TVC 2021 Annual Report

Navigating Our Virtual World:

Advancing Our Mission

We believe that our veterans ~our nations defenders~ deserve the care, benefits, and compensation they were promised, and the best legal services, free of charge, to meet their challenges.

About The Veterans Consortium

At The Veterans Consortium, we believe that our Veterans in need—our nation’s defenders—deserve the care, benefits, and compensation they were promised, and the best legal services free of charge to meet their challenges.

For over 29 years, TVC has been providing the best legal services in federal venues to veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors, no matter where in the world they live. With the help of our dedicated staff, we have handled more than 60,500 legal requests from veterans and their loved ones, trained over 5,475 attorneys from law firms and corporate legal departments across the country, helped law schools establish and sustain veterans law programs or legal clinics. Our TVC National Volunteer Corps and Mission Partners have helped us succeed in 83% of our federal cases at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, the Federal Circuit, and the Supreme Court - where our volunteers have achieved two unanimous decisions for veterans. These achievements translate into over $128 million in pro bono legal services provided on behalf of veterans in need, and more than twice that in the lifetime value of care, benefits, and disability compensation regained that have truly changed our clients’ lives.

For over 29 years, TVC has been providing the best legal services in federal venues to veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors, no matter where in the world they live.

TVC operates the Federal Pro Bono Program for Veterans—created by Congress in 1992—on behalf of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims through a competitively-awarded LSC grant. As the leading national 501(c) (3) charity providing legal services in federal venues for veterans in need, we provide legal counsel free of charge through our TVC National Volunteer Corps and related pro bono professionals. We recruit volunteer attorneys and provide them with specialized training, mentors, case materials, and other focused resources to enable and enhance their success. Concurrently, our staff conducts outreach to eligible veterans, diligently screens their cases to identify those with an issue of merit, and carefully matches them with one of our pro bono attorneys best suited to win each case. The Veterans Consortium was founded in 1992 and has operated continuously since.

A Message from Our Chairman

We are happy to report that in 2021 our TVC National Volunteer Corps continued to provide quality legal representation and maintained our gold standard in the veteran’s law community. Our volunteers’ dedication and willingness to go the extra mile is evident in the grateful feedback we receive. Despite having to navigate the virtual world for a second year, TVC did not lose momentum but built on lessons learned in 2020 as we continue to excel in fulfilling our mission.

Far too often our clients have been fighting the VA for years. They are tired and frustrated with the bureaucracy and red tape that comes with the VA claim process. Many believe they will never receive the benefits they have earned. Others just want someone to hear them out and recognize their sacrifice. That is what our volunteers do, they make sure these veterans are heard and their efforts are changing lives for the better.

This report highlights the accomplishments of the recipients 2021 Pro Bono Mission Partner Awardees who demonstrated a strong commitment to our program by providing quality representation to our Nation’s veterans. We are very grateful to our Awardees and to all our volunteers who chose to work with us.

In 2021, we steadily expanded our capabilities and capacity. For example, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims asked TVC to administer a pilot program that offers veterans without counsel the opportunity to have a lawyer represent them at a Courtmediated conference with VA counsel to discuss early resolution of their case. The Court usually conducts these conferences with parties represented by counsel, but the pilot program will make the services of an experienced volunteer attorney available on a pro bono basis to self-represented veterans as well. This pilot has the potential to significantly reduce the number of cases being decided without the benefit of counsel and thereby increasing the potential for successful outcomes for veterans and their loved ones.

TVC continues to expand and explore avenues for pro bono representation and veterans’ education with our Discharge Upgrade

Program, the Women Veterans Legal Assistance Program, the Veterans Naturalization Assistance Program, as well as legal advice and referral clinics. We participated in countless outreach events in the veteran community, know-your-rights presentations, panel discussions, Veterans Service Officer (VSO) trainings and legal clinics. We trained advocates across the country to represent our clients with the standard of excellence they deserve.

Together we must continue to help our nation honor its commitments to veterans, provide them with the highest quality legal services, and secure what they were promised when they took the oath to defend our country. We will collaborate with stakeholders to advance our shared mission by helping veterans to meet current emerging legal challenges, increasing outreach, and developing ways to further support our volunteers.

I look forward to the coming year and to the great work that is still to be done. Please join us by volunteering, collaborating as a Mission Partner, becoming a donor, or spreading the word about our program.

William S. Foster, Jr., Esq. Chairman, TVC Executive Board

Our Impact

A Message from Our Executive Director

With well over a full year of working virtually under our belts, I’m very proud of what we were able to accomplish with the support of so many. This year, we trained a record number of volunteers, placed an unprecedented number of cases, increased our outreach to our veterans and volunteers, and trained and supported Veteran Service Officers around the country.

We created and engaged in thought provoking online forums and fireside chats on critical issues affecting veterans and our ability to advocate on their behalf - such as Burn Pit Exposure and Military Sexual Trauma. We collaborated with veteran law thought leaders, veterans and their family members facing life altering issues. We came together to discuss solutions to the barriers veterans face to accessing benefits and compensation earned through military service.

TVC is well known for providing vital services to veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors. The number of cases placed before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, by early August, exceeded the total number of cases in 2020, with a successful outcome rate of nearly 90%. Also, during this time, we trained a record number – more than 400 new attorney volunteers, who joined the ranks of our TVC National Volunteer Corps, providing quality pro bono legal services to veterans and their loved ones. We strive for and continue to find innovative ways to support veterans through our Equal Justice Works (EJW) fellowships and our two pro bono legal advice and referral clinics. Our EJW fellows spent the past year educating Veteran Service Officers and attorneys on culturally competent advocacy for women veterans and veterans seeking naturalization through military service. They held online clinics to support these veterans nationwide and are sought out as national subject matter experts.

Thank

Our donors and sponsors were extremely generous this year and we are so grateful for each one of you. This generosity translates to new and innovative legal services for our nation’s defenders and their families. Thank you for your generous support and unwavering commitment to our program. We are grateful for your partnership and patriotism. On behalf of our nation’s defenders, their families, caregivers, and survivors, thank you for your volunteer service and for supporting our mission. This is an “all hands-on deck” effort, and each of you is critical to our success. We honor and salute your commitment to doing what is right.

Captain (ret) U.S. Navy Executive Director

Handled over 60,500 legal requests from veterans and their loved ones.

Over 82.5% lifetime success rate for federal cases.

Recruited, trained, and mentored over 5,475 attorneys across the U.S.

$128 Million Value of donated attorney services.

Operates a nation helpline that provides valuable information to pro se appellants as they navigate the CAVC process.

you for your generous support and unwavering commitment to our program. We are grateful for your partnership and patriotism.

2021 Pro Bono Mission Partner Awards

In recognition of an outstanding record of service to our nation’s veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors.

