DOUGHNUTS AND OREGON VETERANS NEWS MAGAZINE DUMBBELLS A MARINE ENTREPRENEUR IS PROVING THEY GO TOGETHER BETTER THAN YOU THINK FAREWELL TO A BROTHER ISSUE FIRST LOOK AT OREGON’S VN WOMEN VETERAN MEMORIAL Code Warriors How A new generation of oregon veterans is helping returning service members launch careers in the fast-growing (and lucrative) field of computer programming WORLD PREMIERE EVENT STORIES FROM OREGON’S LGBTQ SERVICE MEMBERS Breaking theS lence “A must-see documentary for any American. free Powerful, funny and insightful, it shines the light on the courage and determination of some admission of our military’s hidden warriors.” CAMERON SMITH DIRECTOR, OREGON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS DOORS Friday, November 3 OPEN 6 P.M. 7 p.m. Film & Discussion @Mission Theater 1624 N.W. Glisan Street in Portland Trailer: youtu.be/JeBpkFepTnU | Facebook: facebook.com/OregonLGBTQVets STORIES FROM OREGON’S LGBTQ SERVICE MEMBERS DIRECTOR CAMERON SMITH S lence Calling Cadence his year marks the 100th anniversary of the United and community partners. Th ere is a particular focus to mobilize States’ entry into World War I. WWI service partnerships to better support student veterans on campus, members that survived the battlefi elds in Europe ensure all veterans have access to mental health resources, and did not come home to a robust veterans’ health and prevent veterans from becoming homeless. Tbenefi t system. Th ey banded together in service organizations Th is past year, we were also proud to support Polk County’s and fought to advocate for the system of support we have today. eff ort to stand up their County Veteran Service Offi ce (CVSO). Th e common cadence across the eras from our founding Th e CVSOs are strong partners for ODVA and are the boots on in 1945 to today is our timeless mission to serve and honor the ground to better connect veterans to their earned benefi ts Oregon veterans. Th e strength of our department has always across urban and rural Oregon. been based on our team, who are all proud advocates for As we build a system to better serve all veterans, we also have veterans and their families. targeted outreach to underserved At the same time, we veteran populations. This includes know that the success of our Vietnam veterans, the largest eff orts depends on all of you, 2017-19 biennial segment of our veterans’ Oregon’s veterans and our community, and a group that broad community partners. resources for Oregon was not welcomed home in their Together, we continue to make own time and has unique needs a diff erence. veterans is a historic as they age. Th e veteran community We have also been particularly and our partners have tirelessly $26.1 million. proud to better connect to advocated for years for Oregon’s LGBTQ and women additional resources to support veterans. Women veterans are veterans and their families. Citizens across the state added the fastest-rising demographic in our veterans’ community and their voice to the eff ort in November 2016 when they approved we must continue to do better to help them access benefi ts and by a resounding 84 percent to amend the state’s Constitution resources. We proudly stand as an advocate for all veterans and to dedicate 1.5 percent of net lottery revenues to better serve service members who served with honor. Friday, November 3 Oregon’s veterans. Ultimately, the diversity of our veterans’ community does Th rough the bipartisan leadership of the governor and not divide us, but unites us. Th ere is a shared bond across all Legislature this year, Oregon has approved a historic investment veterans no matter where we live or when we served. 7 p.m. Film & Discussion in veteran services — funds that will go to ensure the health, As four generations of veterans across fi ve major wars, we education and economic opportunity of our veterans and their stand on the shoulders of all those who have come before us. families. And together as advocates, we will continue to charge the hill Th e resulting 2017-19 biennial resources for Oregon for our veterans and their families. veterans is a historic $26.1 million of combined General Fund Thank you for your continued dedication, advocacy and Lottery Fund. Th is is more than double the previous and support! biennial budget for veteran services of $10.4 million General Fund. Th is budget invests signifi cantly in veteran services at the local and state level as well as in eff orts to support nonprofi t Published November 2017 OREGON VETERANS NEWS MAGAZINE Oregon Veterans News Magazine VNis a free publication by the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Each issue contains current information 28 impacting veterans in Oregon including federal VA topics and state, regional and local happenings. When credit