VAnguard

Inside: HR Regs Online, 4 ✩ NCA's Memorials Inventory, 10 ✩ Baseball and War, 12

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

MAY 2002

A Talk withthe Secretary page 6

2 VAnguard

INTRODUCINGMelody Miles

CCCCCONTENTSONTENTSONTENTSONTENTSONTENTS

CCCCCOLUMNSOLUMNSOLUMNSOLUMNSOLUMNS 17-20

VAnguardVA’s Employee Magazine

May 2002Vol. XLVII, No. 4

Printed on 50% recycled paper

Editor: Lisa RespessEditorial Assistant: Matt Bristol

Photo Editor: Robert Turtil

Published by theOffice of Public Affairs (80D)

Department of Veterans Affairs810 Vermont Ave., N.W.Washington, D.C. 20420

(202) 273-5746E-mail: vanguard@mail.va.govwww.va.gov/pubaff/vanguard/

index.htm

❏ HR Policies 4Revised regulations now online

❏ Benefits Information 5Service on toll-free line improves

❏ Secretary Principi 6VAnguard sits down with VA chief

❏ NCA Memorials 10Inventory initiative launched

❏ Baseball’s War Heroes 12Hall of Famers answered nation’s call

❏ Sun Savvy 15Tips for preventing skin cancer

❏ Rolling Thunder 16VA therapist participates in annual event

On the cover: VA Secretary Anthony J.Principi sat down for a wide-ranging interview with VAnguardlast month. He offered somereflections on his first year inoffice, reviewed progress madeon his top priorities, and touchedon a few more personal issues,like his leadership style. Photo byMichael Moore

Melody Miles knows what it’slike to be hungry and homeless.Three years ago, she was living in ahomeless shelter. That was the pointwhere she took control of her life.She successfully graduated from aprogram for substance abusers andfound a job at the Houston VAMedical Center.

“I always ran from situations,”she said, “but I’ve learned to dealwith things without losing. I’velearned about setting boundaries,learned to stand up for myself. Iknow there is a higher calling for mylife. I’m living a life sober andclean today.”

At themedical center,a couple of herco-workersasked if shewanted to helpwith the annualfood drive tobenefit thehospital’s HealthCare for theHomeless VeteranProgram. She said“yes” and the restis history.“I’m married to aVietnam veteran, and I wonderedhow we can live in a country andwatch the men and women whofought for it stand in the middle ofour streets holding signs saying‘Vietnam vet – homeless – will workfor food.’ I believed our communitycould do something about it,” saidMiles.

In 1998, the National NutritionMonth Food Drive involved just afew people and brought in about1,002 pounds of canned goods andother non-perishables. During herfirst year working the food drive,1999, she alone brought in 1,046pounds. In 2000, she spearheaded theeffort to take the food drive outsidethe hospital and get the communityinvolved. Since then, Miles and hersmall team of volunteers—Ben Lima,Renee Walker, Donald Tapscott, Jeff

O’Neal, Danny Ray van Avery andValsa George—have seen their hardwork pay off. Each year, more peopleand more organizations recognizethe importance of this program.

This year, the food drive broughtthe community together like neverbefore: medical center employees,volunteers, and veterans; serviceorganizations such as the DisabledAmerican Veterans; high schoolROTC cadets; local businesses;community leaders; media outlets;and celebrities. For the second year, alocal radio station, KCOH, hosted a

food drive andlive radiothon tosupport theNational Nutri-tion Month FoodDrive. More than1,350 pounds offood and nearly$4,186 in cashwere collected injust one day.

At themedical center,the month-longfood drivegenerated anadditional

7,151 pounds of food.“The amount of food and otherdonations to our Health Care for theHomeless Veteran Program this yearis incredible—the equivalent of12,687.66 pounds of food. This willprovide food for hundreds of hungryveterans in the Harris County area,”said Lima, chief of Food ProductionService.

Today, Miles is a programsupport clerk in the medical center’sMedical Care Line. She’s involved inprison ministry, is a regular speakerat the Star of Hope Women’s Shelter,and serves as a mentor for womenstruggling to get their lives back ontrack. “It is my prayer that everyonewill always remember the plight ofour homeless veterans,” she said. ❏

By Bobbi D. GrunerHouston VA Medical Center

May 2002 3

OutlookDr. Charlotte F. Beason,Program Director,Nursing StrategicHealthcare Group

VA’s Response to theNational Nursing Shortage

It’s no secretthat health-careorganizationsacross thenation arefacing a short-age of nurses.But the problemis expected toworsen dra-matically in the

coming years for a number ofreasons, including the aging of thecurrent nursing workforce, thedecreasing number of nursing schoolgraduates to keep the professiongoing strong, and an ever-increasingneed for the services professionalnurses provide.

Nationally, the average age ofregistered nurses (RNs) is 45. In VA,it’s 46. Nursing has traditionallybeen a profession dominated bywomen, but today’s young womenhave a much broader range of careeroptions. Fewer and fewer of them arechoosing nursing. And the aging ofthe Baby Boom generation will placegreater demands on the nation’ssystem of health care.

The extent to which VA facilitiesare impacted by the nursing shortagevaries geographically. However,shortages are more evident in certainnursing specialties such as criticalcare.

With a workforce that includessome 36,000 registered nurses, VAcannot afford to put this issue on theback burner. The Department musttake strong action now to ensure thatwe will be able to attract and retain aqualified nursing staff well into thefuture.

VHA’s Nursing StrategicHealthcare Group has taken animportant step in this direction withthe release of “A Call to Action—VA’s Response to the NationalNursing Shortage.” The report is theproduct of VA’s National NursingWorkforce Planning Group, whosemultidisciplinary membershipconsulted with national experts in

nursing, government and Academe,conducted an extensive review of theliterature, and met with VA employ-ees.

What emerged is a frank discus-sion of VA’s ability to compete intoday’s nursing labor market and thebarriers that impede nurse recruit-ment, retention and utilization.Recommendations for diminishingthese barriers range from the needfor legislative initiatives to greaterflexibility, respect and recognition inthe work environment.

The work group began its activi-ties in August 2000 and, as a fortu-nate result of this early start, contrib-uted information and data that isreflected in the recently enacted P.L.107-135 “Department of VeteransAffairs Health Care EnhancementAct of 2001.”

