35 E. Chestnut St., PO Box 15099, Columbus, OH43215-8099 Phone (614) 221-3582FAX (614) 221-4822E-mail:ohiodavadjutant@ameritech.net
Website:www.ohiodav.orgOctober,
2007
ROBERT
BERTSCHY
Department Commander
When was the last time you visited a veteran in
the hospital? When was the last time you welcomed a returning veteran with a
"Welcome Home?"
The days and weeks after a homecoming from war
can be filled with excitement, relief, and many other feelings. Following the
veteran’s return from
overseas duty, the entire family will go through a transition.
Reintegration following a homecoming involves
taking time for the veteran, family and friends to become reacquainted. Talk
and listen to one another to restore trust, support and closeness. There may be
times when you and your returning veteran feel stress, uncertainty, concern,
and distance from one another. It may feel as if the service member is still
fighting a war, rather than truly being home. All of these emotions are a
normal part of following deployment to a war zone. At first, these reactions
may be difficult to deal with. Some service members have real difficulties and
struggle during their transitions back home. Because many service members face
redeployment back to overseas duty, it is especially important to address these
difficulties during this time back home. Learning more can help your family
cope.
A common expectation is that the family will be
exactly the same as it was before the deployment. However, during deployment
families naturally change. Children have grown and spouses have taken on new
responsibilities. New friendships may have formed. War zone exposure is a life
changing experience for those deployed. Understanding what you might expect
will help with the transition back to civilian life.
Most service members, who experience combat
stress reactions, will recover naturally over time.
Others continue to struggle with memories of
their combat experiences and their reactions. Research still does not tell us
why some people struggle while others do not. But it is not because of any type
of weakness. Combat stress reactions may create problems in relationships with
partners, other family members or friends, troubles at work, or troubles in
handling money. If the service member continues to experience these reactions
and if it begins to cause problems for them or their family, it may become
post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD.
The service member should not feel forced to
talk about his or her combat experiences. They should be given opportunities to
talk about the war and their reactions and feelings with people who will not be
judgmental or negative. You should join in these discussions if you are invited
to do so. Service members may be more comfortable taking with their buddies
about their time at war. It may be helpful for the service member to speak with
a counselor about his or her experiences, or about any concerns about sharing
the details of war experiences with family members. Family and friends need to
remember not to take signs of withdrawal personally and to remember to be
patient. Recovery takes time.
Robert Bertschy,
Commander
IMPORTANT
NUMBERS
Nat’l. Hdqrs., DAV(877) 426-2838
NSO Office, Cleveland(216)
522-3507
NSO Office, Cincinnati(513)
684-2676
Washington Office, DAV(202)
554-3501
Cincinnati HSC,
Sheila Clements(513) 475-6443
Dayton HSC,(937)
268-6511
Gene McCorkleExt. 2962
Wade Park HSC,(216)
791-3800
Walter DryjaExt.
3395
Chillicothe HSC(740)
773-1141
James KellerExt. 7916
Columbus Clinic,(614)
257-5487
Michael
Hackworth
Brecksville HSC, (440)
526-3030
Don BranfordExt. 7353
Warren Clinic(330)
392-0311
Youngstown Clinic(330)
70-9200
Ext.
105
Veterans Administration1-800-827-1000
DATES TO REMEMBER
October 5-6-7, 2007Forget-Me-Not, Clermont County Chapter
#63, Clermont County Fairgrounds, Owensville, Ohio.
October 6, 2007Information Seminar, Whitehall
Chapter #142, beginning at 9 a.m., Veterans Memorial, 300 W. Broad Street, Columbus,
Ohio.
October 14, 20076th District Meeting, VFW
Firestone Post 3383, 690 W. Waterloo Road, Akron.Lunch will be served at 1:30 p.m. and meeting will start at 2
p.m.
