July/August 2011 Honoring the Fallen Core Values and Characteristics Operation Mend Kidz Camp Features Who We Are, What We Stand For 6 A look at the journey to develop VA’s Core Values and Characteristics Keeping Pace With Claims 10 VBA employees create a workload management tool 10 Marking the Journey to Recovery 12 Tampa VA’s challenge coins for Veterans treated for PTSD Stepping Up for Homeless Veterans 14 First nationwide VA2K Walk and Roll draws a big response Their Service Will Never Be Forgotten 16 Fargo VA helps support local Honor Flights for World War II Veterans Scary Diagnosis, Effective Treatment 18 Prostate cancer treatment brings peace of mind to VA executive Operation Mend: Healing the Wounds of War 20 20 ‘Plastic surgeon to the stars’ helps Veterans with disfiguring wounds All Fun and Games 22 Kidz Camp entertains Veteran dependents at the Kansas City VA Bruised But Not Beaten 24 The National 9/11 flag visits the Martinsburg VA Going the Distance for a Cause 25 Three VA retirees bike to raise money for Alzheimer’s Association Departments 22 3 Feedback 33 Have You Heard 4 News You Can Use 36 Honors VAnguard 26 Around Headquarters 39 Heroes VA’s Employee Magazine 30 Introducing 40 Golden Age Games July/August 2011 31 Medical Advances Vol. LVII, No. 4 On the cover Editor: Lisa Gaegler Ernest Cowell, an Army, Army Air Corps Assistant Editor/Senior Writer: Gary Hicks and Navy Veteran of World War II, Korea Photo Editor: Robert Turtil and Vietnam, rings the ceremonial bell after Staff Writer: Amanda Hester the names and citations of each of the 14 Medal of Honor recipients buried at the Los Published by the Office of Public Affairs (80D) Angeles National Cemetery are read during the 2011 Memorial Day commemoration U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ceremonies. With 37 years of military 810 Vermont Ave., N.W. service, Cowell, 84, remains active as Washington, D.C. 20420 coordinator of the local Joint Services Color (202) 461-7427 Guard as well as with many military and E-mail: [email protected] Veterans organizations. photo by Paula Berger www.va.gov/opa/publications/vanguard.asp 2 VAnguard • July/August 2011 FEEDBACKOUTLOOKFEEDBACK Military Cultural who lost his leg to a tank bar- federal service, the last 26 of welcomed and valued. This Awareness rage in Germany, frostbite in those with the VA. outreach becomes even more I love the article on page 8 Korea, a sharpened, buried, Given our mission of important when the language of the May/June issue, “To feces-covered bamboo spike caring for combat-wounded barrier was imposed upon Know Them is to Serve Them in Vietnam, or an improvised Veterans, and given the higher someone while serving our Better.” It really means a lot explosive device in Iraq or Af- numbers of hearing-loss cases country in combat. when anyone addresses me, a ghanistan. in recent years (as a result Tom Kovach retired gunnery sergeant in the When the Veteran can of more-powerful roadside Program Support Assistant Marine Corps, by my former sense genuine concern on the bombs), I think that the VA Engineering rank. part of their caregiver, the should not only try to “fix” VA Medical Center I make it a point when potential for a better outcome the hearing loss via technol- Nashville, Tenn. I walk down the halls of can be anticipated. This has ogy (hearing aids, cochlear the Central Texas Veterans not been called Military Cul- implants, etc.), but also em- I have severe-to-profound Healthcare System in Temple tural Awareness but a way that phasize ASL socialization skills hearing loss, but I still have to greet everyone (male or fe- each and every patient would and integration with the larger good use of my verbal enun- male) with either a “Hello” or like to be known in a VA facil- Deaf community—some of ciations and I can communi- “Howdy,” and be very respect- ity. It is light years removed whom are also combat Vet- cate well, albeit quite loudly. ful to everyone (young or old), from the common introduc- erans. However, trying to hear within no matter what branch they tion of doctor to patient in Many of the hearing social/work environments is may have served in. I want the private sector, when the people (“Hearies”) that learn another story and a true chal- them to feel pride about what first question asked is: “What American Sign Language do so lenge for me every day. Peers they have done, and grateful health insurance plan do you via volunteer programs, such in the workplace are not al- that they have the VA to come have?” as outreach classes at churches. ways sensitive to our struggles home to. Oorah! Ralph G. Oriscello, M.D. (I teach one.) Many of those and it makes