2021 TVC Chairman’s Awardee Amy B. Kretkowski, Esq.

Amy is an invaluable member of our TVC National Volunteer Corps. She began volunteering her time to represent veterans through our program in 2011 and has been a mentor for more than thirty-five TVC cases. Amy has her own Veterans Law practice in Iowa, representing veterans and their survivors in their VA appeals, and she teaches an upper-level course in Veterans Benefits Law at The University of Iowa College of Law. She is a highly respected advocate in the field of veteran’s law previously served the Court as a law clerk to Judge Mary Schoelen and currently chairs the CAVC Rules Advisory Committee.

Amy takes pro bono cases through TVC and mentors our volunteers and her law students. She and her students have successfully represented 24 appellants (some several times) in TVC cases. She is a natural teacher, whose knowledge of veteran law makes her an exceptional mentor, who we count on to provide wise counsel. We are very grateful for her role as a volunteer and mentor, who is engaging young law students who we hope will become lifelong advocates for veterans. We are grateful for her partnership and excellent representation of our Nation’s defenders.

2021 TVC Pro Bono Law Firm Mission Partner McCarter & English LLP

The McCarter & English’s pro bono team consistently seeks new ways to put their attorneys’ talents to good use. For McCarter & English, that means serving others. The firm was honored with the American Bar Association’s 2019 Pro Bono Publico Award for their exceptional commitment to low-income and otherwise marginalized people and communities. This is evidenced in their commitment to their work with TVC and the vulnerable veterans that we serve.

TVC has been working with McCarter & English attorneys since 2006 but we began growing our partnership in earnest in 2016 with Pro Bono Partner, Michelle Movahed, who has been the driving force behind strengthening our partnership, with her deep commitment to pro bono service and veterans issues.

McCarter attorneys are always eager to take on new cases and have represented TVC clients in thirty-five cases with a near 100% success rate. In February of 2020, we trained 28 new McCarter & English attorneys and 16 immediately took cases. In addition to direct representation, their attorneys have taken on the added task of screening cases, crafting arguments, reviewing records, and writing screening memos. This additional support has allowed us to manage a record number of placements for our CAVC cases. Since March of 2020 alone, they have produced 76 screening memos for CAVC cases. We are grateful for their partnership and excellent representations of our Nation’s Defenders.

2021 TVC Pro Bono Law Firm/Corporate Awardee Alston & Bird LLP and Koch Industries

Alston & Bird and Koch Industries received the 2021 TVC Law Firm/Corporate Pro Bono Mission Partner Award in recognition of the outstanding collaborative record of service provided to our nation’s veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors.

In 2017, we began to build on our partnership under the leadership of Cheryl Naja, Alston & Bird’s Director of Pro Bono, and Community Service. Working closely with Pro Bono Partner, Mary Benton, Alston & Bird has recruited over 50 attorneys to attend our trainings -- making her an invaluable resource for our program. Notably, they introduced us to Koch Industries. Both Alston & Bird and Koch Industries have a solid record of promoting pro bono initiatives in their respective organizations and a strong commitment to the men and women who have served our nation. They are valuable and committed partners to TVC.

Attorneys from both organizations have collaborated to serve veterans who received Other Than Honorable discharges due to conduct related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Military Sexual Trauma, or other mental health issues. They’ve worked together on several pro bono legal clinics and have collaborated on six discharge upgrade cases. We are grateful for their partnership and excellent representations of our Nation’s Defenders.

The sustained commitment to pro bono service by our 2021 Mission Partner Awardees demonstrates that they have each “gone above and beyond the call of duty” on behalf of our nation’s defenders are role models for legal professionals to emulate.

TVC Pro Bono Mission Partner Awards Keynote Speaker: Author, Norm Hile

Our 2021 TVC Pro Bono Mission Partner Awards event was both celebratory and impactful. This event was held on November 4, 2021, and marked the second time we held our event virtually. We were proud to be able to continue this moving event to celebrate excellence in pro bono legal services to our veterans, their families, caregivers & survivors as well as to honor the work of the dedicated members of our TVC National Volunteer Corps.

The keynote speaker was author, attorney and U.S. Army veteran, Norm Hile. Norm read an excerpt from his book, Keeping Each Other Alive, a memoir of his one-year combat tour in South Vietnam. Norm Hile, Esq. served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1971 and is a Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient. To mark the 50th anniversary of his return from Vietnam, he published a powerful personal memoir called Keeping Each Other Alive about his combat tour as an artillery forward and aerial observer. In the words of CBS news correspondent Erin Moriarty, “It’s a soul-searching examination of the dilemmas faced by good people trying to hold on to their souls while staying alive.” Norm was drafted into the U.S. Army out of law school at the height of the Vietnam War. He was trained to be an artillery officer, and then, in August 1970, he was sent to serve a one-year combat tour in South Vietnam’s I Corps, where the war was hottest. Keeping Each Other Alive is Hile’s memoir of that combat tour. Quoting from letters he wrote home from the field, using photos he personally took of combat operations, and recounting his memories of that unforgettable year in war, Hile describes what it was like to be an artillery forward observer in the field with an infantry company, and then an aerial observer in light planes and helicopters flying over enemy territory.

Mr. Hile received his B.A. from Yale University in 1967 and his Juris Doctor degree from Columbia University in 1973. He served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1971, including the combat tour in Vietnam recounted in his book. For 35 years, Mr. Hile was a partner in the law firm of Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, specializing in complex litigation. For most of his legal career, Mr. Hile has represented condemned prisoners on death row on a pro bono basis, including a 17-year effort to exonerate Kevin Cooper from a wrongful conviction and death sentence. He was awarded the Sacramento County Bar Association’s “Pro Bono Attorney of the Year” in 2019, and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals awarded him its John Frank Award as a lawyer who “demonstrated outstanding character and integrity; dedication to the rule of law….and a lifetime of service to the federal courts.”

TVC Pro Bono Mission Partner Awards Keynote

Speaker: Author and Poet, Anne Barlieb

Major Anne Barlieb, USA (Ret.) recited a powerful poem from the perspective of her uniform through her military service, traumatic brain injury and attempted suicide, entitled “I Was There”. She served as a combat helicopter pilot and is a wounded warrior. Her active-duty service included two deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn, during which she received the Combat Action Badge, Air Medal, and a Valorous Unit Award.

During her military service, she suffered from a traumatic brain injury and attempted suicide. Multiple medical issues led to her premature retirement and a traumatic transition to civilian life.

In retirement, Anne continues treatment at Walter Reed for multiple service connected and combat-related chronic conditions. She also mentors service members navigating the medical board process, and offers experientially based, confidential, personalized coaching for concerns related to quality of life during major transitions, and challenges from grief and suicide to self-expression.

Anne has made it her top priority to live in the present and show compassion for herself and others. She now shares her talents within the veteran community as a storyteller and writer and often contributes in civilian, veteran, and hybrid creative spaces.