One of the group’s recommenda-tions established by that law is aNational Commission on VA Nurs-ing. This 12-member group has beenappointed by Secretary Principi toadvise him on issues affecting VAnurses. The panel is authorized toconsider “legislative and organiza-tional changes to enhance therecruitment and retention of nurses”and assess the future of the nursingprofession within VA. A report onthe commission’s findings is due inMay 2004.

In its report on the nursingshortage, the National NursingWorkforce Planning Group writesthat VA’s retention of nurses isdependent upon fostering profes-sional work environments in whichnurses are actively involved indecision-making. In some cases,legislative restrictions impede theability of VA facilities to structurecompetitive pay/benefits packagesor implement flexible work sched-ules that are offered in communityhospitals and which nurses desire.This impacts VA’s ability to competein local RN hiring markets.

The group also notes that nursingstaff often are not optimally utilized,

and technological support and thesupport of other patient care andancillary personnel are inadequate.

Among the recruitment propos-als, VA is encouraged to seekbroader pay and hiring authoritiesand, just as important, to use existingauthorities in a flexible and creativemanner. The group recommendedthat successful programs such as thestudent-oriented Veterans AffairsLearning Opportunities Residency(VALOR) Program be expanded,and that the Health ProfessionalScholarship program be reactivated.

VA facilities are encouraged tolink with local schools and commu-nity networks to emphasize nursingand health careers.

As the report clearly indicates,the solution to the nursing shortagemust come from a Departmentalcommitment to providing qualitycare for veterans by maintainingadequate numbers of qualifiednursing staff. An electronic copy ofthe report is available on the NursingStrategic Healthcare Group Webpage at www.va.gov/nursing. ❏

The Milwaukee, Wis., VA Medi-cal Center will be the site of a uniqueevent next month celebrating itshistory as one of the original SoldiersHomes established by PresidentAbraham Lincoln to care for return-ing Civil War soldiers.

The facility will host “ReclaimingOur Heritage,” a Civil War encamp-ment/living history event, on itsgrounds June 1 and 2. A side-by-sidecomparison of field trauma care inthe Civil War and in today’s militarywill be a featured attraction.

The event is being sponsored bythe Soldiers Home Foundation Inc., acharitable organization charged withpreserving and renovating thebuildings built between 1868 and1891 in the historic district of the VAcampus. ❏

June Event Brings Historyto Life at Milwaukee VAMC

4 VAnguard

“What we need are revised,updated and simplified humanresources regulations,” concludedabout 300 of the Department’s topleaders who met in Topeka, Kan., fora strategic meeting. Four years later,a job some called monumental andcolossal is complete.

A new system of human re-sources regulations, accessible on theVA Intranet through the Office ofHuman Resources Management Website at vaww.va.gov/ohrm, took effecton April 15. More than 100 old policyissuances were replaced with 14subject matter directives and hand-

books in areas such as pay, staffingand employee relations.

For years, HR policies werehaphazardly compiled in gray,government-issue binders. Updateswere marked with yellow Post-itnotes, or penciled in the margins.Looking up a policy meant hours ofsifting through various, sometimesoutdated, policy issuances.

“It was time-consuming and veryconfusing,” explained Kenneth H.Quantock, associate director of theHR Consulting Division in VACentral Office. “There were VApolicies, VHA policies, VBA policies

Revised Human Resources Regulations Debut Online

VA Police Officer José Rodríguez-Reyes was shot and killed last monthwhile on duty at the San Juan, PuertoRico, VA Medical Center. He was aveteran and 18-year VA employee.The Federal Bureau of Investigationand local police are investigating theincident.

At about 7:50 p.m. on April 24,Officer Rodríguez-Reyes was report-edly ambushed by two assailantswhile working at an outdoor gate atthe VA facility. Witnesses reportedhearing four shots. Colleagues racedto the scene and found Rodríguez-

and NCA policies; you were con-stantly switching between them andnever knew if you had the updatedversion.”

A team of employees from allthree VA administrations, the Officeof Human Resources Managementand other VA staff offices, as well asunion representatives, took on theproject of updating the regulationsand saw it through to completion.

They reviewed, edited andconverted all paper documents intoMicrosoft Word electronic files, andgrouped the various policy issuancesinto 14 consolidated subject matterdirectives/handbooks.

“A four-year labor of love,” ishow Terence Kahn, chief of HumanResources at the Indianapolis VAMedical Center, described theproject.

Now, there is one HR manualsystem for the entire Department. It’seasier to read and navigate than theold binders—nearly 1,000 pages wereeliminated from the paper files, andall information can be locatedthrough an electronic word searchfunction.

“Some people may look at this asan end,” noted Dennis Curley,director of Human Resources Man-agement and Policies and VA CentralOffice team leader for the project.“But, in many respects, it’s really abeginning.

“Information is power, and thisgives our next generation of manag-ers and HR professionals the abilityto access information by themselvesand make good use of it.” ❏

Reyes lying on the ground. Theyrushed him to the emergency room,where he died a short time later. “Hewas a loved man, a family man, andvery popular among his colleagues,”noted medical center Public AffairsOfficer Annie Moraza.

VA Deputy Secretary Dr. Leo S.Mackay Jr., was in San Juan at thetime of the shooting visiting VAfacilities. “On behalf of PresidentBush and Secretary of VeteransAffairs Principi, we offer our condo-lences and prayers for the family ofVA Police Officer José Rodríguez-

Reyes and his colleagues,” Mackaysaid during a press conference thenext morning. “The Department ofVeterans Affairs will do everythingwe can to support Rodríguez-Reyes’family and colleagues.”

Mackay went on to commend theleadership provided by San Juan VAMedical Center Director Dr. Rafael E.Ramírez, and the response by staffand volunteers. About 350 employ-ees attended a town hall meeting thatmorning, where they learned of theincident and were offered counselingand support. ❏

San Juan VA Medical Center Police Officer Shot, Killed on Duty

Kenneth Quantock, left, and Dennis Curley helped update, simplify, and improve theaccessibility of VA’s HR regulations.

May 2002 5

The annual Federal Savings BondCampaign runs from May 1 throughMay 31. VA Secretary Anthony J.Principi is the chair, and the UnderSecretary for Memorial Affairs,Robin L. Higgins, is the vice-chair.

