Giving a blind skier the ability to ski solo and wheelchair-bound paraplegic and quadriplegics the chance to catch a fish are two of the many projects Quality of Life+ and its university and commercial partners are making a reality.
Scott Huyvaert, Quality of Life+ program manager for the Rocky Mountain Region, talked about the nationwide nonprofit and its mission to improve the quality of life for injured veterans and first responders during a veteran roundtable of key leaders hosted by Colorado Springs Republican U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn last week at Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center.
The Colorado Springs resident and former Fort Carson-based combat medic said the process begins with an injured individual asking for help.
“We don’t create a problem,” he said. “Our problems are something that someone lives with. It is an actual problem they bring it to us.”
Quality of Life+ currently partners with 17 universities throughout the country including Colorado School of Mines and University of Colorado-Boulder.
The organizations mission is to challenge university STEM students “to create innovative technology solutions that improve the quality of life for injured veterans, first responders, and others who have served our nation.”
“My job is to find the concept, define the concept and make it as clear for the engineering students so that they can make the best product,” Huyvaert said. “All I need is a person and a concept and we’ll make it work. We’ll find the right team and match them with the right school.”
Joel Bach, a mechanical engineering associate professor at Colorado School of Mines, leads roughly 60 seniors annually through a capstone design course in which they focus on creating adaptive sports and recreation equipment in the Human Center Design Studio.
Several years back Quality of Life+ gave the university a grant used to buy 3D printers and equipment for its lab.
Some of the projects students worked on last year include an ice climbing tool for upper extremity amputees, a 3D printed prosthetic foot and a prosthetic speed skate.
“We don’t want to focus on what they can’t do,” Bach said. “We want to focus on what they can do and what they want to do and we try to match those up. That’s our guiding philosophy.
“Veterans have given so much for their country. Some were injured in combat; some were injured in training; and some were injured in general life. So many people who face traumatic injuries think their life is over. We can show them different. That changes their life. That changes their families’ lives.”
Zach Chamberland, a former Fort Carson soldier who tore the rotator cuff near his left shoulder joint, is working with Quality of Life+ to get better arm mobility. He can currently lift his arm slightly above his belly button.
“I had a nerve replacement surgery that didn’t really do anything,” Chamberland said. “So Scott, was like, ‘Okay, let’s build something so you can actually use your rotator cuff and move your arm.’”
The first brace included motors that moved the arm, but it was too bulk. Chamberland isn’t complaining.
“I’ve done some research and there are quite a bit for elbows, wrists, fingers. This is the first one I’ve ever seen for a rotator cuff,” he said.
A second version will be created with a 3D printer.
Other partnerships include Quality of Life+, Virginia Tech students and Paralympians working to create an electromechanical launch devise that allows double and single leg amputees the ability to sprint while competing in bobsled or skeleton.
During the veteran roundtable, Bach also demonstrated how wheelchair-bound individuals can sip and puff or use a joystick to cast and retrieve the line while fishing.
He also demonstrated how a ski vest for visually impaired skiers would work. For skiers, a motor on the left or right side would vibrate like a cell phone, letting the skier known to turn in that direction.
For Huyvaert, seeing injured veterans and first responders outside and active is already a win in his book.
“The part we always hate to talk about is veteran suicide,” he said. “I delt with that a lot when I was active duty.
“At this point I have more friends who have committed suicide than combat deaths. It just sucks.
“If we’re providing a purpose for someone or something to do, that’s all I care about.”
The link between oral health and overall health is undeniable, and yet too many Oregonians do not regularly see a dentist. This includes thousands of low-income military veterans, because the vast majority of veterans receive no dental coverage as part of their health benefits. Luckily, our state has an opportunity to change this.
House Bill 4095 is a straightforward solution that would ensure thousands of veterans have access to dental care. Sponsored by Rep. Cedric Hayden, a dentist himself, the bill would establish a program within the Oregon Health Authority to provide dental care to low-income veterans starting in January 2023. It would extend coverage to Oregon veterans whose income is 138% to 400% of the federal poverty level, or about $17,000 annually.
Veterans and their families need access to high-quality health care, which includes dental care. Today, about 300,000 veterans live in Oregon, but the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides dental care for a tiny fraction. For example, in the Portland area last year, just 3% of veterans reportedly received dental care as part of their health benefits at the Portland Veterans Administration Hospital. According to national estimates, 15% of veterans receiving VA health care are eligible for dental coverage, but too few actually receive the care they need.
Many dentists volunteer their services to provide free care for veterans and others without dental coverage, and at the federal level, discussions are underway about relieving some of this burden by creating new dental student loan relief programs, as well as increasing access by requiring dental clinics at VA hospitals. As these discussions continue at the national level, we need action now to close the gap for low-income veterans who are ineligible for VA dental care.