With Appreciation

The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Mission Partners Awards Sponsors

2021 TVC Donor Honor Roll

$25,000 - $100,000

Baker Botts LLP

McCarter & English LLP

Quarles & Brady LLP

$10,000- $24,999

Thank you to our donors whose generous support is critical to our mission. Much of the tremendous work reported in this annual report was made possible because of these contributions. On behalf of the veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors that we serve, thank you for caring and your generosity.

ODU Law Firm, LLC

Steptoe & Johnson LLP

Valerie Daye, Attorney at Law

Veterans Law Office of Amy B. Kretkowski

Veterans Rights Law Group

CHAMPION

Baker Botts L.L.P.

Quarles & Brady LLP

HERO

McCarter & English, LLP

FREEDOM

Lockheed Martin Corporation

PATRIOT

Cameron Firm, PC

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

GUARDIAN

The American Legion

Bergmann & Moore, LLC

Blank Rome LLP

Buckley LLP

Disabled American Veterans

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

National Association of County Veterans Service Officers

National Veterans Legal Services Program

Paralyzed Veterans of America

Perkins Coie

Veterans of Foreign Wars

White & Case LLP

HONOR GUARD

Alston & Bird LLP

Attig Curran Steel PLLC

Fish & Richardson PC

Greene & Marusak, LLC

JustLaw

K&L Gates LLP

Koch Industries, Inc.

Law Office of Michael J. Sepanik

Veterans Law Office of Amy B. Kretkowski PLC

Veterans’ Rights Law Group, PLLC

Wilson Sonsini Foundation

VETERAN’S DEFENDER

Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig LLP

Chisholm, Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD

Evans & Dixon, LLC

Foster Garvey PC

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

Gustavo Mayen, Esq.

Lee Gardner, Esq.

Miles & Stockbridge PC

ODU Law Firm, LLC

Reine R. Law Practice, PLLC

Sean Kendall, P.C.

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Stacey-Rae Simcox, Esq. & Mark Matthews, Esq.

William S. Foster, Jr., Esq.

Valerie Daye, Esq.

America’s Best Local Charities (Multiple Aggregated Sources)

Cameron Firm, PC

Exon Mobil

Goodwin Proctor LLP

Greenburg Traurig

Lithia Motors Inc.

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Nathan P. Jacobs Foundation

Network For Good

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP

W. Lawrence Wescott

$5,000- $9,999

Alston & Bird LLP

American Legion

Bergmann& Moore, LLC

Blank Rome LLP

Buckley LLP

Disabled American Veterans

Greene & Marusak LLC

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP

Mayer Brown LLP

National Association of County Veterans Service Officers (NACVSO)

National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP)

Perkins Coie Foundation

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)

White & Case LLP

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

$1,500- $4,999

Attig Curran Steel, PLLC

Christopher Deluzio

Congressional Bank

Fish & Richardson P.C.

Foster Garvey PC

Google LLC

James Maiwurm

JustLaw

K&L Gates LLP

Law Office of Michael J. Sepanik

Leland Gardner

McDermott Will & Emery Charitable Foundation

$500 - $1,499

Aggregated Anonymous Donations (PayPal)

Butler Weihmuller Katz & Craig LLP

Catherine Nathan

Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD

Crowell & Morning LLP

Dechert LLP

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver, & Jacobson LLP

Joseph Miller

Law Office of Gustavo Mayen

Mark Matthews

Michael Nardotti

Miles & Stockbridge

Nicole Monachino

Paul Krauter

Reine R. Law Practice, P.L.L.C.

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Taryn Lam

The Law Office Sean Kendall, P.C.

Therese Strode

$25 - $499

ADVOCATE Nonprofit Organization

Alan Nuta

Amazon Smile

Augusta Siribuo

Blair Gerold

Brian McKeon

Burford Frederick

Christopher Tyson

Cusack Law Office, LLC

John Miele Law Office

John Nownes

Jorge Amieva

Kenneth L. Campbell

M L ROMELUS LEGAL, PLLC

Mark Myers

Raul Espejo

Rene Felipa

Robert Lang

Theresa Moylan

Thurman Page

2021 CAVC Case Study: World War II Philippine Guerrilla Wins Compensation for his Service.

Mr. Rafael P. De Peralta was born in 1921, in Santa, a coastal municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, on the main Island of Luzon in the Philippines. In 1944 the Philippines was occupied by the Japanese and Mr. De Peralta, newly married and starting law school, was called to serve with the United States Army Forces in Northern Luzon (USAFIP-NL). He had just lost his father to cholera and asked for permission to remain in Santa for a few days for traditional mourning to honor his father, which he was granted. After his period of mourning, he walked alone for three days and nights through the Cordillera mountains to report for duty.

General Russel W. Volckmann commanded the USAFIP-NL units, comprised of American and Filipino soldiers and guerrillas, numbering more than 8,000 infantrymen. The Filipino guerrillas under Volkmann’s leadership were made up of various Filipino ethnic minorities from the northern cordilleras/mountain passes and ranges. The northern guerrillas’ knowledge of the mountainous terrain was crucial in helping to eliminate the last stronghold of the Japanese military from Northern Luzon. Mr. De Peralta was assigned to the HQ Medical Detachment, where he served in a field and evacuation hospital.

After the Japanese retreated in 1945, Mr. De Peralta returned to law school and after graduating, moved his family to Mindanao Island, where he had a very successful career serving as an assistant provincial (district attorney) in Cotabato and then a Judge in the Regional Trial Court of Cotabato. He and his wife raised nine children, all of whom attended university and are successful professionals. Mr. De Peralta’s wife immigrated to the United States in 1982 and he immigrated in 2001. Six of his nine children and many grandchildren also reside in the U.S.

When Mr. De Peralta applied for benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2009, he was not seeking a lifetime of benefits but the modest equity payment of $15,000 from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation (FVEC) Fund for his service in the Philippine Guerrillas

in World War II. Mr. De Peralta’s claim was based on a provision of the Recovery Act, signed into law by President Obama that same year, which authorized a one-time equity payment of $15,000 to individuals, like Mr. De Peralta, who served before July 1, 1946 in the organized military forces of the Philippines, while such forces were in the service of the Armed Forces of the United States, including organized guerrilla forces under commanders appointed, designated or subsequently recognized by the Commander in Chief, Southwest Pacific Area.

As part of his application, Mr. De Peralta stated that his name was included on the Revised Reconstructed Guerrilla Roster (RRGR) approved by the Army in 1948, and he had submitted the required PA AGO Form 23, which the Secretary of the Army had maintained was the “sole basis” for establishing military identity in that theater. However, despite initially noting that Mr. De Peralta’s name indeed was listed on the RRGR maintained by the VA Manila Regional Office (RO), the U.S. Army, based on the recommendation of the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), determined that Mr. De Peralta had not served as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including the recognized guerrillas in the service of the United States Armed Forces. Based on the NPRC’s finding, the RO denied the claim in November 2009.