The savings bond campaign is anannual event to increase employeepersonal savings through investmentin U.S. Savings Bonds. VA’s goals areto contact 100 percent of theDepartment’s employees to informthem about the benefits of investingin bonds, and increase employeeparticipation this year by 5 percent.

In addition to the Series EESavings Bonds, VA employees cannow purchase Series I Saving Bondsby payroll deduction for the firsttime. During May, your local savingsbond campaign representative willcontact you with information aboutpurchasing bonds or increasing yourcurrent allotment.

Savings bonds are attractive

investments because they offercompetitive interest rates, taxadvantages, safety, affordability,accessibility and convenience.

Series I and EE Savings Bondsaccrue interest monthly and areoffered in eight denominations: $50,$75, $100, $200, $500, $1,000, $5,000and $10,000. Series I and EE SavingsBonds can be redeemed after the firstsix months they are purchased;however, a three-month interestpenalty applies to bonds redeemedduring the first five years. Forinstance, if you purchase a bond andredeem it after two years, you’d onlyreceive 21 months’ interest.

The I Bond is an “inflation-indexed accrual security.” Theinterest rate is composed of a fixedbase rate and an inflation adjust-ment. The fixed rate remains thesame for the life of an I Bond, and theinflation adjustment is tied to theConsumer Price Index. The Series I

Bond is bought for full face value.The EE Bond is an “accrual

security.” EE Bonds earn 90 percentof the average yield on five-yearTreasury Securities. The EE Bond isbought at half its face value. A $50Series EE Bond, for instance, costs$25. For more information aboutsavings bonds, visit the U.S. Trea-sury Department Savings Bond Website at www.savingsbonds.gov.

VA employees can quickly andeasily purchase new savings bondsor increase current allotmentsthrough HR LINK$. You can accessHR LINK$ through desktop personalcomputers via the Internet atwww.hrlinks.aac.va.gov, an HR LINK$Access Point, or by dialing (800) 414-5272 from any touch-tone phone, 24hours a day, seven days a week.You’ll need your Social Securitynumber and your HR LINK$ per-sonal identification number to accessthe system. ❏

Federal Savings Bond Campaign Runs Through the Month of May

Benefits Information Just a ‘Virtual’ Phone Call AwayHow many times have you called

an 800 number only to get a busysignal or be put on hold for whatseems like an eternity? Chances are,at least once a week.

Aware of the frustrations peopleface every day with these types ofcalls, the Veterans Benefits Adminis-tration (VBA) is implementing itsVirtual Information Center (VIC)program—practically eliminatinglong waits on VA’s toll-free benefitsline and bringing customer serviceup to the benchmark levels followedin private industry.

“We are fundamentally changingthe way we do business,” said StanSinclair, Deputy Under Secretary forBenefits. “Our VICs are changing aprocess-driven bureaucracy into acustomer-focused organization.”

The “virtual” part of the VICconcept is that the veterans servicerepresentatives (VSRs) helpingcallers don’t have to be physicallylocated in the same VA regionaloffice. In fact, they don’t even have tobe in the same state as the callers.Instead, technology links staff fromseveral regional offices in a multi-state region to handle incoming calls.The VIC system first attempts to

route a call by area code as usual, butif the call goes unanswered for morethan 30 seconds, it’s then automati-cally routed to the next available VSRin the multi-state VIC area.

Leo A. Phelan, director of VBA’sOffice of Access Management andFacilities, said VBA gets 22 millioncalls a year, 12 million of which arereceived through (800) 827-1000. “Weget peaks and valleys during theday,” he explained, “so during peakcall times, more VSRs are available toanswer calls, and in less busy timesthey can work in other areas. We canbalance the volume of calls withstaffing—it gives us an economy ofscale.”

The bottom line is less waiting forcallers, and better use of staff forVBA. According to Phelan, the firstVIC, established in the Northeast,allowed VBA the flexibility toredirect 17 percent of the telephone-answering staff to claims processingduties. As more VICs are addedthroughout the country, VBA expectsto be able to free up more staff towork on processing claims.

To understand how dramatic thechanges resulting from these innova-tions are, you only need to look at

recent history. In 1998, 52 percent ofthe calls coming in to the toll-freenumber were unable to get through,or “blocked.” Even when a call didget through, the wait time to talk to aVSR was so long that 13 percent ofcallers would hang up.

A year later, the blocked-call ratedropped below 10 percent after anautomated response system, or“phone tree,” was installed. About 21percent of calls are now handled bythis system without the assistance ofa VSR. In 2000, the first VIC activa-tion brought the blocked-call ratedown to just 3.3 percent.

A second VIC recently went live,operating in the states of Georgia,North Carolina, South Carolina andTennessee. Two more are planned—one covering central states due thisfall, and another in the west targetedto be up in 2004.

Future plans include addingmore options on the toll-free line’sautomated response system andoffering more self-service optionsthrough the Internet. “We’re improv-ing service by making it easier, fasterand more reliable for the caller,” saidSinclair. “It’s a radical change incustomer service.” ❏

6 VAnguard

S ecretary Anthony J. Principisat down with VAnguard onApril 9 in his office to reflecton his first year as VA Secre-

tary. He addressed a variety oftimely topics, including VA healthcare funding challenges, the claimsbacklog, meeting increased demandsfor burial services, and workplacesuccession planning.

He also touched on other morepersonal issues, such as his leader-ship style, his proudest moments ofthe past year, and the World War IIveteran whose story is a constantsource of inspiration for him.

Q: You devoted a lot of timeduring your first year as Secretaryto visiting VA field facilities. Whatdid you learn from your travelsaround the country?

A: I’m always inspired when I visitVA facilities and talk to VA employ-ees and patients at medical centers orveterans at regional offices. I learn agreat deal about the VA, about thework we do, and I’m inspired by thetremendous value we bring to

people’s lives. We enrich veterans’lives through the compassionate andprofessional care we provide.

Q: What was your proudestmoment of the past year?

A: My proudest moment wasreceiving letters from World War IIveterans whose claims for disabilitycompensation had been languishingfor many, many years. As a result ofthe Tiger Team, those claims weredecided at a point in their lives whenthey had given up all hope, and theywrote to tell me how grateful theywere that I had launched the TigerTeam and that they could now get onwith their lives and not be a burdento their wives or children. It wasvery, very touching to get thoseletters.

