Kitsap Veterans Life, September 27, 2013

Veterans Life A Sound Publishing Monthly Magazine

www.kitsapveteranslife.com

October 2013

Jared Barela

By Jessica GInet

The fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, marked a day that affected many. For Jared Barela, then a young boy, the footage of Marines evacuating people out of Saigon marked the moment he wanted to become a Marine.

“I enlisted at 19, but I knew I wanted to be a Marine way back when,” said Barela. He specifically recalls seeing ‘Marines’ on the tail of the helicopter.

At the beginning of the 1960s the Marines numbered 175,571. The population of active duty Marines ballooned to 309,771 at the end of the decade and the early 1970s, tapering back down to 185,250 at the end of the 1970’s.

Barela enlisted with the Marines in Houston in 1987 as a rifleman.

“I had three choices,” Barela said. “I could work in artillery, amphibious trac-

tors and tanks or infantry. I chose infantry, started as a rifleman and ended up as a small unit leader of 03-69.”

Barela has served at Camp Lejuene, North Carolina; Parris Island, South Carolina; Quantico, Virginia and locally at Naval Base KitsapBangor. He’s had numerous deployments, too.

Barela has traveled to ports in the Mediterranean Sea; Okinawa, Japan; Korea; Panama; BosniaHerzegovina; Iraq; Kuwait and the United Kingdom.

His first deployment was to Okinawa, Japan.

“I can honestly say that I have never had a bad duty station. Each one of them brought their hardships and challenges but at the end of the day you are still happy to be working with the Marines, American and NATO forces,” Barela said.

“My favorite duty station would have to be when I was assigned as a drill instructor

VETERAN PROFILE

both at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and Officer Candidates School at Quantico.”

At Parris Island, Barela was put through the rigors of transforming and instructing other Marines.

Drill Instructor School was formally established in October 1952. The course lasted an initial four weeks but now has grown to encompass an 11-week span.

“It is so rewarding,” Barela said. “When the commandant puts you in charge of making future Marines there is no greater honor. It gives you such a sense of accomplishment when you take the young men and women and put them through a test like no other. When you see them don the Eagle Globe and Anchor and walk across the parade deck, they are taking a part of you with them,” Barela said.

Barela still holds his own drill instructors in high

At Azusa Pacific, we’re committed to serving military members, veterans, and their families.

If you’re seeking a top-ranked local university that goes the extra mile for our nation’s military heroes, look no further. Azusa Pacific University has been named a Military Friendly School by G.I. Jobs magazine, placing it among the top 15 percent of schools in the country helping military students reach their educational dreams.

Programs

Locations

APU offers master’s degrees, credentials, and accelerated bachelor’s degree programs in:

Our eight Southern California locations and online programs provide convenience and flexibility, so you can earn your degree when and how you want.

Business Education Leadership Nursing Psychology Theology

Azusa High Desert Inland Empire Los Angeles Murrieta

Orange County San Diego Ventura County Online

Azusa Pacific is a Yellow Ribbon University and a Servicemembers Opportunity College.

CONTACT US TODAY! Tammy Oluvic, Director of Military and Veterans Outreach (626) 815-4631 • toluvic@apu.edu apu.edu/military

God-honoring Excellence Since 1899 15092

2

|

VETERANS LIFE |

O CTO B E R 2 013

Contributed photo

As a young Marine in 1988, Jared Barela served as a rifleman and later became a drill instructor, teaching other Marines the ways of military service. esteem from his early days as a Marine.

“They (Staff Sergeants Trevino, Fisher, Ferdin and Gonzalez) were just super guys. I thought just being a Marine was cool but these guys were way cooler,” Barela said with a laugh.

He held the staff sergeants in the highest regard.

“It was just ‘yes sir,’ ‘no sir’. I did what they told me to do and that’s that.”

Barela retired as a Master Sergeant in 2010. His last duty station was at Naval Base Kitasp-Bangor.

Barela works part-time for Kitsap Repair Service and makes the most of his leisure time, spending it with his family and friends.

He’s a drummer for the local band SpunkMonkey, who played at Whaling Days in Silverdale in July.

He has been married to Teresa Jean Myers for 22 years and they have two children, Jesse Barela, who lives and works in Houston and Ariana Barela, who is majoring in music performance at Washington State University.

Despite the fact that he’s a retired Marine, he still incorporates military order and discipline into his daily life.

“You could probably ask any veteran, no matter if they were in for two years to 30, and they will tell you that each of us has military discipline for the rest of our lives,” he said. “I like to ensure I’m always 15 minutes early for work. That is what time (while in the Marines) you should be in formation ready to go. Also, I love checklists; it makes for an orderly day and a sense of accomplishment.”

Contributed photo

Jared Barela plays the drums with his band SpunkMonkey.

Contributed photo

Jared Barela, right, takes part in a Veteran’s Day event.

On the inside

This month we have a special opportunity to get to know Clayton Kuhles who is the force behind MIA Recoveries, a nonprofit that seeks to find U.S. service members who went missing during World War II. You may recall the story last month in Veterans Life about a local man, James C. Mohn, from Tacoma, who went missing on June 6, 1943, when his plane went down over the Himalayan Mountains. It was Kuhles who found the wreckage of that plane during a November 2010 expedition in the country of Bhutan.

That adventure was one of 10 that Kuhles had made. He’s discovered wreckage of 17 U.S. planes and helped account for 193 people.

In this edition, Kuhles tells us what brought him to do this work and what it means to him to be a part of helping the families of those missing in action to find closure.

Also in this month’s Veterans Life, travel back to the times of the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. It’s a day that affected many including Jared Barela. As a young boy, the footage of Marines evacuating people out of Saigon marked the moment he wanted to become a Marine. Reporter Jessica Ginet tells his story and how he now enjoys being a musician.

Reporter Chris Chancellor brings us up to date with the expansion of American Lake Veterans Golf Course.

Golfing great Jack Nicklaus and his design firm have helped plan a nine-hole addition at the course for military veterans and their friends and family.

The “Nicklaus Nine,” new holes are aimed to serve able-bodied and disabled veterans along with those recovering from physical and psychological issues.

And then meet Larry Cleman who knows that you’re never too old to learn something new. Which could explain why the 57-year-old veteran is going back to school for his master’s degree. Reporter Seraine Page tells us how the Navy vet who spent 26 years traveling the world is still learning new things.

This month we introduce a new feature. The “Last Look” will be found at the back of Veterans Life each month and is a military-affiliated photograph — just something to make you laugh, think, remember or smile. Readers are encouraged to send us photos from their time in service to our country for publication in the “Last Look.” Email photos in jpeg high resolution format to lkelly@soundpublishing.com.

Once again, we want your ideas. We’d love to have you share your thoughts and recollections. Let us know what’s important to you as veterans. Please feel free to mail us at the email listed above.

If YOU DON’T LOVE IT, wE’LL rEpLacE IT frEE.

Guaranteed.

We want you to be 100% happy that the floor we’ve created together is as beautiful as the one in your dreams. If not, we will replace it for FREE*. That’s what we call The Beautiful Guarantee†.

We are that confident.

On the cover: Clayton Kuhles poses with the nose panel wreckage of a U.S. World War II plane he located in October 2007 near Arunachal Pradesh, India.

CARPET • HARDWOOD • TILE • LAMINATE VINYL • AREA RUGS • & MORE!

INSIDE

4

MIA Recoveries As a mountaineer, Clayton Kuhles has spent much of the past 10 years searching for planes that went missing during World War II.

9

Kitsap Veterans Advisory Board

At a recent meeting, veterans honored those who took part in this year’s “Run to Tahoma.”

Painting the war Local artist Wallace Nelson’s interest in art began with sketches he made while on assignment during World War II.

Life

ADMINISTRATION PUBLISHER Sean McDonald smcdonald@soundpublishing.com

ADVERTISING

3888 NW Randall Way, Suite 100, Silverdale, WA 98383 www.kitsapveteranslife.com “Scan this code and start receiving local news on your mobile device today!”

14

Administration

(360) 308-9161

Classified Ads

(360) 394-8700

Display Advertising

(360) 308-9161

Fax

(360) 308-9363

Newsroom

(360) 308-9161

MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES RITA NICHOLSON rnicholson@soundpublishing.com JENNIFER ZUVER jzuver@soundpublishing.com MARKETING ARTIST Bryon Kempf creative@centralkitsapreporter.com

NEWSROOM

the Beautiful Guarantee® peace of mind is yours with every installation. carpet One floor & Home® promises you’ll love the way your new floor looks, or we’ll replace it frEE - including installation. the Beautiful Guarantee™ Is Just the Beginning. at carpet One floor & Home, we know how important it is to feel confident in your flooring selection.

You want to know it’s going to look exactly the way you want once it’s installed in your home. That’s why we offer you unmatched peace of mind with our one-of-a-kind guarantee. we want you to be 100% happy that the floor we’ve created together is as beautiful as the one in your dreams. If not, we will replace it for free. That’s what we call The Beautiful Guarantee™. and we offer an easy-to-understand warranty system that gives you a level of protection that is tailored to you. Learn more about our exclusive warranties.

FAIRGROUNDS / FAIRGROUNDS PLUS

Our latest innovia carpet offering. Two thickness choices in 12 beautiful color choices. fairgrounds reg. $4.19 fairgrounds plus reg. $5.59

$2.09 Sq. ft.

Save 50% $2.79 Sq. ft.

Save 50%

RHYME & REASON

Two tone solid loop, this color stories carpet comes in 40 exciting color options. StainMaster Tactess Soft Nylon fiber assures great feel and tough durability. reg. $5.15

Save 30%

$3.61 Sq. ft.