Mr. De Peralta filed an appeal with the Board of Veterans Appeals. After eight years, during which Mr. De Peralta testified at a hearing and submitted additional supporting evidence, the Board issued a denial of his claim in August 2017, finding in part that the NPRC had certified at least 7 times that Mr. De Peralta had not served as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including the recognized guerrillas, in the service of the United States Armed Forces.

In 2018, after pursuing his claim for nearly a decade, Mr. De Peralta sought the assistance of The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program (TVC) to represent him on his appeal before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC). The case was evaluated by TVC Veterans Law Specialist Leonce J. Wilson and was subsequently placed with TVC pro bono attorney Brian McKeon. Brian had recently left the U.S. government at the end of the Obama Administration after 30+ years of federal service, the last two years of which was as a senior official at the Department of Defense.

“While at DOD, I worked closely with many senior officers and was well aware of the strains and sacrifice on service members from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan”, Brian said. “I knew there were many Veterans needing help from the VA. I had time on my hands, and legal skills (though I had never litigated a case), so I decided taking on Mr. De Peralta’s case through TVC’s Pro Bono Program was a way to contribute.”

Brian was able to secure a remand from the CAVC, arguing that the Board failed in its duty to assist Mr. De Peralta in developing his claim. The Board’s decision was vacated and remanded. When the case returned to the Board, Brian continued his pro bono representation of Mr. De Peralta. It was during this period that he became more than just a legal advocate. He went to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) facility in College Park, Maryland, where World War II records are kept, including the Philippines Archives Collection, and spent hours reviewing the records associated with the Philippine Guerrillas. The NARA does not permit any of the files to be copied, because of their fragile status, but Brian was able to photograph the favorable material he found.

Brian verified that Mr. De Peralta’s name indeed was listed on the RRGR of Philippine Guerrillas located at NARA. In the same file as the roster, Brian also discovered a related memorandum, dated March 24, 1948. The memorandum showed that on March 14, 1945, certain guerrilla units under the command of Colonel Russell W. Volckmann were designated as “recognized by the Commander-in-Chief, Southwest Pacific Area, as of 9 January 1945.” The list of units included the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, of which Mr. De Peralta’s unit was a part. Brian also conducted extensive online research on the available documentation on Philippine Guerrillas.

After assembling the evidence of Mr. De Peralta’s service, Brian wrote the Army General Counsel (GC) and asked his office to review the case, arguing that the Army Human Resources Command (AHRC) appeared to have moved the goalposts, requiring not only the appearance of Mr. De Peralta’s name on an approved roster (and a Form 23) but also that Mr. De Peralta provide source documents proving that he was the “Rafael De Peralta” listed on the roster. Brian argued that AHRC had cited no support for this new standard, regulatory or otherwise. In response, the GC’s deputy consulted the counsel for the Army

2021 CAVC: Case Study

conversations and exchanged correspondence during the case, they had never met until March 25, 2023, when Brian accompanied by Claudia Daley, TVC Director of Communications, and Keith Krom, Staff Attorney, visited Mr. De Peralta and his family in Queens Village, New York to celebrate their victory and of course Mr. De Peralta’s 101st birthday.

2021 TVC Directors & Officers

Board for the Correction of Military Records, who agreed to have the Army Board review it. Brian then filed a formal petition and brief before the Army Board in August 2019 making these same arguments and supplying them copies of the documentation discovered in the NARA archives.

In 2021, Brian was appointed by President Biden to serve as a Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources and had to withdraw from the case prior to it being resolved, due to government conflicts restrictions. But thanks to his perseverance and arguments, supported by the documentation he was able to collect and present, the Army Board ultimately determined that Mr. De Peralta’s service qualified, recognizing his service in the Philippine Guerrillas during World War II. Samantha Higgs, former TVC Deputy Director, Case Evaluation & Litigation, took over the case for Brian and worked to get VA the information they needed from the Army Board to grant Mr. De Peralta’s claim.

After the Board ruled, Brian wrote to Mr. De Peralta, wishing him a belated 100th birthday (and again thanking him for his service), and telling him how happy he was to learn that he had won they equity payment from the FVEC Fund. About ten days later, Brian received a thank you note from Mr. De Peralta along with a photocopy copy of the $15,000 check he received from the U.S. Treasury. Although Brian and Mr. De Peralta had many

At this reunion Mr. De Peralta recounted his most recent legal battle with the Social Security Administration. Upon receiving his check for $15,000, his monthly Supplemental Security Income (SSI) checks were suspended. Payments from the FVEC fund are exempt from being considered as income or resources for any federally assisted program. Still very sharp at 101 and having lost none of his legal acumen, Mr. De Peralta wrote a detailed memo appealing the decision. Not long after his appeal, SSI payments were reinstated to include retroactive payments.

TVC was honored to assist Mr. De Peralta and to acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of so many Philippine Guerrilla units who contributed to the defeat of Japanese forces during WWII and whose contributions have not been properly recognized.

“Brian McKeon’s commitment to his client is an excellent example of the impact of TVC’s skilled volunteers in these cases. Brian’s extensive research at the National Archives and finding the guerrilla roster and the related March 24, 1948, memorandum was a “game changer”. We are lucky to have Brian on our team fighting for veterans like Mr. De Peralta and acknowledging their service as well as their place in history.”

Courtney L. Smith, Esq. Sr. Director CAVC Practice

William S. Foster, Jr., Esq. Chairman & Director (Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP)

Aniela Szymanski, Esq. Vice Chair & Director (Warrant Officers Association of the U.S. Coast Guard)

Leonard J. Selfon, Esq. CAE, Secretary & Director (Paralyzed Veterans of America)

Lee Gardner, Esq. Director (Google Inc.)

Mary Ann Gilleece, Esq. Director (The Private Bar)

Mario A. Marquez, Esq. Director (The American Legion)

Lanita Morgan, Esq. Director (Schmoyer Reinhard LLP)

John Muckelbauer, Esq. Director (Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S.)

Richard V. Spataro, Esq. Director (National Veterans Legal Services Program)

Roy E. Spicer Director (Disabled American Veterans)

2021 Discharge Upgrade Case Study: U.S. Marine is Granted Honorable Discharge

Donnie Ray Allen was born and raised in a small farming community in South Carolina. His family life was difficult, they struggled financially, and his father was abusive, but he was smart, determined and learned early how to take care of himself.

Donnie was gay, but knowing the small-town mentality would not embrace him, he was not ready to come out. He graduated from high school at the age of sixteen and immediately enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps with his parents’ permission. Donnie arrived at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island in 1994. Barely making the weight requirement of 130 pounds, and arguably the youngest recruit in his platoon, he excelled in boot camp and was meritoriously promoted to Private First Class (PFC) and received the expert marksman badge. His ASVAP scores were high, and he was given Aviation Operations Specialist (7014) as his MOS.