Q: Were there any disappoint-ments you’d like to share?

A: Well, I can be impatient at times,and if we don’t make as muchprogress as I’d like, I tend to getdisappointed. The backlog of claims

pending has not dropped as dramati-cally as I would have hoped, and thatwas somewhat of a disappointment,but we are on track and doing very,very well at making incrementalsteps to reducing that backlog.

Q: You’ve characterized thefunding challenges facing the VAhealth care system as having thepotential to reach crisis propor-tions. What options will VA ex-plore to deal with this issue?

A: Clearly, veterans are coming toVA in record numbers, and I thinkthat’s a tribute to the quality of carewe provide. Also, opening outpatientclinics close to veterans’ homesprovides greater access to VA healthcare. Our benefits package is one ofthe most generous in the country interms of pharmaceutical coverageand extended care.

For all of these reasons, we haveseen a very profound increase in ourworkload that has caused some of usto have concerns as to how we cancontinue to maintain high quality inthe future. Clearly additional re-

Checking inwith

the Secretary

May 2002 7

sources are, first and foremost, myhighest priority. I will work with theAdministration and Congress toensure adequate funding for ourprograms.

But short of adequate funding, Iwould not hesitate to make thedifficult decisions to suspend enroll-ment for new Priority 7 veterans ortake other steps to balance ourworkload and budget. We reallyneed to manage our workload. Wecannot let it get out of control, andthat has happened as a result ofdecisions to have open enrollmentand to open such a large number ofoutpatient clinics. Now, we need toensure there is some balance.

Q: You’ve made reforming theclaims processing system yourtop priority. What reforms havealready taken place and howsatisfied are you with the progressthat’s been made?

A: I’m extremely satisfied with theprogress we’ve made. I give [formerActing Under Secretary for Benefits]Judge Guy McMichael and [DeputyUnder Secretary for Benefits] StanSinclair enormous credit for bringingnew leadership to the VeteransBenefits Administration during avery difficult time when we werewithout permanent leadership in thatadministration. And also AdmiralDan Cooper and members of the taskforce for their extraordinary work inproviding me with hands-on recom-

mendations to improve the claimsprocessing environment. They reallydeserve the credit.

Of course the Tiger Team is animportant initiative to address theneeds of our aging veteran popula-tion. We have begun to look attriaging new claims that come intothe VA so that those that can bedecided immediately can be doneand others that require claimsdevelopment work can go into adifferent workflow.

We’re looking at specialization,so people can concentrate on areaswhere they have a great deal ofefficiency and experience. We’resetting performance standards andholding people accountable for the

quality and timely decisions onclaims.

Q: The aging veteran populationis increasing the demand forburial in our national cemeteries.How is VA meeting the challengeof giving all veterans who choosethis option a dignified final restingplace?

A: We certainly see issues relatingto our aging veteran population andthe number of interments we have inour national cemeteries. We’realmost at 100,000 interments a yearin our 120 national cemeteries. TheWorld War II population, of whichonly 5 million or so are still alive, arepassing on in record numbers.

We are in the process of openingfive new national cemeteries; twoshould be open within the next yearor two. We’ve also started a newprogram called fast track, where weactually begin interments in newnational cemeteries before thecemetery infrastructure is built.

So, we’re exploring new methods,we’re building columbaria in areaswhere our national cemeteries arefull for casket interment. We’reworking very closely with the statesto expand the state cemetery grantsprogram, which is a wonderfulprogram between the federal govern-ment and state governments to sharethe cost of interring veterans.Through the combination of newcemeteries, the state cemetery grantsprogram, and innovations such asfast track, I believe we are maintain-ing our ability to provide intermentsto veterans who pass on.

Another issue is our nationalshrine commitment to ensure thatour national cemeteries are viewedas honored places of rest for veter-ans, that they have the stature andbeauty befitting a national cemetery.In years past, because of fundingshortfalls, a number of our cemeter-ies had a backlog of maintenance andrepairs that really undermined thebeauty and the stature of the nationalcemetery and what it means. We are

“Everyone knows where we’re going, what needs to bedone. There are no sidetracks. We have one focus and thatis to provide high quality and timely decisions on claims.”

(continued on page 8)

The Secretary visits a patient at the Sioux Falls, S.D., VA Medical & Regional Office Center.

work they do. We’re not going toinitiate new information technologyprograms until I’m convinced that allof the bugs have been worked out ofthe applications and they’re readyfor prime time.

There are many other recommen-dations we will be launching in duecourse. But it’s new leadership,accountability and really focusing onthe issue. Everyone knows wherewe’re going, what needs to be done.There are no sidetracks. We have onefocus and that is to provide high

8 VAnguard

investing millions of dollars toreduce that backlog of much-neededmaintenance and to beautify ournational cemeteries.

Q: VA has a history of developingstove-piped, non-connected,incompatible IT systems. A De-partment-wide Enterprise Archi-tecture designed by a core groupof VA leaders is now being imple-mented. Why is this important?

A: Historically, as you indicate,we’ve had stove-piped design, stove-piped development and stove-pipedimplementation without any viewtoward the need for commonality oruniformity across administration andstaff office lines. In the process, wehave expended billions of dollars oninformation technology moderniza-tion efforts, some of which have notprovided us with the return oninvestment we would have hoped.

Shortly after becoming Secretary,I launched the Enterprise Architec-ture initiative to build commonalityin both computing and telephony toensure that we had a system-widestrategy for investing in new infor-mation technology that looked at theinteraction between our administra-tions and ensured an appropriatereturn on investment.

We’ve made a lot of progress inestablishing the blueprint for theEnterprise Architecture. We havebrought on some excellent people tolead the effort and I am very optimis-tic that the Department, veterans andthe taxpayers will be the winners asthe result of this.

Q: Thirty-seven percent of VA’sworkforce will be eligible to retireby September 2005, and another13 percent will be eligible for anearly out. How is VA planning todeal with this issue?

A: Well, I’m hopeful that noteveryone will retire as soon as theybecome eligible. But it is a reality thatwe have an aging workforce. Manyof our senior leaders and employeescame aboard in the aftermath of the

Vietnam War. Now,they’re in the 55-60age range, where golfbecomes a much moreattractive option thanhandling a backlog ofclaims, and we need toplan for that.