October 19-21, 2007Fall Conference, The Crowne Plaza,
Dublin, Ohio
October 20, 2007Ohio Women Veterans Conference,
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Teays Valley High School, 3887 St. Rt. 752,
Ashville, Ohio.Contact Karen Kish at
614-752-8941 to make reservations.
October 26-31, 2007Forget-Me-Not, Hillsboro Chapter #123,
Various Locations in Hillsboro, Ohio.
October 27, 20071st District Meeting, 1
p.m., St. Timothy’s Church, 8101 Beechmont Ave., meeting to begin at 1 p.m.,
Cincinnati.
November 3, 2007Information Seminar, The Buddy Chapter
#43, beginning at 9 a.m., 201 E. Front Street, Findlay, Ohio.
November 3, 20072nd District Meeting,
12 noon, Dayton VAMC, Building 305, Dayton, Ohio.
Multi-purpose Room, lunch provided, Joint DAV and DAVA District Meeting.
March 2-5, 2008DAV Mid-Winter Conference, Crystal
Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA
April 6, 20088th District
Meeting, Bellaire Chapter #117, Lunch at 1 p.m. and meeting to begin at 2 p.m.,
Bellaire.
April 12, 2008Testimonial Dinner Auxiliary
Commander Dorothy Clark, Holiday Inn Eastgate, Cincinnati, Ohio
June 5-8, 2008DAV Department Convention, The
Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio
August 9-12, 2008DAV National Convention,
Bally’s Hotel, Las Vegas.
October 10-12, 2008DAV Department Fall Conference, The
Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.
June 4-7, 2009DAV Department Convention,
The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.
October 9-11, 2009DAV Department Fall Conference, The
Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.
June 10-13, 2010DAV Department Convention,
The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.
October 8-10, 2010DAV Department Fall Conference, The
Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.
District 1’s picnic
at Camp Dennison, Cincinnati, Ohio, August 25, 2007
Herman W. Morton, PDC
Dear Comrades:
DAV is a non-partisan organization. It is not our intent to
be political or to endorse or oppose any candidate for public office by posting
these votes; simply to report the facts—how they voted on issues important to
us and our members, and that, in most cases, we have made our interest
known."
The following ratings indicate the degree that each elected official supported
the interests of the DAV organization in the year 2006.
This information may be of interest during your face-to-face
visit with elected representatives at the DAV Mid-Winter Conference March 2008.
It is possible that elected officials supported other veteran-related issues
that have not been recorded-we need to inquire! Votes are related to important
issues, such as:
* Budget
* Appropriations
* Amendments to increase funding
* Emergency supplemental funding for VA
As a result of the war in Afghanistan and Iraq, we
are seeing more claims filed to establish service connection for Posttraumatic
Stress Disorder.According to the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV), Posttraumatic
Stress Disorder is defined as a traumatic event that causes intense fear and/or
helplessness in an individual.Posttraumatic Stress Disorder may result from combat
or a non-combat stressor, such as a plane crash, ship sinking, explosion, rape
or assault, duty on a burn ward or in a graves registration unit.Symptoms may include re-experiencing the
trauma through nightmares, obsessive thoughts, and flashbacks (feeling as if
you are actually in the traumatic situation again). There is an avoidance
component as well, where the individual avoids situations, people, and/or
objects that remind him or her about the traumatic event (e.g., a person
experiencing PTSD after a serious car accident might avoid driving or being a
passenger in a car). Finally, there is increased anxiety in general,
possibly with a heightened startle response (e.g., very jumpy, startle easy by
noises).
What does a veteran have to
do to get Posttraumatic Stress Disorder service-connected?There is a three-step process to be able to
get service-connected for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
1.The veteran must have a current diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
2.The veteran must have experienced some type of verifiable traumatic
event in service.
3.There must be a nexus or link between the traumatic event and the
current diagnosis.A psychiatrist
provides this link with psychiatric examination.
