Home Blog Page 272

Military Yearbook July 1, 2012

By
Dock David Treece
-
0

Airman 2nd Class Donald Francis Andrysek
Air Force
Served at Kunsan Air Base, Korea, for one year. Basic training at Parks Air Force Base, San Francisco (Flight 333). School at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, for app. cook. Served at McClellan Air Force Base, Sacramento, and Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., with 28th Tactical Hospital (SAC). Received an honorable discharge after three years and two months of service to our country and would do it all over again. 

Sgt. James Ball Jr.
Army/Army Reserve 

Military Police at U.S. Army Reserve 428th Military Police, South Bend, Ind. (April 2003-April 2005). Deployed to Iraq (January 2004-February 2005). Military Police at U.S. Army (August 1990-July 1995): Fort McClellan (1990), Germany (1991-1993), Saudi Arabia and Kuwait (1991), Fort Harrison (1993-1995). 

Sgt. Emmett C. Beavers Sr.
Army/Air Force
Served  1942 to 1945 in Belgium and other places in Europe, including Normandy, the Rhineland and on Air Offensive Drops. Started in the Army and was transferred to Air Force 352nd Fighter Group. Performed field maintenance of trucks, jeeps and planes.
Decorations and citations include three Bronze Stars.
Dad, we are very, very proud of you. Thank you for being an important part of the World War II effort and in our lives today.   

L-R: Capt. George N. Benore, Chief Warrant Officer George B. Benore and Staff Sgt. 1st Class George M. Benore, all U.S. Army.
Proudly serving our country — past to present 

Gordon W. Bentley
Navy
1941-1945 

Cpl. Charles E Berry Sr.
Army 
March 3, 1944-March 29, 1946
Stationed at Sheppard Field, Texas, and Las Vegas Army Air Field. Served combat duty in Germany. 

Petty Officer 3rd Class Charles E. Berry Jr.
Navy (BT3)
Feb. 14,1962-Feb. 22, 1966
Your wife and five daughters, five grandchildren and great-grandchild thank you for your service to our country. 

1st Lt. James Borchers, left, a fellow soldier and Afghan children. PHOTO COURTESY JAMES BORCHERS

1st Lt. James Borchers
Ohio Army National Guard
Serving in Afghanistan
This is my third deployment and first to Afghanistan. I have been here since late December 2011 and it’s been yet another eye-opening experience and adventure. I just wanted to say I could not be more proud of my country and the things we are doing here in Afghanistan. I know every day we are here the people of Afghanistan and their very livelihoods are better. Every morning I wake up here in Afghanistan and I am so thankful for the blessings we have in America, including our freedom and democracy we are so fortunate to have. God Bless America, Ohio and the University of Toledo.
From UT’s Learning Ventures Support Staff: James is a recipient of The University of Toledo’s  Eileen Burg Military Scholarship. UT and Learning Ventures are humbled, James,  by your service and dedication.  Our deepest thanks to you and your men.  Come home safe!

Peter F. Brown Jr.
Marine Corps
Served in Vietnam (1969-70). Received the Cross of Gallantry citation. Currently disabled and suffering from many medical issues from the exposure he received to Agent Orange while stationed in the jungles of Vietnam for seven months. 

Col. Timothy W. Bush
Army
Brigade Commander, 120th Infantry Brigade
Fort Hood, Texas
Congratulations and God bless you as you continue your Army career. With love from your family in Texas, Michigan, Florida and Ohio. 

Maj. Christopher Butsky 
Support Operations Officer, 237th BSB, 37th IBCT
Resident of New Albany, Ohio, serving in Afghanistan while completing his master of liberal studies degree at the University of Toledo. He is a recipient of UT’s Eileen Burg Military Scholarship.
From Learning Ventures Support Staff: Chris, we are thankful and humbled by your and your team’s service. We pray that you and your team stay safe! 

Toledo City Council member D. Michael Collins, age 17, at his Parris Island, S.C., graduation in 1963. Collins is fourth from right in the second row from the bottom. PHOTO COURTESY D. MICHAEL COLLINS

Cpl. D. Michael Collins
Marine Corps 

 1st Sgt. Rodney Cowden
Army
20 years of service, including Operation Desert Falcon, Saudi Arabia, Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF, 1) Mosul, Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF, 05-07) Baghdad, Iraq, and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF, 10-11) Afghanistan 

George Cundick
World War II 

Pfc. James Dean Davies
Marine Corps
Cherry Point, N.C.
I am so proud of you!  All my love and support!   

Cory Dutkiewicz
Navy, E2 Fireman
Deployed on the U.S.S. New York
Cory,  you make us so proud!  We love you and wish you safe adventures. Love, Dad, Mom and Nanny 

Spc. Michael Early
Army
Stationed Fort Hood, Texas
Michael is an Ohio resident and a recipient of the University of Toledo’s Eileen Burg Military Scholarship.  While serving his country, he is completing his associate degree in computer software specialist technology.
From Learning Ventures Support Staff: Dear Mike, it is our privilege to serve you. We thank you for your service.  Stay safe! 

Spc. Austin J. Gehr
Army
Austin is the army medic for Bravo Co. 1-148th from Bowling Green, Ohio. He is serving his first deployment over in Afghanistan.  He came home long enough to meet his new baby girl, Selene Nicole, born on Feb. 4. We support and thank you on your service to our country

Pfc. Lori Geiman
Army
Basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and AIT at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, for Army Medic. Stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., for two years. 

1st Lt. Jennifer Gerschultz (Burke)
Afghan Uniformed Police Mentor
In Kabul, Afghanistan since July 2011 and due back soon!!!!
We’re counting the days now, Jenny!  See you soon.  Thank you for your service! 

Brian Giles
Coast Guard
Machinery Technician Third Class (E4)
Enlisted in 2006 and currently stationed at Coast Guard Station Manistee, Mich.
Brian, we’re very proud of you and thank you for your service to our country. Mom and Dad.
 

Otis E. Grissom
Army
Helicopter Crew Chief and Paratrooper
Served two tours of duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom
Thank you for your service. You are our hero. Love, Shelly and Lily 

Sgt. Marvin Rofkar Grover
Army
Korean Conflict/War
1930-2010. You are missed every day. 

Staff Sgt. Bradley Charles Hart 
Army
Served six years at Fort Jackson, S.C., Fort Benning, Ga., and Fort Bragg, N.C.
RIP Feb. 17, 2011 

Sgt. Nick Haupricht
Marine Corps
Served four years, including time in Vietnam south of DaNang with the 106 platoon of the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.
SEMPER FI 

Norbert A. Heban Jr.
Army
Paratrooper, 82nd  Airborne
Served 1953 to 1955
Dad, thanks for sacrificing your personal goals to serve our great country.  We are forever grateful for your service.  

