September 2021 Veterans Chronicle

VETERANS CHRONICLE SEPTEMBER 2021

REMEMBERING THOSE WHO REMAIN Why we continue to mark POW/MIA Day SEE STORIES ON PAGES 6-7

A spectator holds American and POWMIA flags while taking pictures of Vietnam War veterans during the 40th reunion for Vietnam POWs at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda, Calif., on May 23, 2013.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

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The Spokesman-Review

VETERANS CHRONICLE

Agent Orange presumptive conditions Agent Orange was an herbicide that the U.S. military used during the Vietnam War. Exposure to Agent Orange is associated with a number of medical conditions, some of which are serious.

The Department of Veterans Affairs lists these conditions as presumptive. This means that veterans who meet certain eligibility criteria are automatically eligible for VA disability benefits.

Eligibility for Agent Orange benefits

Veterans who meet the following criteria are eligible for Agent Orange disability benefits: A medical record of having been diagnosed with an Agent Or-

ange-related illness or condition, AND any of the following: Service in Vietnam for any length of time between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, OR; Service in or near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) for any length of time between Sept.

1, 1967 and Aug. 31, 1971, OR; Service aboard a U.S. military vessel that entered the inland waterways of Vietnam, OR; Service aboard a vessel operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward of the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia (c.f. Public Law 11623, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019), OR; Exposure to herbicides in a location other than Vietnam or the

DMZ, such as by loading, transporting, or storing them while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Certain veterans who operated from Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) bases near U-Tapao, Ubon, Nakhon Phanom, Udorn, Takhli, Korat, and Don Muang, near the airbase perimeter anytime between Feb. 28, 1961, and May 7, 1975 may qualify.

You can read the full set of eligibility requirements at www. v a . g o v/d i s a b i l i t y/e l i g i b i l i t y/ hazardous-materials-exposure/ agent-orange/ Does this apply to someone you know? See “How Can I Get Help?” on Page 5.

This is current list of conditions on the VA’s Agent Orange presumptive list Disease

Date Added

AL Amyloidosis

2006

Chronic B-Cell Leukemias

2003

Chloracne

1991

Diabetes Mellitus Type 2

2001

Hodgkin’s Disease

1994

Ischemic Heart Disease

2010

Multiple Myeloma

2016

Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

1991

Parkinson’s Disease

2010

Peripheral Neuropathy, Early-Onset

2013

Porphyria Cutanea Tarda

1994

Respiratory Cancers

1994

Soft Tissue Sarcomas*

1991

Bladder Cancer

2021

Hypothyroidism

2021

Parkinsonism

2021

*Exceptions: osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, and mesothelioma

Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

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VETERANS CHRONICLE VETERANS CHRONICLE A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW SEPT. 17, 2021

VETERANS HELP NET Don Walker Bryan Bledsoe MANAGING EDITOR Theresa Tanner ART DIRECTOR Anne Potter DIRECTOR OF SALES Scott Baumbach Veterans Help Net partners with The Spokesman-Review to publish Veterans Chronicle

on the third Friday of every month to increase awareness about veteran issues and to help veterans find hope and help.

To share a veteran story or information about resources for veterans, please contact info@ veteranshelpnet.com or visit www.VeteransHelpNet.com.

For advertising information, please contact advertising@ spokesman.com or (509) 4595095.

No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent of the publisher.

IN THIS ISSUE More attention for Agent Orange.................................................................2 Hey Veterans, Did You Know?.......................................................................4 How to Get Help................................................................................................5 Reflections of a WWII POW...........................................................................6 Get involved in POW/MIA efforts...............................................................7 ‘The VA Saved My Life’....................................................................................8 Find help filing claims......................................................................................9 Veterans By the Numbers...............................................................................9 Your benefit questions answered.................................................................10

WE BELIEVE IN

VA FINANCING The United States S Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers home loans to active military members, reservists, and retirees, as a benefit of service in our nation’s Armed Forces.

Many service members are not aware this earned benefit is available to them; many sellers are not aware of the advantages to VA loans in the transaction process.

We encourage all Spokane realtors - to become familiar with this loan type so that we can all join in saying “We believe in VA financing!”

Visit www.spokanerealtor.com to view VA qualified homes in your preferred area

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The Spokesman-Review

VETERANS CHRONICLE

LEARN ABOUT VA PRIORITY GROUPS AND HOW THEY MAY AFFECT YOU When you apply for VA health care, you’ll be assigned to 1 of 8 priority groups. This system makes sure that veterans who need care right away can get signed up quickly. It also helps make sure quality care is provided to all veterans enrolled in the VA health care program.