EDITOR LESLIE KELLY lkelly@soundpublishing.com SENIOR REPORTER KEVAN MOORE kmoore@soundpublishing.com SENIOR REPORTER CHRIS CHANCELLOR cchancellor@soundpublishing.com REPORTER SERAINE PAGE spage@soundpublishing.com

CIRCULATION CIRCULATION MANAGER HELEN MURALT hmuralt@soundpublishing.com

Veterans Life is published monthly by Sound Publishing Inc.; Corporate Headquarters: 19351 8th Avenue, Suite 106, Poulsbo, WA 98370. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $24/year via USPS. Copyright 2013 Sound Publishing Inc

4535 AUTO CENTER WAY, BREMERTON 360-479-3463 Visit us at www.CarpetOne.com store hours: mon. - sat. 9am - 5:30 pm* Closed sunday’s *After hours available by appointment

Explorer dedicates his work to the missing

By Leslie Kelly To call Clayton Kuhles an adventurer is an understatement.

That’s because Kuhles is an adventurer with a purpose — to answer questions about where military personnel from World War II went missing.

Kuhles, a self-made entrepreneur who made his money in the recycling and waste management business, has taken a number of treks through the mountains in China and Burma to locate the wreckage of U.S. planes that went down during World War II. In fact, Kuhles was the person who discovered the wreckage of the plane that carried Pfc. James C. Mohn. Mohn’s memorial by the VFW post in Tacoma was featured in Veterans Life last month.

Kuhles knew from an early age that he was meant to be an explorer.

He was raised in the Chicago area and considers himself a “professional explorer.”

“I’ve been a mountaineer forever,” he said. “I’ve climbed mountains on every continent.”

In the 1990s, he had an opportunity to climb in Nepal and Tibet. He found the locals fascinating and as he became a trusted friend he was told about a crash site by one of his guides. In 2002, he took a trek to the area the

guide described southwest of the Burma-Tibet boarder and three days later, he found the crash site.

“I wasn’t prepared at that time to do anything but take notes about the site,” he said. “But later I met with U.S. embassy officials in the area and with their permission, decided to return the next year.”

When he returned, he carried GPS with him and other equipment needed to correctly plot the wreck and report it to the government.

Historically, during WWII, the U.S. lost hundreds of aircraft and thousands of men at the China-Burma-India theater of operations, Kuhles said. Hostile fire from Japan forced some planes down, while weather accounted for some crashes and still mechanical failure and navigational error was the cause of other downed planes.

The area was known as the “hump,” a major military supply route that took U.S. fliers over the Himalayans mountains.

After the war ended, Operation Bodylift was undertaken by the 1305 AAF Base Unit at Dum Dum airport near Calcutta. Many trips were flown into the area to recover all the U.S. war dead. Two C-47 aircraft were permanently assigned to this duty.

The flights were difficult due to the smells of decomposing bodies.

TeamSamuels Lending you a team that cares

Nobody cares more about your mortgage experience.

Tim Samuels MLO#109468 Loan Officer

Direct: 360-516-5002 Cell: 360-440-4899

Contributed photo

On a previous mission, Clayton Kuhles rests in a Tibetan hut in northern Burma with several locals.

Fliers kept the doors of the planes open and wore handkerchiefs dipped in wintergreen oil over their mouths to fight the odors.

By December of 1945, 890 bodies were collected.

A U.S. cemetery was established near Calcutta where those who were not returned to the U.S. were buried. The work by an all volunteer crew continued through 1948, after which the theater was closed and troops returned home.

As Kuhles studied the history, he learned that more than 700 aircraft went missing in the area during this time. The government knew of 1,200 crew members who were reported Missing in Action there, and with the recoveries made after the war, is it estimated that there are 416 Americans still missing.

That’s what keeps Kuhles

Be Prepared for your Fall Road Trips!

We’ve handled your automotive • AC/Heating & maintenance needs since 1899! • Full Vehicle Inspection

© 2013, Cobalt Mortgage, Inc., 11255 Kirkland Way, Suite 100, Kirkland, WA 98033. Toll Free: (877) 220-4663; Fax: (425) 605-3199. NMLS Unique Identifier: 35653; Arizona Mortgage Banker License #0909801; Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act.; Regulated by the Colorado Division of Real Estate; Nevada Mortgage Banker #3723; Nevada Mortgage Broker #3725; Oregon Mortgage Lender License #ML-2991; Washington Consumer Loan License #520-CL-48866. Timothy E. Samuels, NMLS109468, MLO-109468. Ticket # 2013082310000891

4

|

VETERANS LIFE |

Contributed photo

Clayton Kuhles poses while on a climbing expedition where he searches for downed U.S. planes from World War II.

O CTO B E R 2 013

• Brake Inspection/replacement • Transmissions & Clutch work • Lube, Oil & Filter service Keyport Auto Repair Owner Ben Elmer

KEYPORT

AUTO

REPAIR

• Tune-ups • Shocks • Tire Rotation • Minor/Major Services • Plus many other services

(360) 698-9528 or (360) 779-5232

Mon - Fri 8:00–5:30pm • 1954 St. Hwy. 308 • Keyport

going back to the area.

“My father was of this generation,” he said. “I heard his stories and his friends stories of war time. When I found out how many Americans are still missing, the adventurer in me had to go.”

Too many who climb mountains do so just to say they did it, he said.

He sees this identification work as adding a purpose to his climbing.

“Climbers tend to be people who are climbing to prove something to themselves,” he said. “It’s a vain sport that doesn’t help anybody. I want my work to have a deeper purpose.”

In all, Kuhles has made 10 expeditions in the China-Burma-India theater of World War II. He’s located 25 sites and made positive identification of 17 U.S. planes.

He’s helped account for 193 personnel missing or Killed in Action. When he began the work, he would pack out human remains, parts of aircrafts, flight jackets — anything that was proof of the crash site.

But it wasn’t always the best idea, he found out.

“As a private individual, it’s against the law to transport human remains,” he said. “Working with JPAC, (Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command) I’ve learned that I should just take field notes, look for the serial numbers of the construction numbers on the wreckage and, if possible, place any human remains in plastic bags and and leave them at the site.”

Early on, he had an experience with Burmese Intelligence Agents who held him for a time when he carried flight jackets and boots back from a site before he knew to leave them behind.

Now, he works the sites and takes notes so that crash sites and remains are documented and he gives that information to JPAC. In order to undertake his expeditions, Kuhles has to get permits from the governments of the countries where he’ll be.

He also has to find locals who will make the trek with him.

“Everything hinges on that,” he said. “Many times, I’m the first American they’ve ever met. They’re very friendly people but most are illit-

erate. Communication is difficult.”

He said guides are paid a fair wage to go exploring with him and he supplies them with the gear that they’ll need.

His trips usually take place in late November or early December.

Summers in the area are from June to September and it’s too wet to go then, he said.

“We’re going 14,000 feet into the mountains across a pass in high snow,” he said. “Some of the locals worry about the snow. They won’t go any later in the season.”

Because of funding, Kuhles wasn’t able to make a trip last year. He hopes to go yet this year, but he’s $9,000 short in his fundraising. Each trip costs about $11,000 and can run up to $20,000 to $30,000 depending on how long he stays on site. He’s spent nearly $100,000 of his own money so far.

His hope is that he can get JPAC to contract with him to do the recovery for the U.S. government and actually be able to bring back artifacts and remains. Because of politics, governments in China and India aren’t keen on having U.S. troops do the work, Kuhles said.

“China doesn’t really want the U.S. there because they consider it sovereign territory,” he said. “JPAC wants to do the recoveries, but there’s boarder disputes between the Indian government and China and it’s just not possible.”

The Prescott, Arizona man, who is an Army veteran, often thinks about an experience that he had when he helped a missing World War II flier come home. In 2003, he found the crash site

Contributed photo

With some local guides, Clayton Kuhles stops at the Burma - India border near where he has searched for mising American military members. He’s made 10 expeditions to locate MIAs. of plane and the remains of three Americans who were eventually identified by DNA. One was Mervyn Earl Sims.

Sims, a 23-year-old Army private, died with four other crewmen aboard a military cargo plane that crashed high in the Himalayas on April 24, 1943. Remains were given to JPAC and the identifications were made in Hawaii by the U.S. Government.

“His family invited me to attend the memorial in Petaluma, California,” he

said. “I met two elderly ladies who had gone to school with (Sims) and they talked about what he was like when he was young. It was a very emotional experience for me.”

The family asked him to be a part of the service, to talk about his work, and to then place dirt over the man’s ashes as they were buried.

“When I think about that day, it reminds me why I do this, “ he said.

To learn more or to donate go to www. miarecoveries.org.

“I have worn dentures for 27 years and have never had such attentive care. The dentures are wonderful!”

You'll love what we can do for your smile!

• Denturist & Dentist on Staff • Crowns & Bridges • Cosmetic & General Dentistry

• Extractions • Denture Repair • Relines (while you wait) • Emergency Care • Denturist & Dentist on Staff • Dentures / Partials

1000 + 2 *

FINANCING AS LOW AS

** % .99

FIND YOUR RIDE TODAY:

2.99% + 1000 +2

$ 1000 $

REBATES UP TO

REBATES UP TO

*

*

FINANCING AS LOW AS

.99%**

FINANCING AS LOW AS **

FIND YOUR RIDE TODAY:

FIND YOUR RIDE TODAY:

Offers good on new and unregistered units purchased between 7/30/13-9/30/13. *On select models. See your dealer for details. Rates as low as 2.99% for 36 months. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness.

Fixed APR of 2.99%, 6.99%, or 9.99% will be assigned based on credit approval criteria. Other financing offers are available. See your local dealer for details. Minimum Amount Financed $1,500; Maximum Amount Financed $50,000. Other qualifications and restrictions may apply. Financing promotions void where prohibited. Offer effective on all new and unused 2008-2014 Polaris ATV, RANGER, and RZR models purchased from a participating Polaris dealer between 7/30/2013 and 9/30/2013. Offer subject to change without notice. Warning: The Polaris RANGER® and RZR® are not intended for on-road use. Driver must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s license to operate. Passengers must be at least 12 years old and tall enough to grasp the hand holds and plant feet firmly on the floor. All SxS drivers should take a safety training course. Contact ROHVA at www.rohva.org or (949) 255-2560 for additional information. Drivers and passengers should always wear helmets, eye protection, protective clothing, and seat belts. Always use cab nets or doors (as equipped). Be particularly careful on difficult terrain. Never drive on public roads or paved surfaces. Never engage in stunt driving, and avoid excessive speeds and sharp turns. Riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. Check local laws before riding on trails. ATVs can be hazardous to operate. Polaris adult models are for riders 16 and older. For your safety, always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing, and be sure to take a safety training course. For safety and training information in the U.S., call the SVIA at (800) 887-2887. You may also contact your Polaris dealer or call Polaris at (800) 342-3764. ©2013 Polaris Industries Inc.