Without adequate dental coverage, veterans suffer worse health outcomes. People without routine oral health care are at greater risk not only for gum disease and cavities, but also for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, adverse pregnancy outcomes and other serious health conditions. Individuals who suffer from poor oral health are more likely to experience depression and reduced quality of life. Untreated dental disease also leads to higher costs in our health care system. Investing in low-income veterans’ oral health is an upstream solution that benefits everyone.
Oregon dentists are united in expanding access to safe, high-quality, equitable oral health care for all Oregonians, and HB 4095 is one step toward achieving this goal. Going forward, legislators interested in health equity have opportunities to close the gap for additional Oregon residents as well, such as through an expansion of Medicaid to cover dental care for more residents living in Oregon under the Compact of Free Association with the Marshall Islands, Palau and Micronesia.
We are proud to serve the oral health needs of those who have served the state and country, and we applaud the leadership of Rep. Hayden and other legislators as they work to address disparities in veterans’ oral health.
Dr. Calie Roa, DMD, is a family dentist in Medford and president of the Oregon Dental Association.
Twenty-two a day — suicides have plagued our veterans for many years. While the causes of suicide are complex and not fully understood, military leaders and community members continue to search for answers in combating this unfortunate number. The COVID-19 pandemic has added additional stressors to an already strained force as well. Our military forces these past two years were called upon to support testing and vaccine clinics while struggling with the virus themselves, with their families and friends. They also dealt with continued war-zone deployments, national disasters and often violent civil unrest.
Each community offers a variety of counseling programs to help our veterans as they work through the road to recovery. Some of the programs offered are traditional counseling sessions, music therapy and outdoor adventure. One Rhode Island Army veteran, Jason Morel, has come up with an alternative program incorporating the world of magic and laughter.
In 2017, Jason founded Operation Magic Touch, dedicated to helping veterans and their families through magic. Morel created his magic show to be a safe form of entertainment for veterans who suffer from PTSD and their families. From a young age this veteran began his studies with magic. Upon his discharge from the Army, Jason continued his studies as a means of combating his PTSD.
Each year the National Veterans Arts Competition is conducted. Veterans who are enrolled at VA health care facilities are eligible to compete. In 2019, Jason entered the competition and placed second in his division with his magic show. That year, over 5,600 veterans representing 130 VA medical facilities competed. Jason’s placement was the highest for any participant representing the Providence VAMC.
Jason is now on a journey to aid veterans and their families through his magic. The public is invited to see this veteran in action on March 12 for a steak dinner and magic show at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9404, 29 South Main Street, Coventry. The dinner begins at 5 p.m., followed by Jason’s spectacular magic show at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by calling 401-828-9705. All proceeds will go to VFW Post 9404 to assist Jason Morel with his objective of helping his fellow veterans and families.
St Patrick’s Special Corned Beef Dinner
Come and enjoy a St Patrick’s traditional corned beef dinner, with all the trimmings, on March 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. You have the choice of dining in or take-out, $20 a plate, at Amancio-Falcone-Gaccione VFW Post 8955, 113 Beach St., Westerly.
Auxiliary announces visit of national president to R.I.
VFW Auxiliary Department of Rhode Island is excited to announce the visit of Jean Hamil, national president of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Auxiliary. Hamil will tour the Rhode Island State Capitol and the Rhode Island Office of Veterans Services, enjoy dinner at the Valley Inn in Portsmouth, and take a helicopter tour of Aquidneck Island.
The VFW Auxiliary Past Department Presidents’ Club will host a dinner at Davenport’s in East Providence, upon Hamil’s. Her visit will include speaking with VFW and Auxiliary members in Pawtucket and throughout Rhode Island. VFW Auxiliary Department President Shauna Fournier will serve as her official escort.
President Hamil, of Orlando, Fla., was elected to office at the Auxiliary’s 108th National Convention in Kansas City, Mo. For more information, contact GinaMarie Doherty, VFW Auxiliary Rhode Island, Historian, [email protected], 401-500-1721.
About the VFW Auxiliary: The VFW Auxiliary is one of the nation’s oldest veterans’ service organizations and our members are the relatives of those who served in a location of foreign conflict. We have nearly 470,000 members representing all 50 states who volunteer millions of hours and give millions of dollars to support veterans, military service personnel and their families. Learn more at www.vfwauxiliary.org.
Amancio-Falcone-Gaccione VFW Post 8955
New members are always welcome to attend our next monthly meeting on March 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the Post Home, 113 Beach St, Westerly. Voice of Democracy winners will present their winning essays at this meeting. The Post meets the first Wednesday of each month. The three qualifiers for membership in the VFW: Citizenship — U.S. citizen or U.S. National; honorable service — received a discharge of Honorable or General (Under Honorable Conditions); or be currently serving, service in a war, campaign, or expedition on foreign soil or in hostile waters, or service in Korea for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days.
