VAnguard prevision
September/October 2002
Hispanic Heritage 9-11 Remembered Korean War Vets Honored Disabled Veteran Entrepreneurs Month, 2002 5 VAnguard
Table of Contents
Features Hispanic Heritage Month...... 6 6 honoring hispanic employees and veterans
9-11 One-Year Anniversary...... 18 reflection and remembrance
Departments Management Matters...... 3 Outlook...... 4 19 Introducing...... 17 e-Learning...... 17 Around Headquarters...... 26 Medical Advances...... 29 Have You Heard...... 30 Honors and Awards...... 31 Heroes...... 32
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VAnguard On the cover VA’s Employee Magazine September/October 2002 This statue of David Farragut is located in Vol. XLVIII, No. 7 downtown Washington, D.C. Farragut, a Span- Printed on 50% recycled paper ish American, was the most famous Hispanic participant in the Civil War. He’s best known Editor: Lisa Respess for the remark, made during battle, “Damn Assistant Editor: Matt Bristol the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!” Photo Editor: Robert Turtil Published by the Office of Public Affairs (80D)
Department of Veterans Affairs 810 Vermont Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20420 Our new look (202) 273-5746 In this issue, we introduce a new design. VAnguard had the same “look” for nearly E-mail: [email protected] 10 years, and it was time for a facelift. We will publish the new VAnguard six www.va.gov/pubaff/vanguard/index.htm times a year with more pages than before and in color. We hope you’ll find the redesigned magazine better organized, easier to read and more visually appeal- ing. Look for more refinements in upcoming issues.
2 September/October 2002 VAnguard management matters
VA Ready to Fulfill Our Role in National Emergencies Anthony J. Principi Secretary of Veterans Affairs
On the first anniversary of VA employees responded. to necessary supplies. VA em- protocols to assist emergency the attacks on America, I met September 11 taught us a ployees managed emergency responders at all levels to with members of the Na- valuable lesson about the im- pharmaceutical caches for the meet the medical challenges tional Medal of Honor Soci- portance of being prepared Olympics in Salt Lake City, posed by biological and ety, recipients of the nation’s for medical emergency. the Super Bowl in New Or- chemical weapon attacks. highest military award for In the year since the at- leans, and the President’s Today, we are much bet- heroism. I thought about tacks, I’ve made certain our State of the Union Address. ter prepared to resist aggres- their valor on the battlefield Department is fully prepared Nearby VA medical center sion than we were on Sept. and how their actions reflect to fulfill our role as a partner personnel were also alerted to 11, 2001. I have made emer- the true character of the in the Federal Response Plan. remain on emergency stand- gency preparedness a man- American spirit. Our mission of providing by status during each event. agement priority. And we are I also couldn’t help backup medical services to Fortunately, our help wasn’t working with the President thinking of the firefighters, the Department of Defense needed. and Congress to ensure our police officers and emergency and public health authorities We also must ensure care for America’s 25 million medical technicians who gave in cases of national emergen- that we are capable of pro- veterans while providing their lives in the line of duty cies is vital to national secu- viding quality care and ben- emergency medical support exactly one year before. Their rity. As we pursue the War efits to veterans and depen- for the Department of De- courage and commitment on Terrorism, we must be dents in times of national fense and the nation. were as heroic as any man or woman in uniform has ever shown, and there is a real Our mission of providing backup medical services to parallel between their actions the Department of Defense and public health authori- and those of our Medal of Honor recipients. ties in cases of national emergencies is vital to VA employees, too, national security. showed heroic commitment and dedication on Sept. 11, prepared to fulfill the respon- emergency. We are already Ultimately, the responsi- 2001. On that day, VA em- sibilities we are given to serve stockpiling enough pharma- bility to support our nation ployees in New York searched America in this crisis. ceuticals to provide care for during future emergencies for those who needed care An Emergency Pre- our veterans should our sup- rests with you and your fel- and pulled them from cha- paredness Working Group ply lines be disrupted. low employees. I am confi- otic, surging crowds to safety. came up with recommenda- We are preparing our dent that, should we be It didn’t matter if they were tions to improve our ability doctors and nurses to meet tested in the future, VA— veterans or not. They were to respond to national disas- the new challenges heralded and America—will be in hurt and they needed our ters or terrorist events. Gen. by Sept. 11 by using VA’s good hands. help. Mick Kicklighter, Assistant video network and Web re- Later, VA regional office Secretary for Policy and Plan- sources to train them to deal employees assisted veterans ning, set up a command and with chemical exposures and Are You Watching? and their families at Pier 94 control center for the De- biological casualties. Several Don’t miss your weekly in New York and near the partment. He and his staff of our hospitals have rede- helping of “VA News,” Pentagon. And for months have worked closely with the signed their emergency treat- news for and about VA thereafter, VA experts in Office of Homeland Security ment areas and installed bio- employees delivered each post-traumatic stress disorder to draft a comprehensive na- hazard decontamination week in a digestible 10- reached out to veterans and tional strategy to respond to showers to prepare for worst- minute video shown daily members of the public grap- future terrorist attacks. case scenarios. at 4 a.m., noon, 4 p.m. pling with psychological Today, VA is managing Congress is considering and 10 p.m. (Eastern trauma. and strategically deploying legislation that will create Time) over the VA Our nation may have national pharmaceutical emergency preparedness cen- Knowledge Network sat- been caught off guard by ter- caches to provide emergency ters within VA to develop ellite link to your facility. ror, but I’m proud of the way responders immediate access training programs, plans and
