vetsnews janfeb 2013 sm

7/30/2019 VetsNews JanFeb 2013 Sm

1/12

F i n d c u r r e n t v e t e r a n n e w s a n d i n f o r m a t i o n 2 4 / 7 o n l i n e a t o r e g o n . g o v / o d v a | o r e g o n d v a . c o m | f a c e b o o k . c o m / o d v a v e t

THE DALLES A truck hauling 10 eight-footslabs of polished black granite pulled off Interstate84 and made its way up the winding steep drivethat leads to Veterans Drive and eventually to a

peek overlooking the entire Columbia Gorge. Thedestination was a place of honor and home to manyWorld War II veterans the Oregon VeteransHome.

After being hauled across the country, the granite,which is part of the planned Oregon WWII Memorialto be built on the grounds of the state capitol, was onits way to Hillsboro to be engraved with the namesof more than 3,700 military members from the state

o a a o a v a owho died while serving in Europe and the SouthPaci c during WWII.

We were bringing the panels back to Oregon andit suddenly occurred to us that this might be the onlyopportunity for some people to see the wall, saidBob Plame, a Marine veteran and project managerof the WWII Memorial Foundation, a non-pro torganization charged with raising private funds tobuild the memorial.

Plame said Oregon is one of six states without apermanent memorial to honor WWII veterans and itis past time to remedy that situation. The foundationhopes to raise (see memoriAl wAll on PAge 4)

VETSNEWS

Published by the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs

J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 3

By Mike Allegre

the memOriAl wAll wwii VeterAns first tO see their triBute

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E

2 Ontario Veteran Appointed to VAAC

3 Fallen Soldier Program Improved at PDX

3 ODVAs Deputy Director Retires

4 Hiring our Heroes Job Fair Draws 500

5 Too Many Guard, Reservists Denied Claims

6 4 Spirits Distillery Releases New Product

7 Homeless Vet Housing in Roseburg

9 Oregon Veterans Courts

9 Upgrading Military Discharges

10 Veterans Highway Signs Installed

11 Veteran Employment Site for Oregon Vets

Oregon Veterans Home resident and World War II veteran David D. Johnson, and OVHcaretaker Christina Haigen, view the granite

sla bs tha t wil l mak e-u p Ore gon s WWI IMemorial.

P h o t o c o u r t e s y o f m A r k b . g i b s o n


2/12

2OREGON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

VETS NEWSPublished by the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs

Reunions, events and story submissions are welcome, however,please note that all items are printed upon space availability.Input for the next issue must be received by February 5.

Up to the minute Oregon veteran news at www.oregondva.com

Nicole Hoeft Managing Editor / Production / Staff WriterMike Allegre Associate Editor / Staff WriterRobin Steckley Staff Writer

Directors MessageJim Willis, Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs

OntAriO VeterAn AppOinteD tO VAAC

ChAritABle CheCk-OffsuppOrts Vets hOme

Michael A. Jones , Vietnam combat veteran fromeastern Oregon, was appointed by Gov. Kitzhaber to the VAAC in December.

As you prepare for the April 15 tax deadline, knowthat you have an opportunity to enhance the lives of those who reside at the Oregon Veterans Home inThe Dalles.

Through Oregons Charitable Check-off campaign,individual taxpayers may donate all or a portion of their state tax refund to the Home.

To make a donation, go to the charitable check off portion of Form 40 on the 2012 Oregon tax form.Write-in Charity Code 12, for the Home, on lines 66

or 67 of the form, add the desired amount you wantto donate to the Home, then complete, sign and dateyour return before ling it. The Oregon Departmentof Revenue will do the rest.

For more information about Charitable Check-off,call the department at 503-378-4988 and press 0,or visit: www.oregon.gov/ODVA/VETSHOME/Charitable_Check-off.shtml .

After 48 yeArs Of serViCe

P h o t o b y m i k e A l l e g r e

SALEM Michael Jones, a Vietnam combatveteran from eastern Oregon, has been appointed tothe Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee by Gov.John Kitzhaber.

A former business owner and long-timecommunity volunteer in Ontario, Jones is alsoa past-American Legion post commander anddistrict commander who has served on the Legionsdistrict executive committee and on the nationalAmericanism Council.

Jones has also served on several boards in theOntario and Malheur County area including theOntario Police and Library Boards, Volunteer inPolice Services, the countys emergency planningcommission, and the countys veterans memorialassociation.

Im very honored to have been selected to serveOregon and especially eastern Oregon veterans andtheir families, Jones said. I plan to bring commonsense ideas and good information about how veteransview whats needed in our state and work togetherwith Jim Willis and my fellow committee membersto recommend improvements or changes.

Jones served in the U.S. Army from 1970-73,including two tours in Vietnam in 1970-71. Assignedto the 23rd Infantry Division (Americal), Cpl. Jonesserved on the front lines at forward observation postslocating enemy positions then calling-in air strikesor artillery barrages to halt their advance. He laterserved three years in the Oregon Army NationalGuard.

The addition of Michael Jones to our advisorycommittee ensures that the interests of veterans ineastern Oregon will continue to be represented andconsidered when addressing the changing needs of veterans in this state, said Jim Willis, director of theOregon Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA).Im pleased to welcome him to the committee.

The nine-member Committee was formed by

statute in 1945. Playing an active role in the effectiveadministration of the department, Committeemembers advise the departments director andactively engage in ensuring the agency is meetingits mission of service to veterans.

More information about the Advisory Committee,and ODVA services and programs can be foundonline at www.oregon.gov/ODVA .

Having completed some 48 years of public service, I have decided to retire as the Director of the OregonDepartment of Veterans Affairs effective March 1, 2013. I make this decision secure in the knowledgethat the veterans of Oregon are in good hands. My staff and others concerned with the welfare of ourveterans and their families are well trained and dedicated to their mission.