We have beenmeeting frequently todiscuss workforcesuccession, diversityin the workforce,developing newleaders, and educationand training pro-grams. It’s an issue ofgrave importance tous all and we need tobuild for the future.

I’m very proudthat we have, in thepast year-and-a-half,hired over 1,200 newemployees in theVeterans BenefitsAdministration,mostly in the area ofdisability compensa-tion. We need thosepeople not only tohelp us with thisenormous backlog, butas they grow and gainknowledge, they willbe leaders of thefuture.

We need to de-velop a cadre of newpeople and new leaders. It’s a veryimportant undertaking. I really don’tknow of any more important initia-tive than to ensure we have a goodworkforce succession plan to buildfor the future or we will not be ableto get the job done.

The issues are not going to lessenin the years to come. The issues andchallenges will continue to expandand you can have all the bricks andmortar in the world, but without theright people, we will not succeed inour mission.

Q: Now that Dr. Robert Roswelland Admiral Daniel Cooper are onboard as the Under Secretaries for

Health and Benefits, your leader-ship team is mostly in place. Howimportant is that to achieving yourgoals for VA?

A: Having the leadership team onboard is tremendously important.I’ve been very gratified by theresponse I received from our interimleaders. As I indicated earlier, GuyMcMichael has done a superb joband I’ve called upon him to under-take various assignments and he’sdone so willingly and with a greatspirit of enthusiasm and can-doattitude.

On the health care side, Dr. TomGarthwaite, who left us a short timeago, and Dr. Fran Murphy havereally done a tremendous job atleading the Veterans Health Admin-istration. But now I’m grateful tohave our permanent leadership teamon board.

Dan Cooper is no stranger to VA,

Principi confers with Counselor to the Secretary Chris Yoderand VHA Employee Education System Producer Jim Cosgroveas he prepares for his first live broadcast to VA employees asSecretary of Veterans Affairs.

“I really don’t know of any more important initiative thanto ensure we have a good workforce succession plan tobuild for the future or we will not be able to get the jobdone.”

May 2002 9

as he headed the claims processingtask force. I’m grateful that he waswilling to give up so much in theprivate sector to come back to thegovernment to serve our veterans.It’s a great sacrifice for him and hisfamily. The fact that he’s willing todo so speaks volumes about him andhis devotion and dedication to menand women in uniform and ournation’s veterans.

As you know, Dan served ascommander of our nuclear-poweredsubmarine forces in the Atlantic fleetand he’s a great leader, very disci-plined and very focused. He’s justwhat we need at VBA.

And Bob Roswell brings tremen-dous experience in so many differentfacets of our Department. He washere in headquarters when I wasDeputy Secretary. He’s been at thehospital level and the network levelin one of the most challengingnetworks in VA, Florida, where wehave a tremendous workload.

Having them both on board,along with Robin Higgins in Memo-rial Affairs, is just critical to thesuccess of the course I’ve set for theDepartment.

The one staff office vacancy stilloutstanding is the Assistant Secre-tary for Management. We have agood candidate, who I hope will benominated soon and the confirma-tion hearing will get underway. Butwith Mark Catlett down there,another great leader at VA, we’re ingood shape.

Q: When nothing seems to begoing your way and you’re feelingthe weight of the world on yourshoulders, is there one veteranwhose story keeps you moti-vated?

A: Yes, there is. His name is JoeBigelow, and I think of Joe veryoften. Joe is a survivor of the BataanDeath March. As a youngster, hefound himself trapped in the Philip-pines with thousands of otherAmericans after the attack on PearlHarbor and soon knew there was noway they would be reinforced orresupplied or in any way fulfill theirmission. They needed to hold theenemy at bay long enough for us torecover from the attack on PearlHarbor.

Having survived the infamous

Death March, and it’s extraordinaryin the history of war that one-third ofthe Americans who were capturedby the Japanese died after they weretaken prisoner.

After surviving the Death Marchand the hell ships Americans wereplaced on, he found himself in aslave camp in Manchuria for threeyears mining coal. His job was toinstall timbers in sections of the minethat were being mined. When onesection was completed, they wouldremove the timbers and do anothersection.

Well, toward the end of the thirdyear, when he was very weak andhad lost close to 100 pounds, hecouldn’t get out of the way of thetimbers and they crushed his legs.The enemy gave no medical treat-ment, so his fellow servicemembershad to saw off his leg with a make-shift hacksaw and no anesthesia.And I remind you that this is WorldWar II, not the Civil War.

But he survived and he got onwith his life and he, along with 16million other Americans from thatperiod, built modern America andpropelled it to greatness in the 20th

century. Our mission is to care forthe Joe Bigelows of the world. Thesepeople have really given extraordi-nary service to this country and weshould never forget. That’s why I’mso proud and blessed to be Secretaryof the Department.

Q: Who has impacted you mostas a leader? What advice wouldyou offer others who are seekingto develop leadership skills?

A: I’ve been very fortunate in mylife to have served under greatleaders, both in uniform and govern-ment service. When I think back tomy days in uniform, I think ofAdmiral [Elmo] Zumwalt, who,when I was a young skipper of ariver patrol unit in the MekongDelta, was a frequent visitor to mybase camp close to the Cambodianborder. He was a real inspiration andI’m a great admirer of AdmiralZumwalt.

In my years in the United States

Senate, growing up as a youngstaffer, I think of people like Senator[John] Tower (R-Texas) and Senator[Jacob] Javits (R-N.Y.), who wereideologically different. Javits tendedto be more liberal and Tower moreconservative, but I found both to begreat statesmen. They taught me theimportance of being a subject matterexpert, of truly understanding theissue I was responsible for.

In executive service, I look to theleadership of people like PresidentRonald Reagan, who to me reallyexemplified the meaning of the wordleadership. So, there’s really no oneperson, but I’ve been very fortunateto have served under great leadersthroughout my professional careerand they are role models for how Iwant to be perceived as a leader andact as a leader.

Q: Is there a special messageyou’d like to send to VA employ-ees?

A: I’d like to remind all employeeshow important our work is. I’m surethere are days when they become asfrustrated as I do with the volume ofwork we have before us—the greatchallenges we have before us. But Iremind them of the Joe Bigelows ofthe world. We have one focus, ournation’s veterans, and there cannotbe a more important mission ingovernment than to care for thepeople who have kept our nationfree.