FREE*

Anderson Denture Patient

$

REBATES UP TO

New patient consultation and oral exam *X-Rays excluded.

Must present this ad to receive.

Most Insurances Accepted

1200 Charleston Beach Road, Hwy 304, Bremerton 360.377.5568 • Cliffscyclecenter.com HOURS Tuesday-Saturday 10am-6pm Family owned and operated Since 1967.

Offers good on new and unregistered units purchased between 7/30/13-9/30/13. *On select models. See your dealer for details. Rates as low as 2.99% for 36 months. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness.

Fixed APR of 2.99%, 6.99%, or 9.99% will be assigned based on credit approval criteria. Other financing offers are available. See your local dealer for details. Minimum Amount Financed $1,500; Maximum Amount Financed $50,000. Other qualifications and restrictions may apply. Financing promotions void where prohibited. Offer effective on all new and unused 2008-2014 Polaris ATV, RANGER, and RZR models purchased from a participating Polaris dealer between 7/30/2013 and 9/30/2013. Offer subject to change without notice. Warning: The Polaris RANGER® and RZR® are not intended for on-road use. Driver must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s license to operate. Passengers must be at least 12 years old and tall enough to grasp the hand holds and plant feet firmly on the floor. All SxS drivers should take a safety training course. Contact ROHVA at www.rohva.org or (949) 255-2560 for additional information. Drivers and passengers should always wear helmets, eye protection, protective clothing, and seat belts. Always use cab nets or doors (as equipped). Be particularly careful on difficult terrain. Never drive on public roads or paved surfaces. Never engage in stunt driving, and avoid excessive speeds and sharp turns. Riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. Check local laws before riding on trails. ATVs can be hazardous to operate. Polaris adult models are for riders 16 and older. For your safety, always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing, and be sure to take a safety training course. For safety and training information in the U.S., call the SVIA at (800) 887-2887. You may also contact your Polaris dealer or call Polaris at (800) 342-3764. ©2013 Polaris Industries Inc.

Offers good on new and unregistered units purchased between 7/30/13-9/30/13. *On select models. See your dealer for details.

Rates as low as 2.99% for 36 months. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. Fixed APR of 2.99%, 6.99%, or 9.99% will be assigned based on credit approval criteria. Other fi nancing offers are available. See your local dealer for details. Minimum Amount Financed $1,500; Maximum Amount Financed $50,000. Other qualifi cations and restrictions may apply. Financing promotions void where prohibited. Offer effective on all new and unused 2008-2014 Polaris ATV, RANGER, and RZR models purchased from a participating Polaris dealer between 7/30/2013 and 9/30/2013. Offer subject to change without notice. Warning: The Polaris RANGER® and RZR® are not intended for on-road use. Driver must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s license to operate. Passengers must be at least 12 years old and tall enough to grasp the hand holds and plant feet fi rmly on the fl oor. All SxS drivers should take a safety training course. Contact ROHVA at www.rohva.org or (949) 255-2560 for additional information. Drivers and passengers should always wear helmets, eye protection, protective clothing, and seat belts. Always use cabgoodnets (asunitsequipped).

Be7/30/13-9/30/13. particularly careful onyourdiffi terrain.

Never on public roads orandpaved surfaces.

Never Offers on newor anddoors unregistered purchased between *On select models. See dealercult for details.

Rates as low as 2.99%drive for 36 months.

Approval, and any rates terms provided, are based on credit worthiness.

Fixed APR of 2.99%, 6.99%, or 9.99% will be assigned based on credit approval criteria. Other financing offers are available. See your local dealer for details. Minimum Amount Financed $1,500; Maximum Amount Financed $50,000. Other engage inrestrictions stuntmaydriving, andpromotions avoidvoidexcessive speeds andon allsharp Riding and alcohol/drugs don’tfrom mix.

CheckPolaris localdealerlaws before qualifi cations and apply. Financing where prohibited.

Offer effective new and turns. unused 2008-2014 Polaris ATV, RANGER, and RZR models purchased a participating between 7/30/2013 and 9/30/2013. Offer subject to change without notice. Warning: The Polaris RANGER and RZR are not intended for on-road use. Driver must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s license to operate. Passengers must be at least 12 years old and ATVs canfeetbefirmlyhazardous todrivers operate. adult areat www.rohva.org for ridersor (949) 16 and older.

Forinformation. your safety, a wear tallriding enough toon grasptrails. the hand holds and plant on the floor. All SxS should takePolaris a safety training course.models Contact ROHVA 255-2560 for additional Drivers andalways passengers wear should always helmets, eye protection, protective clothing, and seat belts. Always use cab nets or doors (as equipped). Be particularly careful on difficult terrain. Never drive on public roads or paved surfaces. Never engage in stunt driving, and avoid excessive speeds and sharpeye turns.protection Riding and alcohol/drugs mix. Check localclothing, laws before riding on trails. be hazardous operate. Polaris adult models are for ridersFor 16 and older. For and your safety, always wearinformation a helmet, eye protection helmet, anddon’t protective and beATVs surecan to take atosafety training course. safety training inand protective clothing, and be sure to take a safety training course. For safety and training information in the U.S., call the SVIA at (800) 887-2887. You may also contact your Polaris dealer or call Polaris at (800) 342-3764. ©2013 Polaris Industries Inc. the U.S., call the SVIA at (800) 887-2887. You may also contact your Polaris dealer or call Polaris at (800) 342-3764. ©2013 Polaris Industries Inc. ®

19410 8th Ave. N.E., Suite 102, Poulsbo • 360-779-1566 • 800-990-9116 www.andersondenturedental.com

O CTO B E R 2 013

|

®

VETERANS LIFE | 5

You receive it on Graduation Day. But it’s never handed to you.

Because when it’s a degree from Columbia College, it’s a degree that demands effort and rewards hard work.

That’s a notion our students at 18 campuses on military bases truly understand.

Attorney General unveils new resource for veterans and military personnel Guide helps veterans with their legal rights and protections SEATTLE– tant sacrifices Washington for our country and they State Attorney deserve our General Bob support,” said Ferguson has Col. Malinda announced a Beggs of the new “Military Washington and Veterans Air National Legal Resource Guard and Guide” to Commander help veterans, military perState Attorney General of the Joint sonnel and Services Bob Ferguson their families Support Unit understand at Camp their legal rights and Murray. protections.

“Getting called to “Coming from a family of veterans, I know how important it is to honor the service of our brave men and women in the Armed Forces by making sure they have the support and resources they need,” said Attorney General Bob Ferguson.

“This new resource guide is an example of how the Attorney General’s Office can work with other organizations to help veterans and military personnel access the unique rights and protections available to them under the law.”

Flanked by veterans’ advocates and military officials on Sept. 10, Ferguson announced that the new resource guide for veterans and military personnel is part of a broader initiative in the Attorney General’s Office to focus on enhancing the office’s efforts to assist veterans and military personnel.

“The Department of Veterans Affairs works hard to connect veterans with resources and benefits they have earned,” said Washington Department of Veterans Affairs Director Alfie Alvarado-Ramos.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the Attorney General’s Office to help fulfill our mission of serving those who served.”

Offering Associate,Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees.

Contact Columbia College’s local representative at Washington@ccis.edu or call (253) 861-6564.

6

|

VETERANS LIFE |

“Our active duty and reservists make impor-

O CTO B E R 2 013

active duty or deployed overseas can create challenges for service members and their families.

“I appreciate the attention the Attorney General is giving to the issues facing our state’s military personnel and families.”

The Attorney General’s new military and veteran initiative focuses on: • Engaging veterans and members of the military through enhanced outreach efforts; • Educating veterans and military personnel about the legal rights and protections available to them because of their service; • Enforcing the laws within the agency’s authority, such as the Consumer Protection Act, to protect Washington’s veterans and military personnel from unfair and deceptive business practices; and • Encouraging the development of policies that advance the interests of Washington’s veterans and military personnel.

The resource guide is a central part of the Attorney General’s new initiative.

The guide is available online and will be distributed throughout the state.

“Washington’s veterans and military person-

nel served or are serving to defend our rights, and they should know that the Attorney General’s Office is working to defend their rights as well,” said Ferguson.

Standing with the state’s veterans, military service members and their families is a top priority for the Attorney General.

In the first six months since taking office, Ferguson has: • Appointed a veterans’ outreach specialist; • Created a new Web site, featuring legal resources for veterans, military and their families in the areas of business and commerce, housing, employment and the law; • Cracked down on schemes targeting veterans with the promise of untapped benefits; • Signed the Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve; and • Convened the Military and Veterans Assistance Team — an internal team of attorneys and legal staff dedicated to improving services for veterans, military and their families in Washington.

With approximately 640,000 veteran residents, Washington State has the 12th largest veteran population in the United States.

Washington is also home to a number of major military installations, such as Joint Base Lewis–McChord, Fairchild Air Force Base, Naval Base Kitsap, and Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

Between active duty military personnel and members of the National Guard and Reserve, there are about 62,000 service members in Washington.

Taken together, veterans and military personnel account for more than 10 percent of Washington’s total population.

Navy vet once gave all to country; now he gives to students

By Seraine Page

Larry Cleman knows that you’re never too old to learn something new.

Which could explain why the 57-year-old veteran is going back to school for his master’s degree in January.

He currently works as the program coordinator for the Veteran and Military Support Center, which he says is the best job he’s ever had. That’s saying a lot considering how many different jobs the Navy veteran had over his career.

“I believe in life-long learning,” Cleman says of continuing his education.