Project Outreach
The mission of Project Outreach is to assist all veterans to gain access to the VA and eligibility for all benefits and programs they offer. The program is staffed by certified Chapter Service Officers that have attended the yearly Disabled American Veterans training. The service officer provides the proper VA forms and guidance to properly complete required documents to then ensure that they have proper representation at the VA. If a veteran is not in the VA system, he/she or their family are not eligible for all the great services and benefits the VA offers. Hours: VFW Post 8955, first Wednesday and third Monday of each month, 5 p.m.
Prayers of peace to Ukraine
“Pray for Ukraine!”
“May God hear our loving petitions and soften the hearts and minds of all, those within and outside Ukraine, during these dangerous times,” wrote the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA Council of Bishops, in a statement responding to news of the Russian invasion this week.
OCEANSIDE, CA — Oceanside’s military community will soon have a new resource with the opening of a mental health clinic from Cohen Veterans Network (CVN).
The purpose of the clinic is to meet the increasing mental health needs for post-9/11 veterans, active duty service members, and military families. This will be the second Cohen Clinic in the state as the San Diego clinic opened in 2019.
CVN’s partner for these clinics is Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD),which is its current partner at the Cohen Clinic in San Diego, located in Mission Valley. Each year, VVSD provides services to more than 3,000 military veterans throughout San Diego County.
These clinics offer brief, client-centered therapy for a variety of mental health issues including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, adjustment issues, anger, grief and loss, family issues, transition challenges, relationship problems, and children’s behavioral problems.
More than 33,000 post-9/11 veterans, nearly 40,000 active duty service members, and more than 31,000 military family members will be eligible for care at the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic in Oceanside, according to a statement from the Cohen Veterans Network.
The Oceanside clinic, which will be located at 3609 Ocean Ranch Blvd, Ste. 120, and is expected to begin serving clients virtually in March.
The Patch reached out to Dr. Anthony Hassan, President & CEO of CVN and Akilah Templeton, CEO of VVSD to get more information about the new Oceanside clinic.
Can you tell us more about the plans for the new Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic in Oceanside?
“There are many factors in play these days which are negatively impacting our mental health, including the continued challenges of COVID-19 and the possibilities of future deployments. We are here to serve veterans, active duty and families throughout the entire state of California,” said Dr. Anthony Hassan. “We are expanding on our proven success in San Diego and scaling up to the meet the additional need.”
“I think for everyone in our country, mental health is a real societal challenge. Trying to find access to care and getting good quality care. I think that’s true for our military community where they have problems getting access to care and waiting a long time for appointments and high costs. Cohen Veterans Network is here just to make sure that mental health support is available to the military without any barriers.”
“It’s a sad state when people who need help can’t get it and continue to suffer in silence. As a retired military mental health guy I know for military people it takes a lot for them to even make that call. So I’ve got to take that moment and make good use of it.”
“CVN was established to fill gaps in care that exist in military communities across the country. We are a nonprofit, integrated mental health system, exclusive for the military community, which includes Veterans, Active duty, National Guard Reserves and of course their family members.”
“We’re so proud of the fact that half of the patients we serve are family members, so we’re filling this gap in care as well for families. We’ve served 28,000 military to date and we’re eager to save more lives, to save more families, and save more futures in Oceanside.”
Homelessness is a big issue in Oceanside and a large percentage of our homeless are military or former military. Are your services set up to address the homeless issues among our military?
“Veterans Village of San Diego has a 40-year track record of providing services to homeless veterans. So this partnership was just really a match made in heaven.” said Akilah Templeton. “We are a veteran-focused agency here in San Diego. We consider ourselves experts on the topic of military homelessness and while homeless individuals may not be the targeted population for CVN, we use a no wrong door approach. Certainly, a veteran who is struggling or may be at risk for homelessness, CVN is just one touch point. Our clinicians that come in contact with individuals that have those challenges are able to refer veterans to other programs in the area.”
“That’s the reason why the Cohen Veterans Network programs exist. There are many programs that are on the far end of the continuum. In other words, you have to be seriously persistently mentally ill, you have to be homeless down and out. You have to be in an emergency room to get attention and get the care, but what we want to do is get upstream on this problem.”
“We really want to focus on the mild and moderate conditions and get upstream on all of this so that our Veterans, Military members and their families never end up homeless and desperate. But the beautiful thing is that our partner, VVSD, who operates our clinic is an expert and has the ability to treat veterans anywhere in their journey, which is fabulous.”
So CVN sets up the clinic and then VVSD runs it. Is that an oversimplified explanation of how your programs work?