Your priority group may affect: • How soon you are signed up for health care benefits, and • How much (if anything) you’ll have to pay toward cost of your care Learn more about your health care costs and view current VA copay rates at www.va.gov/ health-care/about-va-health-benefits/cost-ofcare/ We'll base your priority group on: • Your military service history • Your disability rating • Your income level • Whether or not you qualify for Medicaid • Other benefits you may be receiving (like VA pension benefits) We assign veterans with service-connected disabilities the highest priority. We assign the lowest priority to veterans who earn a higher income and who don’t have any service-connected disabilities qualifying them for disability compensation (monthly payments).

If you qualify for more than one priority group, we'll assign you to the highest one.

PRIORITY GROUP 1

We may assign you to priority group 1 if any of the below descriptions are true.

• Have a service-connected disability rated as 50% or more disabling, or • Have a service-connected disability that the VA has concluded makes you unable to work (also called unemployable), or • Received the Medal of Honor PRIORITY GROUP 2

We may assign you here if you have a service-connected disability rated as 30% or 40% disabling.

PRIORITY GROUP 3

We may assign you to priority group 3 if any of the below descriptions are true.

• Are a former prisoner of war, or • Received the Purple Heart medal, or • Were discharged for a disability that was caused by, or worsened, because of your active-duty service, or • Have a service-connected disability rated as 10% or 20% disabling, or • Were awarded special eligibility classification under Title 38, U.S.C § 1151, "benefits for individuals disabled by treatment or vocational rehabilitation" PRIORITY GROUP 4

We may assign you to priority group 4 if either of the below descriptions are true.

• Receiving VA aid and attendance or house-

bound benefits, or • Have received a VA determination of being catastrophically disabled PRIORITY GROUP 5

We may assign you to priority group 5 if any of the below descriptions are true.

• No service-connected disability, or a non-compensable service-connected disability rated as 0% disabling, and an annual income level that's below our adjusted income limits (based on your resident zip code), or • Are receiving VA pension benefits, or • Are eligible for Medicaid programs PRIORITY GROUP 6

We may assign you to priority group 6 if any of the below descriptions are true.

• Have a compensable service-connected disability rated as 0% disabling, or • Were exposed to ionizing radiation during atmospheric testing or during the occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, or • Participated in Project 112/SHAD, or • Served in the Republic of Vietnam between Jan. 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, or • Served in the Persian Gulf War between Aug. 2, 1990, and Nov. 11, 1998, or • Served on active duty at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between Aug. 1, 1953, and Dec. 31, 1987 We may also assign you to priority group 6 if you meet all of the requirements listed below, including: • Are currently or newly enrolled in VA health care, and • Served in a theater of combat operations after Nov. 11, 1998, or were discharged from active duty on or after Jan. 28, 2003, and • Were discharged less than 5 years ago Note: As a returning combat Veteran, you're eligible for these enhanced benefits for 5 years after discharge. At the end of this enhanced enrollment period, we'll assign you to the highest priority group you qualify for at that time.

PRIORITY GROUP 7

We may assign you to priority group 7 if both of the below descriptions are true for you: • Your gross household income is below the geographically adjusted income limits (GMT) for where you live, and • You agree to pay copays. (View current rates at www.va.gov/health-care/copay-rates/) PRIORITY GROUP 8

We may assign you to priority group 8 if both of the below descriptions are true: • Gross household income is above VA income limits and geographically adjusted income limits for where you live, and • You agree to pay copays.

If you’re assigned to group 8, your eligibility for VA health care benefits depends on which sub-priority group you’re placed in.

Hey Veterans, Did You Know … ?

VA copays and prescriptions can be refunded?

Due to the passage of the American Rescue Plan in March 2021, copayments for medical care and prescriptions provided by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) between April 6, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2021, will be canceled. All copayments paid to VA for medical care and prescriptions between April 6, 2020, and present will be refunded.

Please review the COVID-19 Medical Debt Relief page for answers to some common questions.

New federal Veterans ID Card (VIC) are now available?

The old military ID card is limited to current service members, retirees and certain veterans with 100% disabilities.

Any honorably discharged veteran can now obtain an official New Veteran’s ID Card (VIC). It will save you the trouble of carrying around your DD214 when asked for proof of veteran status for any reason, including discounts for products and services.

To obtain your VIC Veterans Identification Card, go to the 7th floor of the Veterans Administration Medical Center Mann-Grandstaff VAMC, show valid ID (driver license, passport, etc.) and a copy of your DD214 (proof of service). Then fill out an application. There is no cost, and the waiting time is 30-60 days. Recent changes may have made the timing quicker.

You can also visit www.va.gov/records/get-veteran-id-cards/vic/.

Commissary, Military Service Exchange, and MWR access has been extended to

more veterans?

A new law provides eligible Veterans and Primary Family Caregivers with access to DoD and Coast Guard commissaries, exchanges, and morale, welfare, and recreation retail services.

Who is eligible since Jan. 1, 2020?

• Veterans • Purple Heart recipients • Former prisoners of war • Veterans with 0-90% service-connected disability ratings • Medal of Honor recipients and Veterans with 100% service-connected disability ratings are already eligible under existing DOD policy.