Donnie was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Arizona. He was an outstanding Marine by all accounts and was promoted to Corporal under three years. In October 1997, Donnie decided he was going to be open about his homosexuality, but this was not well received by his fellow Marines and a long period of harassment and aggression ensued. Feeling that he was in danger he confided privately with his Master Sergeant who expressed his disappointment in “losing such a good Marine” and said he could just forget about the conversation, if Donnie would deny he was gay. Donnie refused. The Master Sergeant then promised to complete his investigation in confidence and process him for an Honorable discharge by reason of Homosexual Admission.

The official military policy at the time was “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” (DADT), which meant that non-heterosexual service members could not be openly gay but were not required to disclose their sexual orientation. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members, while barring openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual persons from military service. It also specified that service members who disclosed that they were homosexual or engaged in homosexual conduct should be separated.

In Donnie’s recommendation for an Honorable Discharge, the Commanding Officer stated, “Cpl. Allen is a mature, competent NCO who completes all assigned tasks and maintains a positive

attitude”. The record reflects that on 10 October 1997, his commanding officer recommended his separation with an Honorable characterization of service. On 17 November 1997, a Marine Corps Staff Judge Advocate determined his separation was legally and factually sufficient. On 11 December 1997, the Separation Authority approved the discharge for homosexual conduct with an honorable discharge characterization and directed his command to discharge him with an honorable discharge within twenty working days.

However, the day he was to be discharged, Donnie’s command charged him with four minor UCMJ violations based on consensual homosexual and heterosexual conduct, which he denied. He was threatened with time in the Brig and not allowed to leave the base during the investigation, which lasted over three months. He was constantly threatened, and barraged with noise so he couldn’t sleep. He was spit on and threatened daily. At one point he was told he would not leave the Marine Corps unless it was “in handcuffs or a body bag”. Donnie felt he was in grave danger and began to have thoughts of suicide.

Despite steadfastly maintaining his innocence, Donnie submitted a request for an administrative discharge under Other Than Honorable (OTH) conditions in lieu of trial by court-martial for the offenses. He stated that the daily hate, intimidation, and harassment had taken its toll on him, and he decided that accepting the OTH was the quickest way for him to get off the base, out of the Marine Corps, and out of harm’s way. Finally, on 17 March 1998 he was discharged with an OTH discharge.

Donnie lived with the shame and consequences of this discharge for twenty-four years. Because of his treatment during service, he suffered from anxiety, panic attacks, social impairment, and undiagnosed PTSD. He didn’t receive mental health care and struggled with drug and alcohol abuse and suicidal ideations for several decades. He credits his great support network of friends for helping him through this very dark time.

One friend told him to seek out the help at his local VA in Charleston, South Carolina. He was told he should submit a claim for service-connected PTSD and that he could also apply for a Discharge Upgrade based on a recent memo from Secretary of Defense, Lloyd J. Austin on the 10th Anniversary of the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”. His VSO helped him file his claim and he contacted The Veterans Consortium’s Discharge Upgrade Program about his upgrade.

“Calling my local VA in Charleston was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I was terrified that I would get someone homophobic on the line and I couldn’t go through that again. What I did get, was a wonderful person, who listened to my story and said - we’re going to get you the help you need”.

Donnie worked with the VA on his claim for service-connected PTSD and reached out to Christie Bhageloe, Director of the TVC Discharge Upgrade Program. She reviewed Donnie’s application and records and was appalled by the treatment he had received in service. Christie knew that this was not a typical DADT case because his discharge stemmed from the false NJP charges.

In August 2022, Christie submitted a robust application on behalf of Mr. Donald Allen for correction of military records and consideration of a discharge upgrade, noting that:

Given that the misconduct was quite clearly pretextual and used simply as an excuse to punish him for being gay and is no longer even considered misconduct under the UCMJ 5, it is in the interest of justice for this Honorable Board to grant him the Honorable discharge he should have received in 1998.

Mr. Allen was properly processed for an Honorable discharge according to the applicable regulations at the time, since the military considered homosexuality to be in contravention to the good order of the service. It is no secret that gays in the military were targeted for harassment and pretextual discharges based on fabricated misconduct during DADT, and it seems that is exactly what happened to Mr. Allen

A mental health professional diagnosed Mr. Allen with a mental health condition, PTSD, stemming from his military service. As such, pursuant to 10 USC § 1552(g), a mental health professional must be included as a member of the board who reviews the application for relief.

And In Conclusion

Mr. Allen suffered a grave injustice when a policy later found to be erroneous was the sole reason for his discharge. Mr. Allen’s sexuality was entirely irrelevant to his ability to perform his duties as a Marine, as reflected by his high pro/con marks and unblemished record of service. Considering the changes in military policy regarding homosexual conduct that have taken place since his discharge, it is unjust for Mr. Allen to continue to be burdened with an Other Than Honorable Discharge.

In December of 2022 the Board granted Donnie an upgrade to fully Honorable and the narrative reason for separation was changed to “Secretarial Authority” a few months prior to that, his service connection for PTSD was granted by the VA. He is now eligible for mental health services.

“I can honestly say that after coming out of a situation with such trauma and fear, that I don’t think I would have had the strength to move forward if it wasn’t for The Veterans Consortium and Christie Bhageloe. She wasn’t only my legal counsel, but she was also an ally and a cheerleader. I am blessed and honored to have found TVC to help me navigate waters that I did not, and could not, have understood. I would not have gotten my honorable discharge upgrade if it wasn’t for TVC and Christie”.

Donnie Ray Allen

“I worry that many veterans discharged under DADT do not know they are eligible to apply for an upgrade. There are so many myths and misunderstandings about discharge upgrades out there. While a discharge upgrade cannot erase the pain and suffering LGBTQ+ veterans endured under DADT, it can help validate their military service and allow them to rightfully claim the veteran status and benefits they earned through their service to our country.”

Christie Bhageloe

The TVC Discharge Upgrade Program in sponsored by the DAV Charitable Service Trust and serves veterans who have received a less than honorable discharge due to conduct related to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Military Sexual Trauma (MST), anti LGBTQIA+ policies or other mitigating factors.