Once again, we’re calling uponyoung people to protect the valueswe cherish, and we need to be therefor them when they come home asveterans. We need to be willing tomake the difficult decisions to moveour Department forward. We need tobe willing to do the things that arenecessary to propel the VA togreatness in the 21st century, just likethe VA helped build modernAmerica with the GI Bill in the 20th

century.The same challenges will be there

as we go forward. So my message toVA employees is to remain dedi-cated, work very hard, and alwaysbear in mind who we’re serving. ❏

“We have one focus, our nation’s veterans, and therecannot be a more important mission in government than tocare for the people who have kept our nation free.”

10 VAnguard

T he National Cemetery Admin-istration (NCA) has jurisdic-tion over 120 national cemeter-ies, as well as 33 government,

soldiers’ and confederate lots embed-ded in non-federal cemeteriesthroughout 41 states, the District ofColumbia and Puerto Rico. Althoughthis sacred acreage of solemn head-stones is the ultimate memorial toveterans interred there, over the past140 years, many distinctive heroics,mass burials and commemorationshave historically been marked with asculptural monument. This spring,NCA is initiating the first compre-hensive inventory of its memorials,up to 300 of them, scattered through-out 100 or so of its cemeteries.

The debut of the yearlong projectwas timed to coincide with NationalHistoric Preservation Week, May 12-18, since most of NCA’s memorialsare historic. “Preserving the Spirit ofPlace” is the theme of this year’sweeklong celebration, sponsoredannually since 1971 by the NationalTrust for Historic Preservation.

To capture both quantitative andhistorical information on so manyfar-flung structures, NCA will use avolunteer workforce based on themodel developed by Save OutdoorSculpture! (SOS!), a Washington,

D.C.-based, nonprofit organizationwith 10 years’ experience usingvolunteers to survey public outdoorsculpture nationwide.

The liaison with SOS! is particu-larly valuable because the informa-tion gathered through the program ismade accessible to the publicthrough an online database managedby the Smithsonian American ArtMuseum (SAAM), SIRIS(www.siris.si.edu). NCA will make itsinventory findings available to SOS!and SAAM as part of its history,education and outreach functions.The staff in NCA’sCommunicationsManagement Service-History Program isdirecting the inven-tory project, whichwill also provideessential informationin support of thenational shrinecommitment’sobjective of maintain-ing the “best in theworld” cemeteries.

The type ofmemorials located inNCA cemeteriesinclude modestrusticated stone

blocks inscribed with the word“Confederate”; bronze tablets affixedto natural boulders; sundials; moresophisticated sarcophagi, obelisksand columns of all sizes; and theubiquitous soldier standing atop agranite pedestal. More contemporarymemorials have gone in two direc-tions. Standardized 18” x 24” bronzeplaques on a stone base are common.At the opposite end of the spectrumare virtual buildings in scale andstructure, such as the Medal ofHonor Memorial (1999) atCalifornia’s Riverside NationalCemetery and the PennsylvaniaVeterans’ Memorial (2001) atIndiantown Gap National Cemeteryin Pennsylvania. Headstones andpost-1960 text plaques are notincluded in the inventory.

Under Secretary for MemorialAffairs Robin L. Higgins is keenlyinterested in NCA’s memorials forboth historical and practical reasons.“We have a great number of memori-als—large and small—beginningwith those installed after the CivilWar. Most of them originated with amilitary support group or veterans’organization. Cataloging the existingstructures is NCA’s responsibility assteward of our properties, but theinformation about traditional memo-rial forms may also help guide howNCA manages new memorials in thefuture.”

In addition to former SOS!volunteers, NCA will solicit interest

NCA Launches Comprehensive MemorialsInventory for Historic Preservation Week

The Andrews’ Raiders monument at the Chattanooga, Tenn., National Cemeterycommemorates the Civil War incident depicted in the film, “The Great Locomotive Chase.”

A Springfield, Mo., National Cemetery postcard from 1907. Atthat time, the cemetery landscape featured statuary memorialsand condemned cannons.

May 2002 11

Memorials are intended to remind future generations of the significance of a certain group or act—and someanniversaries are attracting a public eager to remember. Other NCA memorials are as noteworthy for theirdesigns as their associations.■ “Ohio’s Tribute to the Andrews’ Raiders” commemorates the seizure of the engine known as “The General” byUnion spies on April 12, 1862, in an effort to disrupt the railroad between Big Shanty, Ga., and Chattanooga,Tenn. The monument, erected in 1890 in Chattanooga National Cemetery, is a bronze train engine atop athree-tiered marble base; nearby are the graves of Andrews, another civilian, and six soldiers subsequentlyexecuted as spies. Some of these soldiers were among the first to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.The 140th anniversary of the failed Union effort was observed last month by Cub Scout Pack 248 of Norcross,Ga., which stopped at the cemetery as part of an educational pilgrimage to related historic sites. Eagle ScoutConner Byers, who has written a historical guide to the cemetery, led the tour. Besides visits to the City ofKennesaw (formerly Big Shanty) to see the restored “General,” and the Cyclorama and the “Texas,” whichpursued the General, the Cub Scouts viewed “The Great Locomotive Chase,” a commercial film that accuratelyportrays the events.■ In the 1870s, the most prolific monumental form to find its way into national cemeteries was the cast-ironartillery monument. These “condemned” cannons typically sit upright on a concrete foundation, often joined bystacks of cannonballs and a bronze tablet identifying the cemetery and number of burials. Extant in many cem-eteries, it is likely these once existed at all the Civil War-era cemeteries.■ In St. Augustine National Cemetery in Florida, three large pyramids constructed of coquina (limestonecontaining shell matter) blocks with a plaster finish mark the underground vaults housing the remains of 1,460soldiers killed during the Seminole Indian War in 1836. The pyramids were constructed in 1842 by troops living atSt. Francis Barracks next to the cemetery.■ Indiantown Gap National Cemetery’s massive Pennsylvania Veterans’ Memorial, dedicated in 2001, incor-porates many landscape elements into a complex design that includes ornamental trees, fountains, amphitheaterseating, flags, lighting, pavers inscribed with donors’ names, and restrooms. It is the newest and largest memorialin the national cemetery system, and it will be maintained through a Memorandum of Understanding with thestate of Pennsylvania. ❏

Noteworthy NCA Memorials

from individuals and organizationssuch as Civil War enthusiasts, scoutgroups, veterans service organiza-tions and VA employees through theVeterans Health Administration’sVoluntary Service Office. A call forproject volunteers is posted on the

NCA Web site. Volunteers, who willbe paired with a memorial, willlikely be needed through the end ofSeptember to assure that the data-collection phase of the project iscomplete by the end of the year.