September/October 2002 3 outlook VAnguard
Honor Our Hispanic Employees and Veterans Jacob Lozada, Ph.D. Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration
I am delighted to introduce families, their friends, hard lines was disproportionately panics, are adapting to this special issue of VAnguard work, and country. They are high for their population. As American culture faster than honoring our Hispanic em- highly patriotic and proud of in previous wars, many His- earlier generations. By the ployees and veterans during their cultural roots and up- panics chose to serve in com- end of high school, the chil- Hispanic Heritage Month. bringing. Hispanics share tra- bat units such as the Marines dren of immigrants are gen- This year’s celebration and its ditional values and are deeply and paratroopers. They dis- erally more fluent in English theme—Hispanic Americans: religious. Respect toward el- tinguished themselves than in their parents’ lan- Strength in Unity, Faith, and ders and parents are corner- through courage and bravery. guage. The level of Spanish Diversity—are particularly stones of the Hispanic cul- It is worthy of note that proficiency among second- significant, as the results of ture. 39 Hispanic Americans have generation immigrants indi- Census 2000 indicate that When it comes to serv- been recipients of the Medal cates their children will most Hispanics have become the ing in the United States of Honor, the highest recog- likely speak English only. largest minority group in the Armed Forces, Hispanics nition for acts of individual Hispanics will continue United States. have always risen to the occa- gallantry and heroism by to contribute to our nation In Census 2000, 281.4 sion. In 1898, the United members of the nation’s and its economy, culture, se- million residents of the States declared war on Spain. armed forces. Only seven are curity, and values. I hope United States and its territo- Hispanics were among those currently living. you’ll join me in recognizing ries were counted, and 35 who served with the Rough As of September 2000, the multiple contributions million (or 12.5 percent) of Riders under Lt. Col. Hispanics made up 8.2 per- that Hispanics have made to those counted were of His- Theodore Roosevelt. cent of armed forces mem- our country. Specifically, I panic ancestry. In addition, Exactly how many His- bers, representing 4 percent encourage you to join me in there were 3.8 million His- panics fought in World War I of the officer corps and 9 celebrating the many contri- panics living in the Com- monwealth of Puerto Rico. The Hispanic popula- I hope that you take a minute to reflect on the tragic tion increased by 57 percent events of Sept. 11, 2001, and the need to work from 1990 to 2000, com- together as one people—without regard to race or pared to a 13 percent in- crease for the entire U.S. ethnicity—to ensure liberty, freedom, a strong nation, population. This translates and security for all. into an increase from 22.4 million Hispanics to 35.3 million Hispanics living in is unknown, but some re- percent of the enlisted force. butions of our nation’s His- the United States in the year ports indicate that almost The percentage of Hispanics panic veterans. I also hope 2000. 20,000 Puerto Ricans served on active duty has almost that you take a minute to re- The relative young age during this war. An estimate doubled in the past 10 years. flect on the tragic events of of the Hispanic population of the number of Hispanics Given the continued growth Sept. 11, 2001, and the need in the United States is re- who served in the armed in the Hispanic population to work together as one flected in its population. A forces during World War II and the youth of the popula- people—without regard to larger percentage of Hispan- ranges from 250,000 to tion, it is evident that over race or ethnicity—to ensure ics than non-Hispanics are 500,000; figures are impre- the next 10 years, the repre- liberty, freedom, a strong na- young, with proportionately cise because data were not sentation of Hispanics in the tion, and security for all. more children and fewer eld- maintained on Hispanics as a armed forces will likely Editor’s Note: In honor of His- erly. This young Hispanic group. double again. panic Heritage Month, a signifi- population will impact our The presence of Hispan- The history of the cant portion of the content in society by becoming some of ics in the U.S. military ranks United States is one of differ- this issue is devoted to features the leaders and shapers of the has increased since World ent waves of immigrants on Hispanic employees and vet- erans. To add additional inter- country over the next 20 to War II. During the Korean coming to its shores seeking est, we’re presenting some of 30 years. and Vietnam Wars, the num- new opportunities. Today’s the articles in both English and Hispanics value their ber of Hispanics on the front immigrants, including His- Spanish.