I could spend this entire message identifying the many individuals who have assisted me in carrying out my duties, but in an attempt to avoid leaving anyone out, let me rst thank my family who have stoodby and supported me throughout my career in public service. I would also like to thank both GovernorsKulongoski and Kitzhaber who gave me the opportunity to lead this great Department.

Next, let me thank the men and women of the Department of Veterans Affairs for their support and

professionalism in carrying out their individual duties. Also, I must say how proud I have been of thosemen and women who have served and are serving on the Governors Advisory Committee to the Directorof ODVA.

I must also thank those Veteran Service Of cers in our counties and those who work for our NationalService Organizations. Their work ensures that no veteran anywhere in Oregon is very far from an advocateto assist them with their needs.

Let me also recognize the support and leadership of my fellow Executive Branch Agency Heads for theirpartnership and support of our mission.

I would also like to recognize Oregons Adjutant General and the men and women of Oregons Army andAir National Guard for the par tnership we have forged in serving our veterans.

The leadership and members of the Oregon Legislature along with Oregons Congressional delegationmust also be recognized for all that they have done in support of our veterans.

Oregons National Service Organizations and Auxiliaries are led by dedicated individuals whose concernfor their fellow veterans and families are at a standard equal to any of their counterparts anywhere in ournation.

While I am retiring from my current position, I will continue to be concerned for my fellow veterans aslong as I am able to assist in serving them in the future.

I thank all of you for your support and wish each of you every success in the future.

With respect,

Vets News is a free publication printed every two months. Eachissue contains current information impacting veterans in Oregonincluding Federal VA hot topics, and state, regional and localhappenings. When credit is given to the source, Vets Newsarticles may be reprinted.

Send your name and current address toODVA, Vets News700 Summer St., NE, Salem, OR 97301-1285

503-373-2386

[email protected]

www.oregon.gov/odva/INFO/VetsNews.shtml

Mail

Phone

Email

Online

SUBSCRIBE / CHANGE OF ADDRESS / SUBMISSIONS


3/12

3 VE TS NE WS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013

Following more than sixyears at the Oregon VeteransHome (OVH) in The Dalles,Linda Adams ret i red inNovember. The daughter of aWorld War II D-Day veteran,Adams is a long-time ColumbiaGorge resident and servedas Hood River and Wasco

Countys veteran service of cer for seven years before joining the OVH in 2006.

I cant thank Linda enough for her hard work,loyalty and dedication to the residents at the Homeand while serving our veterans in the eld, Willssaid. Shes done a terri c job. And Im also pleasedto welcome and have Dallas on our team as he servesour residents at the veterans home.

Dallas Swafford, an Iraq combat veteran fromGresham, was selected as the new admissions andliaison of cer. Swafford has eight years of militaryservice and is currently assigned to Bravo Co., 141Support Battalion, Oregon Army National Guard inPortland. Previously, he was employed by OregonEmployment Department in The Dalles. He and hiswife have two young daughters.

SALEM The OregonDepartment of Veterans Affairs

is one of the highest tenuredagencies in state government.Its not abnormal for veteransto work with employees whoknow veteran issues insideand out and have been with theagency for more than 30 years.However, during the final

two months of 2012, several long-time employeesdecided to retire from service including the deputydirector and the admissions and liaison of cer at theOregon Veterans Home.

After more than 34 years of state service allwith the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs Deputy Director Val Conley retired on December

7. A long-time advocate for woman veterans, sheis the past-president of the National Association of State Women Veteran coordinators and a foundingmember of the bi-annual Oregon Womens VeteransConference.

Conley, an Army veteran, began her career inthe home loan of ce in January 1979 in Bend andEugene. She transitioned to veteran service of cer

ODVAs VAl COnley AnD linDA ADAms retire, suCCessOrs nAmeD

pDx, AlAskA Air hOnOr fAllen sOlDiers with imprOVeD prOtOCOl

Val Conley Linda Adams

PORTLAND Transporting the remains of afallen military member is a serious task with speci crules. It is one that airlines and airports have takenmore serious in recent years, and that includes AlaskaAirlines and the international airports in Portland(PDX) and Seattle (SeaTac).

Initially, Alaska Airline employees had noticedmany violations of military protocol at SeaTac,

mostly due to a lack of awareness and training.Brian Bowden, an Alaska Airlines line aircrafttechnician said, Mishandlings are embarrassingand unacceptable. Our goal is to show respect byensuring the proper standards are followed as weseamlessly transfer the remains with honor andrespect to the fallen and their family.

With that, 14 Alaska aircraft techniciansdeveloped a Fallen Soldier program, completewith a handbook that explains very speci c protocolswhen handling the remains of deceased militarymembers.

Changes in protocol began in 2011 at SeaTac.In 2012, PDX Customer Relations Manager Donna

Prigmore received a special request from SeniorMaster Sgt. Linda Baugher, of the 142nd FighterWing in Portland, to examine the Fallen SoldierProgram at SeaTac. This resulted in the adoption of a similar type program at PDX that is coordinatedby the Port of Portland in close partnership withAlaska Airlines. It includes training, a guide book,a customized patriotic cart for transporting remains,and total support by all air carriers.

Following their training, Fallen Soldier volunteersknow exactly how military remains are to be handled,to include loading the fallen military member in theaircraft cargo bay last so as to ensure the remainsare unloaded rst at the nal destination. A private

Transportation Security Administration screening isrequested for the military escort. Volunteers will alsohelp any airline requesting assistance.

Refurbished, carpeted baggage carts at SeaTacand PDX are used to transport caskets and arecustomized with a retractable American ag curtainand service branch plaques representing the Army,Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. To

in 1991 and was later promoted to manager of veteran service of cers in Portland in 1996. Shewas named as the administrator of ODVAs veteranservices division in 2004 and served there until shewas appointed as ODVAs deputy director in April2011.