“Very good explanation. CVN gives VVSD and our other partners everything to operate a clinic at the highest level according to our standard operating procedures. We share the brand name. We fund them to deliver care the way we would like it to be delivered with the highest evidence. We provide training. We provide data analytics and electronic health records. VVSD is known and respected in the community and that’s why we chose them to operate, not just the clinic, but in Oceanside and eventually in Los Angeles because of their local brands. So we believe community is important and we believe the scalable model that we bring has proven to be extremely effective.”
You mentioned that the clinics will offer brief client-centered therapy. Can you go into more detail about what that means?
“That means that a person who is coming in has a particular challenge that would likely benefit from a short-term evidence intervention that helps them to deal with the problem as it is happening, but also equips them with coping strategies and tools they can use.”
“Our average length for a client is 10 sessions across the entire network of 20 clinics. So our patients come in, they get the support they need when they need it. They get routine care, routine evidence-based care for depression, anxiety, PTSD, marital, whatever the situation, our belief is that they’re going to be stronger and they’re going to be better.”
“This approach is much better than hanging onto people forever because then you don’t have enough room at the front for new patients. So the way we’re able to provide accessible care as we get people in, we get them what they need, they’re feeling better and we challenge them to go out and practice what we’ve just shared with them. That allows us to have better access upfront.”
“Most of the folks that we see benefit from that short-term therapy model. One thing that’s unique about our clinic’s model is we have a case manager that makes sure that when they have other things that get in the way like financial assistance or housing or other services like employment. We have someone in the clinic who can help work with them on those things outside of the therapy session.”
“All of our CVN clinics have a community room that is really a community. It’s a room about 1000 square feet where we host events. We have educational things like parenting and stress management. We have room for meetings. So we want the clinic to not only be a place for clinical care, but a place for convening, a place for positive and preventative activities. Because we believe that the more we can get people circling through the clinic, the more trusted, the clinic will be the word of mouth will spread.”
In San Diego, the community room has been fantastic during Covid. We sort of took that concept outdoors and put on events. So CVN is very much about staying connected to the community, we recognize that word of mouth is our largest referral source here in San Diego. So many of the folks that come to receive services at our local clinics were referred by someone who has also received services or by someone that they know.”
“While we will not offer in person for the soft launch in March, but we will begin seeing clients via telehealth. We’re able to give more people access to care even when we can’t do face to face. In addition to providing care to those within reach of the Oceanside location, the new Cohen Clinics will also offer telehealth services state-wide to more than 655,000 potential clients. CVN Telehealth is face-to-face video therapy where the client can receive treatment from the privacy and comfort of their own home.”
“The ability to provide telehealth services is critical and a game changer, especially in southern California where we have seen the number of COVID-19 cases rise significantly in recent months. Telehealth provides a great option for veterans, service members and their families who want to stay connected to a trusted provider, regardless of location. Our partnership with CVN has helped to expand our reach and build out VVSD’s continuum of care so that the entire military family has access to high-quality outpatient mental health services and supports for years to come.”
“We hope to have the brick and mortar location operating by the end of summer. Otherwise, we are currently accepting referrals and we’re ready to go for the opening in March.”
About Cohen Veterans Network: Cohen Veterans Network (CVN) is a 501(c)(3) national not-for-profit philanthropic organization for post-9/11 veterans, active duty service members and their families. CVN focuses on improving mental health outcomes, operating a network of outpatient mental health clinics in high-need communities, in which trained clinicians deliver holistic evidence-based care to treat mental health conditions. It was established in 2016 by philanthropist Steven A. Cohen with a commitment of $275 million to build the network. Learn more about CVN.
About VVSD: Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD) has served all veterans since 1981 and is dedicated to “Leave No One Behind.” Each year, VVSD provides services to more than 3,000 military veterans throughout San Diego County. For more information, please visit our website at www.VVSD.net.
This article originally appeared on the Oceanside-Camp Pendleton Patch
DUBLIN, Ga. (WALB) – Carl Vinson Veterans Administration Medical Center officials say Friday, they have had patients test positive for possible infection of hepatitis or HIV.
More than 4,000 veteran patients were informed surgical instruments used on them were not sterilized properly. Veterans and their families tell us they are overwhelmed with worry.
“Pure devastation. Sick to my stomach. Sadness.”
Rachel Heath’s father, Larry Heath of Nashville, received a letter from the Carl Vinson Medical Center. It says the medical equipment used on him was not properly sterilized. Center officials say 4,594 veteran patients possibly could have been infected and urged them to be tested for two types of hepatitis and HIV.
Larry Heath served in Vietnam and his daughter says he has received treatment for Agent Orange maladies, along with cancer, heart attack, and stroke.
“This is an outrage. That it’s 2022 and veterans are still being treated like this. For negligence,” said Rachel.