Lance Cpl. Charles B. Hettle
Marine Corps
Served as an armorer at Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point, N.C., Helmand Province, Afghanistan and Al Asad, Iraq. Awarded the Purple Heart.
I am proud to call you my husband. You show me the meaning of loyalty, honor and, most of all, respect. I feel lucky I have you and my pride for you is more than you would ever know. Semper Fi. 

Cpl. Joseph Otto Kadi Jr.
Marine Corps
MCAGCC at Twenty-Nine Palms and MCAS at Miramar
We miss you and love you so much!  We are so proud of the young man that you have become! 

Cpl. Justin Kipplen  
Marine Corps
Has served in Afghanistan as a minesweeper and combat engineer. Currently serving at Camp LeJeune, N.C., as a combat engineer.  
Justin, we are so proud of you and your decision to serve our country. We love you very much. Mom, Dad, Jeremy and the rest of your extended family. 

Donald F. Kirk
Navy
Served during World War II, 1942-1946 

Spc. Willie Kiser Jr.
Army Air Defense 1968-1972 

Sgt. Jerry Kline
Marine Corps
MARS-37, 3rd Marine Air Wing
Worked in the hangar and on the flight line at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, Calif. Maintained the radios and electronics on aircraft.
ONCE A MARINE, ALWAYS A MARINE. SEMPER FI. 

Staff Sgt. Jarrod Konz 
Air Force
24 years old. Has served for six years, four at the 180th base. Did a tour in Iraq and several training trips to Arizona, Utah, Michigan, New Orleans and soon Montana. Attended the University of Toledo for business. Has played hockey since he was 7 years old and plays golf whenever he gets a chance. 

Pfc. Sylvester J. Lantz
82nd Combat Engineers Battalion (1960-1963)
Medical Specialist 

Pfc. Michael T. Lyell
Army
From Monclova. Age 23. Currently stationed in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Michael is sorely missed by his entire family! You can bet there will be a huge celebration when his unit returns to the Good Old USA next year!!! 

Capt. Chad Marzec
Army
Graduated from West Point in 2006. Wounded and received the Purple Heart at the end of his first tour of duty in Afghanistan. Recently returned from his second tour and is stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky., where he is a helicopter pilot.
Our special thanks to our son, Capt. Chad Marzec, for serving his country so unselfishly and protecting our freedom. He is married to Dr. Alisa Myer Marzec and the proud father of son, Jackson, and awaits the birth of his second child in November. We are so proud of you. 

Sgt. Victor Matuszewski
Army
Enlisted May 1951. Separated March 1953. Discharged October 1957. Served in Korea November 1951 to November 1952. Received the Bronze Star and a medal of appreciation from the government of Korea.
Victor’s family is very proud of his service to his country. 

Sgt. Albert McCluster III
Army Military Police 1985-1996 

Cpl. Trazell McGlown
Marine Corps
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, Calif.
I would like to thank my wife Liby, daughter Sirena, brother Terrell (Quille) and my parents Bo and Edie Chatman for their continual support! 

Sgt. Scott D. McKay
Army
Fourteen years of service, including two tours of duty in Iraq. Currently stationed near Frankfurt, Germany.
We love you and, as always, are very proud of you. Thank you for your service and protection of our country. 

Todd Zachary Mikolajczyk
Army National Guard
Served 2005-2010. Did two tours in Iraq, one  in 2006 with the HHC 612 Engineer BN unit out of Walbridge, Ohio, and one in 2008 with the HHC 1-148th IN RGT, also out of  Walbridge. We are very proud of him. 

Sgt. Elmer J. Molnar
Air Force
Tail gunner
Korean War
Elmer left a legacy of service, of compassion to others and of the importance of sincere gratitude. We leave him with the words he so often said to us. Godspeed, Elmer. And thanks a lot. 1929-2011. 

Pfc. John R. Morrin II
Marine Corps
Completing training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., for engineer equipment operator.
You are our hero. God bless you as you continue your Marine career. 

Sgt. James  M. Murray
Army
Served in Vietnam (August 1966-1967)
169th Army Engineering Battalion
Honorable Discharge March 1969 

Spc. Jared Myers
Army combat medic
Based at Fort Lewis, Wash. Currently stationed in Afghanistan with the 18th Engineering Company and due home December. In his fifth year of service and recently re-enlisted for five additional years. 2006 Maumee High School graduate. 

 Airman Daniel A. Nagy
Air Force
Working in Las Vegas, Nev., with knowledge operations.
The amount of pride, love and support I have for you and what you contribute to our country is immeasurable. I love you, Dan! 

Ben Otley accompanied his grandfather Richard Otley Sr., a World War II Marine Corps veteran,  on an Honor Flight Northwest Ohio trip to Washington, D.C., in May. Otley Sr. was awarded the Purple Heart and was the only veteran on the flight who had that distinction. 

Alfred Ottney
Navy 1945
U.S.S. Briarus
Thanks for serving. From your family. 

Lance Cpl. Michelle Piehl
Marine Corps
Public Affairs Combat Correspondent/Community Relations
Completed boot camp and combat training at Parris Island, S.C. Completed photojournalism/public affairs training at Defense Information School (DINFOS) in Maryland. Stationed in Miramar, Calif., with her husband, Lance Cpl. Wes Piehl of Medina, Ohio.
So very proud of you, OOH RAH, Semper Fidelis, God Bless you and keep you safe. 

Spc. 4th Class John ‘Jack’ Pietras
Army combat medic
Completed basic training at Fort Knox, Ky., in June 1962 and advanced training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Assigned to the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment in Baumholder, Germany, as a medic and driver for the regimental surgeon. The regiment did border duty on the East Germany/West Germany and West Germany/ Czechoslovakia borders. Honorably discharged in December 1965 and attended Bowling Green State University.  Was a science teacher at Scott and Waite high schools and golf coach at Waite for 20 years. Since retiring in 2000, has been a past commander and the Americanism Chairman for Conn Weissenberger American Legion Post 587, working with Washington Local Schools and Buckeye Boys State. 

Pvt. 2nd Class Austin T. Pounds
Army
Graduated second in his platoon from basic training in May and was recruited to try out for Army Special Forces. Successfully completed Airborne School and now at Fort Bragg, N.C., undergoing training for the Special Forces selection process.
Good Luck, Austin. We are so very proud of you. 

Sgt. 1st Class Travis Paul Powell
Army
Served 16 years, including multiple deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. Stationed at
Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Ga., Fort Benning, Columbus Ga., and Fort Bragg, N.C. 

Cpl. Chick Reid
Marine Corps (1969-1971)
Boot camp at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Served in Japan and Vietnam. 
Once a Marine, always a Marine. With love and pride from your family. Sandy and the kids. 