It is not really important
how the veteran obtains the current diagnosis.A counselor at a Vet Center, private doctor, or VA doctor can provide
it.Once the veteran provides the VA
with this diagnosis, theveteran has to provide
evidence of a verifiable stressor.
If a veteran can provide documentation they received any of
the following individual decorations the VA will concede evidence of
participation in a stressful episode:
Air Force Cross
Air Medal with "V" Device
Army Commendation Medal with
"V" Device
Bronze Star Medal with "V"
Device
Combat Action Ribbon
Combat Infantryman Badge
Combat Medical Badge
Combat Aircrew Insignia
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Service Cross
Joint Service Commendation Medal with
"V" Device
Medal of Honor
Navy Commendation Medal with
"V" Device
Navy Cross
Purple Heart
Silver Star
Other medals may lend some
support to a veteran's statement of combat, but further verification would be
required before combat service is accepted. Among these are the Global War on
Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Iraq
Campaign Medal.
When the VA has
this evidence the veteran will be scheduled for a compensation and pension
examination to confirm the diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and make
a decision to see if service connection can be granted.If it is granted, the evaluation will based
on current medical evidence and can range from ten percent to one hundred
percent.
If
the veteran did not receive any of these decorations they have to describe the
event or events they feel caused their Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.They must provide the VA specific details
and/or evidence of the in-service stressful incident(s): date(s), place(s),
unit of assignment at the time of the event(s), description of the event(s),
medal(s) or citation(s) received as a result of the event(s), and, if
appropriate, name(s) and other identifying information concerning any other
individuals involved in the event(s). At a minimum, the veteran must indicate
the location and approximate time (a 2-month specific date range) of the
stressful event(s) in question, and the unit of assignment at the time the
stressful event.
Examples
of such evidence include, but are not limited to: records from law enforcement
authorities, rape crisis centers, mental health counseling centers, hospitals,
or physicians; pregnancy tests or tests for sexually transmitted diseases; and
statements from family members, roommates, fellow service members, or clergy.
Evidence of behavior changes following the claimed assault is one type of
relevant evidence that may be found in these sources. Examples of behavior
changes that may constitute credible evidence of the stressor include, but are
not limited to: a request for a transfer to another military duty assignment;
deterioration in work performance; substance abuse; episodes of depression,
panic attacks, or anxiety without an identifiable cause; or unexplained
economic or social behavior changes Following receipt of this information, the
VA will contact the U.S. Armed Services Center for Unit Records Research (CURR)
and request verification of the event or events.If the stressful event is verified the VA will schedule the
veteran for a compensation and pension examination to confirm the diagnosis of
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.Again,
if the diagnosis is confirmed, the VA will make a decision to see if service
connection can be granted and assign the appropriate evaluation.
I cannot stress
enough the importance of giving the VA as much information as possible about
the stressful event so they can try and verify the incident.Why?Because even if the veteran has a diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress
Disorder, if the VA cannot verify the stressful event they will not
grant service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
As always, if
anyone has any questions, please contact us at your convenience.
Leslie A. James
National Service Officer
SALUTING THE FLAG
WASHINGTON, D.C.
- U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma) today praised the passage by unanimous
consent of his bill S.1877) clarifying U.S. law to allow veterans and
servicemen not in uniform to salute the flag. Current law (US Code Title
4, Chapter 1) states that veterans and servicemen not in uniform should
place their hand over their heart without clarifying whether they can or
should salute the flag.
The salute is a
form of honor and respect, representing pride in one's military service,'
Senator Inhofe said. 'Veterans and service members continue
representing the military services even when not in uniform.
'Unfortunately, current U.S. Law leaves confusion as to whether veterans
and service members out of uniform can or should salute the flag. My
legislation will clarify this regulation, allowing veterans and servicemen
alike to salute the flag, whether they are in uniform or not. 'I look
forward to seeing those who have served saluting proudly at baseball
games, parades, and formal events. I believe this is an appropriate way to
honor and recognize the 25 million veterans in the United States who have
served in the military and remain as role models to others citizens.