2021 TVC National Volunteer Corps Honor Roll

CORPORATE PRO BONO

Appian Corporation

Christopher Geyer

Beyond Athlete Management

Eddie Edwards

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority

John Nachmann

Flint Hills Resources

Tiffany Kieffer

Greystar

Catherine Newell Long

Infor LLC

Ronald Potempa

Koch Industries

John Collins

Jeff Evans

Matthew Ellis

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Heather Bloom

Sumari Stamps-Henderson

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company

Kelly Dalmass

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Susan Amiot

Christopher Barnes

Bart Barre

Charla Beckett

Erica Bomsey

Gabe Calvo

Dan Chudd

B. Patrice Clair

Kate Connely

Ian Corey

Amber Depew

Kevin DiBartolo

Fern Fleischer-Daves

Brenna Ferris

Kathleen Gaffney

Without the commitment of individual attorneys, law firms, corporate legal teams and academic programs, The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program would be unable to carry out our mission to serve veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors.

We thank them here for devoting their time, expertise and resources to this worthy cause.

Maggie Goldsborough

Jasjit Grewal

Brooke Horiuchi

Dina Khaled

Mike Labson

Jillian Laughna

Young Lee

Rahul Makhija

Robin McCune

Sherene McDougall

Jessica McNally

Lisa Miller

Lori Morrison

Venkat Mummalaneni

Mike Navarre

Mark Ries

Jeff Robb

Mark Rowland

Connie Thousand

Joe Whitehead

Robert Wu

Donald Yoo

PNC Financial Services

Kelli Lee

Pentagon Federal Credit Union

Hillary Eckardt

Kristen Misleh

Skyward, A Verizon Company

David Lincoln

GOVERNMENT PRO BONO

United States

Department of Justice

Katherine Carpenter

Lila Jones

United States

Department of the Navy

Stephanie Polk

United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of General Counsel

Diana Duhig

Alicia Harrington

Angela Holloway

Kerry Lring

Marcia McCree

Erica Skelly

Rebecca Weaver

Sarah Wolf

LAW FIRM PRO BONO

ADVOCATE

Falen LaPonzina

After Service LLC

John Duguay

Allen & Overy LLP

Laura Hall

William Jacobson

Taylor West

Alston & Bird LLP

Sean Corcoran

Pamela Council

Aaron Diggins

Martin Dozier

Ashely Escoe

Courtney Hogwood

Kevin Minoli

Matthew Walsh

Anderson & Graham LLC

Tiffanie Graham

Arnold & Porter Kaye

Scholer LLP

Aaron Bowling

Thomas Stoever

Attig | Curran | Steel, PLLC

Chris Attig

Alexandra Curran

Baker Botts L.L.P.

James William

BakerHostetler

Sarah Mosher

Behr, McCarter, Potter, Neely & Hyde P.C.

Joseph Neely

2021 TVC National Volunteer Corps Honor Roll

Black and Jones Attorneys at Law

Stephanie Seibold

Blank Rome LLP

Morgan Barry

Hirsh Cogan

Alan Feigenbaum

Melissa Griest

Joseph Moran

Richard Singleton

Calliope Legal

Elizabeth Rader

Cameron Firm, PC

Jonathan Brenner

Mary Brown-Edokpayi

Megan Ellis

Sherri Stone

Carpenter Chartered

Kenneth Carpenter

John Niles

Centonzio Law, PLLC

Javier Centonzio

Victoria Tamayo

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

Alexis Collins

William Dawley

Richard Huber

Covington & Burling LLP

B.J. Alvater

Na An

Benjamin Block

Brittnee Bui

Rebecca Boulos

Catherine Carulas

David Cho

Vivian Choi

Jennifer Cieluch

Irina Danescu

Rujul Desai

Tim Dill

Uttara Dukkipati

Jasjit Grewal

Larry Hobel

Jerry Hodgkins

Ben Kramer

Marie Lavelleye

Emma Merrill

Will Meyer

David Norquist

Julia Rhieu

Monty Roberson

Nick Rutigliano

Kelsey Shust

Brooke Stanley

Tomo Takaki

Amy Toro

Mike Wagner

Dan B Law PLLC

Daniel Bretzius

Dechert LLP

Andrew Wong

Desmarais LLP

Justin Wilcox

DLA Piper

Christopher Gismondi

Wendy Michael

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Emily Davis

Christopher DeLong

Daniel Goldberger

Alex Hontos

Ben Kappelman

Joseph Lynyak, III

Kirk Schuler

Steven Smith

Duane Morris

Valentine Brown

Kristina Gill

Heidi Lunasin

Kat McGee

Michelle Prado

Denyse Sabagh

Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott LLC

Edward Noonan

Evans & Dixon LLC

Paul Krauter

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

Brent Lindon

Foley & Lardner LLP

Taylor Appling

Craig Dillard

Elizabeth Nevle

Kevin Quaratino

Bryce Romero

Jason Sharp

John Trentacosta

Foster Garvey PC

Ben Hodges

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP

Pierre Anquetil

Matthew Sappington

Sean Twomey

Goodman Allen Donnelly

Daniel Krasnegor

Goodwin Proctor LLP

Jenny Morris

Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Aaron Levin

Green & Marusak

Jonathan Greene

Grubaugh Law

Joshua Grubaugh

Hach & Rose, LLP

John Blyth

Health Advocates LLC

Kamaria Davis

Johns Law Office

Jason Johns

JustLaw

Michael Just

Kellog Hansen Todd Figel & Frederick

Thomas Samuels

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Jacob Boyars

Klaerner Law

Melissa Klaerner

Klimaski & Associates, PC

John McCoy

Law Office of Adebayo Elabanjo

Adebayo Elabanjo

2021 TVC National Volunteer Corps Honor Roll

Law Office of Alex T. Shapiro

Alex Shapiro

Law Office of Andrew P. Gross, LLC

Andrew Gross

Law Office of Anne Keith Walton

Anne Keith Walton

Law Offices of Christian B. Nestor

Christian Nestor

Law Office of Gustavo Mayen

Gustavo Mayen

Law Office of Joel E. Fenton PLC

Joel Fenton

Law Office of Lonnie S. Keene

Lonnie Keene

Law Office of Michael J. Sepanik

Michael Sepanik

Law Office of Nicholas L. Phinney

Nicholas Phinney

Law Office of Rebecca L. Bartlett

Rebecca Bartlett

Law Offices of Robert R. Davis

Robert Davis

Law Office of Sean Kendall

Timothy Franklin

Law Offices of Woodall & Pflepsen, P.C.

Keith Pflepson

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC

Jennifer Mariucci

Leibovic Law Group

Raymond Ribaya

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

Anthony Staltari

Mayes Law Office

Thomas Mayes

McCarter & English

Connor Phalon

Charles Ray

Matthew Van Eman

Miles & Stockbridge PC

Susan DuMont

John Goodridge

National Veterans Benefits Attorneys

Brandon Steele

ODU Law Firm, LLC

Layi Oduyingbo

Perkins Coie LLP

Christopher Marth

Pokalsky Wilczynski Brozek, LLP

Ann Pokalsky

Quarles & Brady LLP

Ted Barthel

Elizabeth Lacey

Alexander Park

Gabriela Timis

Richard L. Bailey Law Firm

Richard Bailey

Seyfarth

Christine Costantino

Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.

