2008 August July THE OFFICIAL VOICE OF THE DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS AND DAV AUXILIARY COMBAT NURSES: Saving Lives, Serving Their Country New Generation of Miracles on the Mountainside PAGE 24 Disabled Veterans Memorial Honor Roll PAGE 23 GI Film Festival Honors DAV PAGE 36 Rolling Thunder ‘08 Lots more on page 18 Above, the dog tags on National Commander Reynolds’ motorcycle explain why he rides. Below left, National Service Officer Krista Korbar helps a visitor at the DAV display with a pin. Below, thousands of motorcycles traveled from the Pentagon to the Lincoln Memorial attracting visitors young and old. Reaching Out to America ROBERT T. REYNOLDS ROBERT T. from the NATIONAL COMMANDERPaul W. Jackson This has been an exhilarating year to serve as your National Com- mander. I have traveled across our nation spreading the word of our outstanding service and meeting with thousands of DAV members, the American public and policymakers. This has been a year in which we have delivered unprecedented support to our nation’s veterans. hanks to our volunteers, we are, without based on a lifetime of knowledge serving veterans. Tquestion, setting the example with the quality Clearly, Art epitomizes the leadership of a veterans of our care. And I thank each member of the DAV service organization. His confidence, dedication for what they do every day to help our fellow vet- and skill were a tremendous help through this year, erans. With the support of our front-line members, and I truly honor his friendship. we have succeeded in giving comfort to those who Executive Directors Rick Patterson in Cold have sacrificed so greatly for our freedom. Spring, Ky., and Dave Gorman in Washington, D.C., It was heartwarming to be a part of the National provided unparalleled guidance and foresight that Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, with more enabled me to serve the needs of the DAV more miracles packed into the weeklong, life-changing successfully. Supported by their highly profes- event than the participants ever dreamed possible. sional staffs, the needs and mission of the DAV are Another highlight of this year was the tremen- incomparably served every day. I truly appreciate dous support I received when I addressed a joint what they and their staffs did for me this year. meeting of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs I want to extend my thanks to our very profes- Committees at the conclusion of our Mid-Winter sional National Service Officers who each day Conference. I enjoyed your fantastic enthusiasm ensure that our mission is fulfilled in its most as we presented the DAV’s legislative agenda call- meaningful way. These dedicated men and women ing for sufficient, timely and predictable VA health devote their lives to service for veterans. They, care funding and for Congress to stand up for along with our Transition Services Officers and De- veterans. partment and Chapter Service Officers, are at the The rousing support of hundreds of DAV and very forefront of service to disabled veterans. Auxiliary members as I presented our legisla- The Transition Service Program is the gold stan- tive goals strengthened my sense of purpose and dard for those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. steeled my determination to do my best as your It is carrying the DAV’s mission of service to those National Commander. making the crucial transition from military to civil- We are blessed to have intelligent and insight- ian life as well as demobilizing guard and reserve ful leadership at every level to meet the challenges units. that we face year after year. To advance our mission, we clearly need the National Adjutant Arthur H. Wilson is a close support of the American people in understanding confidant and excellent advisor. His leadership is (Continued on page 39) JULY/AUGUST 2008 1 July/August 2008 CONTENTS From power boats to transport- Page 18 ing veterans for health care, National Commander Robert T. Reyn- a volunteer driver fi nds the 1 olds praises our volunteers, Chapters personal satisfaction of doing and Departments, and professional something for a good cause. staff for their dedication and contri- bution to DAV’s unmatched record of accomplishments. National Adjutant Arthur H. Wilson National Commander Robert T. Reynolds honors 3 cautions that unfounded public service and sacrifi ce for concern over the treatment of our our nation on Memorial wounded from the wars in Iraq and Day as lead motorcycle Page 16 Afghanistan could be used to jus- during Rolling Thunder. tify policies to cut funding or even dismantle the veterans health care Page 10 Robert T. Reynolds system. National Commander Lt. Col. Carolyn Arthur H. Wilson Nine DAV members have an- Culpepper, like 5 nounced their candidacy for Na- many others, National Adjutant & Publisher tional Offi ce elections to be held at fi nds the DAV is there to offer as- the 87th