Staff Sgt. Charles J. Reynolds
Army 
Was shipping out with the 75th Infantry Division slated for Europe as a rifleman, but was transferred to a newly formed engineer company that shipped to the Philippines.  There, on Luzon, he served out his last year in uniform as a depot engineer. Now age 88 and living in Maumee.
PHOTO CAPTION: Charles J. Reynolds in Toledo in 1943, home from basic training at Camp Fannon, Texas. 

Aaron Rickey
Air National Guard
From CAP student at 180th ANG to Aerospace Medevac 137th AES ANG. Will recover, treat and transport wounded. Realizing his best to better serve others. 

Chase Rogalski
Navy
Graduated from the United States Naval Academy with honors in May 2011 with a bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering.  Stationed at Whiting Naval Aviation Base, Fla., where he is in training to become a fighter pilot. 

Capt. Steven J. Saxion
Army 
Since graduating from West Point in May 2007, has proudly served as an armor officer in Iraq, Germany and Afghanistan, where he was awarded the Bronze Star. Recently assigned to duty in South Korea, where he will be for the next two years. Best wishes and God bless you as you continue your Army career. 

1st Lt. Casie E. Saxion
Army
Commissioned an officer in March 2009. Currently completing her training at Fort Hood, Killeen, Texas. Will graduate in August with her doctorate in physical therapy. Starting in September, she will treat active duty and veteran soldiers at Fort Knox, Ky.
Congratulations and God bless you as you continue your Army career. 

Charles ‘Chuck’ Seibold
Army
World War II 

Pfc. Brittany Sheehan
Army
Stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C. Deporting to Afghanistan in December.
Her family is very proud of her and all our troops who serve! 

Bradley A. Shoemaker
Navy
Damage Controlman E-2
Has served one year. Currently deployed on the U.S.S. Enterprise. Stationed in Norfolk, Va.
We are so very proud and love you very much! Mom, Dad, Courtney, Logan, Angela, Mike, Ally & Daisy!! 

Sgt. Harold L. Shoup Sr.
Army
Served during World War II
Proud of you and love you! 

Maj. Martin Skulas
Army/Army Reserve
After four years with the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps at the University of Toledo, served at Fort Hood, Texas, with the Adjutant General Corps, including in the headquarters of the 2nd Armored Division under Maj. Gen. George S. Patton, son of the World War II hero. Later served in Italy, Greece and Fort Sheridan, Ill. Now serving as a Department of the Army Civilian as a member of an Army Community Service Accreditation team, reviewing operations of Soldier and Family Assistance programs at Army installations stateside and overseas.
I’m grateful for the many experiences that have helped me grow on that long road from the University of Toledo to the present and for the opportunity to serve my country.

Maj. Myron ‘Ron’ Skulas
Army/Army Rerserves
Field Artillery 1997-1999
While on active duty, I served in Germany, Fort Sill, Okla., Fort Hood, Texas, and the Presidio of Monterey, Calif. In the Reserves, I was with the 2087th US Army Reserve Forces School in Toledo.
PHOTO CAPTION: Retired Maj. Myron ‘Ron’ Skulas with his wife, Beth. 

Pfc. George H. Snyder Jr.
Combat Infantryman, Gunner Light Mortar
Company G, 337th Infantry Regiment
Served North Apennines, Po Valley, Rome-Arno. Three Bronze Stars among decorations. Will turn 90 years old Aug. 10. 

Karrie L. Snyder
Disabled Veteran 
MOS 3531, HQ  MC
Arlington, Virginia 
 

Larry A. Snyder
Veteran 
MOS 1161, CWWS
Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii
 

Sgt. Cory Spychalski
Army
Served two tours of Afghanistan. Now stationed at Fort Stewart, Ga.
We are proud of you and miss you!!  

Cpl. Mark A. Spychalski
Marine Corps
Stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C., 2008
Proud of you and love you! 

Spc. Stephen C. Tokar
Army
Stationed at Camp Casey in Korea, 1988
Proud of you and love you! 

Lynn Urbanski-Gross
Air Force
Born and raised in Toledo. Served 1976-1979. Now lives in Wyoming. 

Lt. Col. David Urbanski
Air Force
Served 1971-2003 after attending Ohio State University for one year. 1969 graduate of Whitmer High School. Now living in Hendersonville, N.C. 
 

Richard A. Vendt
Navy
1973-1977 

Pfc. Justin Watkins
Marine Corps
Completed training at Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, Va. Now stationed at Camp Allen, Norfolk, Va., as a Marine Air Ground Task Force planning specialist.
Congratulations and God bless you as you continue your Marine Corps career. 

Pfc. William Watkins II
Marine Corps
Completing training in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., as a Military Police.
Congratulations and God Bless you as you continue your Marine Corps career. 

Jacob Wawrzyniak
Coast Guard
Attends the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., where he is a member of the football and hockey teams.  

Nicholas Wawrzyniak
Air Force
Attends the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Co., where he plays hockey and boxes. Will graduate in May with a degree in systems engineering and then plans to attend flight school. 

Scott Wawrzyniak
Air Force
A 2012 graduate of St. Francis de Sales High School, where he played football and hockey and graduated in the top 20 percent of his class. He will join his brother Nicholas at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Co., this fall.  
  

Waterford at Levis Commons 
Back Row, from left: Gordon Conklin, Marine Corps; Andrew Danyko, Air Force; William Streicher, Navy; Ralph Hinkelman, Army; James Utter, Army; Barrett Kiff, Marine Corps; Paul Boat, Army; William Frank, Army.
Second Row, from left: Joan Wright, Air Force; Nancy Gilmore, Navy; Donald Griffith, Marine Corps; Gerald Myers, Army.
First Row, from left: Lawrence Jensen, Navy; David Taylor, Marine Corps; Thomas Grimes, Navy.
Thank you to the veterans of Waterford at Levis Commons for your service to our country. 

1st Lt. Bill “Buck” Weaver
Air Force
Served 1943-1945 as a navigator. Served on D-Day. 
Swan Creek would like to thank all the men and women who served our country. 

Bernard S. Welniak Jr.
Air Force
Served 1963-1967 in Japan, Philippines and Vietnam
Was going with Dorothy (Jendrzejak) Welniak and married her May 25, 1968 in Toledo. 

Staff Sgt. Shane M. Whitaker
Army
Enlisted in Ohio Army National Guard in 1991. Completed basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C. Assigned to 137th Service and Supply Battalion as a wheeled vehicle mechanic, then to 145th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital as a patient administration specialist and later a combat field medic. Transferred to HHT 2-107th Cavalry attached to C Troop as the senior medic and later a scout. Deployed to Kosovo in July 2004 as the protective services detail noncommissioned officer in charge. Currently deployed to Afghanistan with the 1486th Transportation Company. Among his decorations are two Army Commendation Medals and an Army Achievement Medal. 1992 Whitmer High School graduate. 