With Conleys retirement, former PortlandClaims Office Manager Edward Van Dyke wasselected by ODVA Director Jim Willis to become thenew deputy director. Van Dyke is a retired OregonArmy National Guard sergeant major with 22 yearsof military service and has been with ODVA formore than 11 years.

Certainly, Val has left a wonderful legacy of dedicated work serving our veterans and sheshelped increase awareness of many women veterans

issues. Im grateful for the more than 30 years of professional and valuable service shes provided toOregons veterans, said Willis.

Ed brings a professional military careerbackground and service to veterans as a claimsmanager. He has keen leadership, management andorganizational skills, he added. Im con dent in hisabilities and look forward to working with him.

A newly refurbished, carpeted baggage cart is now used to transport the casket and remains of the fallen at Portland International Airport.

assist all air carriers in protocol training, Alaskatechnicians at SeaTac also built a mock casket soemployees can train and simulate an arrival anddeparture in the hangar.

These brave men and women sacri ced their lives for you and me, Bowden said. Often, theirfamilies are traveling with their fallen loved one.Its the least we can do to respect and honor theirservice and memory.

Prigmore said the program, and its associatedcart, represent one of many elements of PDXsMilitary Appreciation Program, which originallybegan in 2011. Traveling service members alsoreceive complimentary items and services suchas meeting space and beverages in the conferencecenter, baggage carts, luggage storage, and discountsof up to 20 percent off purchases offered by a vast

majority of PDX concessionaires for all with a validmilitary ID card, said Prigmore, an Oregon AirNational Guard lieutenant colonel with more than20 years of service in the U.S. Air Force.

Through early-December 2012, Alaska hadcompleted 17 originations, transfers, and finaldestinations for the fallen. The program at bothairports has reportedly improved camaraderiebetween all air carrier work groups, including

cargo, customer service and ramp agents, and ightcrews.

Its a real honor and privilege to be part of ateam that cares for and supports our fallen troops andtheir families like Alaska, SeaTac and PDX have,said Alaska Airline pilot Pat Carpenter, who has alsobeen part of the project.

P h o t o c o u r t e s y o f A l A s k A A i r l i n e s


4/12


memoriAl wAll from PAge 1

$1.2 million for construction and if fundraisingduring the next few months goes well, he said thememorial could be completed by Veterans Day2013.

Once built, the memorial will pay tribute to the152,000 troops from Oregon who served in WWII,the Oregon communities and civilians who supportedthe troops on the home front, and the ultimatesacri ce of those who did not return home.

Standing 33-feet high, the memorial will featurea ve-sided granite obelisk. It is believed to be theonly ve-sided obelisk in the nation. The area willbe paved with granite quarried, cut and polished inPennsylvania and cover 75-by-75 feet of space inWilson Park in Salem.

Fifteen honorary board members are supportingthe foundations efforts to build the states memorial.They include Governors John Kitzhaber, TedKulongoski, Barbara Roberts, and Victor Atiyeh;Secretary of State Kate Brown; Senators RonWyden and Jeff Merkley; Congresswoman SuzanneBonamici; Congressman Earl Blumenauer; OregonHistorical Society Executive Director KerryTymchuk; WWII Oregon Medal of Honor recipientsBob Maxwell and Arthur Jackson; former staterepresentative and WWII veteran Bill Markham; andWWII veterans Gerry Frank and Art Sorenson.

For many, like the men and women at theOregon Veterans Home, time is of the essenceto build the memorial, said ODVA Director JimWillis. Today there are approximately 32,000 WWIIveterans remaining in Oregon.

To help honor the Greatest Generationb y d o n a t i n g t o t h e f o u n d a t i o n , v i s i twww.oregonwwiimemorial.com

o o job a d a 500 v a o o a d

A veteran discusses employment options with a potential employer during the Hiring Our Heroes job fair in Portland last November.

P h o t o c o u r t e s y u s d e P A r t m e n t o f l A b o r

PORTLAND With Oregons unemploymentrate just over 8 percent in late-2012, and the overallnational figure falling below 8 percent, someveterans are still nding it dif cult to get jobs. Thenumber of veterans needing work remains muchhigher, which was evident in November as some500 job seekers gathered at the Hiring Our Heroes(HOH) job fair in Portland.

The job seekers ranged from veterans in their 20s,who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, to Vietnam-era veterans nearing retirement age. Employerswho participated in the job fair included companiesrepresenting diverse industries such as securitycompanies, law-enforcement agencies, banks andhigh-tech companies.

The Institute for Veterans and Military Familiesat Syracuse University, using unpublished datafrom the Bureau of Labor Statistics, estimates theunemployment rate last November for veterans age24 and younger is a staggering 28 percent and thatthe overall unemployment rate for veterans of themost recent Gulf Wars remains at about 10 percentnationally.

To combat these statistics, programs suchas HOH, affiliated with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (USCC), and the similarly namedDefense Departments Hero 2 Hired, are beingcredited for helping to increase the pace of hiring.The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) andOregon Employment Department also have beenclosely involved in the efforts.

Craig Snitker, a retired Army NCO, is anemployment transition coordinator for Hero 2Hired. One of the keys to placing veterans in jobs,he said, is helping them prepare for interviews,speci cally helping them understand how to describetheir military skills in terms useful to privateemployers.

That translation is probably the biggest challengewe have with people applying, Snitker said.

Not until later in 2013 will event sponsors beable to track how many successful hires may havecome from the event. Tonja Pardo from the U.S.Department of Labor, Veterans Employment andTraining said the USCC and employment departmentunof cially tallied more than 620 people who hadregistered for the Portland job fair. She addedthat more than 1,700 resumes were accepted,approximately 470 interviews were conducted and40 provisional job offers were made.