Jon Hines

David Polyakov

Joshua Taylor

Paul Williams

Rob McCully

Spence, Custer, Saylor, Wolfe & Rose, LLC

Pamela Wentz

Tabak Law, LLC

Hannah Zacharias

Taylor Ryan Legal

Taylor Ryan

TimesSquare Capital Management, LLC

Alexa Tortora

The Donahue Law Firm, LLC

Shannon Donahue

The Law Office of Augusta Siribuo, LLC

Augusta Siribuo

The Law Offices of Christopher Aldo Porco, PLLC

Christopher A. Porco

The Law Office of Tim Connelly

Tim Connelly

Unruh Law

Judy Donegan

Veterans Law Office of Office of Amy. B

Kretkowski, PLC

Amy Kretkowski

Veterans Rights Law Group

Julia DiSalvo

Lorenzo DiSalvo

Chad MacIsaac

Vetus Legal LLC

David Lowenstien

Todd Wesche

Weinstein Power and Law, LLC

Leonard Weinstein

West & Dunn

Shana Dunn

Jonathan Heiden

Travis West

White & Case LLP

Hannah Craft

Ben Elron

Sean Murray

Frank Schweitzer

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

John Casey

Christina Clemens

Mallory Davis

Ben Hawkins

John Lynch

Jad Mills

Alexandra Moffitt

Wozniak Law

Joshua Wozniak

Xcel Law Firm

Ivory Narcisse

SOLO PRACTIONERS

Jorge Amieva

Margaret Anthony

Kim Balkcom

Amanda Bedford

Diana Bradford

Colin Carriere

Anna Caruso

Kevin Clark

Schantell Comegys

Lillian Crawford-Abbensetts

Anthony Czar

Valerie Daye

Christopher Deluzio

Yun Dong

Robert Dwyer

Wanda Ghant

Celeste Gonsalves

Gina Holness

Robert Jackson

Gertrude Jewell

Mitch Kessler

Ryan Lipes

Leslie Machado

John Malsbary

Mark Matthews

Aaron Moshiashwilli

Jeffrey C. Price

Sean Ravin

Mary Royar

Gordon Sargent

Prianka Sharma

Rosa Sobhraj

Michael Toomey

Dana Weiner

Larry Wescott

Lawrence Widem

Richard Young

LAW SCHOOL PRO BONO

American University

Washington College of Law

Erin Carroll

Andrea Comier

Sumaiya Ismail

Jennifer Rocha

Syracuse University College of Law, Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic

Yelena Duterte

Campbell University Norman

Adrian Wiggins School of Law

Elvin Grant

Camille Wrotenbery

Catholic University of America Columbus

School of Law

Mary Kate Pinto

Purdue University Global

Concord Law School

Scott Johnson

Elon University School of Law

Theresa Brunner

Georgetown Law

Madeline Alagia

Caitlyn Johnson

Eleni Kartali

Yanyu Mao

Claire Maxa

Melissa McCafferty

Megan Robertson

Lynn Zhang

The George Washington Law School

Natalee Ball

Sue Choi

Maureen Chong

Lisa Li

Jasmine Masri

Golden Gate University

School of Law Veterans Legal

Advocacy Center

Matthew Hobson

Seton Hall Law School Health Justice Clinic

Hannah Eaves

Matthew Handley

Elise Leonard

Renee Mariotti

Katherine Moore

Patrick Riley

Christopher Scerbo

Danielle Sciarretta

New York University

School of Law

Christopher Sprigman

Rutgers Law School

Civil Practice Clinic

Traci Overton

Stetson University College of Law

Elanna Lochan

Stacey-Rae Simcox

Southern Illinois University School of LawVeterans Legal Assistance Program

Martin Parsons

University of Cincinnati College of Law

Laura Callihan

University of San Diego

School of Law

Alison Brown

University of Florida Levin College of Law

Judy Clausen

William & Mary Law School

Caleb Stone

PUBLIC SECTOR PRO BONO

National Veterans Legal Services Program

Kimberly Parke

NVW Veteran Advocates

Nique Williams

Paralyzed Veterans of America

Jennifer Zajac

State of Florida – Children’s Legal Services

Sarah Rumph

The Veterans Consortium

Mary Benton

Jim Carlsen

Caitlin Ens

Danica Gonsalves

Peter Gregory

Samantha Higgs

David Kendall

Elanna Lochan

Scott Lunte

Lilah Meehan

Samantha Martinez-Villareal

Lucas Park

Chesley Roberts

Courtney Smith

Thomas Strong

Texas Department of Health & Human Services

Janet Totter

Vietnam Veterans of America

Alec Ghezzi

TVC Legal Scholars Program

To help fulfill our mission to encourage and facilitate pro bono representation by law school clinical and other appropriate programs, we operate The Veterans Consortium Legal Scholars Program. This effort introduces law students to the Federal Veterans Pro Bono Program and exposes them to careers serving veterans and their loved ones in public interest law.

David Isbell Summer Internship

The David Isbell Summer Internship provides law students with a ten-week opportunity to work in appellate law with the laws of veterans benefits and is named for our founding Executive Board Chairman David B. Isbell, Esq.

2021 Memorial Day Week of Service Training: Honoring Their Service

In June, TVC hosted the Memorial Day Week of Service Training. This annual event is held near Memorial Day, as an opportunity for volunteers to give back to our veterans and honor their service. The trainings included:

• Appellate Advocacy before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (U.S. CAVC). A training to represent veterans nationwide, whose claims have been unjustly denied by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Volunteer attorneys represent veterans and their loved ones to regain the eligibility for benefits.

• Military Discharge Upgrades training. This nationwide program is sponsored by the DAV Charitable Service Trust and serves veterans who have received an Other than Honorable (OTH) discharge due to conduct related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and/or traumatic brain injury and other mental health issues. Volunteers learn how to apply for a change in the veteran’s discharge characterization to make them eligible for VA benefits.

The Jeffrey Stonerock Externship Project

The Catholic University of American, Columbus School of Law

J.D. Candidate 2023

J.D. Candidate 2022

The Jeffrey Stonerock Externship Project is a partnership with law schools to provide law students academic credit and real-world experience in the veterans law and appellate practice areas. The project is named for Jeffrey A. Stonerock, Esq., a former chairman of TVC’s Executive Board.

• Veterans Benefits Advocacy/Remands training. This program assists veterans with securing benefits after the Court remands a claim back down to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA). Volunteers learn how to identify what argument or evidence is necessary for the veteran to prevail at the BVA and receive compensation for their disability/injury.

Each training was at capacity, and we welcomed over 200 new members to our TVC National Volunteer Corps!

Women’s Clinic Volunteers

Attorneys

Prianka Sharma, U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Advocacy

Valerie Daye, Esq.