4 September/October 2002 VAnguard prevision
Honra a neustros empleados y veteranos latinos Jacob Lozada, Ph.D. Secretario Adjunto para Recursos Humanos y Administración
Estoy encantado de hacer la proporción, más niños y número exacto es difícil de fuerzas armadas se duplique introducción para la edición menos ancianos. Esta joven lograr debido a que en esos nuevamente. especial de VAnguard en comunidad hispana hará tiempos no se registraba a los La historia de los honor a nuestros empleados impacto en la sociedad hispanos como miembros de Estados Unidos está basada y veteranos hispanos en americana cuando algunos de un grupo en particular. en las diferentes oleadas de ocasión del “Mes del sus miembros se conviertan La presencia de hispanos inmigrantes que han venido Patrimonio Hispano”. Esta en líderes y formadores de en las fuerzas armadas de los a estas costas en busca de celebración anual bajo el nuestra nación en los futuros EE.UU. se ha incrementado nuevas oportunidades. Los lema “Hispano- 20 o 30 años. desde la Segunda Guerra inmigrantes de hoy, estadounidenses: Fortaleza en Los hispanos valoran la Mundial. Durante las guerras incluyendo los hispanos, se la Unidad, en la Fe y en la familia, los amigos, el trabajo de Corea y Vietnam, el adaptan más rápidamente a Diversidad”, es duro y la nación. Son muy número de soldados hispanos la cultura estadounidense que particularmente significativa patrióticos y orgullosos de fue desproporcionadamente en las pasadas generaciones. en vistas a que el resultado sus orígenes y su educación. alto con respecto a la A la finalización de la escuela del Censo 2000 indica que Comparten valores población total. Como en las secundaria, los hijos de los hispanos se han tradicionales y son ocasiones anteriores, muchos inmigrantes generalmente convertido en el grupo profundamente religiosos. El hispanos eligieron prestar hablan el idioma inglés más minoritario más importante respeto a los mayores y a los servicio como infantes de fluido que el idioma de sus de los Estados Unidos de padres son pilares marina o como paracaidistas, padres. El nivel del español América. fundamentales de la cultura y se distinguieron por su que hablan los inmigrantes El Censo 2000 arrojó un hispana. coraje y bravura. de segunda generación indica resultado de 281, 4 millones Cuando las Fuerzas Ar- Vale la pena recordar que sus hijos se inclinarán de residentes en los Estados madas de los Estados Unidos que 39 estadounidenses de por hablar inglés únicamente. Unidos y sus territorios, de han requerido del servicio de origen hispano han recibido Los hispanos los cuales 35 millones (es los hispanos, estos siempre la Medalla de Honor, que es continuarán contribuyendo decir el 12,5 por ciento del han estado a la altura de las el más alto reconocimiento a con nuestra nación, con su total) tienen ascendencia consecuencias. Cuando en los actos de valentía y economía, su cultura, su hispana. Además se contó a 1898 los Estados Unidos le heroísmo que se otorga a seguridad y sus valores. Estoy 3,8 millones de hispanos que declararon la guerra a miembros de las Fuerzas Ar- esperanzado que usted se viven en el Estado Libre España, los hispanos madas de los Estados Unidos. unirá a mi en el Asociado de Puerto Rico. estadounidenses también De ellos, solo siete viven en reconocimiento de las La comunidad hispana estaban dentro del batallón la actualidad. múltiples contribuciones que se incrementó un 57 por de los “Rough Riders” bajo el Desde septiembre del los hispanos han hecho a ciento en el período de 1990 mando del Coronel 2000 los hispanos nuestro país. Especialmente, al 2000, comparado con el Theodore Roosevelt. representan el 8,2 por ciento yo lo aliento a unirse a mí y 13 por ciento de incremento No se sabe el número del total de miembros de las celebrar las tantas que tuvo la población total exacto de hispanos que fuerzas armadas, contribuciones que han de los Estados Unidos. Esto lucharon en la Primer Guerra representando un 4 por hecho a nuestra nación se traduce en un incremento Mundial, pero algunos ciento de los oficiales y un 9 nuestros veteranos hispanos. que pasó de 22,4 millones a reportes indican que al por ciento de la tropa regular. También espero que se 35,3 millones de hispanos menos 20.000 El porcentaje de hispanos en tome un minuto para viviendo en los Estados portorriqueños prestaron servicio activo se ha casi reflexionar sobre los trágicos Unidos en el año 2000. servicio en esa confrontación. duplicado en los últimos 10 eventos del pasado 11 de La relativa juventud de Una estimación del años. septiembre de 2001 y sobre los hispanos en los Estados número de hispanos que Dado el continuo la necesidad de trabajar jun- Unidos se refleja en su estuvieron al servicio de las crecimiento y la juventud de tos como un solo pueblo, sin población. El mayor fuerzas armadas nacionales la población hispana, es importar raza o etnia, para porcentaje de juventud lo en la Segunda Guerra evidente y probable que en asegurar la libertad, la tiene la comunidad hispana y Mundial varía entre los los próximos 10 años el fortaleza de la nación y la esta también tiene en 250.000 a 500.000, el número de hispanos en las seguridad de todos.