Employers estimate that more than 530 hiresmay come from these interviews within the nextyear, according to a survey taken during the event,Pardo said. The Hiring Our Heroes committee alsonoted the very high caliber group of job seekers whoattended. They were professional, dressed for successand were ready to go to work. These job seekersknew employers were seeking candidates because of their prior military service as well as honoring theirsacri ces theyve made to this country.

Employers can help veterans who are looking for jobs to better connect by knowing why a particular job may appeal to a veteran, said Jim Booker, OregonEmployment Department.

They could use the companys mission to relate toa veterans sense of mission or do some research andshow how the job would match well to a particularmilitary job skill. Im seeing many veterans whodont know where to start looking for work andemployers who have jobs and are even looking forveterans, but dont get any takers, Booker said.

In March, another HOH job fair will be held inSalem. Veterans, National Guard and reservists can

nd more information about the event and register online at www.hoh.greatjob.net .

OREGON WWII MEMORIAL FOUNDATION

Donation Amount: $ _______________________

Name _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________________________________________________________

City _______________________________________________ State ____________ Zip _________________________

Phone ________________________________ Email (optional) ______________________________________________

Name of Veteran Honoree ________________________________________________________________________Branch of Service ________________________________________ Rank _______________________________

-OR-Name of Civilian Honoree _________________________________________________________________________Activity that honoree participated in to contribute to the war effort____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Relationship to Honoree (ie: Son, Daughter, Spouse, Friend) ____________________________________________

Help Oregon honor the greatest generation. Donate today.

If you would like to make a donation in the name of a WWII veteran or civilian whocontributed to the WWII War effort, please provide the following information. You willreceive an ofcial WWII Honoree Certicate with the name if the person indicated below:

Please mail donations to 805 NW Skyline Crest Road, Portland, OR 97229For more information email [email protected] or visit www.oregonwwiimemorial.com

neXt J ob fair

salemh o h

March14

sccr

Q ? t j p @503-947-1490

. . j .


5/12


National Guard and reserve members whodeployed to Iraq and Afghanistan are having aharder time than other veterans getting disabilitycompensation claims approved by the VeteransAffairs Department.

According to a report in Army Times, new dataobtained under the Freedom of Information Act byVeterans for Common Sense (VCS) shows the denialrate for claims led by reserve component combatveterans is four times higher than for post-9/11combat veterans who were active-duty members.

On the positive side, the statistical reports showa 97 percent approval rate for Iraq and Afghanistanclaims. Yet, the difference between active andreserve claims could be a sign that the system isntbeing fair to reserve component members, who makeup 40 percent of this new generation of veterans,said Paul Sullivan, the former executive director of VCS who identi ed the problem while he was stillwith the nonpro t veterans group.

We dont know why this has happened, Sullivansaid. We do know this is not a new problem. In 2008,

the denial rate for Guard and reserve disability claimswas twice as high as for other Iraq and Afghanistanveterans, so the difference has grown.

Guard and reserve members who served inIraq or Afghanistan and have led bene ts claimsare, on average, about four years older than theircounterparts who served on active duty, which couldbe a reason for more wear and tear on the body.However, while they are older, Guard and reservemembers who have led claims have served lesstime, on average, which could make it harder toprove a disability was service connected.

The average length of service of Guard andreserve members is 3.8 years, compared with anaverage of 9.3 years for veterans of active service.There are 1.6 million post-9/11 combat veterans.About 566,000 are receiving disability bene ts;53,000 have been identi ed with service-connectedconditions that merit disability ratings too low toqualify for compensation. Another 15,640 claimswere denied, according to the VA records.

While Guard and reserve members make up 40percent of post-9/11 combat veterans, they haveaccounted for 60 percent of the claim denials. Amongthe almost 900,000 pending disability claims, thosefrom post-9/11 combat veterans make up 186,000 of the backlog, a number that is likely to rise.

guArD, reserVe Vets DenieD VA ClAims 4 times mOre thAn AD

Sullivan said post-Vietnam War claims fromcombat veterans did not peak until a decade after thatwar ended. I really think we face a situation wherewe have 1 million new claims by 2013, he said. Weare getting about 10,000 new veteran patients at theVA and 9,000 new claims led every month.

Tom Tarantino, chief policy officer for Iraqand Afghanistan Veterans of America said this isdisturbing, and even worse, we do not know why.Funky record keeping, ling claims without thehelp of a veterans service of cer who understandsthe process or structural problems in how claims arehandled could all contribute to the discrepancy.

VA reports indicate the hearing disorder tinnitusis the most frequently claimed disability for Iraq andAfghanistan veterans, claimed by about 40 percentof post-9/11 combat veterans who were awardedservice-connected disabilities. Spinal or cervicalinjuries or strains account for 24 percent of the

awards, while post-traumatic stress disorder appearsin 22.5 percent.

Details about speci c disabilities are not brokendown by active or reserve status, making comparisonsby conditions impossible, Sullivan said.

Florida Rep. Jeff Miller, chairman of the HouseVeterans Affairs Committee, said this situation is

a sign of miscommunication between the VA andDefense Department. Both need to treat veteransof the National Guard and Reserve as they wouldany member of the armed forces, and this includes

providing timely bene ts for their service, Miller said.

Once again, this underlines the need for asingle electronic medical health record, shared byboth departments, as well as better communicationbetween National Guard and reserve componentswith VA to ensure those who served in either haveaccess to their records.

o r i g i n A l P h o t o P r o P e r t y o f e d d i e b l A c k

Compiled from an Army Times news report

Oregon Army National Guard soldiers stand over a cache of anti-aircraft ak shells they located south of Bagdad, Iraq. This is one of several caches found by soldiers from both Charlie Company,2-162 Infantry, 41st Infantry Brigade and Alpha Company, 2-162, 39th Brigade Combat Team. Since

September 2001, more than 30,000 Oregon Guard members have been deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

NOW THAT YOUR HOMELEARN ABOUT YOUR HOME BENEFITS

20-Year Fixed Rate 30-Year Fixed Rate

30-Year Fixed Rate

2.99% 1.375% Origination Fee - *3.225% APR

2.625%1.375% Origination Fee*2.953% APR

3.25% 0% Origination Fee*3.376% APR

This information, which is general in nature, is based on applicablefederal and state laws, Administrative Rules, and the policies andprocedures of the Oregon Department of Veterans A airs. Interestrates are subject to change.