• Caregivers • Individuals approved and designated as the primary family caregiver of an eligible veteran under the PCAFC will be eligible for these privileges.

For information about primary family caregivers in the PCAFC, visit www.caregiver.va.gov/ REQUIRED CREDENTIALS: Veterans eligible solely under this act eligible to obtain a Veteran Health Identification Card must use this credential for in-person installation and privilege access. The card must display the veteran’s eligibility status (i.e., Purple Heart, Former POW, or service-connected. Apply at www.va.gov/healthbenefits/vhic/index.asp Veterans eligible solely under this act who are not enrolled in or are not eligible to enroll in VA health care, or who are enrolled in VA health care, but do not possess a Veteran Health Identification Card, will not have access to DoD and Coast Guard installations for in-person commissary.

Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

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VETERANS CHRONICLE

Idaho Gov. Little attends new Idaho State Veterans Home topping out ceremony in Post Falls

HOW CAN I GET HELP?

Every county and state has a Veteran Affairs office to answer questions about benefits and provide assistance. There are also other useful resources for veterans in the Inland Northwest.

GO ONLINE VA.gov

The Department of Veterans Affairs website has resources on every topic relevant to veterans.

VA.gov/welcome-kit

The VA Welcome Guide

covers all types of benefits and services available for veterans, new recruits, active service members and their families.

DAV9.com

RENDERING FROM IDAHO DIVISION OF VETERAN SERVICES

When complete, the Idaho Veterans Home in Post Falls will include 64 beds.

The new Idaho State Veterans Home in Post Falls had a Topping Out Ceremony with Gov. Brad Little and other dignitaries in attendance. There were several hundred people invited to sign a steel beam that was hoisted into place on the building.

The Jacklin family donated the 7 ½ acre site for the 64-bed veteran’s home.

The land was originally cleared of boulders and debris which was deposited by the Great Missoula Floods some 15,000 years ago.

The northeast corner of the property was too difficult to clear so a Christmas Tree farm was started and some of those trees are still standing and tower over the site. Veterans will one day be able to walk on paths through the trees. It is expected that the home will be ready for occupancy in fall 2022.

Based in Post Falls, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 9 Fort Sherman shares links and information to both local and national help organizations for veterans.

Explore.VA.gov/benefitsnavigator Explore VA benefits and discover which ones you and your family may be eligible to receive.

KERRI THORESON/SPECIAL TO VETERANS CHRONICLE

From left, Post Falls Mayor Ron Jacobson, veteran Len Crosby, Chief Administrator Idaho Division of Veteran Services Mark Tschampl, Idaho Gov. Brad Little, Don Jacklin and Doyle Jacklin attend the topping ceremony for the new Post Falls Veterans Home. The Jacklin family donated the land.

IN PERSON

BY PHONE

1117 N. Evergreen Rd., Spokane Valley, WA (509) 477-3690 Apply for emergency services, or have any benefits or service questions answered by 5 Veteran Service Officers (VSO) and staff.

(509) 477-3690

Spokane County Regional Veteran Service

North Idaho Veteran Services and Benefits Office

120 E. Railroad Ave., Post Falls, ID (208) 446-1092 Meet with a VSO or staff for help with VA benefits enrollment, claims or other veteran needs.

Goodwill Support Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)

130 E. Third Ave., Spokane, WA (509) 828-2449 SSVF helps homeless veterans and their families find housing and connects veterans with other support organizations.

Spokane County Regional Veteran Service North Idaho Veteran Services and Benefits Office 120 E. Railroad Ave., Post Falls, ID (208) 446-1092

Veteran Crisis Line

1 (800) 273-8255, press 1

North Idaho Crisis Center (208) 625-4884

Washington or Idaho 2-1-1

Dial “2-1-1” for health and human resources referrals.

If you don’t know who to call, VA has a new “Single Access Point” phone number to all VA contact centers 1-800-MyVA411 (1-800-698-2411)

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The Spokesman-Review

VETERANS CHRONICLE BATTLE OF THE BULGE CAPTIVITY

Reflections from a World War II prisoner of war

Joe found hope

By Ruth Aresvik

VETERANS HELP NET CORRESPONDENT

Editor's Note: Army veteran and former POW Lt. Col. Joseph John Zelazny Jr. passed away on March 20, 2015. Parts of this story originally ran Dec. 16, 2014, in The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, Calif.) in an article, "Remembering the Battle of the Bulge on the 70th anniversary.”

It was early morning on Dec. 21, 1944, and U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Joe Zelazny was headed back to his battalion near the small town of Martelange, Belgium.

Just five days earlier, the Battle of the Bulge had begun when Germans launched a massive artillery attack against the Allied troops that stretched 80 miles across Belgium, Luxembourg and France.

Officer Zelazny and his driver had their Jeep loaded with radio equipment, a communications man, and a wounded lieutenant.

They never made it back to camp....

"We ran into German paratroopers," Zelazny remembers.