National Convention in Las Gary Weaver Vegas Aug. 9-12. sistance with a proper disability National Director rating. of Communications Secretary of Veterans Affairs James David E. Autry B. Peake looks at harnessing tech- Deputy National Director 14 nology to continue improving health of Communications care and to help bring the claims system under control. Arvel “Jim” Hall Assistant National Director National Legislative Director Joseph of Communications 20 A. Violante notes that time is running out for the 110th Congress to enact vital legislation to meet the needs of omas L. Wilborn MAGAZINE * JULY/AUGUST 2008 sick and disabled veterans. Assistant National Director Contact Us: www.dav.org * Toll Free 877.426.2838 * of Communications 3725 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, KY 41076 Volume 50, Issue 4, DAV Magazine (ISSN 0885-6400) Editorial Offi ce: DAV Magazine, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, Rob Lewis OH 45250-0301. Telephone (859) 441-7300 or toll free Marketing & Special Events (877) I AM A VET. Published and circulated bimonth- ly bulletin by the Disabled AmericanVeterans, a Manager Congressionally-chartered, nonprofi t organization, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301. DAV Home Page is www.dav.org. Available on recording Dan Clare for the blind and those with physical handicaps that Assistant National Director preclude reading printed material. The magazine is of Communications mailed free to DAV and Auxiliary members who are paid subscribers. Nonmembers may subscribe for $15.00 per year. Periodical postage paid at offi ce of Joseph Chenelly publication, Newport, KY 41071, and at additional The Balad Air Force offi ces. Printed in U.S.A. Change of Address: When Assistant National Director Theater Hospital notifying a change of address, send former as well of Communications in Iraq is one of as new address, including zip code, to: DAV Maga- the busiest trauma zine, DAV National Headquaters, P.O. Box 145550, centers in the world, Cincinnati, OH 45250-5550. James A. Chaney and combat nurses Production Manager serve their country by saving lives of the war’s victims. Page 28 July/Aug08.indd 2 6/20/08 10:48:28 AM Quality Beyond Question From power boats to transport- ing veterans for health care, a volunteer driver finds the personal satisfaction of doing something for a good cause. ARTHUR H. WILSON from the NATIONAL ADJUTANT Health care is a hot topic, and providing quality care for our war-wounded is an emotional issue for many Americans. Page 16 ur goal to build support for veterans health that Harvard is conducting on policy issues in the Ocare has gotten a lot harder. 2008 presidential campaign. Although there is ample evidence to the con- It must be pointed out that the survey is only trary, a new Harvard University poll has found that a snapshot of public opinion at a particular point most Americans don’t believe our wounded troops in time. In this case, it followed a number of news returning from Iraq and Afghanistan get good qual- stories about deplorable living conditions at military ity health care from military or VA hospitals. Even facilities and poor screening and treatment of troops Americans who have a close family member who returning from Iraq with post-traumatic stress disor- is serving or has served in the military expressed der and other mental health problems. By contrast, dissatisfaction with the care our wounded veterans many reports credit today’s battlefield medicine receive. with saving the lives of many wounded soldiers who Those of us who use the VA know it provides would have died of their injuries in previous wars. quality-driven health care. It is among the best in Health care is a hot topic, and providing quality the world, even if there is some unevenness in the care for our war-wounded is an emotional issue for system. many Americans. Top medical journals and respected publications Unfortunately, some will view the incomplete such as Business Week, U.S. News & World Report, picture that the Harvard survey paints as widespread Fortune, Time and the New York Times, as well as condemnation of a failed VA health care system. But NBC, ABC and CBS nightly newscasts all have ap- what really worries me is that some politicians will plauded the VA’s state-of-the-art medical care. In use such examples of ill-informed public opinion as addition, the American Customer Satisfaction Index justification for advancing bad public policy, such has reported the VA scoring higher than private- as funding cutbacks, giving veterans a health insur- sector health care for eight years in a row. ance card or privatizing the VA. Those resounding endorsements stand in sharp We believe these kinds of misguided, reactionary contrast to the Harvard poll, which found that 59 proposals would do little to improve the quality of percent of civilians and 64 percent of military fami- care for our nation’s veterans.