Up to $417,000Single Family ResidenceOwner Occupied

*APR based on $165,00030-year loan - 20% downE ective date 10/18/12

888-673-8387. . / .


6/12


WASHINGTON For years Gulf War veteranshave been told the symptoms they were sufferingwere all in their heads. Yet many researchers say thatisnt true. Gulf War illness is as real as the symptomsand a study released in the Archives of Neurologyon Nov. 26, shows the symptoms are due to damageto the autonomic nervous system.

The studys lead author, Robert Haley, chief of epidemiology at the University of TexasSouthwestern Medical Center in Dallas said, This isthe linchpin because the disease itself is so dif cultto express and to understand.

Gulf War illness presents a series of symptomsranging from headaches to memory loss to chronicfatigue. It plagues one of four veterans of the 1991Persian Gulf war. Haley said veterans describedsimply that they dont feel well or cant function,without being able to further explain a disease thataffects the automatic functions of their bodies, suchas heat regulation, sleep or even their heartbeats.

There is no known treatment for Gulf War illness,

Haley said, but a diagnosis can lead to clinicaltrials and a possible solution. The disease affectsup to 250,000 veterans, according to the Instituteof Medicine. Researchers have spent 15 yearsresearching a hypothesis, and then we planned theultimate study that proved that hypothesis, Haleysaid.

Over seven days, Steven Vernino, the chief of theneuromuscular division at Southwestern, and Haley

sent 97 veterans through 25 tests, including brainimaging. The group had been drawn from a sampleof 8,000 Gulf War veterans.

Paul Sullivan of Veterans for Common Sense, anda Gulf War veteran, said, This nding is important

because for the rst time physicians who care for Gulf War veterans now have a medical explanation

for many of the unusual symptoms.The team conducted several studies, and then built

a theory based on the results of that work. Veteranssuffering from Gulf War illness tend to fall in threecategories: Syndrome 1, cognitive and depressionproblems; Syndrome 2, confusion ataxia, which issimilar to early Alzheimers disease; Syndrome 3,severe chronic body pain.

Haley said studies released in December 2012 willinclude theories as to what causes the syndromes.

This is the most important study of all, Haleysaid. Veterans want to know whats wrong withthem. Now, for the rst time, all the doctors inthe country can say, Maybe these are autonomicsymptoms. If youre not thinking autonomic, thesymptoms can sound kind of aky.

Sullivan said knowing the medical basis for adisease focuses the search for speci c treatments andmakes it possible to test them in clinical trials. Hehopes the study will encourage Congress to devotemore money for Gulf War illness research.

If VA continues to be reluctant to fund research,

stuDy: gulf wAr illness nOt All in their heADs

Vet Distills new prODuCt, BOurBOn whiskey tOAsts fAllen

Compiled from a USA Today news report

More than a year ago, Vets News ran a storyabout former Oregon Army National Guard soldierDawson Of cer who had recently started 4 SpiritsDistillery, a micro-distillery located in Adair Village,near Corvallis.

With the blessing of members of Oregons 2-162Infantry Regiment, the unit he deployed with to Iraq,Of cer dedicated the distillery to the memories of four men he served with in Delta Company whowere killed in action in 2004 by naming his businessin their honor.

First Lt. Erik McCrae, Sgt. Justin Linden, Sgt.Justin Eyerly and Sgt. David Roustum lost theirlives while serving in Baghdad, Iraq. We werecombat soldiers at that time and fought side by side,Of cer said.

There isnt a day that goes by that I dont see theirfaces and think about their loss, and the events beforeand after their service to this country.

Even as Of cer released his rst products, twocollege-themed vodkas, Slaptail and Webfoot, theself-proclaimed whiskey drinker by nature wasbusy at work developing his next product.

The rst batches of 4 Spirits Bourbon Whiskey,released last September, used 17 barrels of bourbonfrom Indiana. Of cer experimented with differentways of ltering to coax the ideal combinationof drinkability and bold taste from the barrel-agedwhiskey and nd the right balance of avor andsmoothness.

The mission behind the bottle design and the newbourbon was to follow his inspiration. We created adedication bottle and new product for the four spirits,the four guys from the 2-162, he said.

Of cer said at least 10 percent of his pro ts willbe donated to the veterans reintegration programin Oregon.

then Congress should hold hearings that prompt VAto do the right thing for our veterans.

The doctors had funding from Congress until2010, when they were dropped by the Departmentof Veterans Affairs after being accused of wasting

millions of dollars in research money. That camedirectly after a 2009 study from Haley showingthat neurotoxins such as anti-nerve agent pills,insect repellent and the nerve agent sarin causedneurological changes to the brain, and that the changesseem to correlate with different symptoms.

After they lost funding, Haley and the otherresearchers continued their work on their owntime.

Above: The 4 Spir its Disti llerys newest product, Bourb on

Whiskey, is dedicated to the memories of four fallen Oregon soldiers who owner Dawson Of cer served with in Iraq; First Lt. Erik McCrae, Sgt. Justin Linden, Sgt. Justin Eyerly and Sgt.David Roustum.

Left: The 4 Spirits Distillerys newest product, Bourbon Whiskey,anked by the distillers rst two releases- Slaptail and Webfoot

vodkas.