5 September/October 2002 Hispanic Heritage Month VAnguard Eager to Learn 53 Texas high school students got an introduction to public service and more this summer through an innovative program
Michael Ramirez, 16, who worked in the public affairs office, echoed the same sentiments. “I learned so much and felt that I made some valuable contributions. It was one of those experiences where I would look forward to the next day so I could go back to work.” For 16-year-old Stephen Martinez, his summer job in the medical center’s X-ray unit has him now wanting to pursue a career in the medical field. “This has been an eye-opener for me. I feel that I ex- panded my communications skills and felt comfortable talking with both the doctors and patients,” he Moxy Garcia and the other students participated in work and educational experiences 40 said. “I appreciated the staff’s will- hours a week for eight weeks. ingness to help. They made me feel needed and appreciated.” The summer of 2002 was a memo- The program, the first of its Martinez, whose grandfather rable and rewarding one for 53 kind in VA, has gotten the atten- and uncle are veterans, said he took Texas high school students. It was a tion of Secretary Anthony J. time to let the patients know how summer that brought hope, encour- Principi, who said VA wants to in- much he cared about them and how agement, work force experience and troduce high school students to role grateful he is to them for their ser- a nice paycheck. models and mentors who will inspire vice. The students were part of a VA them to remain in school. “We want Some of the students’ parents, and Texas Workforce Commission- to help motivate our youth to pursue like Martinez’s mother Doreen, said sponsored summer employment and their education into post-secondary they strongly endorse the program enrichment program at the South schools and we hope VA will be and hope it continues. “It’s very im- Texas Veterans Health Care System their employer of choice,” the Sec- portant that they get work experi- in San Antonio. retary said. ence and learn to be responsible. “We were fortunate to have The program has already had a That’s always good,” she said. some real bright stars, very ambi- positive impact on Catalina The pilot program involved 53 tious and eager to learn,” said health Quintanar, 16, who wants to return students, most of them Hispanic, care system director Jose Coronado. to work at the Audie L. Murphy whose low family incomes may limit “This is a very good program that Memorial Veterans Hospital in San their chances of attending college or benefits us all.” Antonio one day. “I gained so much even completing high school. Rang- With VA’s work force aging, of- experience working at the VA hos- ing in age from 16 to 18, they were ficials believe it’s never too early to pital that my self-confidence really selected by the Texas Workforce begin introducing youths to the VA escalated,” said Quintanar, who Commission to participate in work work force in hopes of attracting the worked in the facility’s Learning and educational experiences 40 best and the brightest employees Center. “I saw myself using work hours a week for eight weeks. down the road. skills that I didn’t even know I had.” Continued on page 8
6 September/October 2002 VAnguard Hispanic Heritage Month Ansiosos de aprender 53 estudiantes de escuelas secundarias en Texas recibieron introducción al servicio público aparte de otra información gracias a un programa inovador
El verano del 2002 ha sido memo- continuar estudiando después de asuntos públicos, hace eco de los rable y gratificante para 53 terminar su escuela secundaria y mismos sentimientos. “Aprendí estudiantes de escuela secundaria de esperamos que la Administración de muchísimo y siento que he hecho Texas. Ha sido un verano que trajo Veteranos sea el empleador que ellos contribuciones muy valiosas. Fue esperanza, estímulo, experiencia de elijan”, dijo el secretario. una de esas experiencias en las que trabajo y una buena paga. El programa ya ha tenido su uno espera con ansia el día siguiente Los estudiantes fueron parte de impacto positivo en Catalina para volver al trabajo”. la Administración de Veteranos y de Quintanar de 16 años, que algún día A el joven de 16 años Stephen la Comisión de Personal de Texas quiere reintegrarse al trabajo en el Martínez, este trabajo de verano en que patrocinaron el programa de hospital de veteranos Audie L. la unidad de rayos X del centro verano para empleo y Murphy en San Antonio. “Gané médico lo ha motivado a querer enriquecimiento en el Sistema de tanta experiencia trabajando en el seguir una carrera en el campo de la Servicios de Salud para los hospital de veteranos que la medicina. “Esta experiencia me ha Veteranos del Sur de Texas en San confianza en mi misma ha abierto los ojos. Desarrollé mis Antonio. aumentado considerablemente”, dijo capacidades de comunicación y me “Hemos sido afortunados de Quintanar, que trabajó en las sentí cómodo hablando con médicos contar con verdaderas estrellas, tan instalaciones del centro de y pacientes”, dijo y agregó, “He ambiciosos y con tantas ganas de aprendizaje. “Me he encontrado a apreciado la voluntad de ayudar que aprender”, dijo el director del mi misma haciendo uso de tenía el personal. Me hicieron sentir Sistema de Servicios de Salud José habilidades que no sabía que tenía”, necesitado y valorado”. Coronado. “Este es un programa agregó. Martínez, que es hijo y nieto de muy bueno que nos beneficia a Michael Ramírez, también de 16 veteranos, dijo que se tomó el todos”. años y que trabajó para la oficina de Continue en la página 9 Como el personal de la Administración de Veteranos va envejeciendo, los oficiales consideran que nunca es muy temprano para comenzar a incorporar jóvenes dentro del per- sonal de la institución y tienen la esperanza de poder atraer a los mejores talentos que haya disponibles. El programa, primero en su clase en la Administración de Veteranos, ha captado la atención del Secretario Anthony J. Príncipi quien dijo que la Administración quiere captar estudiantes secundarios para jugar con ellos el papel de modelo y mentor y así inspirarlos a continuar estudiando. “Queremos motivar a nuestros jóvenes a Michael Ramírez trabajó en la oficina de asuntos públicos.