The medical director of the Carl Vinson Medical Center says a member of their staff reported that all steps for cleaning medical instruments were not being made. The procedures were stopped, and veterans were told they needed to be tested.
“So people have tested positive so far?” medical director, Dr. Manuel Davila said. “Well, at this point, I don’t know the number, but yes. Absolutely.”
Now more testing is being done, although the medical center says the risk of infection is very low.
Carl Vinson VA Center Medical Director, Dr. Manuel Davila(Carl Vinson VA Medical Center)
“We will make it right. We do own it. We are transparent about it,” Dr. Davila said.
Larry has been tested. Now they have to wait for the results.
“We have to wait two weeks and it could be life-changing. We don’t know what we are about to face. No one does.”
The medical center has brought in another sterilization team from the Augusta VA Hospital, while the Carl Vinson staff is being re-trained. Officials want to reassure their patients.
“And it certainly a tremendous honor for us to serve our veterans. Because they have given so much, for us. And we certainly want to give them all that we can as well. And that needs to be no compromise on safety. Zero harm. That’s our goal,” Dr. Davila said
But Heath says her father and family have been very disappointed with their treatment since the 1980s at Carl Vinson. And now Rachel wants all veterans to contact their veteran organizations and politician’s offices demanding improvements.
Rachel Heath(Rachel Heath)
“If you don’t use your voice, nothing is going to change. There is power in numbers. It’s just time that veterans are treated with the respect they deserve,” Rachel said.
Dr. Davila says only about one thousand of the veterans they sent this letter have been tested. He urges all the veterans contacted to be tested, for their safety.
The Carl Vinson Medical Center has set up a communication center to answer questions for veterans. It’s (478) 274-5400 if you have questions.
On Thursday, Feb. 24 the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough paid a visit to the University of Utah campus in order to meet with student veterans. The goal of this press conference was to provide the veterans with a pipeline to Washington, D.C. The secretary listened to student concerns and suggestions about how veteran affairs should be handled.
Topics discussed at the event include mental health, the pandemic, using resources available to veterans, support for veterans in higher education and homelessness.
Chase Nelson is a veteran who attended the round table discussion. He served as an HM2 in the U.S. Navy. While he did not personally voice any concerns at the discussion, he noted common issues that the students voiced.
“There’s a lot of veterans out there that are struggling with mental health,” Nelson said. “So that was a big thing, you know … mental health concerns and what it’s like to get an appointment with the VA.”
He also mentioned that the rising cost of living is negatively affecting veterans, and that concerns them. Nelson said the discussion was a positive event.
“I wish I could thank the Secretary personally,” Nelson said. “I just think it was a really enlightening experience.”
Some have criticized Biden for straying from tradition and selecting a person who is not a veteran for this position.
McDonough may not be a veteran, but he is not letting that stop him from serving the veterans of his country. He wants his performance to do the talking. In his first weeks as secretary, McDonough met with former secretaries and veterans to hear about their most pertinent issues and views on the state of veterans affairs.
“I figure my job every day is to wake up and be the country’s premier advocate on behalf of veterans,” McDonough said. “So to be honest with you, the fact that I’m not a veteran, makes me work that much harder to prove to veterans that I deserve the job. But at the end of the day, that’s somebody else’s determination as to whether it’s impacting me negatively or not.”
He served under former President Obama as the White House chief of staff, and was later nominated by President Joe Biden to lead the Veterans Affairs department.
“The main thing I say to [veterans] is one, thank you and two, we work for you,” McDonough said.
The Veterans Support Center has resources for veterans at the U, from tuition help to career development and scholarships.
As Secretary of U.S. Veterans Affairs, McDonough has several key initiatives he is working on.
“The first thing is getting veterans and their families through this pandemic — that’s the most important thing right now for me,” he said. “Second, we’re very focused at the moment, especially with our student vets, and making sure that we have the resources that they need to succeed here in school. So we’re going to continue to make those investments. And as I said today, that’s an investment in the national interest because each of these events end up doing great work on behalf of the country.”
His third focus is homelessness. By the end of 2021, McDonough promised to house 500 homeless veterans in Los Angeles County. According to the Los Angeles Times, of the 542 veterans from L.A. county who were housed, 221 transitioned to permanent supportive housing while 321 are in transitional or temporary housing or in a mental health rehabilitation facility.
Honor Flight San Diego is dedicating its fall trip to Washington D.C. to the U.S. Navy Seawolves who will go on a trip of a lifetime.
SAN DIEGO — A new generation of veterans is joining Honor Flight San Diego’s flight to Washington D.C.
On Friday, the non-profit announced it is dedicating its fall flight exclusively to the U.S. Navy Seawolves who fought in the Vietnam War.