The three men were captured while other American soldiers were gunned down on the spot.

"A whole company right in front of us. They wiped them out. Then they put us up against a wall and shot us."

This came to be known as the Maelmedy Massacres.

German soldiers shot American POWs and just left them in the snow to die.

Zelazny was shot in the left shoulder. The bullet had hit his clavicle and came out under his arm. "They let us lay there, thinking we were

Photos of Joe Zelazny in Germany, October 1944. dead. Four hours later, a German officer turned us over and realized we were still living."

Two survived, one died.

"They put us in a building, and we sat there watching them kill everybody."

Joe was sent to Stalag XII-A in Limburg, Germany. He received no medical care as a POW. He sat in a 6-foot-by-6-foot room for 10 days waiting to be interviewed. On the walls were the names of other men who had occupied the same space. Days later, Zelazny and other prisoners were transported by boxcars to Oflag 64 in Poland.

Lorrayne Zelazny, his new wife, was at work in Tacoma, Washington, when the telegram was delivered to her home. It was Jan. 8, 1945, on the one-year anniversary of their marriage.

Lorrayne asked her mother to read the telegram. Her mom opened the letter and said "...we'll bring it to you."

Lorrayne said she felt numb when her mom said, "Joe's missing." But also felt that he was OK, that he'd be back.

In February 1945, Zelazny and other prisoners

were ordered out of the Poland camp. It was a horrid bitter winter with freezing temperatures. The men were weak with very little clothing. They were thankful to find dead horses along the way and ate raw horse meat.

After covering 230 miles in 28 days, Zelazny and another officer decided they'd had enough. They refused to go any further. They were taken by train to Stalag III-A, south of Berlin.

In early May, Russians liberated the camp and Zelazny and other officers walked 50 miles to the American lines. Joe weighed 190 pounds before his capture, 105 when he was liberated.

He sent two telegrams to his wife letting her know he was alive and coming home.

He arrived before the telegrams reached her.

"I called her on the phone, but she didn't believe it was me."

••• Fast forward 76 years as I sat with iced coffee at McDonald's with Joe's daughter Kathy Thomas. We pore over the newspaper clippings, photos, her father's journal...as she shares

this amazing story. We talk about her dad's 21 years of service, retiring in 1963, and his devotion in working for veterans rights, establishing a Veterans Memorial at the Coachella Valley Cemetery (California) and one at the Tacoma War Memorial Park.

In 2009, he received the Meritorious Service Award from the National Association of Prisoners of War. Joe, along with other veterans, brought his story to local schools to educate and bring remembrance and honor.

Kathy said that when her father passed away in 2015, she and her siblings found a bag of daisy lapel pins and attached ribbons with the tagline, "American Ex-Prisoners of War - They Shall Never Be Forgotten," and a handout with the following statement: "The daisy was chosen as a national symbol of all former POWs. The Military Code of Conduct required that only name, rank and serial number be divulged to the enemy.

American folklore has long deemed that "daisies won't tell," making it a tribute to the memory of those who have endured the hardships

of captivity in silence."

Kathy went on to say that in the early 1990s, her father's local POW Chapter passed out daisy lapel pins on the third Friday of September (National POW/ MIA Recognition Day) just as poppies are passed out on Veterans Day. "In his honor, our family is resurrecting this grassroots initiative called the POW/MIA Daisy Campaign."

Last year, and again this year, family and friends will place small U.S. flags adorned with a daisy on POW graves at Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake; the same will be done on 227 POW graves at the National Veterans Cemetery in Kent, Washington.

We remember and honor the commitment and sacrifices made by this nation's prisoners of war and those who are still missing in action, as well as their families. Americans must remember its responsibility to stand behind those who served, and continue to serve, and make sure that we do all that is possible to account for those who have not returned.

In his own words, and a winning entry from a “most memorable Christmas” competition of Tacoma’s The News Tribune (circa 1960), Joe Zelazny wrote: “The Christmas of 1944, I was a wounded POW sitting in a railroad station at Limburg, Germany, with numerous other American POWs. We were awaiting the arrival of a troop train to take us to Stalag XII-A for solitary confinement. The activity was rush-rush and it was disheartening to realize what we had to look forward to.

At approximately 0300 hours on Christmas Day, a train full of wounded German soldiers arrived and unloaded. While we were together in the station, all of the wounded personnel, regardless of country and status, started singing Christmas carols - the first one was “Silent Night,” then “Joy to the World.” It was a touching moment.

Here we were, POWs who were supposed to be enemies, many of us suffering pain. Yet everyone had the Christmas spirit and sang these wonderful songs together. Every Christmas season since then, whenever I hear the first singing of “Silent Night,” I think back to that ‘most memorable’ Christmas Day of 1944.

I thank God I am still alive. I am sure that if it weren’t for Christmas Day 1944, and the Christmas spirit, I might not have made it back as one of the few survivors of the Maelmedy Massacres.”

Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

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VETERANS CHRONICLE

‘Honor the Dead – Serve the Living’ Missing Man Table remembers POW/MIAs The Missing Man Table, also known as the fallen comrade table, is steeped in symbolism and is featured in solemn ceremonies, such as National POW/MIA Recognition Day, for fallen, missing or imprisoned U.S. military service members.

Each item on the Missing Man Table represents the emotions and feelings reserved for those who did not come home. The ceremony symbolizes that they are with us, here in spirit.

All Americans should never forget the brave men and women who answered our nation's call to serve and fought for our freedom with honor.

LEARNING ABOUT THE POW/MIA FLAG STRONG SYMBOL REMEMBERS THOSE WHO REMAIN BEHIND

In 1971, Mrs. Michael Hoff, the wife of a U.S. military officer listed as missing in action during the Vietnam War, developed the idea for a national flag to remind every American of the U.S. service members whose fates were never accounted for during the war.

Mrs. Hoff went to the Annis Flag Company, who assigned the task to its advertising agency in New Jersey.

Newt Heisley, a former World War II veteran pilot and creative director at the agency, was honored and inspired when the design of the flag emblem became his project. The flag depicts a black and white image of a gaunt silhouette, a strand of barbed wire and an ominous watchtower.

Some claim the silhouette is a profile of Heisley's son, who contracted hepatitis while training in Marine boot camp. The virus ravaged his body, leaving his features hollow and emaciated. Heisley saw the stark image of American service members held captive under harsh conditions.

By the end of the Vietnam War, more

than 2,500 service members were listed by the Department of Defense as Prisoner of War (POW) or Missing in Action (MIA).

In 1979, as families of the missing pressed for full accountability, Congress and the President proclaimed the first National POW/MIA Recognition Day (the third Friday of September) to acknowledge the families' concerns and symbolize the steadfast resolve of the American people to never forget the men and women who gave up their freedom protecting ours.

Three years later, in 1982, the POW/ MIA flag became the only flag other than the Stars and Stripes to fly over the White House in Washington, D.C. On Aug. 10, 1980, Congress passed U.S. Public Law 101-355 designating the POW/MIA flag: "The symbol of our Nation's concern and commitment to resolving as fully as possible the fates of American still prisoner, missing and unaccounted for in Southeast Asia."

SOURCE: www.va.gov/opa/ publications/celebrate/powmia

The table is round, to show our everlasting concern for our missing men.

The cloth is white, symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering the call to serve.

The single rose, displayed in a vase, reminds us of the blood they may have shed in sacrifice to ensure our freedom, and of their loved ones and friends who keep the faith while awaiting their return.

The red ribbon symbolizes our continued determination to account for our missing.

A slice of lemon reminds us of their bitter fate; captured and missing in a foreign land.

A pinch of salt symbolizes the tears of our missing and their families who long for answers after decades of uncertainty.

The lighted candle reflects our hope for their return, alive or dead.

The Bible represents the strength gained through faith to sustain us and those lost from our country, founded as one nation under God. The glass is inverted - they cannot toast with us at this time.

The chair is empty - they are not here.

SOURCE: www. warmemorial center.org

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The Spokesman-Review

VETERANS CHRONICLE

‘THE VA SAVED MY LIFE’ Many resources available for those affected by PTSD

By Darrel Maddux VETERANS HELP NET CORRESPONDENT

Andrew Whipple of St. Maries, Idaho, knows too well the price of war on our brave and gallant military veterans.

He graduated from the University of Idaho in 1991 with a teaching degree and a ROTC Commission. He took a job teaching school and joined the Idaho Army National Guard. In March 2004 his guard unit was activated and then sent to Iraq in November.

Andrew served as a Company Commander for a Combat Engineering Company. They flew to Kuwait and then by truck convoy to Kirkuk, Iraq. He remembers the stench in the air of burning garbage, burnt rubber, sewage in the streets and burning household trash.

The city reminded him of a Third World country with donkey carts and massive traffic jams. His trips outside the protective gates revealed the human remains from car bombings and rocket attacks. The most alarming sights were of mutilated children.

His teaching job did not prepare him for the horrors he witnessed. He questioned how a society could treat its people in this way. Mortar and rocket attacks were common several times a week and he was shot at a few times.

He knew soldiers who were killed in IED attacks.

In November 2005 he returned to Idaho and went back to teaching and retired from the Idaho National Guard with the rank

of Major in 2011.

Andrew’s first indication of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) came in 2015 when his personality began to change.

He bec a m e angry at students and had night sweats.

His blood pressure was elevated and he began remembering his time in Iraq.

The deep s u b d u e d thoughts of war returned and he went downhill, even though he never saw combat. He felt that an ex-Army officer should be able to handle this situation. He had retired from the National Guard in 2011 and his

military career was over.