Those who are currently serving or have served in the military have
earned this right, and their recognition will be an inspiration to others.
This Bill was
passed July 25, 2007. Let your veteran friends know about the Passage of
this Bill.
(Information taken
by permission from the September 2007 issue of the OH DAV newsletter.)
The following note is not part of the original article:
This Bill is awaiting passage by the U.S.
House of Representatives and then, if passed by the House, signature of the
President.Please contact your U.S.
Representative and inform him or her of your support of this Bill.
FROM THE HOSPITAL CHAIRPERSON
We have begun the hospital
tours for the 2007-2008 year. The State Commander, Robert Bertschy, the
DAVA State Commander, Dorothy Clark, along with the DAV, DAVA Adjutants and
myself have toured the Southern Ohio Veterans Home, The Columbus Clinic and
Chillicothe VAMC. In November we will be touring the Cincinnati VAMC and
The Dayton VAMC.
The Department of Ohio will also be sponsoring our
yearly Christmas pizza party and bingo at the Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky on
December 2, 2007.
Again, I am asking you to
consider volunteering at your local hospital or VAMC. Volunteering can be
a rewarding experience.
Raymond H. Hutchinson, Hospital Chairperson
NOTES FROM YOUR
STATE ADJUTANT
Thought for October:A courageous person accepts responsibility
and blames himself for his actions – while those of lesser virtue blame others.
The Ohio Women Veterans
Conference, originally scheduled to be held at Vets Memorial in Columbus, has
been changed to:
Teays
Valley High School
3887
State Route 752
Ashville,
OH 43103
The date remains as: Saturday, October 20, 2007, from
10AM-3PM.The registration deadline is
October 15, 2007.No cost for you to
participate. A lunch will be provided.
It has been reported that 15
to 20 percent of troops returning from Iraq are reporting “ill defined” illnesses.But, unlike veterans of the 1991 Gulf War,
Iraq veterans are getting medical treatment.Some 16 years after the Gulf War ended, veterans continue to be told by
physicians that “Gulf War Illness” does not exist of that their illness is
psychological.Both the VA and DOD are
in virtual denial about the causes of this illness and have been slow to offer
treatment.
I want to encourage every
chapter to send at least one delegate to our Fall Conference being held October
19th & 20th in Dublin at the Crowne Plaza Hotel
(formerly known as Clarion).We have
tried to make this conference as educational and informative as possible, with
many seminars & speakers that
will provide you with accurate, timely & useful
information.Let’s all do our best to
work together toward our common mandate of helping our fellow DAV members &
their families.
Our heartfelt thanks to
chapters who have contributed to our Department’s Disaster Relief Fund.I know that some of you plan to present
checks at the Fall Conference and I want to thank all of you, in advance.We are a volunteer organization and helping
those of us who are less fortunate is what it’s all about.
It is not uncommon for
veterans to have a disability claim denied and then going back and forth with
the VA about it.As a veteran who
incurred injury or disease during active military service you are entitled to
compensation, but proving that is your responsibility, with assistance from our
National Service Officers.Many of you
do not follow up on a denial, often saying “I can’t find the paperwork they
want” or “I figure if they didn’t approve it the first time, to hell with them
and their talk of helping veterans.”
If the above paragraph
sounds familiar, you definitely need to attend the Fall Conference and listen
during the seminar conducted 11 to Noon on Saturday, October 20th by
NSO Supervisor Leslie James and his staff.
To assist veterans and
providers, the VA created a webpage containing links to Fact Sheets that
provide basic information on each VA benefit program:
As always, pray for our
troops who are in harms way.God bless
America and may he continue to bless the Disabled American Veterans.Never forget that…FREEDOM IS NOT FREE…it is
bought and paid for by our Veterans like YOU and ME!
I HOPE TO SEE ALL OF YOU AT
OUR FALL CONFERENCE!!!