“I was a door gunner back of the huey, Flew with some really good pilots,” said Gary Ely, U.S. Navy Seawolf.
The second-class petty officer climbed in the back of the Helicopter Attack Light Squadron known as the HAL-3 Navy Seawolves on the deck of the U.S.S. Midway Museum where he maintains the huey.
“You can call me most handsome of the Seawovles,” said Ely.
He and nearly 3,000 Seawolves served in the Vietnam War.
“There’s no way you can experience what went on over there and how it went about. Unless you were there,” said Ely.
The volunteer unit is the most decorated squadron during the Vietnam War and all of Naval aviation history, yet they weren’t recognized until 38 years later in 2010 by Congress.
“They did not get the homecomings that they deserve, they did not get the recognition that they deserved. So we’re here today to say that Honor Flight San Diego is going to honor our Vietnam veterans,” said Holly Shaffner, Honor Flight San Diego Director of Public Relations and U.S. Coast Guard veteran.
Honor Flight San Diego, a non-profit that has been flying World War II and Korean War veterans to Washington DC for 12 years, is dedicating its fall to flight to 100 Navy Seawolves.
“It shows that we’re getting a little bit of recognition that we never got when we came home,” said Ely.
Honor Flight says they flew hand-me-down helios from the Army and provided air support for the Brown Water Navy in south Vietnam. They flew the most combat missions; 200 men were injured and 44 died.
“They saved countless lives, countless American lives. And there would have been more names on that wall [Vietnam War Memorial] had it not been for the Navy Seawolves,” said Shaffner.
Ely is the interim president of the HAL-3 Seawolf Association where hundreds of veterans unite each year.
“We did our job right. There were supposed to be people didn’t get killed hurt,” said Ely.
WATCH: Full interview with Gary Ely:
This is has a deeper meaning for Honor Flight volunteer Mel Taitano.
“It’s indescribable,” said Taitano. “It’s just an honor. And it just makes me feel that my dad is here when I’m able to sit down and talk to them.”
She recalls a conversation she had with her father when she learned he served in the Navy Seawolves shortly before he died. Her father, Door Gunner, Lt. Anthony “Rosy” Rosario, who served in the Seawolves didn’t talk much about his service.
“You know, how come you never talked about it? You guys were so brave. You all are your heroes. And he just shrugged his shoulders, and he said, ‘I just did what I had to do,’” said Taitano.
Her father served with Ely and now they share a special bond. These relationships help build comradery with loved ones, an unbreakable brotherhood and pride for their country.
“I’ve never been ashamed of what I did. I wouldn’t want to go back and do it today,” said Ely. “I respect my service a lot.”
Honor Flight will take off with their special flight of HAL-3 Navy Seawolves on September 30 and return on October 2.
There are an estimated 60,000 Vietnam Veterans in San Diego County. Honor Flight San Diego is only accepting applications from Navy Seawolves for the fall flight. Seawolves are encouraged to apply at www.HonorFlightSanDiego.org.
What an honor to share the big news from Honor Flight San Diego! They’ll be taking their first all Vietnam veteran…
Posted by Abbie Alford on Friday, February 25, 2022
WATCH RELATED: Honor Flight San Diego hosts Spirit of ’45 celebration
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – With the conflict between Russia and Ukraine intensifying, many here at home are watching and are concerned.
“It’s really heartbreaking because you see a regime with a dictator basically who has invaded a nation that was no threat to them to take it over to rule,” David Trogdon, a retired veteran & HOPE Project Chaplain, and Director said.
Local veterans are speaking out. Trogdon said he has been watching like most of the world, as Russia invades neighboring Ukraine.
“You see the lives that are being lost with this invasion of Ukraine. The people of Ukraine. Fighting and dying for their nation and their freedom,” Trogdon said.
“I think the Ukrainians have a lot of pride in their country. They’re going to want to defend what they have,” Bill Danka, a Retired U.S. Navy Commander, said.
Local veterans want to emphasize as we watch the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine to also remember the families that are left behind. Waiting on their loved ones.
“One of the things that I would say is it doesn’t matter if you’re Ukrainian, Russian, American. When you’re serving your country’s military, your job is to take care of your country and also your family,” MSgt. Laura Bosco, United States Air Force, Retired/HOPE Project, Inc. Equine Professional & Riding Instructor said. “You are defending your homeland and those individuals that are young and going. As well as the old that are going to fight, that is important to know your family is behind you.”
But for these veterans, they’re hoping and praying.
“Prayers out to the Ukrainian people and hopefully there will be some sort of solution that doesn’t require a loss of life by a lot of civilian people,” Danka said.
“Pray for the people of Ukraine who are fighting and dying. We pray for our leaders to make the decisions that need to be made. We pray for those that are deployed. We pray for those that are getting ready to deploy,” Trogdon said.