As a Navy vet who spent 26 years traveling the world, switching rates and discovering new interests, it is easy to see Cleman is a man excited by life. At 18 he joined. He turned 19 in boot camp.

After a four year tour, he got out and went to nursing school. A four year nursing stint changed his mind, and he decided that the Navy was a better choice. While in, he worked as an electronics tech, non-designated striker, interior communications electrician and then as a cryptologist. At one point, he also worked as a recruiter, telling people “what an honest day in the Navy was.” From 1983 up until his retirement, he worked in anti-terrorism and intelligence realm for the rest of his career.

“My favorite part (of the Navy) was working with the people,” he says. “Really smart people.”

His travels have taken him from Washington to Japan, and to places as warm as Florida and as cold as Connecticut. His wife, Dru, a former Marine, also has joined her husband in pursuit of higher education. Dru Cleman’s father — a threewar veteran — retired from the military and went back to school to be a teacher, which proved to her the importance of education.

“Education is the way to get knowledge,” says the former Marine. “You gotta keep your brain sharp. It’s never too late to go back or get a second degree or whatever you want to do.”

The couple is also known

as “overachievers” on campus when it comes to class work and dedications, she says.

When Larry Cleman retired in August 2005, he found that he kept some of the same routines he had when he was in the military.

At first, he found himself running six miles a day and doing “all the fun stuff” that had been drilled into his mindset. He took a “hiatus” and did some work in Idaho before settling back into the Pacific Northwest where he started on an online degree in college administration and leadership.

After interning at Olympic College for his bachelor’s degree requirements, he was hired on to work with veterans on a daily basis. Much of his routines at the center are built around schedules he set for himself in the military. On a typical morning, Cleman walks into the center before any other staff members do.

“I come in bright and early ‘cause I’m military,” he says with a hint of pride.

He gets the coffee brewing, and by 7:30 a.m., his first work-study student

comes in for some academic help. The center — where American flags and splashes of red, white and blue fill the room — is a kind of sanctuary for veterans looking to relax or study.

The center also has tutors on site to assist in math and English, Cleman says. It also acts as a hub for activities to bring diverse groups together to experience fellowship, like potlucks. The veteran gatherings are good for the students, says Cleman, because some aren’t used to being socialized in a setting other than the military. Yet, Cleman has also reached out into the depths of society to homeless veterans to encourage college enrollment.

“We’ve had several success stories,” he says of homeless vets making it through school. Cleman offers information at the Retsil Veterans Home to homeless vets interested in going back to school. He tells them how to enroll, shows them how to apply for financial aid and what benefits they have as former military members.

Cleman realizes how hard it is for homeless students to make it through school. He’s

Your premier Northwest escape at water’s edge

Seraine Page/ Staff photo

Larry Cleman sits at his desk at Olympic College. Cleman, a Navy vet, is a program coordinator who helps veterans find their way through college courses. seen some sleep in cars right on campus. The vets will shower in the gym, and then they come into the Veteran and Military Support Center for a hot cup of coffee and some goodies brought in by staff or fellow students.

“It’s sad, but they know it’s a chance to get away from that,” he says.

As a way to give a helping hand up, Cleman utilizes his knowledge of computers and electronics to refurbish desktop computers to give to vets in need. Family and friends donate their old computers to Cleman who in turn fixes the hard drives and updates the computer to be “fully functional.”

The pieces of computers won’t be found inside the

center, but take up an entire room in the Cleman household.

“I have a room my wife hates,” he says with a laugh.

It is his generosity and dedication to students that landed him a job with the college in the first place, reasons Dianna Larsen, dean of enrollment services and registrar at Olympic College.

Larsen has seen the difference her employee has made in the lives of students on campus.

“I’m extremely grateful (for him),” says Larsen. “The students that need technology and having it in their home makes a big difference in their educational opportunities. They can take online classes which they

couldn’t do if they didn’t have a computer.”

Larsen, a Navy brat, understands the commitment Cleman has made inside the military, and sees that same commitment in his interactions with students.

“He’s been in the military; he’s helped sailors in the past and he’s continuing (on that) that level. We have so many vets and active military attending this institution,” she says. “I don’t think we could have selected a better person for this particular position. He has the wisdom of being a student and knowing what that kind of study takes. He applies that to the students and their everyday life.”

North Kitsap Auto Rebuild.

Family owned since 1996

EVERYTHING IS BETTER AT THE BEACH! Patio Parties on the water at

The Beachfront Martini Lounge

6pm to 10pm Every Friday

Food • Music • Drinks The Lounge is open until Midnight Stay & Enjoy Our Fire Pit!

22177VikingAve.Way NW • Poulsbo

SILVERDALE BEACH HOTEL

3073 NW Bucklin Hill Rd Silverdale WA 98383 360-698-1000

www.silverdalebeachhotel.com

(360) 779-4799

AAA Washington Top Shop Award 10 consecutive years

Voted “BestAuto Body Shop”

Your Local, Veteran Owned Auto Body Shop!

NorthKitsapAutoRebuild.com O CTO B E R 2 013

|

VETERANS LIFE | 7

Daughter inspires U.S. Army veteran’s dramatic weight loss, return to college

By Margo Myers,

Contributed photo

Darcy Bockman-Wright took on the challenge of losing weight and getting her degree to help herself and her daughter.

Margo Myers Communications

Inspiration comes in many forms, and for Darcy Bockman-Wright, her inspiration is daughter Megan, who is about to begin high school.

Bockman-Wright has lost 170 pounds, and in September returned to college to finish her bachelor’s degree at Brandman University.

“My goal is to graduate from college with my bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership before my daughter graduates from high school,” said Bockman-Wright. “And, I didn’t want to be that mom whose weight embarrasses my kids.”

Bockman-Wright’s story is one of hardship and perseverance, but with clear goals now in her reach.

She moved to Germany after her mother died in a car crash, and after living with her father and stepmother for several months, went to live in an all girls’ home at age 12. “It’s like Germany’s version of foster care, but it was amazing,” she said. “I was the first American in an all girls’

home, and I got to travel and see a lot of Europe with girls who came from all around the world.”

Custom Acoustic Instrument Creation & Repair

Ken Replogle, Luthier (360) 990-0890 www.skunkbaystrings.com

FAST & FRIENDLY SERVICES Mon-Sat 9am-8pm Sunday 11am-5pm

Fast, Friendly Service Walk-Ins or Appointments Available • Haircut..................... $20 • Military/Senior ..... $17 • Buzzcut ................... $12 • Neck ............................$5 • Camo (Tint)............ $30 • Beard...........................$8 • Kids Cut................... $17

Bockman-Wright joined the U.S. Army in Frankfurt in 1993, serving until 2002 as an eye

8

|

Miller-Woodlawn Advance Planning Seminars

October 8th, 6:30 pm Veterans Benefits Advance Planning Seminar Followed with Docent Lead Tour of the Museum

October 15th, 6:30 pm Life Legacy Advance Planning Seminar (Non Vet) Followed with Docent Lead Tour of the Museum

Veteran’s Benefits Program

Limited Seating – Attendees MUST R.S.V.P. Refreshments will be served

6:30 PM to 7:30 PM • 1st & 3rd Tuesday of every month J. Charles Young Friendship Room Refreshments will be served – Please RSVP

360-782-2263 www.acmebarbershop.com

VETERANS LIFE |

ing me even more,” said Bockman-Wright. “And I don’t think I’ll stop at my bachelor’s.

“Long-term, I know I can finish my master’s in organizational leadership.

“I want to be a leader on base, whether it’s at Madigan, the VA or a unit attached to JBLM.” Bockman-Wright says she’s been through a lot in her life, but she wouldn’t change a thing. “I went through all the things in my life to get where I am,” she said. “Don’t let anyone tell you ‘you can’t,’ because you can.”

With daughter Megan starting high school and Bockman-Wright going back to college, she says she feels as if they’re both starting new chapters in their lives.

In addition to being a role model for her daughter, she hopes her story will prove to be inspirational to others.

“If I can change one person’s mind about losing weight or going to school, and if I can inspire just one person to get off the couch and take back control of their life, then it’s all worthwhile.”

Welcome aboard the USS Turner Joy

Downtown Bremerton 517 4th Street Serving Washington for over 8 years.

specialist, a combat medic and a truck driver. Finally leaving a relationship she describes as “abusive,” she ended up in Seattle at the YMCA Women’s Shelter with her young daughter, starting her life over from “scratch.” She found a job at a local bank, and “not learning my lesson the first time,” found herself in another bad relationship.

She left when she realized that wasn’t the example she wanted to set for her daughter. Again on her own as a single parent, Bockman-Wright took a job with an eye doctor, and joined a church. She didn’t date for more than a year.

When she met the man who would eventually become her husband, Bockman-Wright says she weighed about 200 pounds.

She became pregnant with her son, Brennan, and her weight ballooned to 280. And then it got worse.

Back and knee injuries kept her from exercising, and her weight reached a high of 345 pounds. “I wanted to be happy,” said Bockman-Wright. “But every day I would look in the mirror and see a reflection of what I couldn’t do, and I felt like a failure.”

Last year, BockmanWright, who currently works at Madigan Army Medical Center in Ophthalmology at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, decided to take back control of her weight and her life.

Last September, she had gastric bypass surgery.

Even though she says it hasn’t been easy, with the support of her husband and children, she’s now down to 180 pounds.

“Since I’ve had the surgery, I walk with my head held high,” said BockmanWright.

With the dramatic weight loss comes more confidence, and the drive to finish her college degree.

“College is empower-

O CTO B E R 2 013

(360) 377-7648

Learn About Your VA Burial Benefits

Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home & Memorial Park 5505 Kitsap Way Bremerton • (360) 377-7648

Veterans advisory board honors “Run” participants

By Leslie Kelly Eight groups that support veterans were honored this month at a meeting of the Kitsap County Veterans Advisory Board for their participation in the “2013 The Unforgotten: Run to Tahoma.”

Board Chairman Mark Lowe said these groups made it possible for the event to happen. It is an annual motorcycle escort from the Kitsap County Coroner’s office to the Tahoma Cemetery where the remains of unclaimed veterans are given a proper burial.