September/October 2002 7 Hispanic Heritage Month VAnguard
Continued from page 6 environment,” said Dr. Chris Bacon, the health care system’s assistant chief of staff for education. “We in- While the majority of the program participants stilled in them a good work ethic. We would meet with worked at the main facility in San Antonio, others them every Friday to discuss their jobs and to provide worked at the medical center’s six outpatient clinics in some basic performance skills. We also would let them Corpus Christi, Kerrville, Laredo, McAllen, San Anto- know that we were pleased that they were part of our nio and Victoria. The Texas Workforce Commission work force.” paid the students’ salaries for the first four weeks and The young employees were noticed by many of the VA paid the last four weeks. During the eight-week pe- patients, who said they appreciated the students’ work riod the students, who earned $7.68 an hour, were and VA’s efforts to provide jobs for them. “This is our taught how to manage their money, as well as the im- future generation, and these students got an opportunity portance of grooming and punctuality. Many also were to perform a job. This is a wise investment by the VA,” introduced to the city’s public transportation system, said patient Dan Krischke, a Vietnam veteran. “These since a number of them had to take the bus to work. youths can learn a lot from talking to us veterans. We “We provided these students with a good working have a lot of wisdom to give out. Many times the spo-
Youth Program Praised as ‘Showcase for Government’
The summer work program for high school kids at the South to succeed in the workplace, and get a feel for the types of Texas Veterans Health Care System was praised as a jobs available in the federal government. “showcase for government” during an interagency task With San Antonio’s youth employment program being force meeting in Washington, D.C., in July. used as a model by other agencies, Lozada would like to see The task force, established in October 2000 by Execu- it replicated in VA as well. He said it would work in any city tive Order 13171 and chaired by the director of the Office of with a large concentration of minorities. All the program Personnel Management, met to discuss the steps agencies needs to succeed, he added, is the support of facility direc- have taken to improve the representation of Hispanics in the tors. federal government. As part of the executive order, all agen- That’s exactly what happened in San Antonio. Jose R. cies must submit to the President an annual report detailing Coronado, director of the South Texas Veterans Health Care their progress in hiring Hispanics. System, is a former high school teacher and principal, and a VA’s representative on the task force, Dr. Jacob Lozada, strong believer in mentoring. When he heard about Lozada’s Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administra- idea, he volunteered to prototype the program. He issued a tion, attended the meeting. As he described the San Antonio call for employees to participate as mentors and was youth program, in which 53 high school students spent the swamped with volunteers. In the end, he had more mentors summer working with mentors at VA facilities, he said he re- than students. It took just two weeks for them to set up the ceived a great deal of positive feedback. “They called it a program. showcase for government,” he said. Later that day, when he “This is a great way to energize staff,” said Coronado. returned to his office, he received several e-mail messages “These young people are in need of positive role models, from task force members interested in replicating the pro- and the staff really enjoyed filling that role.” He said when gram in their agencies. the eight-week program ended, about half of the kids asked In the weeks that followed, a partnership between VA, if they could stay. They ended up joining the health care the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services at the De- system’s youth volunteer program and still meet regularly partment of Health and Human Services, and Baltimore City with their summer mentors. “Now everyone is asking if Public Schools led to the establishment of the Student Ca- we’re going to do it again next year,” said Coronado. reer Academy. Encouraged by the success in San Antonio, and in repli- The academy opened its doors recently to disadvan- cating the program in Baltimore, Lozada is optimistic about taged and minority high school students in Baltimore Public the future. “I personally believe [the youth employment pro- Schools who are referred by their high school guidance gram] has tremendous potential to address issues of under- counselors. Once enrolled, they get one-on-one mentoring, representation in the federal government and in attracting job shadowing opportunities, and become eligible for paid young people to public service and to what we do in VA. It summer jobs. The first class of about 50 students entered can be very, very powerful for these kids to see someone the academy in September. During the course of the regular who looks like them in a position of leadership in the federal school year, they’ll gain the knowledge and skills necessary government.”
