Chapter 10, Cedar Rapids; Cecil Oldridge; Terry Hilkin, Chapter 6, Dubuque; and Joseph Mihalevich, Chapter 4, Burlington.

Department of North Carolina Senior Vice Commander John Finger, above, backs a new Ford, Transportation Network van out of its parking slot on a rainy afternoon to begin the trip to North Carolina where the van will provide sick and disabled veterans transportation. Above, at National Headquarters to pick up three new Ford vans to transport sick and disabled veterans to and from VA medical facilities in New Mexico, volunteer drivers are, from left, Rumaldo Martinez, Chapter 1, Silver City; Nancy Norcross, Chapter 2, Deming; Gilbert D. Cruz; Art Sierra, Chapter 1, Silver City; Mike Boblewski; and Barbara Wright, Unit 38, Las Cruces. Left, new Ford vans, part of the DAVs nationwide Transportation Network, make their way along country roads bound for Iowa to assist sick and disabled veterans with a way to and from VA medical care.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010

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Please Remember... Your Legacy, Our Appreciation

After youve taken care of your loved ones, consider helping disabled veterans by remembering DAV in your will, life insurance policy, or retirement plan.

In turn, you will forever be remembered through the DAV Guardian Society.
To receive our estate planning folder, or to let us know we are included in your future plans, please call Judie or Kati at 1-800-216-9802, or clip and return the coupon below. We look forward to hearing from you!
Sample Bequest Language: I give, devise and bequeath to Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250 (tax identification number: 31-0263158), the sum of $ _______; or the following described property, _______________________; or ____ percent of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate. To designate DAV on a beneficiary form, e.g. for life insurance, retirement plan and bank account gifts, simply use the legal address and tax identification number above.
Please send more information on including DAV in my estate plans. I have already included DAV (P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250) in my plans via my will insurance policy retirement plan other
Name(s): Address: Phone: E-mail:

Mail to: DAV Gift Planning P.O. Box 14301 Cincinnati, OH 45250

E-mail: giftplanning@dav.org Website: www.dav.org/giftplanning

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DAV MAGAZINE

Rugged Quality That Will Last DAV Stainless Steel Mens Watch with Dial Imprint
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$48 $10 SubTotal $ Kentucky Residents Include 6% Sales Tax $ Total $ Mail to: Disabled American Veterans-National Service Foundation 3725 Alexandria Pike - Cold Spring, KY 41076

ORDER TODAY ONLINE - visit www.davstore.org. All prices include shipping & handling. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.

Check or money order enclosed. 24 Hour Credit Card Order Fax Line (859) 442-2093 Charge to my credit card. Visa MasterCard American Express Discover Acct# __ __ __ __ - __ __ __ __ - __ __ __ __ - __ __ __ __ Expiration Date: ___ / ___ / ___ Signature ____________________________________________ Date _________________________________________________ DAV Auxiliary Items are Available Online Now! Visit www.davstore.org

Ship to: Name __________________________________________________ Address ________________________________________________ City ____________________________________________________ State ____________________________Zip____________________ Customer Telephone: ____________________________________ Email __________________________________________________

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