“This year 400 motorcycles escorted the remains of 25 deceased veterans,” he said. “We took our brothers home the right way.”

Honored were: the American Legion Post 245, Combat Veterans International Chapter 11, Disabled American Veterans Chapters 5 and 22, Fleet Reserve Branch 29, Marine Corps League Detachment 531, the Suquamish Warriors, Veterans of Foreign Wars Posts 2669 and 4992 and the Vietnam Veterans/ Legacy Veterans group.

Each received ribbons for the years that they participated and each ribbon was embroidered with their names and years of work. Some groups received up to four ribbons because the board hadn’t passed them out for four years, Lowe said.

One veteran, who goes by the name “Roofer” from the Vietnam Veterans Legacy Group, was given special recognition for hand making all the urns in which the remains are buried.

Combat Veterans International Chapter 11 spokesman “Mud” summed up the day: “It was one Hell of a day,” he said. “We appre-

Leslie Kelly /Staff photos

Above: Veterans from local groups honor participants in the “Run to Tahoma” with ribbons. Right: Sen. Nathan Schlicher speaks to veterans about upcoming legislation. ciate all of you for showing up.”

The groups plan to do the annual run again on Memorial Day weekend in May 2014.

“This year 400 motorcycles escorted the remains of 25 deceased veterans.

We took our brothers home the right way.”

– Board Chairman Mark Lowe In other work, the board heard a presentation by Washington State Sen. Christine Rolfs, (D-23rd) who updated the veterans on legisla-

tion she expects to see in the 2014 session.

State Sen. Nathan Schlicher (D-26th) also spoke.

Rolfs outlined a number of bills that had passed last session that helped veterans and said she she expects a bill that will allow waivers for in state tuition for active military serving elsewhere to pass this year.

The board asked her to push for a state drivers license that signifies that the holder is a veteran, citing that two other states have it.

Members said that would help to identify veterans at their time of death.

Did you hear the buzz?

Unique Gift Shop • • • • •

Jewelry locally made Antiques Collectables Raw Honey Bee Supplies

Stedman Bee Supplies 3763 NW Anderson Hill Rd., SIlverdale • 360-692-9453 www.stedmans.webstarts.com

SPECIA L

Personalized Home Care Services Since 1975, ResCare has provided services that help individuals maximize their independence and quality of life.

3100 NW Bucklin Hill Rd., Suite 100, Silverdale

360-698-8590

Lunch: spend $15 take $3 off

Dinner: spend $25 take $6 off Way NW, Silverdale with this coupon 10424 Silverdale (360) 613-4005 • Ross Plaza Expires 10/12/13. Not valid with any other offers.

O CTO B E R 2 013

|

VETERANS LIFE | 9

Veterans Resources

American Legion Post 245 Service Office Assisting veterans Open every Thursday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

19068 Jensen Way, Suite 3A Downtown Poulsbo 360-779-5456

American Legion Post 245 General meeting every third Thursday at 7 p.m.

19068 Jensen Way, Suite 3A Downtown Poulsbo www.alpost245.org 360-779-5456 WorkSource Kitsap County Veterans representatives

1300 Sylvan Way, Floor 2 Bremerton 360-337-4767 jmckenna@esd.wa.gov Disabled Veterans Outreach Michael Robinson 360-337-4727 mrobinson@esd.wa.gov American Legion Post 149 4922 Kitsap Way Bremerton 360-373-8983 www.legion149wa.org

VWF Post 239 Bremerton Post 190 Dora Ave. Bremerton 360-377-6739 Meets at 7 p.m. second Tuesday of the month Silverdale American Legion Post 109 10710 Silverdale Way, Silverdale Meets on the third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at All Star Lanes & Casino

Alpost109cmdr@gmail.com Facebook: American Legion Post 109 Silverdale American Legion Post 172, Bainbridge Island 7880 NE Bucklin Hill Road, Bainbridge Island 206-8425000 Disabled American Veterans 2315 Burwell St. Bremerton 360-373-2397

Marine Corps League Olympic Peninsula Detachment 531 2315 Burwell St. Bremerton 360-265-7492 Meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m.

To be listed in Veterans Resources, email lkelly@ soundpublishing.com

Veterans program logs help

By Leslie Kelly

You have faster speed options.

You have a friend in broadband.

Connect all of your devices with Wave’s High Speed 15: • 15 Mbps downloads • 2 Mbps uploads • Private & secure network without limitations on number of connected devices

ORDER TODAY. 1-877-993-7036 | wavebroadband.com

*Residential offers only. Expires 10/30/13. Equipment fees, Universal Service Fund, E911, taxes, surcharges and other fees apply. High Speed 15 Internet offer is good after a $15/mo. Instant Rebate, taken off regular price of High Speed 15, currently $49.95/month with qualifying services, $59.95/month without. Includes 300GB data transfer usage per month. Usage beyond 300GB/month subject to additional charges. Minimum computer system requirements apply. Speed is not guaranteed and is affected by user’s computer, sites accessed and number of devices connected. Cable modem required. Multimedia modem required when internet and phone service is combined. Wireless Home Networking regularly $8/month and includes multimedia modem. Installation is $29.95 and good for 1 computer, or 3 computers with Wireless Home Networking. Phone installation is $29.95 for 4 existing pre-wired outlets. Money-Back Guarantee good for new products/services only and credited on a pro-rated basis up to the first 30 days. Serviceable areas only. Prices subject to change. Not valid with other offers. Certain restrictions and additional fees may apply. Call for complete details. WASHINGTON RESIDENTS: The base rates listed are subject to a 2% Regulatory Recovery Fee, which added together determines the total price.

WBB_SP_10.13

10

|

VETERANS LIFE |

O CTO B E R 2 013

At its September meeting, the Kitsap County Veterans Assistance Program released statistics about the help it gave out to area veterans during the month of August.

More than $16,000 was dispersed to veterans in need.

Among that amount, $7,218 was given in rent assistance.

Another $3,278 was given to help veterans with their Puget Sound Energy bills and another $265 was given to pay natural gas bills.

Water bill help amounted to $241 and sewer bills were paid to the tune of $384. Another $251 went for help with bills to Waste Management.

In all, $1,101 was paid in August for help with medical care and $785 was paid for help with dental care. About $300 was spent to help veterans with clothing needs.

Another $924 helped vets with their automobile repairs.

Gasoline help accounted for $295 and more than $1,853 went for help with food.

The total number of veterans helped was 39, and of those 15 were new clients.

There were only two applicants that were denied due to their income being over the necessary income levels. They were, however, referred to other organizations for help.

Year-to-date, 308 applications have been received and 289 veterans have been helped. Of those, 141 are new to the program this year.

In all, more than $100,600 has been paid out to help veterans in Kitsap County.

In August, of those who asked for help, 14 were heads of households and their average age was 42. The majority were single men although there were three single men with children and one single female head of household.

The highest monthly income of applicants served was $2,673 and the average was $791.

Chatter

Talk about veterans from around the web Kitsap to host Stand Down The fall 2013 Stand Down for Veterans will be Oct. 5 at the Sheridan Park Community Center, 680 Lebo Blvd., in east Bremerton.

The Kitsap County Veterans Program will sponsor the event along with the city of Bremerton and the Kitsap Area Veterans Alliance.

The event is for veterans and their families and will offer hot meals, hygiene items, clothing, groceries, haircuts, sleeping bags and camping gear, and information about programs helping veterans.

Veterans can learn more about legal assistance, employment, housing options, enrollment in federal programs, getting drivers licenses, getting free voicemail and help with VA claims. Participants should bring copies of their DD214 discharge papers, military or retired military identification.

The event will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 2 p.m.

Green Crew helps Trail Have you heard of the BLUE CREW, or the GOLD CREW? Well, this is the GREEN CREW. On August 8, Submarine Operations Detachments Bravo and Kilo, from NOSC KITSAP, teamed together with local community members from the Clear Creek Task Force (CCTF) to perform maintenance, and cleaning of the trail in Silverdale. The “GREEN CREW” provided 40 man-hours of support, with potential support activities

planned for next Spring.

The CCTF is an alliance of Kitsap County citizens, businesses, groups and service organizations. It’s mission is to create and maintain a community wide network to mobilize support, educate and focus actions to preserve, protect and restore the Clear Creek ecosystem. Members and supporters envision a future with Clear Creek as a healthy stream ecosystem with clean water, a healthy salmon run, native plants and animal habitat, providing quiet enjoyment and evoking sensitivity and respect for the stream, a part of our natural heritage.

Military friendly school nearby Western Washington University has been selected as a “Military Friendly School” for 2014, placing Western in the top 20 percent of all higher education institutions nationwide. This is the fourth year in a row for the honor.

Based on a survey of more than 10,000 colleges and universities, Western is one of the schools to receive recognition for doing the most to assist America’s military service members and veterans as students.

“We feel it is very important to welcome and to help veterans transition as much as possible to university life, providing as much support as we can,” said Western Registrar David Brunnemer.

Western offers a range of Veterans Services through the Registrar’s Office. The Associated Students have a very active Veterans Outreach

Voted one of the TOP 3 Best Deli’s in 2013 Best of North Kitsap!

Center.

The Military Friendly Schools® website, found at www.militaryfriendlyschools. com, features the list, interactive tools and search functionality to help military students find the best school to suit their unique needs and preferences. The 1,868 schools on this year’s list exhibit leading practices in the recruitment and retention of students with military experience.

Veterans Job Fair Sept. 28 More than 50 agencies will be present at the Sept.

28 job fair at Jackson Park Community Center. The event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and offers veterans a chance to meet with federal human resources, defense contractors, recruiters and other national and international businesses.

Veterans are encouraged to bring their resume as resume review workshops will be available in half hour sessions from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on site. The event will be at 90 Olding Road in Bremerton. ...The Veterans Administration plans on spending billions to increase the availability of health care for veterans.

The new initiative, Patient Centered Community Care (PC3), will be implemented in phases across the county over the next six months. ...Small Business Association lenders have pledged to provide veterans with reduced fees on SBA loans and offer lower interest rates to veteran owned businesses.