Each volunteer will be provided

with a map of the cemetery, four-page survey, instructions and a rollof film to take photographs of eachmemorial. Some of the informationto be gathered is aimed at develop-ing historic context, such as associ-ated war(s), cultural associations,location at a previous site, donor andartist or builder. Volunteers areencouraged to conduct some localhistorical research as part of theinventory process.

In addition to learning moreabout the story behind the memorial,quantitative and other physicalinformation is requested, includingmaterials, dimensions, appearance,evidence of damage and the natureof its setting. This will help NCAdetermine any immediate conserva-tion needs, as well as develop amaintenance plan for all of theseresources. All memorials—exceptstandard text plaques erected after1960—will be inventoried, whetheror not they are historic. ❏

The Pennsylvania Veterans’ Memorial at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery was designedto look like a ruinous church.

By Sara Amy LeachNCA Historian

12 VAnguard

A lex Rodriguez says he has noqualms about changinguniforms. The all-star short-stop for the Texas Rangers

isn’t, however, talking about freeagency or a trade.

Like many players before him,Rodriguez and others say theywould trade in their ball caps forcombat helmets if their countryneeded them in the war againstterrorism.

If called upon, they would jointhe ranks of many Hall of Famersand other marquee players who putaside their careers and personalambitions to serve their countryduring wartime.

Perhaps the most notable of theseballplayers was the legendary TedWilliams. Williams served in bothWorld War II and Korea. His in-volvement cost him five seasonsduring the prime of his career.

Today, with the U.S. engaged inan all-out effort to combat terrorism,many wonder if some of today’spremier players will be asked toexchange their game jerseys forcamouflage fatigues. And howwould they respond?

With a renewed spirit of patrio-tism in the wake of last year’sterrorist attacks, many in baseballbelieve today’s players are as patri-otic as their former peers. Theywould willingly leave the fields ofdreams for the fields of battle.

Said Rodriguez, who was born inNew York: “What happened Septem-ber 11 put everything into perspec-tive. I would have been willing to doanything.”

In the past, baseball sent some ofits biggest names to war. Indeed, 44Hall of Famers served in the militaryduring wartime, as did more than500 baseball players overall.

World War I saw many of thegame’s finest take up arms, includingTy Cobb, Christy Mathewson, CaseyStengel and others. Cobb was acaptain in a chemical warfare divi-sion. Mathewson was gassed in thetrenches during the war and neverfully recovered.

Because of the war’s devastationon humanity, many had hoped and

envisioned that World War I wouldbe “The War to End all Wars.” For awhile, it was. Baseball playersreturned to the diamond once againto play the national pastime.

With more and more radiobroadcasts, baseball grew in the1930s. Colorful, talented players likeBabe Ruth, Hank Greenberg, LouGehrig, Joe DiMaggio and Williamsmade the game even more popular.

Then came 1941, one of baseball’sgreatest years. But 1941 would beremembered not for what happenedon the baseball field, but for whathappened late that year at PearlHarbor. The surprise Japanese attackon that December Sunday morningbrought the U.S. into World War II.

The heroes of the Americanpastime were called on to be heroesof a different sort. There was anexodus of players, led by Cleveland’sBob Feller, who said at the time ofhis enlistment that he hoped to“throw a few strikes for Uncle Sam.”Feller, an anti-aircraft gunner, servedaboard the USS Alabama, a battle-ship that shot down 474 Japaneseaircraft and sank four carriers.

One of the first major-leagueplayers inducted into the military,Detroit’s Hank Greenberg, wasdischarged two days before theattack on Pearl Harbor. Followingthe tragedy, however, he immedi-ately enlisted as an officer candidatein the Army Air Corps.

“It’s kind of tough to leavebaseball,” Greenberg said at thetime, “but when your countrycalls, there’s nothing to dobut respond.” And he did,eventually commanding aB-29 bomber squadron inthe China-Burma-IndiaTheater.

The Yankees’ YogiBerra took part inthe D-Day invasionat Omaha Beachin Normandyand said itlooked likethe Fourth ofJuly. “Onlythesefireworks

were deadly,” he remarked.Philadelphia’s Hugh Mulcahy,

known as “Losing Pitcher” becausehe consistently lost more games thanhe won, welcomed his call up to themilitary. “My losing streak is overfor the duration,” he said then. “I amon a winning team now.”

As the U.S. got more involved inthe war, Baseball CommissionerKenesaw Mountain Landis soughtPresident Roosevelt’s advice on howthe game could best serve the nation.The President responded by saying,“I honestly feel that it would be bestfor the country to keep baseballgoing.”

In 1944, with the war at full force,baseball teams were being depletedof their biggest stars and promisingyoung players. Many teams placedjob announcements in their localpapers in search of ball players.Unlikely prospects found their wayinto the majors.

With one arm, Pete Gray roamedthe outfield for the St. Louis Browns.With a prosthetic leg Bert Shepardthrew fastballs for the WashingtonSenators. (During the war, Shepard’splane was shot down behind enemylines and he was taken prisoner.German doctors later amputated hiswounded foot.)

The Cincinnati Reds used 15-year-old pitcher Joe Mazwell on June10, 1944, the youngest player ever to

Some of Baseball’s Greatest Were

May 2002 13

appear in a major-league ball game,while Babe Herman, Pepper Martin,Jimmy Foxx and others came out ofretirement to help teams in need.

But many players would neveragain set foot on a baseball diamond.Two major-leaguers were lost incombat during World War II. ElmerGedeon of the Washington Senatorswas killed in France in 1944, whileHarry O’Neill of the PhiladelphiaAthletics died at Iwo Jima in 1945.