Petty Officer 3rd Class Alex Wolff
Navy
Stationed at Point Mugu, Calif. 2007 Genoa High School graduate.
Thanks for your service! All our love from Ohio. 

Spc. Mark A. Wuertz
Army
Served 1971-1974 at Fort Ord, Calif., during the Vietnam War era. Awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service. He often expresses regret he was not one of the men sent overseas, while many of his friends were. He was proud to serve his country and we are proud of him. 

Spc. Scott Yarberry
Army Medic
Recently finished an 11 1/2-month deployment to Afghanistan and returned to his home base at Grafenwöhr, Germany.
We are so proud of his service to our country.
 

Senior Airman Tara K. Zuber
Air Force
Has more than four years of dedicated service at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and Fort Hood, Texas.
We love you and you make us so proud with your continued service!  

Spc. Trenton A. Zuber
Army
Served one year in Panjwai, Afghanistan. Awarded two Purple Hearts. Currently stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska.
We love you and are so proud of you! You serve your country honorably! 

Names sent in with no photos

Charles Norman Bentley
Navy 1938-1942
Lance Cpl. Brandon Bugbee
Marine Corps; Rifleman
Clarence David Hill
Army, 1968-1969; Vietnam; 577th
Engineer Battalion, 18th Brigade
Victor A. Lemle
Army Air Corps; World War II
(1941-1945)
John M. Schafer
Marine Corps; World War II
Robert Bruce Schafer
Marine Corps; World War II
Donald Schafer
Marine Corps; Korean War
RC Schwarzkopf
Kevin L Schwarzkopf
Pamela S Schwarzkopf
Thanks for your service to our country.
Sgt. Harold L. Shoup Jr. Army
Served in Vietnam and then Germany.
Proud of you and love you!
Ronald J. Vendt Sr.
Marine Corps;
Vietnam War 1970-1974
Brig. Gen. Lance A. Talmage
Army; Served in Germany as flight surgeon and division surgeon (1966-1969) and in Operation Desert Shield/Storm (1990-1991). Also served with Army Reserve and Ohio Army National Guard. Legion of Merit. Retired October 1997.

Military people don’t have to give up pet to serve

By
Toledo Free Press
-
0

Those serving our country are sacrificing enough; they shouldn’t have to sacrifice their pets as well.
To ensure wagging tails and wet noses are part of the welcome home party, an animal loverin South Carolina offers service men and women a pet foster service. Ohio is one of his busier states because of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Steve Albin started the nonprofit NetPets.org one week after Sept. 11, 2001. Since then, volunteers have fostered 20,000 pets, including dogs, cats, bird, horses, ferrets, rabbits, hermit crabs, a goat and a pot-bellied pig.
In the past, military personnel had to find a family member or friend tocare for their pet. If they couldn’t, they would put the pet up for adoption, take it to a shelter or abandon it, Albin said.
During the Gulf Wars, a minimum of 25,000 pets were put to sleep.
“What type of morale builder is that? To go serve and protect you haveto kill your best buddy.”
The program — recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense as itspet assistance provider — allows for military people to leave their pets with foster families who volunteer for NetPets.

The military person doesn’t haveto be entering combat to use this service either. He or she might be relocating for training or attending a special assignment. Many times they might be temporarily moving their whole family to a place that doesn’t allow pets.
“After they fill out the secure form,we start looking for a foster home. We foster the dogs and birds by breed type and/or size, and keep them as close to the pets’ residence as possible,” Albin said.
Once a foster home is selected, pets visit their foster family with their owner.
“We have a meet and greet on the territory of the foster home. We don’t say‘Meet in the park’ because we want to know if there are going to be any issues,” Albin said. “We only have had to change foster homes or go to a second foster home somewhere around 12 times.”
Military pet owners pay for food, grooming and supplies for their pets, but participation in the program is free.
Albin said his nonprofit helps ease minds of those serving our country.
“Pets are part of the family. As soon as the military pet owners come back, they can pick up their beloved pets,” Albin said.
No participant has died before returning to his or her pet.
For more information go to www.netpets.org/militarypet/foster.php#fosthome.

Local Vietnam veteran affected by Agent Orange

By
Morgan Delp
-
0
Photo courtesy Peter Brown

When Toledo native Peter Brown was 19 years old, he enlisted in the Marine Corps without hesitation.
He was sent to the jungles of Vietnam a few months later.
“It was my generation,” Brown said. “Some guys were going to Canada, some were getting deferments. That wasn’t in my book. I figured I could do something for my country rather than my country doing something for me.”
At age 63, Brown feels the effects of his service every day, as he endures painful diseases brought on by hiswartime exposure to Agent Orange.
The chemical herbicide was used by the United States to kill vegetation and foliage in the Vietnamese jungles.
“Someone from veterans services said it’s like a cancer that’s eating you alive from the inside out,” said Peter’s wife, Conni Urbanski-Brown.
Brown left Vietnam in 1970, and although he experienced some medical problems in the 1990s, his symptoms didn’t flare up until about 10 years ago. He began undergoing medical testing and three years later began receiving U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical care.
Type 1 diabetes, chronic pain, neuropathy and ischemic heart disease — the conditionshave cropped up over time, one after another, said Brown, who has also suffered multiple seizures and heart attacks. He said he often wakes up in the morning wondering what is going to happen that day.
“It stuck out its ugly head, and I was like, ‘Wow, what’s happening?” Brown said. “It had lain dormant for 35 years in my system.”
Hard to track
Veterans do not receive compensation for Agent Orange exposure, but for the diseases the dioxin causes. This makes it difficult to know how many veterans are affected by Agent Orange or receiving compensation from the government due to its effects, said Deborah Heaney, staff physician with the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.
Heaney said the VA currently recognizes 14 diseases as presumptive conditions that, if a veteran has served in certain areas during certain time periods, qualify them to automatically receive compensation from the government.

Diabetes, a form of neuropathy and ischemic heart disease are three of these diseases, according to publichealth.va.gov.
“For most compensation issues, the veteran has to prove a link between exposure and their condition. For these presumptive conditions, the veteran doesn’t have to prove any causation,” Haney said. “The government has decided it’s the dioxin in Agent Orange.”
The Agent Orange Act, which instituted a process for establishing these presumptive conditions, was passed in 1991. In 1994, the National Academy of Science published the
first report on the diseases that qualify as presumptive conditions. Since then, the government has been adding new conditions to the list.