Cannot be combined with any other offer. One per party.

Exp. 10/31/13. Must present coupon Like us

for additional specials

Doors open 7:00 PM | Show 8:00 PM

Tickets $15, $20 & $25 | Get Tickets Today After Party in The Boom Room

LIVE MMA

Friday, October 11th

Doors open 5:00 PM | Fights 6:00 PM Tickets $35 and $55

&

H

E R OE S

2 Large Pizzas$20 BUY 2 large, 3 topping pizzas for only $20

1/2 OFF 2nd DELI SANDWICH

FREE WINGS

THE GREATEST LITTLE SH Saturday, November 9th

Briefly...

*Does not include specialty pizzas or additional toppings. Cannot be combined with any other offer. One per party. Exp. 10/31/13.

Must present coupon.

BUY ANY large specialty pizza and receive an order of wings FREE.

Wrestling Micro ChampionshipOW ON EARTH

BUY ONE Hot or Cold Deli Sandwich at regular price and get your second one of equal or lesser value 1/2 OFF. *Does not include calzones or strombolies.

Cannot be combined with any other offer.

One per party. Exp. 10/31/13.

Must present coupon

Viking Ave, NW (next to Advanced Rentals) 360-930-0649 20159 Open 7 Days a Week M-Th 10-8, Fri-Sat 10-10, Sun 11-6 – CATERING AVAILABLE • GLUTEN FREE & VEGETARIAN OPTIONS –

In person in gift shop

First Thursday of every month

All police, fire, EMT and military qualify with valid ID or pay stub: $25.00 in promotional play on slots and table games match play. Buy one get one free lunch or dinner buffet.

DAY Kingston, WA www.the-point-casino.com 1.866.547.6468

Close to Home... Far From Ordinary.®

Tickets available now at these locations: In the gift shop | On our website For more information Call 866.547.6468 | Ages 21 and over The Point Casino is proudly owned and operated by The Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe.

See the Wildcard Players Club for complete details. You must be a member of The Point Casino’s Wildcard Players Club to participate in some programs. Some restrictions may apply. Point Casino promotions, offers, coupons and/or specials may not be combined without marketing management approval. Management reserves all rights to alter or cancel without prior notice.

You must be at least 21 years old to participate in gaming activities, to attend entertainment events and to enter lounge/bar areas. Knowing your limit is your best bet—get help at (800) 547-6133.

TPC-4794-3 Oct Veterans Life.indd 1

O CTO B E R 2 013

|

9/20/13 1:50 PM

V E T E R A N S L I F E | 11

Well-known local WWII veteran is now a Son of the American Revolution

By Mick Hersey Compatriot John Druse (Bud) Hawk was recently added to the John Paul Jones Chapter of the Washington State Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

As the chapter’s flag chairman, I met John D. (Bud) Hawk while canvassing for flag certificates.

On April 15, JPJ President Doug Nelson and I presented “Bud” his certificate for flying his flag 24/7. During this visit it was discovered that he was from a long lineage of patriots serving this country.

His father served in WWI, grandfather in Spanish American War, great-grandfathers served in the Civil War, great-great grandfather served in the War of 1812 and his patriot ancestor Isaac Lawrence served as a Corporal in Captain John Hartwell’s Company, Colonel Dike’s Regiment. In this regiment he participated in the Battle for Bunker Hill.

You may ask why we are bringing this Compatriot to the recognition of all; well here is the history behind this man: Sixty-nine years ago,

Hawk’s heroic actions led to him being awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military honor. On Aug. 20, 1944, armed with only a light machine gun, Hawk helped hold back surrounded German forces attempting to breakout from their encirclement near Chambois, France.

Artillery fire injured Hawk’s leg and damaged his weapon.

Despite his injury, he managed to locate another weapon and exposed himself to enemy forces in order to direct anti-aircraft fire onto the German’s position due to the distance and noise, the American firing team was unable to hear Hawk’s firing corrections.

According to his Medal of Honor Citation, Hawk ran back to the firing team “through a concentration of bullets and shrapnel” to give corrected ranges to fire. After giving this report, Hawk once again ran back to his position which, once again, exposed himself to enemy fire. He remained to direct fire until the German forces surrendered.

While serving in Europe he would also receive the Distinguished Conduct Medal from the

“Your community theater” Free parking for our guests.

Today is a great day to go to the movies!

Why not spoil yourself with what has been called the best popcorn in Kitsap County? We will even lower the price for you.

Contributed photos

John Hawk is sworn into the Washington State Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, John Paul Jones Chapter in Bremerton on Aug. 22. He was presented his Membership Medal, War Service Medal and a World War II Certificate of Patriotism by John Paul Jones Chapter President Ken Roberts.

United Kingdom. The DCM was the secondhighest British award for valor given to enlisted men during WWII. By the time Hawk ended his Army career he was awarded four Purple Hearts to go along with a Bronze Star and the Medal of Honor.

President Harry S. Truman traveled to Olympia to present the Medal of Honor to Hawk on the state capitol steps.

John D. “Bud” Hawk will explain that he didn’t “win” the Medal of Honor because it wasn’t a contest and there were many other people who are equally deserving of the award and that he is the recipient of it for all his fellow soldiers.

In 1945, the City of Bremerton hosted a parade on Armed Forces

Day with Hawk as the Grand Marshall. He would participate in the parade for many years until his health prevented him from doing so starting in 2011. The Armed Forces Parade still continues and is the largest Armed Forces and longest continually running parade for Armed Forces.

After his war service Hawk returned to the University of Washington and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology. For more than 30 years he worked as a teacher and principal in the Central Kitsap School District.

On April 5, 2008, Hawk received the (new) Medal of Honor Flag in the Capitol Rotunda in Olympia. On Feb. 26, 2010, he was honored by

the rededication of the Rolling Bay Post Office as the “John “Bud” Hawk Post Office” near where he grew up as a child. In 2011, Joint Base Lewis/ McCord also honored him with their newest

education center dedicated to him. The “John “Bud” Hawk Education Center” is a 31,000 square-foot education center with nine classrooms and an auditorium.

Presenting

Serving the Olympic Peninsula since 1985

ff $2.00 o se purcha of a opcorn Large P is ad to

6 5 5 4 t h S t r e e t Bremerton Washington 98337 Showtimes: 360.362.4888 W e b : s e e f i l m . n e t

12

|

th Bring invantage of take ad ial offer. ec this sp 9/30/2013 Expires upon per One co t. per visi person,

VETERANS LIFE |

....You will experience a unique and enjoyable meal in grilling your favorite meats at your very own table. We use the finest beef, chicken, pork, and shrimp, along with freshest vegetables you can select from.

Come in for your great cuisine experience!

Largest Spa by MAAX, Now in Our Showroom We offer: • Full in-house service department • No trip charge within Kitsap County • Routine maintenance • In house water analysis • Hot tub covers • Chemicals • Pools & Spas

A Healthy Alternative to the Drive-Thru!

Tue-Sat: 11am - 9pm Sun: 11am - 8pm Closed Monday In Ross Plaza • 10408 Silverdale Way NW 360-698-7900

O CTO B E R 2 013

Model 480

Showroom Open 7 Days a Week!

9165 NW Ridgetop Blvd. • Silverdale • 360-692-6678 • www.foursps.com

Come visit our showroom for great spa deals!

American Lake Veterans Golf Course preparing for latest upgrade Expansion will increase Lakewood course from 9 to 18 holes to the course. The official groundbreaking on what LAKEWOOD — Many eventually will be the 10th hole was Aug. 31. golf courses throughout The course, which the country struggled is located at the VA to maintain participaHospital in Lakewood, tion levels through the is the only one in the Great Recession. But country that is completely perhaps because of its accessible to wounded uniqueness, American and disabled veterans.

Lake Veterans Golf Manager Bruce McKenty Course has proven to be said 33,000 an excepgolfers tion. The played last result will “If it wasn’t for this year at be the latplace, I would be at American est — and home looking at four Lake most draVeterans walls and probably matic — Golf upgrade to wouldn’t be able to Course. the course walk” “For when it – Froilan Marin what these expands guys have from 9 to given and contributed, 18 holes. there’s nothing too good Legendary golfer Jack for them as far as we’re Nicklaus and his design concerned,” Gatts said. firm have helped plan “We’re trying to create a nine-hole addition at a great, friendly atmothe course for military veterans and their friends sphere here. They can and family. Known as the come out and just enjoy the day.”

“Nicklaus Nine,” the new Similar to many holes are aimed to serve projects, Friends of able-bodied and disabled veterans along with those American Lake Veterans Golf Course has made recovering from physical improvements to the and psychological issues. course in three phases.

Roger Gatts, American The first, Gatts said, Lake Veterans Golf Course assistant manager, was a new irrigation system. In 2010, an said Nicklaus’ involve8,400-square-foot clubment stemmed from house was constructed. when Fircrest resident The project, which cost Ken Still, who volunteers more than $1.4 million, at the course, and othwas completed through ers on the “Friends of donations. Among the American Lake Veterans clubhouse features is a Golf Course,” the facilside room that offers ity’s nonprofit arm, instruction to blind discussed expanding the and paralyzed veterans. links. Still, a Professional Golf Association member American Lake Veterans Golf Course has carts, since 1953 and winner such as ParaGolfer and of three Tour tournaments, was a teammate of SoloRider, that arrived designed for individuals Nicklaus during the 1969 with mobility-impairRyder Cup. The two have ments. Unlike many remained friends, and carts, Gatts said those Still called Nicklaus to are capable to moving on discuss the idea. sand traps.

Nicklaus immediately He estimates that agreed to help and volunat least 1,200 veterans teered to send his design have received playing team — at no charge —

By CHRIS CHANCELLOR

Courtesy photo

The American Lake Veterans Golf Course will expand from 9 holes to 18 holes and feature what has already been dubbed the “Nicklaus Nine,” in honor of legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus whose team designed the new track free of charge. instruction in that room.