it difficult for us Mark LeSabre Campbell Sr. Chief, Cardiology Division volunteers would be willing to feel included in many ac- Administrative Support Department of Medicine to give some of their time tivities. Deafness and hearing Assistant VA Medical Center to teach ASL to a combat- impairments vary at different Information & Technology East Orange, N.J. wounded Veteran, or to visit levels, but the struggles we Central Texas Veterans with Deaf Veterans that can encounter are consistent across Healthcare System Reaching Out to the Deaf sign. the board. I want to applaud the letter There are social groups It meant a lot for me to Before Military Cultural from Teresa Martin in the built around Sign Language— know that someone in VA Awareness Training was cre- May/June edition. She de- such as our local Silent Din- cared enough to consider the ated, our students, residents scribed the learning process ners, which meets monthly in daily struggles encountered and fellows were told that that she and her staff went the food courts of area shop- by Debbie and David in their during each first encounter through while trying to better ping malls. Wounded warriors work environments. I wanted with a Veteran-patient, they communicate with Deaf co- that have lost their hearing can to take the time to say thank should ask the patient what workers. meet new friends, have fun, you for talking about this branch of the military they As a former American and avoid isolationism—once because it is truly an area that served in, when and where Sign Language interpreter in they have learned American presents many challenges and did they serve, and what was the public schools, and active Sign Language. is often overlooked. their military occupational in Nashville’s large and vibrant Reaching across the Heather Osborne specialty. To those who never Deaf community, I can affirm language barrier—whether Support Services Division served (and who will never be that most hearing people have spoken or signed—is a great VA Regional Office asked to serve), it has become no idea of the daily struggles way to make someone feel Newark, N.J. an experience that transforms that Deaf people endure. A the elderly Veteran into a quote from Helen Keller is war fighter, 50 to 60 years quite instructive: “Blindness younger. separates you from things, but We Want to Hear from You It tells those who are deafness separates you from unlikely to volunteer what people.” Have a comment on something you’ve seen in VAn- was expected of an American I’m proud to say that our guard? We invite reader feedback. Send your comments service man or woman when facility has several Deaf and to [email protected]. You can also write to us at: VAn- their country called. It can put Hard of Hearing employees. guard, Office of Public Affairs (80D), Department of their service-related disability It was my privilege to provide Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave., N.W., Washing- into perspective: the patient is ASL interpretation earlier this ton, D.C., 20420. Include your name, title and facility. not a simple “lower extremity year for a friend and co-worker We may need to edit your letter for length or clarity. amputee” but a war fighter who retired after 42 years of VAnguard • July/August 2011 3 NEWS YOU CAN USE VA Learning University Hosts First Social Learning Summit Since humans could first com- a 21st-century VA workplace. overlapping interests together Steve Radick, the founder municate, learning from each Vance assigned a dedicated to learn from each other, but of Booz Allen Hamilton’s other has been a means of team to the task, and ap- using the technology is half Digital Strategy and Social survival. As was the case centu- pointed Sara Barker, VALU the battle. He emphasized that Media practice, built on ries ago, we continue to grow program specialist, as the proj- social learning is more about Masie’s thoughts through a communities of knowledge ect leader for this effort. learning how to learn from composite character named around stories and experi- The Summit began with each other than it is about Alex, a successful young VA ences so others can prosper Elliott Masie, a recognized communities such as Twitter, employee “stuck in a rut.” from what we have learned thought leader in workforce Facebook, or the myriad other Alex was disenchanted that his and continue to learn. What learning, business collabora- social media tools. learning at VA was limited to has changed is the way we im- his job description, and despite mediately and relevantly col- promotions and praise, he laborate. was not adequately develop- Social media sites like ing as an employee.