Andrew went to the VA in Coeur d’Alene and they prescribed antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs. He was confident that he could get through this challenge without further help.

In 2017, Andrew was prescribed a new drug and the following day he put on his Army uniform. He went outside with a hunting rifle and sat in the backyard. He had begun drinking more in recent weeks and he was angry at the world. A friend came by and visited, and the incident ended without a serious consequence.

Andrew decided to retire from the Kootenai School District in Harrison, Idaho, at the age of 51.

In December 2019 Andrew was spooked by flashing lights from a police car.

He rushed home and told his wife that he imagined that someone was chasing him. In February 2020 Andrew enrolled in the American Lake VA Hospital PTSD Clinic. He spent five weeks in the clinic and credits the VA with saving his life. He had spiraled so far down that he did not consider himself worthy or of any value. The VA helped him with his resentment and anger and lifted him up from the depths of despair. He had never connected the horrible things he saw in Iraq to his actual feelings. The VA brought all this to the surface and he was able to talk about his feelings.

Andrew joined a writing group at American Lake VA Medical Center and wrote

COURTESY OF DARREL MADDUX

Andrew Whipple retired from the Idaho National Guard in 2011. His service included a deployment to Iraq.

If you need help Veteran Crisis Line: (800) 273-8255, press No. 1 Vet Center counselors: (509) 444-8387

short stories and short poems. In February 2021 a National Guard helicopter with three pilots crashed in the mountains outside Boise, Idaho, and Andrew wrote “Above the Purple Sage” poem. He then wrote a book of poems titled “From Inez to Andrew” and it is sold on Amazon.

The book contains poems written by his grandmother Inez during the Second World War and Andrew’s recent poems. Andrew never knew his grandmother but their poems reflect similar style and content.

Maybe him telling his story is also therapeutic.

He now has inner peace

and feels he has reinvented himself. The dark moments are gone. Andrew has a VA disability rating of 80% and receives a monthly VA disability check.

He has shown the way for anyone who finds themselves overwhelmed with deep troubling thoughts.

The VA has the tools and the counselors to guide a person back from a deep dark place. Andrew says he almost waited too long to get help. He also says he could not do it alone.

Darrel Maddux is part of the American Legion Department Public Relations Committee.

Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

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VETERANS CHRONICLE

Navy veteran: ‘I never wanted to talk about what happened’ Sailor has found ways to use traumatic experience to help others in need

By Vicky Bippart ABOUT FACE

Michael Corso joined the Navy just after high school. He grew up in an unstable home, and is the survivor of child abuse. In the Navy, Corso saw an opportunity to start anew. He would travel the world and maybe find a new kind of family.

A self-described loner when he joined, Corso found the structure and routine of the military grounding. He gained confidence in himself through his job as a Personnel Man 3rd class… and also socially.

“The Navy really helped me come out of myself and to try to make friends and acquaintances,” he said.

One of those friendships went terribly wrong.

“I think somehow he could tell something about me that I wouldn’t do anything about it. He was right,” Corso said.

That “friend” sexually assaulted him, changing his life forever.

Today, VA statistics show that 1 in 50 enlisted men and 1 in 3 women report experiencing MST (military sexual trauma). The effects can be devastating.

“I was scared,” Corso remembered. “He was still on the ship. I lost all that feeling of safety when that happened to me. And I lost a family.

I didn’t feel there was anybody I could talk to.”

Corso didn’t report.

“There’s that mindset that we should be able to handle things on our own,” he said. “But this was something I couldn’t handle and I didn’t feel like there was anybody I could talk to.”

His self-confidence was profoundly shaken in the years that followed.

“I wasn’t able to have any close, intimate relationships for many, many years.” he added.

“I pretty much stayed alone and didn’t understand who I was or who I was supposed to be.”

Corso then stumbled into a marriage and started a family. He struggled with the continued impact of the MST on his sense of security and his ability to connect with others.

The tipping point came when a coworker told him to get some help.

“Hearing other men tell their stories helped me.”

Corso eventually turned to VA, and

he was diagnosed with PTSD and entered into an MST program.

“Hearing other men tell their stories helped me understand that it was okay for me to start talking about it and get the right treatment,” he said.

The marriage didn’t survive, but today Corso is close with his children.

“They know about everything that’s happened and they still love me. That’s a good feeling,” he added.

And his life has taken another positive turn.

“I’m now happily married to this amazing person and the person happens to be a guy,” he shared. “It doesn’t mean that everybody that goes through MST is gay, but for me, through all the counseling and everything, it helped me see that maybe I needed to look at that part of my life. It was a good look and a good experience.”

Sharing his story has helped Corso become more comfortable with himself and with others.

Today, he’s a Peer Specialist at VA. “I have no problem telling my story,” he said. “I know I’m helping someone else, but I also realize how far I’ve come.”

Vicky Bippart is the producer and director of AboutFace at VA’s National Center for PTSD.