Among them are Froilan “Chico” Marin, who served from 1970-91 in the Air Force.

Marin suffered a stroke several years ago that rendered him legally blind. He said the twice-weekly lessons he takes at American Lake Veterans Golf Course, along with a workout regimen, helped him through the struggles that plagued him after he lost his eyesight.

“If it wasn’t for this place, I would be at home looking at four walls and probably wouldn’t be able to walk,” Marin said.

Gatts said veterans that come to the golf course have a variety of issues.

“Lots of guys come in with some mental issues — PTSD and traumatic brain injuries,” he said.

“A lot of them come here and think their life is over because they’re missing limbs or whatever the case may be. We change that attitude and give them purpose.”

Everyone who works at the course is a volunteer with positions ranging from mowing the grass to managing the facility. Gatts, who served in the Army, was medically

retired in 1985. He notes that some volunteers at the course are more than 90 years old and many are at least 70.

“I need this place as much as it needs me,” Gatts said. “It keeps me going. It keeps all of us going.”

Without employee overhead expenses, he said the course is able to keep rates low. Hours change with the season — they are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through October —

but fees remain steady.

Veterans pay an all-day rate of $12 and are able to bring a friend who did not serve in the military for $20. Carts are $9, while a large bucket of balls for the driving range is $4 with the smaller one running half that price.

Gatts said the late Dr. David Tatum was the impetus behind the course being constructed. He said when Tatum, a psychiatrist who was

hired to run the VA Hospital in Lakewood, moved to the area from Alabama, he noticed the undeveloped plot of land.

Tatum previously worked at a VA Hospital with a nearby golf course.

“He knew that it was good therapy for these guys to go out and play golf,” Gatts said.

With a $25,000 budget and scores of volunteers, American Lake Veterans Golf Course opened in 1955.

Happy Birthday to our US NAVY! For Active Duty, Retired Navy & Spouses

20% OFF THERAPEUTIC SERVICES

Complimentary Upgrade of Aromatherapy, Your Choice of our Signature Blends Expires 10/31/2013

Indigo Fountain Massage • Pool Table • Internet Access • Free Coffee • Pac-Man and Play Station 2

3656 NW Munson Street • Silverdale 360.731.8665 • IndigoFountain.com

O CTO B E R 2 013

|

V ET ER A NS LI FE | 13

Locally renowned artist’s talent emerged during WW II

By KEVAN MOORE After enlisting fresh out of high school, a bad bout of blood poisoning nearly killed Wallace Nelson at Marine Corps boot camp.

It also probably saved his life.

Following his illness, Nelson was forced to repeat boot camp.

Seventy percent of his original platoon, meanwhile, were among the more than 1,000 Marines killed at the Battle of Tarawa in 1943.

“Out of the archives, (my wife, Kathleen) pulled the old platoon pictures,” Nelson, now 90, said. “Here I am, a blond kid way up on the top in the back row, and the whole platoon was wiped out. Everybody.”

Nelson went on to become a gunner and radioman during the war. He also was one of the few guys, at that time, who had gone to radar school.

“Right then, that was a new, secret thing,” he said.

Nelson recalled how a tiny little box in the in the rear cockpit had a small screen that was connected to a small antenna on the wing.

That antenna could be directed by the operator who was trained to tell the difference, friend or foe, represented by the tiny blips.

It was also during this time that Nelson’s burgeoning interest in art began to emerge.

“When I got back from a f light and was waiting for the next f light, I’d lean against a palm tree or a tire at the airport and sketch,” Nelson said. “I had a sketch book and would do these pencil sketches.

So, the guys say, ‘Oh, there’s an artist. We need a guy in the paint shop to paint airplanes.’ ” That’s how Neslon ended up in the paint shop putting logos and and other emblems on warplanes.

A Family Mexican Restaurant

Silverdale • Poulsbo Free entree 5 Off Lunch or $800 Off Dinner

$ 00

2 for 1

Receive 2nd Entree of Equal or Lesser Value FREE. A 2 drink purchase required. One coupon per party please.

Not valid with any other offer. Expires 10/26/13

QUICK • QUALITY • FRESH DAILY (360) 930-8983 (360) 308-8226 19424 7th Ave., Ste. A Poulsbo Village

14

|

9468 NW Silverdale way, Silverdale Next to Silverdale Antiques

VETERANS LIFE |

Kevan Moore/Staff photo

Kathleen and Wallace Nelson, who served on United States Marine Corps bombers during World War II, stand in front of one his paintings on display at the ChocMo Bistro in Poulsbo. The exhibit is set to run through the month of October.

“All he had was a little packet of color pencils and whatever scrap he could find,” his wife, Kathy, recalled. “When he went to write letters home, he would draw pictures on the letters and the mailman got to where he just couldn’t wait for those letters to come home.”

When he got back from the war, Nelson enrolled at the Chicago Art Institute.

“All they were trying to teach me was just the wild stuff,” he said. “So, I left that behind.”

After nearly being killed in a car wreck in which three young drunk kids hit the vehicle Nelson was a frontseat passenger in, he made his way to Bradley University. He went through the windshield during the wreck and his injuries included a fractured skull, severe damage to his face and a broken femur.

“My plastic surgeon at Mercy Hospital out of Chicago, get this, his name was Wayne B. Slaughter,” Nelson said.

Facing multiple surgeries and months and months of recovery, Nelson enrolled at Bradley University and

O CTO B E R 2 013

the various exhibitors. rode the then newly “I’d sit on the bench and built Peoria Express I’d study. I’d keep wanttrain line to commute between school ing to get closer and the in Peoria guards and medical kept push“I’d grab the train ing me treatment in to go back to school back. I Chicago. and my whole face said, ‘Why “I’d grab don’t you was wrapped up the train to like Frankenstein. just stand go back to there and school and I’d go back to hold my my whole face school, wrapped coat tail was wrapped like a mummy and and if I up like get too could only see out Frankenstein,” close, just of one eye to see he said. give me a “I’d go back the blackboards. yank?’ “ to school,

Some of these

Nelson wrapped like operations didn’t was studya mummy and take long, but some ing the could only see out of one of them took hours. artists’ eye to see the Little by little, they techniques and everyblackboards. kept building me thing else Some of these back up.” he could operations by visiting didn’t take the paintings in person. long, but some of them He says he learned more took hours. Little by little, they kept building through this, and buying books featuring the me back up.” paintings he liked, than Nelson’s early he did at school. and lasting inf luences include Wyeth, Hopper, Monet and Homer, among others.

Whenever these artists were exhibited in Chicago, Nelson was right there to see it.

“I think they wanted to throw me out because they saw me there all week,” Nelson said of

“Then I got into acrylics because with oils you have to wait two or three days,” he said. “If you wanna put something over something else, you gotta wait for it to dry. Acrylics, I learned to paint with those because by the next morning it’s all dry

and you can put what’s called glazing, another color, over that.

“Acrylic was a new thing, but you can’t really tell the difference.”

Nelson went to work in Chicago studios designing displays for America’s top retailers followed by decades with Boeing executing graphic design and displays for the Paris and London airships and other international exhibits.

All the while, he painted, often using Kathy’s skills as a photographer on the back roads of the Pacific Northwest, Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico and Hawaii to inspire his work.

“She’s got an eye for beauty,” Nelson said of his wife’s photographs.

“Most of these pictures are a composite of things that we saw and lived with.”

The couple now lives in Tracyton and a wide range of Mr. Nelson’s work is on display at ChocMo Bistro in Poulsbo through October.

Friends support longtime auxiliary member

By DANNIE OLIVEAUX A longtime Veteran of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary member and volunteer found out this summer she is suffering with cancer.

But friends of the South Kitsap woman gathered together recently to raised more than $550 during an All-American Picnic Dinner at the Fred Needham Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 2669.

LeeAnn Choates, 58, made her way to the VFW, only to be surprised about the event.

“This was so wonderful,” Choates said. “This was a total surprise to me.”

VFW bartender Johanna Gifford, a close friend of Choates, was instrumental in putting on the fundraiser, along with Ladies Auxiliary president Mallory Jackson and Patty Weatherill, canteen manager and past president of the Ladies Auxiliary.

Dannie Oliveaux /Staff photo

LeeAnn Choates who is fighting cancer was surprised by her friends with a picnic and fundraising event.

Choates hired Gifford while working at the VFW in Bremerton.

Gifford came to work at the Port Orchard VFW in 2004.

“She is a wonderful, wonderful lady,” Gifford said of Choates, who has been involved with the auxil-

iary for more than 20 years.

Patrons enjoyed all beef hot dogs with all the extras, large selections of salads and homemade pies with ice cream.

Jackson praised the work of the Ladies Auxiliary members.

“The food was great and everyone had a great time,” Jackson said.

Jackson said more donations continue to come in after the dinner.

Choates said the cancer was discovered July 1 after she went to a hospital emergency room after suffering for a seizure. That’s when doctors discovered the cancer.

“I had a seizure and was taken to the hospital,” she said. “An MRI revealed a tumor pressing on my spine and sciatic nerve. That’s what caused my seizure and the cancer was already in Stage 4.”

Before being taken to the hospital, Choates said she hadn’t been “feeling well” and didn’t know why. Doctors also found cancer in her brain, liver and lung.

Since being diagnosed with cancer, Choates has undergone 10 radiation treatments at a Gig

Harbor medical clinic. For the past month, she has been taking a chemotherapy drug which shrinks tumors.

“There is only a small percentage of people who can take the drug,” Choates said. “You have to have the right genes and certain type on cancer. They want to shrink the cancer back to normal.

They can’t cure it, but they can contain it.”

She now sees the doctor every three weeks, instead of once a week.

“I feel better and I can tell the difference,” Choates said.

Choates was born and raised in Long Beach, Calif., where she met her husband, Bob. The couple moved to South Kitsap in 1993.

While her husband continued his service in the U.S. Navy, Choates raised four children and in 2000 she became the bar manager at the VFW in Bremerton.

Jackson said individuals who would like to donate to Choates can send their donations to the VFW, 736 Bay Street, Port Orchard, WA, 98366.