In the jungle
Upon enlisting, Brown spent eight weeks in boot camp in San Diego, then five weeks in infantry training. He spent 20 days at home in Toledo before being deployed to Vietnam in 1969.
Brown went through the rigorous boot camp with a broken foot.
“I fractured a small bone in the back of my leg, but I didn’t want to mess with karma and get set back another two weeks, so I sucked it up,” Brown said.
He spent seven months in the Vietnam jungle, north of the demilitarized zone, arriving a few months after the Tet Offensive when the war was “starting to die down.”
“The trees were so thick that it would be sunny outside but seem dark on the jungle [floor],” Brown said.
Brown said he encountered pythons, panthers, rats as big as dogs and “bugs you never figured would be on the planet” while overseas, but enjoyed the experience overall.
“I seized the moment because I knew it would never happen again,” Brown said.

Daily exposure
While Brown and his fellow servicemen were stationed in the dense jungle, they were exposed to Agent Orange almost daily.

Brown recalls one 18-day period of monsoon rain during which the gas was not sprayed, but when the weather was clear, five or six C-130s would fly across the jungle and spray the chemical that Brown said looked like snow.
“We would smell the gas fumes, but we didn’t realize it was harming us,” Brown said. “Nobody knew it was dioxin. None of us knew anything about it.”
Brown was especially close to the herbicide, as he worked the radio on the tarmac where helicopters landed, he said.
“They would spray the perimeter and just like that, it would kill [the plants],” Brown said. “The chopper blades were spinning and would send [the Agent Orange] back down to the ground. We were constantly breathing it. When you’re 19, 20, you’ve pumped
gas and smelled those fumes. You don’t figure it will hurt you.”

When Brown returned to the U.S. in 1970, he was offered $6,000 to go to California as a sergeant, but he declined.
“I had a pretty good record so they wanted to make me a sergeant, but I said, ‘Are you kidding me? It’s party time,’” Brown said, grinning.
Urbanski-Brown said Americans were not as supportive of returning troops as they are now.
“We didn’t get the ‘welcome homes’ like they do now,” Brown said. “They called us baby-killers. We had to keep it all inside.”
Brown resumed a job at Doehler-Jarvis Corporation before becoming a semi truck driver, but had to stop working 11 years ago when getting in and out of the truck and loading heavy items got to be too painful and difficult, Urbanski-Brown said.
Quality of life ruined
Brown said he was not happy to give up working at age 52. It was the end to a lifetime of work that began when he was 12, working a paper route and setting pins at a bowling alley.
“I was never a guy who liked being on the dole; I like working,” Brown said. “That’s why this just kills me.”
Now, Brown spends most of his days at home, watching old programs on TV. He doesn’t leave the houseregularly except for trips to the doctor every three to six months.
Urbanski-Brown said it’s a struggle for her husband to walk, and he uses a wheelchair to go any farther than the bathroom. She said the VA is supposed to install a ramp and handicap bars in the bathroom, but hasn’t yet.
“It totally ruined his quality of life,” Urbanski-Brown said. “He used to have a boat, a motorcycle and a big old truck. He used to go camping and fishing in Canada.”
Brown takes a dozen different types of medicine every day, alongwith insulin twice a day and steroid injections every three months.
In addition to physical ailments, Brown has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and sees a psychiatrist every six months. Some days he experiences depression.
“I have my bad days and my good days. All of us do. Mine are just a little bit more extreme,” Brown said. “But I’m not complaining. The guys that come back from Afghanistan and Iraq are a lot worse off than I am. … I think about [them] every day, which I think we all do, hopefully.”Urbanski-Brown has created a Facebook page to help raise awareness of  those affected by Agent Orange, which she describes as “widespread but just not talked about.”

Learn more at facebook.com/victimsofagentorange

Wall of Honor celebrates school’s military alumni

By
Toledo Free Press
-
0

Nearly 30 years have passed since Thomas Belkofer’s days at Rossford High School, but a group of students want to make sure his sacrifice and the service of other military alumni are not forgotten.
The 44-year-old lieutenant colonel was killed by a bomb in Kabul, Afghanistan, on May 18, 2010, during an orientation visit prior to his second deployment. His photo is among those displayed in a case outside the school’s main office. Called the Wall of Honor, the displayincludes 51 photos of alumni, from those who served in World War II to those serving today.
“They span almost the whole history of Rossford,” said Martha Fellman, adviser to the school’s SOS (Serving Our Soldiers) Club, which started collecting photos for the Wallof Honor four years ago.
A second group of photos will be installed this fall.
“We collected enough by last fall that we had our unveiling of the Wall ofHonor,” Fellman said. “We receive more weekly. Every year students graduate and students enlist. We’re planning on keeping it going indefinitely.”

Fallen soldier

A 1983 graduate of Rossford High School, Belkofer had been in the Army for 18 years when he was killed. He was married with two daughters and was the middle of three sons. His two brothers also served in the military. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Belkofer’s parents, Donald and Sharon Belkofer of Perrysburg Township, said their son was humble about recognition, but would have been honored to be remembered by his alma mater.
“It’s a really neat thing they’ve done. The students have worked very hard to put that together,” Sharon said. “It means a lot. I think Tom would have really appreciated it. He loved what he did, he loved the military. He felt very strongly about the commitment that our country has and he had a great deal of commitment to the soldiers who worked with him. The last thing he really cared about was getting a lot of personal attention, but he was proud of what he had accomplished and I think he would have been pleased they remembered and wanted to include him.”

The idea for the Wall of Honor came from a similar organization at Bowling Green State University. The BGSU club’s adviser helped Fellman start the group in Rossford.

“I just thought it was a really good way to recognize and honor our students who have served, but also to be a reminder to our community,” said Fellman, a businessand computer instructor at the high school. “A lot of time people forget. Unless they see something recently in the news, they just don’t think about the sacrifices the military families and soldiers are making for us. This just seemed like a good way to recognize them and help them in any way we can.”
The club, which has about 30 members, also organizes fundraisers and volunteers at local events that support causes to help meet the needsof service men and women and their
families at home.
Club members dress in costume and hand out candy during the annual Military Family Fun Night at the Corn Maze at the Butterfly House in Whitehouse. They have also raised money for Honor Flight Northwest Ohio, helped send care packages to soldiers in Afghanistan and babysat for children of deployed soldiers while their parents were at meetings.
For more information about the club or Wall of Honor, contact Fellman at (419) 666-5262, Ext. 1329, or [email protected].

Submissions for the wall should include a 5-by-7-inch photo, Rossford High School graduation year, military branch and rank and any other pertinent information. Submissions can be e-mailed to Fellman, dropped off at the school’s office or mailed to Rossford High School SOS Club, Attention: Martha Fellman, 701 Superior St., Rossford, OH 43460.

Heroes in Action sends care packages overseas

By
Brigitta Burks
-
0

When Dawn Heisler and her friends started sending care packages to their loved ones serving overseas, they couldn’t have known that years later they’d be sending about 100 each month.
In late 2004, Heisler was sending goods to her grandson Trent, then a Marine serving in Iraq. Now, as head of military outreach nonprofit Heroes in Action, she’s sent thousands of packages to military members and helped out their families in other ways.
“It just multiplied,” said Heisler, who is retired from medical sales.