88 September/OctoberSeptember/October 20022002 VAnguard Hispanic Heritage Month
Continua de la pagina 7 mucha sabiduría para dar. Muchas veces la palabra hablada es mejor que la palabra escrita y estos tiempo para hacerle saber a los pacientes lo importante estudiantes nos escucharon”. que son para él y lo agradecido que está por el servicio Maggie Parsons de la Oficina de Recursos Humanos que los veteranos han prestado a la patria. del sistema de servicios de salud expresó que los Algunos padres de los estudiantes como la madre de estudiantes cumplieron con el lema de la institución que Martínez, Doreen, dijeron que respaldan enérgicamente dice “Los veteranos primero”. Como conclusión, bien el programa y esperan que continúe. “Es muy importante valen las palabras de Catalina Quintanar, la estudiante que los jóvenes ganen experiencia laboral y que sobre quien nos hemos explayado anteriormente, “El aprendan a ser responsables. Eso siempre es bueno”, dijo. dinero que gané fue importante, pero la experiencia que El programa piloto involucró a 53 estudiantes, la logré ha sido mucho más valiosa que eso.” mayoría de ellos hispanos, los cuales por pertenecer a familias de bajos recursos ven limitadas sus chances de Por Ozzie Garza poder asistir a la universidad y a veces hasta de poder Oficina Regional OPA de Dallas terminar la escuela secundaria. Con un promedio de edad entre los 16 y 18 años, ellos fueron seleccionados ken word is better than the written word. And these por la Comisión de Personal de Texas para participar en students listened to us.” experiencias de trabajo y educativas por período de ocho Margie Parsons, of the health care system’s Human semanas a razón de 40 horas semanales. Resources Office, said the students certainly lived up to Mientras que la mayoría de los participantes trabajó VA’s motto of “Putting Veterans First.” Perhaps young en las instalaciones principales de San Antonio, otros Catalina Quintanar best summed up the program. trabajaron en los centros médicos de las clínicas de “While the money I earned was important,” she said, “I pacientes externos en Corpus Christi, Kerville, Laredo, found the experience I gained far more valuable.” McAllen, San Antonio y Victoria. La Comisión de Per- sonal de Texas pagó el salario de los estudiantes por las primeras cuatro semanas y las 4 semanas restantes By Ozzie Garza fueron pagadas por la Administración de Veteranos. Du- Dallas OPA Regional Office rante las ocho semanas, los estudiantes ganaron $ 7.68 a la hora y se les enseñó como manejar el dinero y A Strong Voice for también la importancia de ser prolijos y puntuales en el trabajo. A muchos de ellos también se les enseñó a Hispanic Veterans manejarse en el transporte público de la ciudad dado que algunos tuvieron que tomar el bus para llegar a su The American G.I. Forum, founded in 1948 to fight dis- puesto de trabajo. crimination against Hispanic World War II veterans, is “Hemos provisto a estos estudiantes de un buen the nation’s oldest and largest Hispanic veterans service ambiente de trabajo”, dijo el Dr. Chris Bacon que es el organization. Headquartered in Den- jefe adjunto del personal de educación del Sistema de ver, the group has more than 140,000 Servicios de Salud. “Hemos inculcado en ellos la ética members. del trabajo. Nos reuníamos con ellos todos los viernes The organization’s founder, Dr. para dialogar sobre sus tareas y para proveerlos de Hector P. Garcia, was born in Mexico técnicas básicas de trabajo. También les hacíamos saber and fled to Texas at age 4 with his que estábamos muy agradecidos de que formaran parte family to escape the Mexican Revolu- de nuestro personal”. tion. A 1940 graduate of the Univer- Los estudiantes también fueron notificados por sity of Texas Medical School, he muchos pacientes quienes manifestaron que apreciaban Garcia joined the Army during World War su trabajo y los esfuerzos que la Administración de II, and served in North Africa and Veteranos hacía para darle una posibilidad laboral a Italy as an infantryman and combat engineer until offi- ellos. “Esta es nuestra futura generación y estos cials found out he was a doctor. He earned the Bronze estudiantes tienen la oportunidad de realizar un trabajo. Star in Italy. Esta es una sabia inversión que hace la Administración After the war, Garcia opened a medical practice in de Veteranos”, dijo el paciente Dan Krischke, un Corpus Christi, Texas. While working as a VA contract veterano de Vietnam. “Estos jóvenes pueden aprender physician, he discovered that Hispanic veterans were mucho hablando con nosotros. Los veteranos tenemos Continued on page 16