Under Grad is $285 • Grad is $412

800.259.6718x7280

O CTO B E R 2 013

|

VETER ANS LIFE | 15

The Bond

The souvenirs you keep

By Brian Kelly

My brother Mike, a Navy veteran, and myself, an Army veteran, were thinking the other day about souvenirs we saved to remember our military service; the ones we kept, and the ones we lost and wished we still had.

Mike was moaning about the loss of a pair of Arctic shooting gloves he once had because, obviously, they were something he needed in his everyday life as a hunter/outdoorsman.

They were like big mittens, but with a trigger finger.

We both still had plenty of stuff from our tours in the military. Boxes of old uniforms, a pair of jungle boots, a few ammo cans; the sort of stuff that’s useful in filling up empty spots in a garage or storage unit.

Nothing really useful, I thought when I was searching for something truly useful in the kitchen drawer — my old P-38, the little can-opener that came inside each box of C-rations.

The list of things you want to keep from your military service is quite different than the things that actually come home with you.

sergeants. When the bus pulled inside the gates of the main post, we were pulled off as a sergeant pointed out the “Amnesty Box.”

I had an Army folding cot in the garage for years — it might still be in there — and I can’t recall now what I was thinking when I threw it in with all the other worldly possessions a 22-year-old had when my hitch ended and the civilian movers came to my barracks room to box up my stuff and send it home. Maybe I’ll use it camping, I must have thought back then, though the thing must have weighed close to 50 pounds and it wasn’t much more comfortable than just sleeping on the ground.

You got a knife, a gun? Put it in the Amnesty Box, he said, no questions asked.

One of the things I wish I still had from my Army stint was the group photo that was taken during basic training. At about the halfway point, after a day at the range shooting at pop-up targets with our M16s, we were marched over to a set of bleachers, put on our soft caps, and had our group photo taken.

Full-color copies, the photographer said, would be available the week before graduation at the special military discount rate of $20 each. Cash only, please pay now.

Twenty dollars? That’s probably why they took Brian Kelly our rifles away from us before the photo was taken.

Financing Your Home Dreams VA Home Loans

$300 Off Your Purchase Appraisal* When you are ready to purchase a home we’re here to help.

We have the knowledge and expertise in VA loans to successfully guide you through the process. And our VA-approved underwriting staff is in-house. So your loan decisions are made locally, by people you can meet with face-to-face.

KCU VA Loan Benefits 0% Down Payment No Mortgage Insurance Lower Rates Seller May Pay More Closing Costs Disabled Veterans Save Money On VA Fees

Stop by to see us, apply online at kitsapcu.org or give us a call at (360) 662-2266.

Of course, I coughed up the $20.

Though I was only 18 at the time, I could imagine the day many years from then, when I would be a general or a top executive with the Ford Motor Company, and the basic training group photo would be hanging on my office wall, next to a framed box of medals I would surely earn in later exploits.

The names of my fellow basic training soldiers I would forget, but I would remember them in some way, anyway, with a photo.

There’s the guy who got us all in trouble after he mooned a drill sergeant from another company from the top-floor window of our barracks and we spent the whole night doing pushups on the parade ground.

There’s the guy whose grandfather drew “Dennis the Menace.” There’s the guy who had to apologize to a rock for 15 minutes after the drill sergeant saw him trip over one.

Of all the memories I have of military service, some of the funniest and the oddest ones were from the first weeks of basic training.

*When a purchase and sale agreement is received on or before 7/15/13.

16

|

VETERANS LIFE |

Equal Housing Lender

O CTO B E R 2 013

It started from the very beginning, before our buzz cuts or the first obscenity-filled shouts of the drill

“People brought their own weapons to basic?” I wondered. “I thought they were going to give us those.”

Also that first week, the recruits were lined up for “police call.” “Wow.” I thought. “Someone’s going to get arrested!”

We then spent the next 20 minutes picking up small bits of paper, cigarette butts and other litter. I didn’t see a policeman anywhere. And so it went, until that last week at the end of basic that was a breeze. The drill sergeants had pretty much stopped screaming at us. We cleaned the barracks or practiced marching for the graduation ceremony.

A box arrived with the large envelopes holding the group photos, and they were passed out to the sentimentalists among us. A few minutes later, we heard the doom-filled shout from our drill sergeant, who was sitting in his little office at one end of the barracks.

“Bravo Company!” he screamed. “You have two minutes to give me one of those photos!”

Two soldiers, myself and another guy, grudgingly ran to the end of the building, photos in hand. We went through the door at the same time and almost did a Three Stooges pileup in the doorway. Arms extended, we both held out our big white envelopes.

The drill sergeant snatched the one out of my hand.

He sat back in his chair, opened one end of the envelope, and pulled out the photo. He stared at it silently for a minute that lasted forever.Then he leaned forward and set it on his desk. He grabbed a magic marker and blackened out the face of a soldier in the front row who had washed out of boot camp.

He tacked the photo on his office wall, then spun around to see two soldiers still standing there, slack-jawed.

“You don’t cut the mustard, you don’t go on the sandwich,” he said.

Brian Kelly is an Army veteran who served with the 1st Infantry Division overseas and with units in the Army’s Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, N.C. Kelly is editor of the Bainbridge Island Review.

Last Look: Right: A soldier with the 1st Infantry Division enjoys a stogie while his armored personnel carrier moves through a forest in southern Germany during a field training exercise in the early 1980s. (Photo

by Brian Kelly) Have a photo from your time in the service you want to share? We’d love to publish it for our readers to see. Email a high resolution jpeg photo to lkelly@soundpublishing. com with description of what’s going on in the photo.

MarketPlace!

PNW MarketPlace!

PNW Real Estate For Sale

Real Estate For Rent - WA

jobs

home services

stuff

wheels

We make it easy to sell... right in your community

Local readers.

Local sellers.

Local buyers.

click! www.nw-ads.com email! classified@soundpublishing.com call toll free!We1.888.399.3999 or 1.800.388.2527 make it

Local readers.

Real Estate for Rent Kitsap County

Real Estate For Sale

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND

4Real

Estate For Rent - WA

Real Estate for Rent Kitsap County

Real Estate for Rent Kitsap County

Apartments for Rent Island County

SILVERDALE DUPLEX OAK HARBOR home 1 B E D R O O M D u p l ex 2 BR on lg wooded lot with garage. Close to Water & Mtn Views services jobs stuff wheels near school! Features town/ base. Water, sew$1,285 Month Includes

Port Orchard

3 BR, 2 BA With

Water, Sewer, Garbage Clean & Well Maintained!

fireplace & garage. Nicely refurbished with new paint, vynil. Washer, dryer hookup. Dishwasher, water & sewer included. $900/ mo.

easy to sell...

LocalValue sellers. right in your Great Local buyers. community

er, garbage paid. $550/ month, $500 deposit.

360-675-9611.

click! email! classified@soundpublishing.com call toll free! or 1.800.388.2527 realwww.nw-ads.com estate real 1.888.399.3999 estate for sale

Real Estate for Sale Lots/Acreage

CLOSE TO LAKE BONAPARTE 20 surveyed acres located in a great hunting & fishing area!

ZERO down payment on seller contract, ONLY $235 monthly!

Call TLC 1-888-440-9824, ref: BP

B R , 2 B A H I S TO R I C home with bonus room & fenced yard. Desirable W i n g Po i n t ! C l o s e t o downtown and ferry. Oct 1 s t m ove i n . I n c l u d e s lawn maintenance, water and sewer. $2100 mo.

Call 917-627-6880.

360-620-3865

POULSBO

2 BR, 2 BA Kingston Bay View Estates Condo

Nice end unit. $900 206.842.4975 Evergreen98110@aol.com

Get the ball rolling...

Call 800-388-2527 today.

Classifieds. We’ve got you covered. 800-388-2527

rentals

$IIRUGDEOH UHWLUHPHQW OLYLQJ ZLWK D YLHZ +XUU\ WR UHVHUYH \RXU EUDQG QHZ KRPH 2SHQLQJ )DOO

KINGSTON

Near Ferry. Great cond! All appl.

360-692-5566 Day 360-271-5812 Wkend

'XOD\ 5RDG 1( _ .LQJVWRQ

YLOODJHJUHHQVHQLRUOLYLQJ FRP ON 1 ACRE, 2 bedroom home. New car pets, washer & dr yer. Good location, easy commute to ferr y, Bangor/ Keyport. $750 plus deposit.

No smoking, no pets. 94 NE State Hwy 308. 206972-1874

19031 Glen Haven Ct., Poulsbo $219,000

3 bdr/2 bth • 1848 sq ft

Hot tub • Greenhouse • Office • Media Room Walk to ball fields and schools. MLS# 522374

Jet Woelke 360 271-7348

jetw@windermere.com

Find some sweet deals...

Whether your looking for cars, pets or anything in between, the sweetest place to find them is in the Classifieds.

Go online to nw-ads.com to find what you need.

The opportunity to make a Recycle this newspaper. difference is right in front of you.

OCTOBER, 2013 | VETERANS LIFE I 17 O CTO B E R 2 013 | V E T E R A N S L I F E | 17

Don’t let pain keep you from doing the things you love.

Does knee, hip, or back pain impact your quality of life? Learn more about joint replacement and spinal surgery from orthopaedic surgeons at a series of FREE health talks held at The Orthopaedic Center at Harrison, the region’s first orthopaedic specialty care facility. Our experts will talk about treatment options, and tell you what you can expect from both the surgery and recovery process. The sooner you understand what your individualized needs are, the sooner you can get back to the active life you love.

Attend a free health talk!

Joint replAcement September 25 • 6-7 pm November 13 • 6-7 pm SpinAl Surgery October 23 • 6-7 pm December 11 • 6-7 pm

locAtion: The Orthopaedic Center at Harrison Main Lobby 1800 NW Myhre Road, Silverdale, WA 98383

register today! call 866-844-WELL or visit harrisonmedical.org/joints or harrisonmedical.org/spine to register.

20

|

VETERANS LIFE |

O CTO B E R 2 013