“We call our boxes hugs from home, just because it reminds [military personnel] of home and that somebody hasn’t forgotten them.”
Care packages include items like baby wipes, shaving cream, Gatorade, Fritos, magazines, cards and more.
“Of course, they get the Girl Scout cookies,” Heisler added.
“It gives you the comfort of home when you’re over there. You just can’t go down to the local store,” said volunteer Bill Batts, who served in the Gulf War. Each month, volunteers pack boxes that are sent to those serving. To receive care packages, a soldier or soldier’s loved one emails Heisler contact information, which is added to a list. The “heroes” receiving the packages also get recognized at heroesinaction.org.
“Once we take on a name, we support them the whole time they’re overseas,” Heisler said. Heroes in Action will often send extra boxes for the soldiers to share with their units. The care packages also include cards and letters from schoolchildren or those living in retirement homes.
“It makes [the soldiers] feel great. They know someone’s back home caring for them, praying for them, loving them, just awaiting their return,” said Leonard Lamb, who served in Iraq. Lamb, a veteran with disabilities, spends much of his time volunteering for Heroes in Action.
Lamb got involved with Heroes in Action about three and a half years ago.
“I’m the one [Heisler] calls. I do literally anything and everything,” he said. Heroes in Action also helps military families and veterans with miscellaneous tasks — from cleaning a soldier’s house while he or she is recovering from surgery to clearing branches from a yard to providing bus fare to a stranded soldier. Many volunteers, like Lamb, a builder, use their skills to help out.
“Remodels, plumbing, electrical, basically if there’s a need for it, we can find someone who will do it,” Lamb said.
Batts started volunteering for Heroes in Action about a year ago when nonprofit helped him get furniture after being homeless.
“It meant a lot to me,” said Batts, who now helps move furniture donations. “I’d do anything for [Heisler].”
Heisler is currently in the process of finding furniture for a military family with five children, who lost their home in a fire.
“Sometimes we can’t do everything because of the funds, but we try to do something and help,” Heisler said.

Those on the receiving end of Heroes in Action are thankful, added Heisler,whose grandson is now in college.
“We get a lot of letters just thanking us for caring, thanking us for sending their packages every month,” she said.
Snack/item donations are accepted at 5025 Glendale Ave., Toledo, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Furniture donations must be arranged by calling (419) 699-3439.
Checks can be sent to Heroes In Action Military Support Outreach, P.O. Box 352046, Toledo, OH 43635. To learn more, visit the website.

Veterans History Project archives stories

By
Erin Holden
-
0

When LaMont Gee was hit in the throat by shrapnel while defending a bridge in Belgium during World War II, his friends thought he was dead.
The 18-year-old was drafted in 1943 and assigned to the Army’s 988th
E n g i n e e r i n g Treadway Bridge Company, which built bridges to replace those
destroyed by the retreating German army.
He was injured during an attack by a German airplane attempting to destroy a recently completed bridge. After a field hospital operation and two months of rehabilitation in England, his voice returned and he rejoined his company in Germany.
“I walked over and the guys just looked at me,” said Gee, now 87, a Silver Star and Purple Heart recipient who served as grand marshal of this year’s Memorial Day parade
in Sylvania. “They said, ‘What are you doing here?’ I said, ‘Where’s my duffel bag?’ It was still in the truck. I got it and we just kept on going. When there’s a job to do, you do it.”
The Sylvania resident’s story is among those archived at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., as part of the Veterans History Project.
The ongoing nationwide project, which started in 2000, collects firsthand audio- or videotaped accounts of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War and the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts from veterans as well as U.S. citizen civilians involved in supporting war efforts, including warindustry workers, USO workers, flight instructors and medical volunteers.

The project also collects original documents, such as photographs, letters, diaries and maps.

Tom Barden, dean of the Honors College at the University of Toledoand a Vietnam War veteran, is the Northwest Ohio regional coordinator of the Veterans History Project.
“It’s an amazing project,” Barden said. “To me as an academic, all oral history is important. History is written about the famous people, but to methe more interesting stories are those
of the average person and their lives.”

Local interviewer
More than 75,000 stories have been collected so far, including
more than 500 by retired Sylvania resident Bud Fisher.
“75,000 may sound like a lot, but it’s not when you consider how many millions of peopleserved,” said Fisher, who compiled many of his interviews into two books: “What a Time It Was” about World War II and “Thirty Below on Christmas Eve” about the Korean War.
Each of those millions has a story and Fisher enjoys giving them a voice.
“What I enjoy the most is watching these fellows open up,”Fisher said. “When they came home they didn’t sit their families down and tell them about the war. They took off their uniforms and went back to work or school. A story might have come out here or there, but I provided the means by which they could really open up and talk about their military service from start to finish. I helped to transport them back 60 years to when they were young.”
Copies of the interviews are also archived locally at UT’s Canaday Center or Perrysburg’sWay Public Library. The veteran also receives a copy  of the interview.
“That’s like a genealogical treasure,” Fisher said. “When they are long gone, their family can hear their voice, which is priceless. I’d love to hear my grandfather’s voice or my great grandfather’s voice, even though I know a fair amount about them. It’s like a voice from the past.”
Another local interviewer is Richard Baranowski, local history librarian at Way Public Library.
“Fifty years from now, 100 yearsfrom now, a descendent of one of these guys will be able to go to the Library of Congress and see his ancestor on a video camera,” Baranowski said. “Can you imagine if we had that from the Civil War, how valuable that would be today? History dies with people. A lot of the people we’ve interviewed havedied. I think it’s a good idea to see what you can preserve.”
Some veterans are determined to never talk of their experiences again while others find it therapeutic, Fisher said. Some are talkative while others need more prodding to open up.
“No one has ever said I’m sorry I did this. Everybody is happy they did
it,” Fisher said.
Fisher, who served during the Korean War, said being a fellow veteran has helped, but anyone can conduct interviews if they know what questions to ask.
“The process is simple. I take my recorder to their kitchen table and we talk,” Fisher said. “It helps to be a student of history, but you don’t have to be knowledgeable about the war.
You just have to know what questions to ask.”
Fisher asks veterans to bring theirdischarge papers as reference. Barden suggests doing some background research, but then just listen.
“Do your homework, but don’t use it,” Barden said. “People want to feel like you know what they are talking about, but if you start talking like a historian, they might get intimidated.”
Start with a family member, Fisher suggested.
“Everybody’s got a father or grandfather or uncle who was in the service and you can practice on them,” Fisher said. “Not everybody has to do 500 interviews.”
Some veterans tell him their contributions are not important enough to talk about, but Fisher disagrees.
“I tell them not everybody won Medal of Honor, but every story
is important. If you served, your story is important,” Fisher said.
“Historians talk about the generals and the admirals and the leaders of the country. They don’t talk about the people who did the work. This is a way to finally have a history of the common man, the ordinary GI.
We’ve heard enough about Douglas MacArthur and Admiral [Chester W.] Nimitz and General [George S.] Patton. We know all about those guys, but finally we’re going to hear the stories of the guys who made them famous.”
For more information about the Veterans History Project, visit www.loc.gov/vets.