P h o t o c o u r t e s y 4 s P i r i t s d i s t i l l e r y

P h o t o c o u r t e s y 4 s P i r i t s d i s t i l l e r y

A U.S. Marine patrol walked across the charred landscape near a burning oil well during

perimeter patrol near Kuwait City at the end of the Persian Gulf War.

P h o t o : s

t A r s A n d s t r i P e s

. c o m


7/12


free tAx preperAtiOn

hOmeless Vets hOusing Being Built in rOseBurg

ROSEBURG After two-and-a-half years of planning, construction for the Eagle LandingHomeless Housing project is now under way. Theproject broke ground in October and will becomeone of rst of its kind in the U.S., providinghousing for homeless veterans and veterans whoare at risk of homelessness.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)has committed to ending veteran homelessnessby the year 2015 and through a partnership of NeighborWorks Umpqua, the VA, and UnitedCommunity Action Network, the Eagle Landingproject will help bring the VA closer to thatgoal.

We really appreciate all of those that havehelped in funding, helped in putting together ourproposal, and our contractors, says Karan Reed

When completed in 2013, the Eagle Landing HomelessHousing project in Roseburg will include in 11 buildingswith 54 units available for homeless veterans and veterans who are at risk of homelessness.

of NeighborWorks Umpqua. That's something.This is going to provide a lot of jobs in the nextyear, in our community.

In a report by The Daily Journal of Commerce,nearly half of Oregons homeless vets are foundin southern Oregon.

A lot of veterans come here for outpatientservices, NeighborWorks Umpqua executivedirector Betty Tamm told The Daily Journal of Commerce. They hang out somewhere underthe bridges or in the forest so they can get totheir service.

The apartments in 11 buildings will include 54units available for veterans, 44 singles, and 10two- to three-bedroom apartments for families andbe located just past the south entrance to the VARoseburg Campus. The VA has leased out about

P h o t o c o u r t e s y n e i g h b o r w o r k s

, u m P q u A

Low to moderate income Oregonians will beable to have their income tax returns prepared freeby trained volunteers statewide. CASH Oregon, a

non-pro t group in partnership with AARP Tax-Aide, supports free tax preparation and tax creditoutreach in 32 counties in Oregon at more than 140tax sites.

Ron Justus of CASH Oregon said in 2012, theysaw 55,323 tax returns led statewide.

There were tax returns filed electronically,amended returns, prior tax year returns done, tens of thousands of state returns led and good old paper returns completed for working Oregonians. Wealso saw another 6,476 people with questions andanswers directed to the appropriate help, he said.

Many people who earn very little may be eligiblefor a refund. Tax credits that many could qualify

for are the Federal and Oregon Earned IncomeTax Credit, the Federal Child Tax Credit, and theOregon Working Family Child Care Credit. Trainedvolunteers will help taxpayers sort through theirquestions and provide assistance.

Free tax preparation sites are available statewide. Formore information or to nd a location nearest you,dial 211, or visit www.cashoregon.org .

150 yeArs Of OregOn VeterAns

s a l

e !

$ 3 0

O r i g i

n a l l y

p r i c e d $

3 9 . 9 5

thi s might be yourla st chance to own

a piece of oregonveteran history

order by calling 503 3 73 23 90

With more than 275 full color pages, the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs produceda stunning collection of veteran stories representing over 150 years of con icts from the

Indian and Civil War to the present campaigns in the Middle East.

There are more than 200 personal accounts of Oregon veterans and 650 full color photo-graphs in this 15.5 x 8.5 soft cover, beautifully designed table-top quality book. Originally

released in 2011, the books are almost completely sold out.get your copy today before i t i s too la te!

p k . . /odva/p / _ k. x

ve acres of land, at no cost, for the project. Theyalso contributed $1 million.

The project should be nished and ready for move-in by the end of 2013.

The Housing Authority of Douglas Countyplans to provide HUD rent subsidies which meanseligible vets won't have to pay more than 30percent of their limited incomes on rent. Whencompleted, Tamm said, Eagle Landing will givehomeless veterans stable housing and provideservices to help them reintegrate into society.

Other donors for the $12 million project includeOregon Housing and Community Services,Enterprise Community Partners, Wells FargoBank, the Meyer Memorial Trust Fund, the CollinsFoundation, Rural LISC, HUDs HOME programand NeighborWorks America.


8/12


9/12


10/12


wwii VeterAns highwAy signs instAlleD At CAmp rufus

P h o t o c o u r t e s y o f b e n d h e r o e s f o u n d A t i o n

It was at the gateway of the World War II VeteransHistoric Highway in the Columbia Gorge that the lasttwo signs honoring Oregon veterans were installedNov. 9, south of Biggs Junction on US Highway 97.The signs mark Camp Rufus as the northern entry

to this historic route.It is the rst highway in the nation to be dedicated

to express appreciation to veterans and inform thetraveling public about the World War II training sitesserved by two major highways east of the Cascades:US 97, from the Columbia River to the Oregon/

California border, and State Highway 126 fromRedmond east to Prineville.

A total of 18 signs have been placed along this 325mile stretch of highway. They mark the eight vitaltraining sites represented along the historic highwaywhere different branches of the military trained. Thesites include Camp Rufus (sign at Biggs), MadrasArmy Air eld, Redmond Army Air eld, CivilianPilot Training at Bend and Prineville, Camp Abbotat Sunriver, and Marine Barracks and Naval AirStation at Klamath Falls.

Sherman County World War II veterans (l-r) Dewey Thomas, Peter McNab, Charles Decker and Donald Thompson stand in front of one the last two signs placed along the World War II Historic Highway near Biggs Junction, Nov. 9.

Military Conventions,Reunions and Events

Central Oregon Women Vets Meet in RedmondThis rst gathering is, Jan. 12, at AKs Tea Room,525 SW 6th St., 2 p.m. Theme: Owning our servicewithout having to defend it. Keynote speaker: Iraqveteran, Kelly Garcia. Door and raf e prizes, too.RSVP is required as space is limited. Cost: $9.

