"If you serve, you deserve"

But many local vets not taking advantage of benefits

By Joyce Campbell

    “We all signed the same allegiance and signed the same contract,” said Flip Arnold, manager of the veterans’ outpatient clinic in Wenatchee. “If you serve, you deserve.”
    Veterans are not flocking to the new clinic for various reasons, including too much red tape, coverage by other insurance and the belief that they are not eligible.
    The Wenatchee Veterans Affairs Community-based Outpatient Clinic opened in June 2007, and offers central Washington-area veterans an expanding list of medical services. The services of two medical doctors, a pharmacist, a blood lab, audiology lab, behavioral health counseling and technology for diabetic baseline assessment are available to veterans.
    Some health services require veterans to make a longer drive if they want to take advantage of them.
    “I had a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder from three doctors,” said Vietnam War veteran Ed Tennant. The VA Health Care Services recommendation was for the Twisp-area resident to attend group sessions in Spokane. The seven-hour round trip drive made the health benefit inaccessible.
    However, Tennant has benefited from other services. The VA paid for all the emergency care (except the tetanus shot) he received in Twisp when he had a severely cut thumb. He appreciates there is no co-pay for his medications, which are working for him.
    “They are making little tiny advances, like a ratchet,” said Tennant. “And I’m getting better.”
    Ray Anderson was discharged from the Air Force the day the Korean War started. He said his eligibility for benefits ended when he didn’t make use of the benefits. He has been treated for cancer and spends up to $3,000 a year for Medicare benefits, which he pays from his Social Security benefits.
    Rudy Peterson transferred from the Navy to the Naval Air Reserves the day after the Korean War started. He retired from the military in 1971. Peterson has medical benefits with the Department of Defense Tri-Care for Life. The benefits took care of his wife when she was sick, but Peterson has not used the benefits himself.
    Like Peterson, Dorothy Therriault has Department of Defense health care benefits. Her late husband was retired from the military, and Therriault can go to any military base for health services. She goes to Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane for health care. Ulrich’s Family Pharmacy fills her prescriptions, which the insurance covers for $3 co-pay.
    Howard Brewer’s discharge papers were lost in a fire, and there was too much red tape to get enrolled in VA health benefits. Instead, Brewer and fellow veteran, Jim Parrish, have kept up insurance coverage that they had while working at the sawmill years ago in Twisp.
    Vietnam-era veteran Richard Murray also has other health insurance, but would consider VA benefits if that was not available. He is more concerned about the returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan who are not getting the help they need.
    “They still haven’t resolved the Agent Orange issues from Vietnam, and now there is the new “Agent Orange” from both Iraq wars,” said Murray. He said depleted uranium radiation from exploding super-hardened bullets put troops and civilians at risk.
    The VA outpatient clinic in Wenatchee sees veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, according to John Lender, support clerk at the clinic. Men and women also come in who served in peacetime, and in the conflicts in the Persian Gulf, Grenada, Korea and World War II. A large number of Vietnam veterans come to the clinic.
    Everyone who has served on active duty in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine and has been honorably discharged can enroll for health care benefits, said Arnold. You don’t have to have been wounded or disabled to be eligible to come in and be seen by the clinical staff at the facility, he said.
The clinic is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information about enrolling, call (509) 663-7615.

Veterans Day services planned
    Flags will be flying, bugles may blare, and a proud collection of military memorabilia will be on display as the Methow Valley honors its military veterans next week.
    National Veterans Awareness Week begins on Sunday (Nov. 9), and celebrations honoring American veterans are scheduled at Liberty Bell Junior/Senior High School and the Methow Valley Senior Citizens Center.
    Community members and especially all veterans are invited to attend the Veterans Day assembly when the students, teachers and staff recognize those who have served. The assembly will be at 8:20 a.m. on Monday (Nov. 10) in the Liberty Bell High School gymnasium. For more information, call Mike Wilson at 996-9225.
    Veterans will be honored with a free lunch on Monday (Nov. 10) at the Senior Center in Twisp at noon. The hall will be decorated and veterans’ photos and memorabilia will be on display. For more information, call 997-7722.
The valley’s American Legion posts will be flying flags in Twisp and Winthrop on Veterans Day, Tuesday (Nov. 11).

Photo by Joyce Campbell

    Veterans Rudy Peterson, left and Ray Anderson shared some war stories at the Methow Valley Senior Citizens’ Center on Monday. The center in Twisp will host a free lunch for veterans at noon this Monday in recognition of their service.