“I think it’s important that we pray for them, I think it’s important that no matter what you think of the situation. That you remember this is another person, another human being. Someone that is fighting for a cause that we believe in and we should be supportive of that,” Bosco said.
The veterans we talked to also tell us they hope American troops won’t have to get involved.
“We need to not involve Americans in that. Just because of the geographics of the area. I mean the area is pretty much completely surrounded by Russia and all their stuff. There isn’t much we could do over there even if we wanted to,” Danka said.
“What does it mean for our military who are sons, and daughters, and fathers, and mothers, husbands and wives and children. What’s going to happen with them and so there’s a lot of things we don’t know what’s going to happen,” Trogdon said. “But as a military, we have to always to deploy and fight our nations battle. As the military, we don’t make decisions on that national level. We do what we’re told to do. It’s our families that ultimately have to pay the high price.”
Betty Petrie was born in 1915 in Los Banos and died in December at the age of 106. At the time of her death, she reportedly was the oldest surviving veteran of World War II in Kern County.
For most of us, those reported bookend events are all we know about Petrie, who swore an oath to keep secret what she did during the war. Petrie’s silence is typical of thousands of American women who did critical, sometimes very dangerous, top-secret work that helped win the war.
It also is why it has taken decades and the declassification of documents to learn of their bravery and commitment. Many women, including Petrie, spent a lifetime keeping quiet. Even their families did not know their secrets.
After the war, Petrie resumed an ordinary, but rewarding life as a wife, mother and teacher.
But we can read the clues to decipher Petrie’s wartime assignment. The years then-Navy Lt. j.g. Elizabeth Ann MacDougall served, the location where she worked and her “communications” assignment, plus the shroud of secrecy she maintained until her death led most to conclude she was a code breaker.
More than 10,000 American women were recruited to break codes and intercept communications. They provided critical intelligence to the Army and Navy to protect American troops and defeat the Japanese and German militaries.
Petrie grew up in rural Stanislaus County, the daughter of Scottish immigrant Archibald MacDougall and Megdalena Breunig of Colorado. After graduating from high school in 1933, she attended the University of the Pacific in Stockton, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in history in 1937.
While she was teaching school in Salinas, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and the U.S. declared war. Many still debate why the nation was caught flat-footed by the attack, but the need to improve intelligence gathering was obvious.
With code breaking considered less prestigious than combat and akin to “secretarial work,” many men shunned the assignment. The nation turned to women, with the Army and Navy recruiting heavily among recent graduates and teachers with tested mathematics skills and the ability to sit for days staring at strings of nonsensical combinations of letters to find patterns that would decipher the enemy’s codes.
Women selected for the assignment, which had headquarters based in Washington, D.C., excelled at the task. By war’s end, they were supplying so much information about ships’ movements and supplies that the military could hardly keep up.
Liza Mundy, author of the 2017 bestselling book “Code Girls,” stumbled onto the women’s contributions while reading about the Verona project, a U.S. code-breaking unit staffed mostly by women that focused on Russian intelligence during World War II and the Cold War.
Mundy noted that many code breakers — both men and women — cracked under the pressure of their inside knowledge of the war’s triumphs and tragedies. They had to live “with the true knowledge of what was going on in the war … and the specific knowledge of their brothers’ (fates).”
On the homefront and in the military, the increasing number of women in uniform also brought hostility. Women were being recruited to free men from homefront jobs to fight. But some men and their families resented soldiers being put into harm’s way.
Rumors also abounded that the women were really uniformed prostitutes to keep up troop morale. And many high-risk jobs, including the jobs of aircraft ferry pilots, were classified as “civilian.” The female pilots were denied even basic benefits to protect and help them. By midwar, many of the jobs were absorbed into the uniformed services.
After her discharge in 1945, Petrie returned to California, studied under the GI Bill at a San Francisco business college and went to work for a major insurance company.
In 1947, she married Thomas Petrie, a Bank of America auditor and former Army captain. The couple lived for a few years in San Francisco, before Thomas’ transfer with the bank to Los Banos, Turlock and then Shafter in 1961. Thomas died in 1963. Petrie never remarried. The couple had one daughter, Sue Paxton, who now lives in Bakersfield.
Petrie taught kindergarten at Richland Primary School until her retirement in 1983. She also was active in community organizations, earning a community service award during the Vietnam War for helping send hundreds of care packages to soldiers. She was a member of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, where she was known to attend daily Mass.
A voracious reader, Petrie also painted, sewed, knitted, did needlepoint and loved to travel, when she was not playing a mean game of bridge. Petrie loved to talk about family, friends and former students, but not about the war.