is given to the source, Oregon Veterans News Magazine articles may be reprinted. ODVA reaches more than 25,000 veterans and their families through this print and electronic publication. We welcome contributions about veteran concerns, issues and programs 15 that are important, informative and/ or a great tidbit of news that other veterans would enjoy reading about. To inquire or submit a piece for consideration, please use the contact information below. Submissions for Features the next issue must be received by April 15, 2018. FEATURE ARTICLES GUEST CONTRIBUTIONS 10 K-Falls Marine Brian Eayrs’ startup, 12 In Iraq, Joshua Groesz fought Feed Me Fight Me, is unabashedly insurgents and hunted for roadside veteran — and unabashedly bombs. Back in the U.S., he did enamored with tasty food. homework and worked in retail. Veterans News Magazine It was no use; he was hooked on 700 Summer St. NE, Salem, OR, 97301 16 Tech is one of the world's best job chaos. 503-373-2389 | www.oregon.gov/odva sectors in the world, but the fastest [email protected] way into the industry — code 28 Hunting is not about blood lust; schools — don’t accept the GI Bill. it’s about experience, comradeship Executive Editor: Nicole Hoeft A new generation of veterans is out and “helping veterans cope,” Content Editor: Tyler Francke to change that. according to Army veteran Branden Traeger, of The Fallen 20 Oregon’s LGBTQ veterans are Outdoors. “Breaking the Silence” in new documentary featuring their ON THE COVER stories and their service. The volunteer staff of the Oregon-based Operation Code in Washington, D.C. From left, Conrad Hollomon, Michael Bell, Ian Lenny and David Molina. 8 12 16 10 IN THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS CORNER R&R 6 Bend heroes take a tour of WWII 24 Rural Veteran Transportation 28 Featured books about veterans memorial and state Capitol Program logs over 500,000 miles in and military service by local and first two years in Oregon national writers 7 A first look at Oregon’s first-ever memorial dedicated to women veterans 26 Federal and state benefit updates 28 Volunteer, Go, Connect, Relax: A for the second half of 2017 brief selection of opportunities and 8 Don Malarkey, member of 101st activities for Oregon veterans and Airborne’s “Band of Brothers,” dies at 96 27 Oregon-based Lines for Life their families awarded contract for nationwide 15 Korean War veteran returned to family expansion in Portland after 66 years BOOTS ON THE GROUND 22 Ageless Aviation returns to Oregon 30 Success stories from the front lines Veterans’ Home to “give vets a lift” of Oregon’s veteran service officers in the community Photos by Tyler Francke, Veterans News Magazine Guests of Honor State welcomes bend heroes to tour of wwii memorial, capitol In July, a group of World War II veterans from Bend were able to visit the Oregon WWII memorial in Salem thanks to the work of the Bend Heroes Foundation and Eastern Oregon Honor Flight. Gov. Kate Brown joined other elected officials, including Sen. Brian Boquist and Rep. Caddy McKeown, in welcoming the group to the Oregon State Capitol. Top: The veterans, along with volunteers from the Bend Heroes Foundation, pose for a photo with elected officials in the governor's ceremonial office. Above, left: Gov. Brown and Rep. McKeown talk with WWII Navy veteran Dick Watson. Above, right: U.S. Air Force veteran Diane Harris, lead coordinator for the trip, and World War II Army Air Corps veteran Carl Juhl survey the wall of names at the WWII memorial in Salem. 6 By Amber Fossen, City of Springfield in the community Hear Them Roar pringfield is the proud home of the state’s first memorial dedicated to women veterans — one of only a handful of memorials in the entire Scountry that honor the nation’s female service members. The memorial — the design of which has been a closely held secret throughout its year and a half of development and construction — will be dedicated at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 10. The Springfield Women Veterans Memorial is located in the heart of the new Springfield Veterans Memorial Plaza, which is at the intersection of Mohawk Boulevard and I Street. The project was a collaboration between the city of Springfield and the Springfield Women Veterans Committee, with funding from state lodging tax funds and a grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The centerpiece of the memorial — a bronze sculpture of a pride of lionesses — was done by artists Rip Caswell and Alison Brown, both of Campus Sculpture. The artists conceived the design after conducting Above: The bronze sculpture interviews with many Oregon women that serves as the centerpiece of veterans in an effort to capture the spirit of the state's first women veterans women in the military.