Contact: Judith Burger-Myers, 541-977-3550

Hiring Our Heroes Job Fair in Salem Thefair is March 14, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the SalemConference Center, 200 Commercial St. S.E.Veterans, National Guard and reservists can ndmore information about the job fair and registeronline at www.hoh.greatjob.net.

Contact: Tonja Pardo, 503-947-1490

15th Medical Battalion, 1st Air Cav Theassociation will hold its 16th reunion in OldSacramento, CA, April 17-20, at the Holiday Inn. Allyears served, including all Companies and MedevacPlatoon.

Contact: James Calibro, 209-573-0701 or www.15thmedassociation.com

1st Battalion, 50th Infantry Reunion ThisAssociation will hold their reunion April 30-May 3,at Fort Benning, GA. Register for the AssociationConvention separately. Hotel reservations: HamptonInn & Suites, Phenix City, AL. Reserve by April 5:866-799-3642.

Information: www.ichiban1.org/html/reunion.htm

Screaming Eagles - 101st Airborne DivisionAssoc. 71st Reunion The annual reunion is Aug.14-17, at Red Lion Hotel, 909 N. Hayden IslandDrive, Portland.

Contact: Jerry Gomes, Oregon Cascade Chapter,503-668-6127, www.ScreamingEagle.org

Underage Military Veterans Service Monthlymeeting on the rst Friday, 10:30 a.m., at FarmHouse Restaurant, 3612 SE 82nd, Portland.

Contact: Willie Paradise, 503-665-1739

Vietnam 25th Infantry Div., 1st Air CAV Vets Allveterans are invited to meet monthly for lunch andconversation on the second Tuesday at SuperkingBuffet, 5105 SE 82nd Ave., Portland.

Contact: Gary Hartt, 503-632-6955

US Merchant Marine-Navy Armed Guard Meet Oregons AMMV meets on the third Monday of eachmonth, 11:30 a.m., at the Beaverton Izzys Pizza,11900 SW Broadway.

Contact: Bob Roberts, 503-663-7876

10th Mountain Division Group Newcomers,WWII comrades and descendants meet monthlyon the last Wed. Lunch: 12 p.m., EastmorelandGolf Course Club House, 2425 SE Bybee Blvd.,Portland. Discussions include maintenanceplanning, improvements and planting for the 10thMountain Memorial Grove.

Contact: Jim Bray, 503-913-7058

Submit Event and Reunion information:Online form: www.oregon.gov/odva/info/eventsEmail: [email protected]

VA heAlth CAreCOunts As insurAnCe

free VeterAn legAl AssistAnCe

Veterans who are enrolled in VAs health caresystem will not face nes when the Affordable CareAct (ACA) goes into effect in 2014, according to theVeterans Health Administration.

Their enrollment counts as health insuranceunder provisions in the ACA. This is largely thanksto the VFW efforts, which resulted in having VAhealth care recognized as meeting minimum healthinsurance standards.

Currently the VA says about 8.6 million vets areenrolled in its health care system and another 6.6million are eligible to enroll.

The Veterans Project, offered through the

Metropolitan Public Defenders Of ce, is offeringfree legal assistance to veterans. Veterans in needof legal assistance regarding civil litigation matters,criminal consultation, employment discrimination,housing discrimination, expungement and socialsecurity help are encouraged to contact their of cefor assistance.

Call 503-225-9100 for more information.

Get your VetsNews by Email

[email protected]

email

You now have the option to receiveVets News in your email box insteadof your mailbox. Just email VetsNews at t he address below w it h yourname and you will begin enjoyingt he same Vet s News, j ust deliver ed alit tle earlier t o your inbox.


11/12


County Service Organization Service Ofces

Baker ....................541-523-8223 Jane ChandlerBenton .................541-758-1595 Don JohnsonClackamas ...........503-650-5631 Janice Harlan-RaislClatsop .................503-440-8310 Philip SimmonsColumbia ..............503-366-6580 Grace ClarkCoos ......................541-396-3121, Ext. 362 Kay DucheneauxCrook .....................541-447-5304 Angela GilleyCurry .....................866-298-0404 Kimberly ONeal

Deschutes ............541-385-3214 Keith MacnamaraDouglas ................541-440-4219 Mary NewmanGilliam ..................541-384-6712 Bryan HuntGrant ....................541-575-1631 Bob MuenchausenHarney ...................541-573-1342 Guy McKayHood River ...........541-386-1080 Les LogsdonJackson ................541-774-8214 Bob CarsonJefferson ..............541-475-5228 Tom WeissJosephine ..............541-474-5454 Lisa ShipleyKlamath ...............541-883-4274 Kathy PierceLake .....................541-947-6043 Charles PikeLane .....................541-682-4191 Joseph ReileyLincoln .................541-574-6955 John ReedLinn ......................800-319-3882 Kim GroomsMalheur ................541-889-6649 Connie TanakaMarion ...................503-373-2085 ODVAMorrow .................541-922-6420 Linda SkendzelMultnomah .......... 503-988-3620, Ext. 25005 Katie PereaultPolk .......................503-373-2085 ODVASherman ..............541-565-3408 Bryan HuntTillamook .............503-842-4358 Bill HattonUmatilla ................541-278-5482 Peggy RainesUnion ....................541-962-8802 Byron WhippleWallowa .................541-426-3155, Ext. 241 Linda McIntyreWasco ..................888-804-1817 Russell JonesWashington .......... 503-846-3060 Eric BeltWheeler .................800-982-1172 Bryan Hunt

Yamhill .................503-434-7503 Jerry Wilson

National Service Organization Service Ofces

American Legion ................................................... 503-412-4771Disabled American Veterans .............................. 503-412-4750Military Order of the Purple Hear t ........................ 503-412-4770Paralyzed Veterans of America............................. 503-412-4762Veterans of Foreign Wars...................................... 503-412-4757

Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs Service Ofces

Salem 503-373-2085 Patty Bolstador 800-692-9666 Dave Cooley

Renee FrenchJoe GloverVicky KaufmanLeah RickertDoug Yerke

Portland 503-412-4777 Deanna ErhardtDonna HuntLinda McMillan

Martin Ornelas

Meetings of the Advisory Committee are public meetings held quarterly. Formeeting dates and locations, please call 503-373-2383. Special needs willbe met for those who have a disability.