Petrie lived on her own until just a few years ago, when she moved to Brookdale Riverwalk assisted living in Bakersfield, where local veterans and dignitaries gathered in 2019 to honor her, when health issues prevented Petrie from flying to Washington, D.C., with Honor Flight Kern County.
“I have volunteered with Honor Flight for several years and we have had several women go on our flights,” said Cheree Linford. “As with their service, the number of women that have gone on Honor Flights are definitely outnumbered by men. They have been a delightful lot; very spunky to say the least.
“They had to be a tough lot. They were very much in a man’s world and there weren’t the safeguards we, as women, enjoy today to protect us from harassment. Any of them would say they just wanted to serve their country and help the war effort.”
Since the Revolutionary War, women have served in some capacity — as spies, in espionage and resistance, but mostly attending to wounded soldiers. According to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, at the end of World War II, more than 350,000 women wore American service uniforms. Although they were not assigned to combat roles, 423 women were killed and 88 taken prisoner.
Boerne Champion and San Antonio Veterans Memorial advanced to the third round round of the 5A state tournament with two sizable wins in Friday night’s doubleheader at Paul Taylor Field House.
Champion (30-6) earned the first victory of the night, knocking down 12 threes to overcome a sluggish start to beat Jefferson, 64-47, while Veterans Memorial disposed of Brackenridge, 72-44.
Champion coach Chris Adamek said the team’s sharpshooting came as a result from unselfish play and crisp passing.
“It’s amazing what you can do when nobody cares who gets the credit,” he said. “Whoever’s open, they find them the ball, and it’s a lot of fun to watch. I kind of get out of the way.”
Both teams were committed defensively from the tipoff, with Jefferson (26-10) leading Champion 8-6 after one quarter and the Chargers registering just two field goals — a pair of threes from junior forward Braden Baum — in the first.
“Jefferson’s defense is amazing,” Adamek said. “They’re an unbelievable team. They’re an awesome bunch. It took us a while to kinda open things up and get adjusted.”
But the Chargers started to see some shots fall in the second quarter and senior guard Jesse Peart provided a spark with seven points and a couple of steals to push Champion in front of Jefferson, 22-18, going into halftime.
“Jesse got some steals and kinda got himself going that way defensively,” Adamek said. “A lot of times, his defense turns into offense. But it was nice for him to get going, and once he got going, then it really opened up and our threes started going down.”
Champion’s double-digit threes was anything but out of the ordinary for a team with five players shooting at least 35 percent from beyond the arc on the season.
Baum registered a team-high four triples with 20 points and seven rebounds.
“He’s been so smooth,” Adamek said. “He had 44 in a district game earlier, so he is a walking bucket. He can really score. But he doesn’t have to. He does so many other things, rebounds well. He can handle for a 6-foot-6 kid out in space, too. He’s a really talented player. Everybody loves playing with him, and I’m thankful I get to coach him.”
The nightcap between Veterans Memorial and Brackenridge was even less competitive, as the Patriots raced out to an 18-6 lead in the first quarter, which proved insurmountable for an undersized Eagles squad.
“Every game, we try to do four things,” Patriots coach Steven Perez said. “We try to defend really well, and I thought we did. We try to get out in transition offense, and I thought we did that, too. Execution is, you always gotta watch the film. And then the last thing, we want to be good at transition defense, and I thought we were. Those are the four things that we try to do, and at this moment, I thought we did.”
Veterans Memorial’s playoff debut last week, a 42-38 win against Georgetown, was a bit closer than expected, but Perez said the team has gotten more comfortable as it’s progressed through the postseason.
“This is the first time for us being here,” he said. “After that first game, I think we got some nerves out and the guys kinda settled in. I thought we played well tonight. That’s a very good team over there, so we’re just fortunate.”
Brackenridge (24-11) closed the first half on an 8-2 run to cut the deficit to 29-17, but Veterans Memorial (30-5) burst out of the locker room with a 12-2 run to create some more separation.
“It was just trying to get back to getting in transition,” Perez said. “We’ve got a pretty deep team. We go eight or nine deep consistently, so we’re trying not to get away from that just because it’s the playoffs.”
The Patriots had three players tally 12 points — Devin McCloud, Jamaryon Thompson and Zackery Rigg. McCloud pulled down double-digit rebounds and consistently affected opponent shots in the paint.
“He’s just a special kid,” Perez said. “He’s just like the rest of the guys on the team. But he’s one that’s going to be pretty good. We’re very proud of that sophomore.”
Champion will take on Buda Johnson in the area round while Veternas Memorial will face off against Liberty Hill.
boulder, colorado school of mines, Colorado Springs, first responders, fort carson, human center design studio, injured veterans, joel bach, mechanical engineering, mt. carmel veterans service center, quality of life+, rep. doug lamborn, scott huyvaert, university of colorado, zach chamberland
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