A VSO CAN HELP FILE YOUR CLAIM OR APPEAL If you need help filing a claim or appeal, you may want to work with an accredited attorney, a claims agent, or a Veterans Service Officer (VSO). We trust these professionals because they’re trained and certified in the VA claims and appeals processes and can help with VA-related needs.

VSOs work on behalf of veterans and service members—as well as dependents and survivors. Find out more about accredited representatives and how they can help you.

What does an accredited representative or a VSO do? They help you understand and apply for VA benefits, like: • Financial support (monthly payments) • Education • Veteran Readiness and Employment\ • Home loans • Life insurance • Pension • Health care • Burial benefits These trained professionals can also: • Help gather supporting documents (like a doctor’s report or medical test results) • File a claim or appeal on your behalf • Provide added support, like helping

with transportation to medical appointments or emergency funds.

What does it cost to use an accredited representative or a VSO?

In general, no individual or organization may charge a fee to help you file your initial application for benefits. But they may charge for unusual expenses. It’s only after we’ve made a decision about your original claim that VA-accredited claims agents and attorneys may charge. Make sure you ask up front what, if any, fees you’ll be charged.

How do I find an accredited representative or a VSO?

Go to eBenefits to find a local representative (including a recognized VSO, an attorney, or a claims agent) by state/territory, zip code, or the organization’s name.

Go to eBenefits https://www.ebenefits. va.gov/ebenefits/manage/representative for more information.

See the “How Can I Get Help” section on Page 5.

We’re here anytime, day or night – 24/7

If you are a veteran in crisis or concerned about one, connect with our caring, qualified responders for confidential help. Many of them are veterans themselves.

Call (800) 273-8255 and select No. 1 Text 838255 to start a confidential chat Call TTY if you have hearing loss at (800) 799-4889 Get more resources at VeteransCrisisLine.net.

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Friday, September 17, 2021

The Spokesman-Review

VETERANS CHRONICLE

EXPERT ANSWERS 7 COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT BENEFITS For those who qualify, a VA home loan does not require a down payment like other conventional mortgage loans. It also does not come with private mortgage insurance, and these loans have competitive interest rates that make homeownership affordable for many.

The VA home loan program is available to many veterans, but it is important to check your eligibility before pursuing a home purchase. Do so by receiving your Certificate of Eligibility through the VA.

By Christine Yaged FINANCEBUZZ

Serving in the military comes with an array of benefits for you, your spouse, and your family, some of which you may not even be aware. Once you have left military service, these benefits are meant to provide financial assistance. From affordable home loans and healthcare to disability and pension payments for your lifetime, having an understanding of the benefits you may be entitled to is an important part of your discharge.

However, knowing what you may have access to and the process of getting the benefits you deserve can be daunting.

Below are seven common questions relating to benefits plus answers compiled by financial and benefits experts. This information should work as a guide to navigate what you are eligible for and how to begin receiving it.

1. What veteran benefits are available to me?

The types are widely varied, depending on your unique service and discharge situation as well as your needs. The most common benefits include the VA home loan program for eligible service members and veterans looking to consolidate debt with the help of a VA mortgage, purchase a home, or refinance an existing home loan.

In addition to the VA home loan, you may also have access to disability benefits that provide a form of monthly financial assistance, pension benefits if you served for an extended period, and healthcare benefits for you and your family. Other benefits include life insurance, employment services, and education

5. Can I appeal my disability benefits decision?

benefits for certain veterans.

Determining the types of benefits available starts with connecting with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Use explore. va.gov to get started.

2. Do I need to be disabled?

While there are specific benefits for prior service members who have a disability or health issue linked to their time in the military, not all benefits offered by the VA are tied directly to being disabled. For instance, receiving a basic pension as a retiree does not require you to be disabled, nor does the VA home loan benefit. Job assistance, some healthcare benefits, and benefits extending to spouse or children are available even if you do not have a disability rating.

3. Does my spouse/exspouse have access to my veteran benefits?

The short answer is it depends. For a current spouse, benefits can range from educational and career counseling to educa-

tion benefits through the GI Bill.

Veteran spouses may also be eligible for a VA home loan in certain instances. Ex-spouses have fewer benefits, but depending on circumstances, pension benefits and healthcare access may be offered.

Veteran spouses and ex-spouses can also contact the VA to determine what services they have access to over time. This is an easier process when spouses and ex-spouses are registered in the military’s personnel system and have a valid military ID card.

4. How does the VA home loan work?

Access to affordable home loan programs is one of the most well-known but often misunderstood benefits available to veterans. The VA home loan program provides access to mortgage loans through a network of lenders. The Department of Veterans Affairs does not grant these loans itself but instead offers a guaranty on the loan to make qualification for a new mortgage easier for veterans.

Veterans may receive disability benefits in the form of monthly income, based on their time in service, injuries or illnesses they incurred during that time, and the severity of their health issues once discharged.

Disability benefits are paid on a tax-free basis, and ranges between one veteran to the next.