Toledo man publishes World War II memoir

By
Zach Davis
-
0

Former Lt. Col. Gordon Rolla Lanker, a resident of Toledo, published his first book at the age of 96.
Lanker’s memoir, “Just Another Unsung Hero,” details his lifeas a pilot in World War II, his life leading up to his deployment and his journey back to the workforceupon his return.
Lanker dictated his story on five 90-minute tapes and enlisted the help of his grandson, Cory Lanker, to help put the story into words.
The idea for the book came from Gordon’s wish that he knew more about his great-grandfather’s experiences in the Civil War.
“He was in several important battles in the Civil War,” Gordonsaid. “I thought ‘Wouldn’t that have been nice if he would have kept some kind of diary or something?’
I thought that it would be a good idea to write a book.”
Gordon eventually mentioned the idea to his family, which prompted Cory to push his grandfather toward making the memoir a reality.

2012 Veterans/Military Resource Guide

By
Brigitta Burks
-
0

RECRUITMENT OFFICES:
U.S. Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force Recruitment
4925 Jackman Road
Toledo, OH 43613
Army (419) 292-0358
Navy (419) 475-1561
Marines (419) 292-0388
Air Force (419) 480-1104
U.S. Air Force Recruitment
522 S. Reynolds Road
Toledo, OH 45615
(419) 531-7385
U.S. Army Recruitment
551 S. Reynolds Road
Toledo, OH 45615
(419) 531-3515
U.S. Marine Recruitment
522 S. Reynolds Road
Toledo, OH 45615
(419) 531-0353
U.S. Navy Recruitment
557 S. Reynolds Road
Toledo, OH 43615
(419) 531-7615
Army National Guard Recruitment
925 Research Drive
Toledo, OH 43614
(800) 464-8273
Ohio Air National Guard Recruitment
2660 S. Eber Road
Swanton, OH 43558
(800) 495-4250
Naval Reserve Recruitment
28828 Glenwood Road
Perrysburg, OH 43551
(419) 661-1321
OFFICES:
American Red Cross Services
3100 W. Central Ave.
Toledo, OH 43606
(419) 329-2900 • redcrosstoledo.org
AmVets Career Center
Herzing University
5212 Hill Ave.
Toledo, OH 43615
(419) 776-0300 ext. 131
amvetscareercenter.org
Area Office on Aging
2155 Arlington Ave.
Toledo, OH 43609
(419) 382-0624 • areaofficeonaging.com
Bowling Green AmVets
1045 N. Main St., Ste. B
Bowling Green, OH 43402
(419) 352-4800
Disabled American Veterans
dav.org
FOCUS Homeless Housing Services
2283 Ashland Ave.
Toledo, OH 43620
(419) 244-2175 • focustoledo.org
Lucas County Homelessness Board
1946 N. 13th St.
Toledo, OH 43604
(419) 244-9440
endinghomelessnesstoledo.org
Lucas Metropolitan Housing Authority
211 S. Byrne Road
Toledo, OH 43615
(419) 259-9448 • lucasmha.org
Lucas County Veterans Services
1301 Monroe St., Suite 180
Toledo, OH 43604
(419) 213-6090
Lutheran Social Services
2149 Collingwood Blvd.
Toledo, OH 43620
(419) 243-9178 • lssnwo.org
Ohio Dept. of Veterans Services
77 S. High St., 7th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 644-0898 • dvs.ohio.gov
The Source
1301 Monroe St.
Toledo, OH 43604
(419) 213-JOBS (5627)
thesourcenwo.com
Toledo AmVets
4133 N. Summit St.
Toledo, OH 43611
(419) 726-0724 • amvets.org
United Way of Greater Toledo
424 Jackson St.
Toledo, OH 43604
(419) 248-2424 / Emergency 2-1-1
unitedwaytoledo.org
United Way of Wood County
1616 E. Wooster St., Unit 25
Bowling Green, OH 43402-2763
(419) 352-2390
Veterans Affairs Healthcare System
annarbor.va.gov
Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic
3333 Glendale Ave.
Toledo, OH 43614
(419) 259-2000
Vet Center of NW Ohio
1565 S. Byrne Road
Toledo, OH 43614
(419) 213-7533
Wood County Veterans Assistance
1616 E. Wooster St., Unit 22
Bowling Green, OH 43402
(419) 354-9147
FOR STUDENTS:
Lourdes University
6832 Convent Blvd.
Sylvania, OH 43560
(419) 824-3732
Owens Community College
Veterans Services
(567) 661-VETS (8387)
www.owens.edu/veterans/index.html
University of Toledo
Military Service Center
Main Campus
Rocket Hall Room 1529
Mail Stop 343
Toledo, OH 43606
(419) 530-1392
utoledo.edu/call/military
OTHER RESOURCES/GROUPS:
1Matters: Veterans Matter
(800) 361-8387
1matters.org
American Legion
(800) 433-3318 • legion.org
The Arms Forces
P.O. Box 981
Maumee, OH 43537
thearmsforces.org
Blue Star Mothers of America
bluestarmothers.org
Flat Daddies
(855) 206-8810 • flatdaddies.com
Heroes in Action
P.O. Box 352046
Toledo, OH 43635
heroesinaction.org
Honor Flight
P.O. Box 23018
Toledo, OH 43623
honorflightnwo.org
USO
(888) 484-3876 • uso.org
Wounded Warrior Project
(877) TEAM-WWP (832-6997)
woundedwarriorproject.org
Veterans of Foreign Wars
(614) 224-1838 • vfw.org
— Compiled by Brigitta Burks

Red Cross offers many services to veterans, families

By
John Rasche
-
0

“An American tragedy” is how one longtime local Red Cross volunteer describes post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD ) and other issues faced by military members.
“The psychological stress that many members of the armed forces face — problems such as PTSD and suicide — is an American tragedy that will get worse and worse unless the issue is addressed now,” said Fred Vallongo, a volunteer with the Greater Toledo Area Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Reconnection workshops

Vallongo is a volunteer mental health worker for the local Red Cross chapter as well as a national instructor for the organization’s Reconnection Workshops. The workshops are designed to offer support and education to service members and their families.
“Toledo and Northwest Ohio are historically military-friendly areas. We have high numbers of people who enlist in the military and a lot of the problemswe face are reconnecting families (after deployment),” said Vallongo, a veteran who served as a Navy hospital corpsman in the Marine Corps and has been involved with the Red Cross for 17 years.
“For every joyful reunion that is shown on the local news, there is always a tenser issue somewhere else.”