Irv Fletcher1272 Mayanna Dr.Woodburn, OR 97071503-981-4356

Dennis G. Guthrie4495 NE 25th St.Redmond, OR 97756541-548-6990

Al Herrera22625 SW Riggs Rd.Beaverton, OR 97007

503-591-8638

J. Ryan Howell1780 NW Valley View Dr.Albany, OR 97321541-990-4176

Michael Jones110 4th St.Ontario, OR 97914

Trisa E. Kelly5121 N. Williams Ave.Portland, OR 97217

503-267-3988

Gerard F. Lorang3914 SW Hewett Blvd.Portland, OR 97221971-404-5154

Mary J. Mayer2520 NE 58th Ave.Portland, OR 97213310-897-1902

Kevin J. Owens , Chair2249 Commercial St.North Bend, OR 97459

541-756-2390

SALEM WorkSource Oregons statewide jobbank now allows military veterans the opportunity tosearch job openings in Oregon by their military jobtitle or code using a new expanded website.

This site only lists available jobs from employersveri ed by WorkSource Oregon which means each joblisting on the site is a valid job opening. Jobs can also

be searched by city, employer name and key word.Job seekers do not have to be registered with

WorkSource Oregon in order to take advantage of these new tools.

The website is available on smartphones andother mobile devices and feature social media links,allowing users to quickly share job postings viaFacebook, Twitter, email and more.

WorkSource Oregon assists job seekers in ndingemployment through 47 WorkSource Oregon Centersstatewide. The staff in the these centers providehelp with resume writing, job search workshops,training opportunities, job search assistance and other

services.There are many sites that assist veterans find

employment, but this site is the rst for jobs spesi cto employment in Oregon.

For more information, contact the WorkSource OregonCenter in your area. A list of centers can be found atWorkSourceOregon.org .

stAtewiDe JOB BAnk fOCuseDOn emplOying VeterAns

VeterA ns serViCe OffiCes

Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee

HIPAA Statement ODVA complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA provides that no quali edperson with a disability shall be kept from participation in, or be denied a bene t of the services, programs, or activities of ODVAbecause of that disability. This publication is available in alternate formats. For this service, or concerns regarding ADA, contactthe ADA Coordinator at 503-373-2380. The Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) complies with the HealthInsurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, known as HIPAA. You may obtain a copy of the ODVA Noticeof Privacy Practices anytime. Visit ODVAs website at www.oregon.gov/odva, or call 1-800-828-8801 ext. 2141 or503-373-2141. Write to ODVAs Privacy Of cer to have a copy mailed to you.

WorkSource Oregons new website allows military veteransto search job openings in Oregonby their military job title or code.

Job seekers do not have to beregistered with WorkSourceOregon in order to take advantageof the new site.

www.WorkInOregon-Veterans.jobs

{


12/12


P R S R T S T D

U S

P o s

t a g e

P A I D

P e r m

i t N o .

2 2

S a

l e m ,

O R

w w w . o

r e g o n d v a . c

o m

O r e g o n a n d f e d e r a l v

e t e r a n b e n e t s

. O n e

c o n v

e n i e n t l o c a t i o n

.

F o l l o w

p o s t s a b o u

t v e

t e r a n

n e w

s f r o m

O D V A a n d y o u r

f e d e r a l b e n e t s .

M o r e t h a n 2 1 d i f f e r e n t

a r e a s o f f e d

e r a l a n d s t a t e

b e n e t s t o l e a r n a b o u

t .

F i n d S e r v i c e O f c e s ,

m e d i c a l c e n t e r s

, C B O C s

a n d V e t C e n t e r s

.

C o n n e c t t o O D V A o n F a c e b o o k

, g r a b o u

r f e e d f o r y o

u r s i t e

, o r s h a r e t o p i c s p e c i c

p a g e s w

i t h f r i e n d s b y e m a i l , T w i t t e r , o r F a c e b o o k .

+

F e a t u

r e d

c o n t e n t i n c l u d e

s :

A c c e s s i n g h e a l t h c a r e / V e t e r a n t r a n s p o r t a t i o n / L o n g t e r m

c a r e o p t i o n s / D e p e n d e n t a n d s u r v i v o r b e n e t s /

B u

r i a l b e n e t s / E d u

c a t i o n o p t i o n s / H o m e l o a n i n f o r m a t i o n / T a x a

t i o n d e f e r r a l s a n d e x e

m p t i o n s / E m p l o y m

e n t r e s o u

r c e s a n d p r e f e r e n c e /

A u

t o ,

a d a p t i v e

a n d c l o t h i n g a l l o w

a n c e s / I D s / D M V l i c e n s e p l a t e s / M e d a l s / R e c o r d s / H o m e l e s s n e s s r e s o u

r c e s / V e t e r a n s c o u

r t s /

R e c r e a t i o n b e n e t s

O r e g o n

D e p a r t m e n

t o

f V e

t e r a n s

A f f a

i r s

7 0 0 S u m m e r

S t r e e

t N E

S a

l e m ,

O R 9 7 3 0 1 - 1

2 8 5

C H A N G E S E R V I C E R E Q U E S T E D

vetsnews janfeb 2013 sm

Documents