Many veterans apply for disability benefits before they are discharged, but there are instances where health issues are more severe than one originally thought.

In these cases, veterans do have an option to appeal the disability benefits decision made by the VA. Appealing your veterans disability amount takes place through a formal appeals process or by submitting a new application for disability benefits if your initial request was denied.

The appeals process and application resubmission can be challenging and time-consuming, but may be worth it. Contact the VA for assistance in getting your disability claim appeals, or work with an attorney or specialist in VA disability claims to determine your best plan of action.

6. How do I apply for veteran benefits?

Understanding available benefits is one thing; receiving them is another. The application process is based on the type of assistance you are seeking. As an example, many benefits including life insurance, vocational rehab, and employment benefits, disability compensation, and VA home loan benefits can be applied for through the online benefits system. Other benefits require specific forms, a visit to a regional VA office, or additional steps above and beyond going online.

A guide at benefits.va.gov/benefits/ offers direction on where to go to apply for specific benefits for you and your family.

7. What’s the timeframe for receiving veterans benefits?

Veterans benefits come in many different forms, so any timeline can vary. For disability compensation, claims may not be paid for several months after an application is submitted. For a VA home loan the process for receiving a mortgage may take a week or two when you have paperwork in good order.

Others claims, such as education and training services, pension payments, and memorial benefits may take a few days up to several months to receive.

This can be a frustrating process, especially when you are facing financial hardship because of delays. Staying in contact with the VA benefits office to ensure they have all the information to process your application in a timely fashion. You may also check claim status online after you have applied.

Christine Yaged is a co-founding partner and Chief Product Officer of FinanceBuzz.

Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

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VETERANS CHRONICLE VA BECOMING Mann-Grandstaff Medical Center Spokane A PATIENT offers many options CHOOSE VA FOR YOUR HEALTH CARE NEEDS. With VA health care,

each Veteran's medical benefits package is unique. You can apply for VA health care online from the comfort of your own home.

All veterans are encouraged to enroll in the VA Health Care System. To begin the process, please complete an Application for Health Care Benefits. At https://www. va.gov/health-care/how-to-apply/ You can submit the form online, or you may print the form and mail it to: Spokane VA Medical Center Business Office / Eligibility 4815 N. Assembly St Spokane, WA 99205 You can also bring the form to the medical center. The Eligibility Office is located on the 7th floor of the main building.

Whether mailing or bringing your application, please include the following items: • a copy of both sides of your current insurance card (including Medicare or Medicaid) • a copy of your DD214, 'Armed Forces Report of Transfer or Discharge' • (Purple Heart recipients only) a copy of your award letter if 'Purple Heart' is not noted on your DD214 To speak to someone in our eligibility office, please call (509) 434-7009 or (800) 325-7940.

Basic Eligibility

If you served in the active military, naval or air service and are separated under any condition other than dishonorable, you may qualify for VA health care benefits. Current and former members of the Reserves or National Guard who were called to active duty (other than for training only) by a federal order and completed the full period for which they were called or ordered to active duty may be eligible for VA health care as well.

The VA encourages all veterans to apply in order to determine their enrollment eligibility.

Veterans Health Benefits Handbook

VA produces a personalized “Veterans Health Benefits Handbook” for each Veteran enrolled in the VA health care system. The handbook provides a current and accurate description of VA health care benefits and services. Your handbook

will be tailored specifically to you with personal identifying information, and should be safeguarded as you would any other sensitive personal document.

• The “Veterans Health Benefits Handbook” includes: • Eligibility and health care benefits, • Contact information for your preferred facility, • Information regarding copayment responsibilities, • Instructions on how to schedule appointments, • Guidelines to communicate treatment needs, • Patient rights, • Ways to obtain copies of medical records and other important information.

You will receive your personalized handbook via U.S. mail; therefore, you should have a current address on file with VA. Handbooks are mailed based on Priority Group, beginning with Priority Group 1 and ending with Priority Group 8.

For more information, go to www.va.gov/ healthbenefits/vhbh. You may also call VA toll-free at 1-877-222-VETS (8387) if you need to update your address or receive more information.

Health Care Benefits Overview

VA publishes the "Health Care Benefits Overview" booklet, which provides general information and frequently asked questions about VA’s medical benefits package available for all enrollees, and other information such as eligibility for enrollment.

The publication is available and can be downloaded at https://www.va.gov/ healthbenefits/resources/epublications. asp.

We encourage you to refer to it whenever you have questions about your eligibility for specific health care benefits.

More information is available at the following resources: • The Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center Enrollment Office • VHA Health Benefits Website www. va.gov/health-care/ • My HealtheVet www.myhealth. va.gov/mhv-portal-web/home • VA toll-free (877) 222-VETS (8387) Monday-Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

EST. For more local help see “How Can I Get Help?” section on Page 5.

Friday, September 17, 2021

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Friday, September 17, 2021

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