The Reconnection Workshops range from lessons on communicating clearly to exploring stress and trauma. Family members also learn how to identify signs of depression in theirloved ones and what they can do to help.
Other workshops are available to returning military members who have difficulty preparing for deployment or assimilating back to their lives at home. The classes include topics suchas “Working Through Anger” and “Relating to Children” and provide military members with the counseling and information needed to reconnect with their families.

Emergency messages
The local Red Cross chapter also provides an emergency communications service that directs messages from family members to active military members wherever they are stationed.
“The military relies on the Red Cross to verify the conditions of an emergency back home,” said Ken Robinson, Red Cross regional director of  programs and services. “Sometimes the emergencies are happy news, such as a recent birth, but most of the calls received are for sad news regarding a death in the family.”
After a family reaches out to theRed Cross with their personal emergency, the organization immediately contacts the hospital or funeral home to confirm details. An official message is then sent overseas to another Red Cross office closer to the family’s service member. A military officer responds before relaying the message to the intended receiver, who can then formally ask the unit’s commander for temporary leave.
The Greater Toledo Area Chapter delivered between 300 and 400 emergency messages last year, Robinson said.
“At the local level, we also do family follow-ups (after sending the message) to find out how the family members are doing or if they need anything through our resources,” Robinson said.
“Once we’re confident that the family is OK, we will close up the case.”
Volunteers are always needed and appreciated, Vallongo said.
“Less than 1 percent of the population serves in a uniform that helps protect our country,” Vallongo said.
“Servicemembers, firefighters, police officers — those people risk their lives every day for our safety. They have a heavy load to carry for the rest of us. I encourage the other 99 percent of us to find ways to help those brave men and women. If you look for a way to help, I’ll guarantee you’ll find a way.”

To learn more about Red Cross service programs for veterans and military families, contact the local chapter at (419) 329-2900. Volunteer inquiries and donations can be offered by visiting www.redcrosstoledo.org or www.redcross.org.

New VA clinic to increase access to mental health services

By
Caitlin McGlade
-
0
Photo courtesy Derek Atkinson

Every day, the horrors of war push at least one Iraq or Afghanistan war veteran to commit suicide — a statistic that 1,600 new mental health professionals throughout the nation’s Veterans Affairs (VA) system will soon begin fighting.
The federal announcement of the increase in clinic staff follows a 35 percent increase in demand for mental health help across the country, said Rep. Marcy Kaptur.
She said the change is a transformative one.

“This is a legislative battle that I have fought in Washington since my early years. It’s been three decades of effort to try to get the Department of Veterans Affairs to give equal attention to neurological damage as they do to spinal cord injury,” Kaptur said.

At least nine of the new mental health professionals are coming to theToledo and Ann Arbor region, following a few years of increased mental health service requests.

Since 2007, the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, which operates Toledo’s Outpatient VA Clinic, has added 30 percent more mental health staff, said Robert McDivitt, director of the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.
The announcement also coincides with Toledo’s new outpatient VA clinic, slated to open this fall.
The current clinic on Glendale Avenue was built in 1978 and covers 30,000 square feet. It will move into a new space at 1200 S. Detroit Ave. that will cover 66,000 square feet.
McDivitt said the system expects to care for 12,000 veterans this year.
A few years ago the clinic was handling at least 2,000 fewer patients.
The Toledo clinic has 110 staff members and the new one will employ about 122.
“We really outgrew the space,”McDivitt said.
Increased local service

In the past, patients needing cardiac stress testing, diagnostic testing for blood flow problems and audiology testing services had to travel to Ann Arbor for treatment. But the Toledo clinichas added some of these services within the past year, and will soon build on them further with the new building.
Doctors will be able to perform occupational therapy in the new facility, a service not available at the Glendale Avenue location, said Leo Greenstone, associate chief of stafffor ambulatory care.
The system is also recruiting a psychologist to conduct compensation and pension exams for the first time in Toledo, a service that vets were traveling to Cleveland for in the past, McDivitt said.

Telemedicine has helped boost treatment at the Toledo clinic as well, linking a doctor in Ann Arbor into a video conference with patients in Toledo to save local veterans a few trips north, said Stephen Chermack, chief of mental health.
Caring for patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a process that varies with each veteran, Chermack said. Treatment typically consists of a combination of pharmaceutical drugs and psychotherapy. He said some veterans choose to stabilize other factors in their lives before starting to address memories that trigger depression and reoccurring, disturbing thoughts.

More work needed

Kaptur said more work still needs to be done. Patients will still be unable to access infusion treatments for cancer. A free bus transports 40 to 60 veterans a day from the Toledo clinic to the Ann Arbor hospital.
“The Ann Arbor Veterans Hospital is a massive facility and because it’s so large it consumes  a lot of time in finding parking. We have vets who go up there for cancer infusions, they’re made to wait all day to go back on the bus and it’s not very pleasant,” Kaptur said. “And for those with neurological conditions, you have to have services close to where people live and work. To make someone travel an hour and wait all day and wait weeks for an appointment doesn’t work.”

The Arms Forces

A Maumee woman founded a nonprofit called The Arms Forces in 2009 because of what she saw as a lag in services for people s u f f e r i n g from traumatic brain injury and PTSD . Pam Hays, herself a traumatic brain injury survivor, has since linked at least 200 veterans to services that will help them cope. She and a volunteer coordinator are the main operators of the organization.
“It’s a complicated, convoluted system for anyone, and if you have someone coming back with a brain injury or PTSD , they’re going to have cognitive challenges and they’re going to have a much more difficult time accessing that system,” Hays said. “The way we try to do everything is very simplified. We want to meet [veterans] where they are rather than get them to go through hoops to find help.”

The Ann Arbor system is adopting a similar model by initiating an outreach program that sends social workers into communities to search for veterans who may not be linked to VA health services yet, McDivitt said. The system now has six outreach workers who work with homeless and formerly homeless vets.
The new Toledo clinic is designed to not only serve medical needs but educational needs as well. McDivitt described the new layout as a “healing environment,” equipped with a coffee shop and Internet cafe where families can gather. The new site will feature a
veteran resource center and a community meeting room, as well as a “wall of heroes” on which Toledo-area veterans can post their photographs. The design of the new place is “bright, open and sunny,” touched with artwork that is centered around veterans, he said.

“Our mission here in the VA begins with the three words, ‘Honor America’s veterans,’ and you’re going to see that mission reflected from the time the veteran comes inthe new clinic until he or she leaves,” McDivitt said.
For more information, visit www.annarbor.va.gov.

1...271272273...303Page 272 of 303