September/October 2002 9 Hispanic Heritage Month VAnguard Puerto Rico’s 65th Infantry Regiment Fighting for Honor, Country They spent World War I pulling for a period of rest and relaxation. suffered a series of staggering losses guard duty at the Panama Canal. As they settled in, the unit came at Outposts Kelly and Big Nori. Just World War II brought a similar as- under heavy attack from North Ko- two weeks later, they were sent to signment, guarding the rear lines in rean troops. take a hilltop that would come to be Europe and North Africa. By the It was a costly mistake. When called Jackson Heights. Casualties time the Korean War broke out in the gunfire silenced, the 65th had mounted quickly during repeated June 1950, Puerto Rico’s 65th Infan- wiped out more than 600 enemy probes of the hill. try Regimental Combat Group was troops and captured nearly 400. In When they finally reached the hungry for action. the process, they lost one man and summit, it offered little or no cover When the Chinese army en- suffered six wounded. and the men found themselves vul- tered the war and swarmed south in The 65th Infantry’s actions from nerable to enemy artillery fire. With October 1950, threatening hundreds of their dead coun- the Eighth U.S. Army at trymen strewn across the bar- Hungnam and surrounding ren hill, soldiers questioned the 1st Marine Division, it the purpose of their mission. was the 65th who were called Some refused to fight. to the front. They punched Others turned and ran. In through enemy lines and the end, 92 men were court- cleared a 13-mile escape martialed for disobeying or- route, allowing the besieged ders, including one soldier Marines to slip out of the who refused an order to Chinese trap. In their first shoot deserters. More than major operation, the 65th had half of the men were later gone from rear guard obscu- granted clemency after glow- rity to the front lines of ing testimony before Con- America’s fighting forces. gress from a former battalion As the war progressed, commander. Few things the 65th continued to make a make sense in war, and the name for themselves in a se- incidents surrounding the ries of decisive victories. One 65th Infantry’s “bug out,” as it mission saw them marching has come to be known, are to the South Korean capital no exception. of Seoul to capture two hills Francisco D. Maldonado, held by the much larger Chi- area emergency manager at nese 149th Division. the Miami VA Medical Cen- They reached the hills ter, knows the story of the Francisco Maldonado’s father, right, at Mass while serving th on Jan. 31, 1951, and began with the 65th Infantry during the Korean War. 65 well. His father spent 30 their assault. After two days years in the Army, serving of intense fighting, “the 1950 to 1951 exemplified their unit with the 65th in World War II and Borinqueneers,” as they were nick- motto, “honor and fidelity,” better the Korean War, during what he named, fixed bayonets and charged than at any other point during the called the unit’s “golden years.” straight at the enemy, causing the war. Yet, for some veterans, memo- He said the people of Puerto Chinese to flee. ries of battlefield heroics are clouded Rico are extremely proud of the his- After another mission, aptly by a dark chapter in the unit’s his- tory of the 65th Infantry. But he named Operation Killer, in which tory. pointed out that whenever the topic the 65th fought to the banks of the By 1952, many of the experi- is brought up in conversation, the Han River, they were sent to the enced troops had rotated home. The discussion inevitably turns to the rear for R&R, the military acronym green replacements, mostly draftees, Continued on page 12
10 September/October 2002 VAnguard Hispanic Heritage Month Regimiento de Infantería Nº 65 de Puerto Rico Luchando por el honor y el país Ellos fueron los encargados de hacer asalto a las mismas. Después de dos capturado también a 400 guardia en el Canal de Panamá du- días de intenso combate, los prisioneros. En total la unidad solo rante la Primera Guerra Mundial. “Borinqueneers”, como se los perdió un hombre y 6 fueron En la Segunda Guerra Mundial, apodaba, calaron bayonetas y heridos. tuvieron una tarea similar cuidando cargaron directo contra el enemigo, Entre 1950 y 1951, las acciones la retaguardia de las tropas en haciéndolo huir. bélicas del Regimiento Nº 65 son un Europa y en el norte de África. Después de la misión que claro ejemplo de su lema “Honor y Cuando llegó el momento de la apropiadamente se dio en llamar Fidelidad”, nada más importante que Guerra de Corea en 1950, el Operation Killer, en la que el eso en el campo de batalla. No ob- Regimiento de Infantería Nº 65 de Regimiento Nº 65 luchó en la rivera stante para algunos veteranos del Puerto Rico estaba ansioso por del río Han, los soldados fueron regimiento, las memorias de un entrar en acción. pasado heroico en el campo Cuando el ejército chino de batalla se ensombrecen por entró en guerra en octubre de un capítulo oscuro en la 1950 y se agrupó en el sur, historia de la unidad. amenazó el Octavo Batallón En 1952 muchos de los del Ejército de los EE.UU. en soldados experimentados Hungnam y rodeó la Primer estaban de licencia en sus División de Marines. Esta fue casas. Sus reemplazantes poco la oportunidad del experimentados, en su Regimiento Nº 65 para pasar