Alison Brown, San Diego School of Law

Lila Jones, U.S. Department of Justice Students

Catholic University

Jen Rocha

Georgetown University Law Center

Caitlyn Johnson

Megan Robertson

George Washington University

Maureen Chong

J.D. Candidate 2022

Celebrating DC Pro Bono Week 2021

In recognition of DC Pro Bono week, The Veterans Consortium hosted two legal advice and referral clinics. The Legal Advice & Referral Clinic and our Women Veterans Legal Clinics, both of which serve veterans in the DMV.

DC Pro Bono Week ran from October 24-30 and celebrates lawyers who make a difference in our community and challenges all attorneys to renew their commitment to providing critically needed services to our veterans.

Thank you to the following volunteer attorneys and students who participated in and helped make our pop up virtual legal clinics a success.

Sue Choi

Legal Advice & Referral Clinic Volunteers

Attorneys

Aaron Moshiaswili, Andersen Tax LLC

Sean Burke, Duane Morris LLP

David Lincoln, Lincoln Law PLLC

Tom Barry, VA Office of General Counsel

Jonathan Helwink, Duane Morris LLP

Students

Catholic University

Abby Beckman

Charlie Lefebvre

Georgetown University Law Center

Adam Pile John Warnke

Michelle Bredehoeft Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law J.D. Candidate 2022

David Kendall

Elanna Lochan Stetson University College of Law

Scott Lunte University of Missouri School of Law

Theresa Brunner Elon University School of Law J.D. Candidate 2022

2021 Staff

2021 Staff

Mike Kail, Esq. Director of Strategic Operations

Cathy Klingler Docket Administrator

Samanta Martinez-Villarreal, Esq. Staff Attorney

Emma Palley Office Operations Coordinator

Josie Peery Office Administrator Sandy Peterson Manager, Client Services

Chesley Roberts, Esq. Equal Justice Works Fellow Sponsored by Lockheed Martin Corporation

Morgan Robinson Client Services Specialist

Kate Sinclair Client Services Specialist

Courtney Smith, Esq. Director, Volunteer Outreach & Education

Dee Wallace Discharge Upgrade Program Specialist

Leonce Wilson Veterans Law Specialist

Paul Cook Senior Fellow

Ed Glabus Senior Fellow

Scott Billigmeier Senior Fellow

Mary Benton Client & Veterans Law Specialist

Jim Carlsen, Esq. Director, Business Operations

Brian Clubb, Esq. Staff Attorney, Discharge Upgrade Program

Ty Collier, Esq. Staff Attorney III/Sr. Program Manager

Giovanna Copat Paralegal, Client Services

Claudia Daley Director, Communications & Development

Judy Donegan, Esq. Deputy Executive Director

Anna Eaker Outreach & Education Coordinator

Nicqelle Godfrey, Esq. Equal Justice Works Fellow, Sponsored by Covington & Burling LLP and Northrop Grumman

Peter Gregory Client Services Specialist

Cate Jackson Client/Stakeholder Outreach Coordinator

Danica Gonzalves, Esq. Program Director, Discharge Upgrade Program, Sponsored by DAV Charitable Service Trust

Samantha Higgs, Esq. Deputy Director, Case Evaluation & Litigation

Stephen Jordon Executive Director

Caitlin Ens, Esq. Staff Attorney

In Memorium

The Honorable Robert J.

Landmark TVC Case taken by Senators

Bob Dole and George Mitchell

Dole

1923-2021 Member, TVC National Volunteer Corps

Robert Joseph Dole was an American politician and attorney who represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996. He was the Republican Leader of the Senate during the final 11 years of his tenure, including three non-consecutive years as Senate Majority Leader. Prior to his 27 years in the Senate, he served in the United States House of Representatives from 1961 to 1969.

Senator Dole served in the Army’s 10th Mountain Division during WWII, where he was gravely wounded. He was just 22 years old and serving in Italy when he was shot in the upper back and right shoulder shattering his collarbone and part of his spine. He was left for dead on the battlefield where he lay for 10 hours before medics found him clinging to life. He came home from the war in a body cast, mostly paralyzed and spent over three years recovering. He received two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star with Oakleaf cluster for his wounds and heroism.

Senator Dole never forgot his fellow veterans and spent his entire carrier advocating for them as well as the disadvantaged and disabled. Most recently, he could be spotted at the WWII memorial on weekend mornings, posing for photos with veterans and anyone else who asked. He viewed his presence there as a continuation of his public service.

Until his passing, Senator Dole served as Special Counsel at Alston & Bird LLP, a valued mission partner of The Veterans Consortium.

The Veterans Consortium mourns the loss of a national hero who spent his life advocating on behalf of his fellow military veterans.

In addition to being a prominent statesmen and our nations’ longest serving Republican leader, Senator Dole was one of our own. In 1997, Senators Dole and Mitchell joined forces with TVC to successfully represent a veteran. Both were veterans themselves and at the firm Verner Liipfert Bernhard McPherson & Hand. The appellant, Mr. James Gaddis was a Vietnam veteran and Bronze Star recipient whose claim involved service connection for a serious spinal cord illness. This was a landmark case for TVC as it was the 1000th case taken since our founding in 1992.

In 2021 we recognized Senator Bob Dole as a Volunteer Inspiring Pro Bono (VIP). Senator Dole was a tireless advocate for veterans and volunteered his time and talent as a member of our TVC National Volunteer Corps.

His passion and perseverance are an example to all of us of a life well lived.

Financials

STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION (audited) December 31, 2021

Your gift helps ensure veterans and their loved ones receive the care, benefits, and compensation they earned by serving our country.

STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES (unaudited)

SUMMARY OF DONATED FUNDS AND EXPENSES (unaudited)

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Please contact via email at outreach@vetsprobono. org to discuss ways that you or your firm can support our work through in-kind donations.

Direct Mail

Checks made payable to The Veterans Consortium can be mailed to 2101 L Street NW, Suite 840, Washington, DC 20037

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All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. If you would like to make a donation in memory of a veteran that has served our Country, or a volunteer attorney that has given their time to serve veterans, please contact outreach@vetsprobono.org. @vetsprobono #theyfoughtforus

@vetsprobono #theyfoughtforus

The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program (TVC) is a leading national 501(c) (3) charity providing free legal services in federal venues for veterans in need. TVC operates a global federal Veterans Pro Bono Program on behalf of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to represent veterans unjustly denied benefits or compensation earned from military service. TVC’s Discharge Upgrade Program is sponsored by the DAV Charitable Service Trust and represents veterans before military Discharge Review Boards and Boards of Correction for Military Records, in cases related to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Military Sexual Trauma (MST), anti LGBTQ+ policies and/or other mitigating factors.

The Veterans Consortium 2101 L St NW, Suite 840 Washington, DC 20037

www.vetsprobono.org