mayoría reclutas del servicio al frente de batalla. militar, sufrieron una serie de Los hispanos perforaron importantes pérdidas en los una línea a través del ejército puestos de avanzada de Kelly enemigo y despejaron una vía y Big Nori. Justo dos semanas de escape de 13 millas que después fueron enviados a permitió salir de la trampa a capturar una colina que más los Marines sitiados. En la tarde se llamó Jackson Heights. primer operación a gran Las víctimas se sumaron escala que tuvo que realizar, rápidamente durante los el Regimiento Nº 65 pasó de intentos de subir a la colina. la oscuridad de la retaguardia Cuando finalmente a la primer línea de combate llegaron a la cima, el lugar de las fuerzas ofreció muy poco reparo para estadounidenses. las tropas, haciéndolas A través del desarrollo vulnerables al fuego enemigo. de la guerra, el Regimiento El 65avo. Monumento de Infantería en San Juan. Al ver a cientos de camaradas Nº 65 continuó haciendo desparramados sobre la estéril conocer su nombre a través de enviados a retaguardia para gozar de colina, los soldados cuestionaron el victorias decisivas. Una de las un período de “R&R”, lo que sentido de la misión. misiones los encontró marchando significa en el ejército descanso y Algunos se rehusaron a pelear, hacia la capital de Corea del Sur, relajación. No bien se asentaron, la otros se volvieron y huyeron. Al Seúl, para capturar dos colinas que unidad sufrió un ataque de las tropas finalizar, 92 soldados fueron estaban en posesión del Regimiento norcoreanas. Fue un gran error de sometidos a corte marcial por Nº 149 del ejército chino que era parte del enemigo. Cuando se desobedecer órdenes incluyendo un mucho más numeroso que ellos. callaron los disparos, el Regimiento soldado que se rehusó a disparar en Llegaron a las colinas el 31 de Nº 65 había aniquilado a más de contra de soldados que desertaban. enero de 1951 y comenzaron el 600 soldados enemigos y había Continue en la paginá 12
September/October 2002 11 Hispanic Heritage Month VAnguard
Continua de la paginá 11 actos heroicos han sido empañados Did You Know? por los eventos de Jackson Heights. Más tarde, y como resultado de un Otros simpatizan con aquellos que se rehusaron a luchar por considerar Hispanics in America brillante testimonio de un ex comandante de batallón ante el que esa fue una misión suicida. Congreso, se le otorgó clemencia a En la oscuridad de la batalla Hispanics have played a key role algunos soldados desobedecen in the history of America for hun- más de la mitad de los soldados sentenciados. Pocas cosas tienen órdenes, pero muchos pelean con dreds of years. The Spanish ex- valor. Durante la Guerra de Corea, plorer Juan Ponce de León is cred- sentido en la guerra y los incidentes que llevaron a la unidad a los “Borinqueneers” fueron ited with discovering Florida. He condecorados con 1.014 Corazones led an expedition to the area in insubordinarse y no respetar a sus mandos no son una excepción. (El Púrpura, 562 Medallas de Bronce, 1513, landing near the site of what 163 Estrellas de Plata y siete Cruces is now St. Augustine. incidente es identificado con la expresión en idioma inglés “bug out” por Distinción en el Servicio. El legado de esta unidad permanece Hispanic Heritage Month is ob- del Regimiento Nº 65.) Francisco D. Maldonado, como una fuente de profundo served every year from Sept. 15 to orgullo para los portorriqueños. Oct. 15. That period covers a wide gerente del área de emergencia en el Centro Médico de Veteranos de Mi- Cuando el secretario Príncipi range of Independence Days for visitó el Centro Médico de Latin American countries. ami, conoce muy bien la historia del Regimiento Nº 65. Su padre pasó 30 Veteranos de San Juan al comienzo años en el ejército sirviendo en la de este año, el director Dr. Rafael Congress initiated a nationwide Ramírez Gonzáles y su personal le celebration of Hispanic heritage, unidad durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial y durante la Guerra de presentaron una historia sobre la National Hispanic Heritage Week, actuación del Regimiento Nº 65 en in 1968; 20 years later, Congress ex- Corea, lo que el llamó los “años dorados” del regimiento. la Guerra de Corea que se llama tended the observance from a “Gloriuos Unfortunates”(en español week to a month. Él dice que la gente de Puerto Rico se siente extremadamente “Gloriosos Desafortunados”). La orgullosa de la historia del historia fue escrita por el hijo de The theme of this year’s Hispanic Maldonado, que también se llama Heritage Month is Hispanic Ameri- Regimiento Nº 65, de todas maneras destaca que cada vez que se habla Francisco, para su proyecto de cans: Strength in Unity, Faith and investigación en la Universidad de Diversity. del tema la discusión termina girando sobre las cortes marciales. Yale. More than 30 million Americans, Explica que algunos veteranos del about 1 in 8 people in the United Regimiento Nº 65 sienten que sus Por Matt Bristol States, claim Hispanic origin.