Other players, however, maderemarkable comebacks. Pitcher LouBrissie, who reportedly had 30 piecesof shrapnel in his leg, begged doctorsnot to amputate. “I want to playbaseball,” he told the doctors. Brissiereturned to the mound and pitchedin more than 200 games for theAthletics and Indians.

Baseball returned in full force in1946 following World War II. Afterfour years in the Navy, Feller cel-ebrated his return to the Indians bypitching a no-hitter against theYankees in his first month back.

Williams’ bat showedno sign of slowing downas he hit .342 and con-nected for 38 home runsthat year.

The heroes were back.World War II had

threatened the bedrock of civilizationand with it the pastime of theworld’s oldest democracy. Like somany of America’s venerable institu-tions, the game not only survived butalso prospered and grew in the wakeof that conflict.

Still, other military operationswould leave their mark on major-league baseball. The game wasinterrupted by overseas conflict oncemore in 1950, this time in Korea.

Williams again put his Hall ofFame career on hold to don combatgear. He flew 39 combat missionsand was shot down over enemyterritory and later rescued.

“I have been around teams of allkinds—fishing teams, shooting teamsand baseball teams, but the greatestteam I was ever on was the Marines,”said Williams. “The proudest thingin my life is that I was a Marinepilot.”

Another World War II veterancalled up to serve in Korea wasYankees infielder and the currentradio voice of the San Diego Padres,Jerry Coleman. Coleman, whoplayed on some of New York’sWorld Series clubs, commented thathe was “going from one champion-ship team to another.”

Willie Mays, Whitey Ford, DonNewcombe, Curt Simmons and DonLarson were also called up to servein the Korean War.

“It was something special for meto serve my country,” said Mays.

Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig,in a ceremony honoring the KoreanWar veterans, said that theseballplayers “served with distinction,prepared and willing to go wherevertheir country asked in defense offreedom.”

During the Vietnam conflict,many major-league players served inthe National Guard or reserves.Some, however, saw action inSoutheast Asia.

That war delayed the major-league career of pitcher Jim Bibby. “Idid my time and served my coun-try,” he said.

Major-leaguers Al Bumbry, PhilHennigan and Jim Holt also saw timein Vietnam.

The war in Vietnam derailed theprospective major-league career ofArizona State star infielder JayVargas, who had been scouted by theDodgers. “I guess my services wereneeded elsewhere,” said Vargas.“Besides, the players coming toArizona State behind me—ReggieJackson, Rick Monday, Sal Bandoand Gene Tenace—were all futuremajor-leaguers.”

For his heroic actions in Vietnam,Vargas received the CongressionalMedal of Honor. He now works forVA as a regional veterans serviceorganization liaison appointed bySecretary Anthony J. Principi and

based at the San Diego VA RegionalOffice.

Baseball fans can only speculateabout the contributions lost tobaseball by those whose lives weresacrificed on the battlefield.

“The peace and prosperity that isours today have been secured byAmericans—many of them profes-sional athletes—who time and againsacrificed their careers and well-being to defend a cause, a belieflarger than themselves,” saidPrincipi. “In protecting the prin-ciples, ideals and values we holdsacred, many of our baseball heroes,along with their fellow comrades inarms, have ensured both our free-dom and our future.”

That freedom and future werethreatened again on Sept. 11, 2001.Just like in 1941, the year 2001 hadbeen an exciting one for baseball. But again like 1941, the year 2001would not be remembered for themany accomplishments on thebaseball field but for what happened

on an early Septembermorning in downtownNew York, a Washing-ton, D.C., suburb, and afield in rural Pennsyl-vania.

A surprise terroristattack on this country shocked thenation. Baseball stopped for a week.Later, President Bush encouraged theAmerican people to resume theirnormal schedules, and major-leaguers returned to finish theseason.

The game came back to a strongatmosphere of patriotism at thenation’s ballparks. Players andumpires proudly displayed theAmerican flag on their uniforms, and“God Bless America” replaced thefamiliar seventh-inning rendition of“Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”People in the stands exchanged theirteam’s colors for the Red, White andBlue.

And players like Rodriguez wereprepared, if asked, to serve theircountry in any capacity. ❏

Once Heroes of a Different Sort

Baseball fans can only speculate about thecontributions lost to the game by those whoselives were sacrificed on the battlefield.

By Ozzie GarzaDallas OPA Regional Office

14 VAnguard

Joe and Harry are as close asbrothers. They both joined the U.S.Air Force to serve their countryduring World War II. They trainedtogether in Colorado Springs beforeshipping out to Europe, where theydrew assignments on the same B-24Liberator bomber.

They were streaking high abovethe green fields of Belgium duringone mission when their aircraft washit by enemy fire and spiraled to theground in a trail of wispy blacksmoke. Of the 10-man crew, onlyfour survived, Joe and Harry amongthem.

Yet their ordeal had just begun.They were taken captive by Nazisympathizers, interrogated andturned over to a Nazi camp, wherethey were held prisoners of war.After months of captivity, they werefreed when advancing Russian forcesliberated their camp.

As the years passed, Joe movedwest to San Diego; Harry stayed backeast in Massachusetts. But they keptin touch, calling each other regularly,especially on “Shot Down Day,” theanniversary of their aircraft beingshot down. During these conversa-tions, they talked, laughed andsometimes cried.

While on the phone one day, Joeheard something in Harry’s voicethat sent shivers up his spine. His oldbuddy was having medical problemsand mentioned something aboutgiving up on life, about throwing inthe towel. After all they’d beenthrough, Joe had to do something tohelp, but what could he do? Here hewas in California, more than 3,000miles away.

That’s when he thought of BobDaniels. Though they’d never met,he’d heard of Daniels through aformer POW support group anddecided to give him a call at theLowell, Mass., VA CommunityClinic, where he works as chief ofmental health and former POWcoordinator.

A Korean War veteran, Daniels isa social worker who has beeninvolved with former POW outreachefforts, support groups and serviceorganizations since the early 1980s.Over the years, he’s developed areputation as someone vets can turnto when they’re in need. “These

fellows have suffered tremen-dously,” he explained. “I try to letthem know that we care for them,that we have resources for them, andthey are important to us.”

Daniels said he was very con-cerned after speaking with Joe andimmediately called Harry in nearbyRockport, Mass. “I spoke to his wifeand introduced myself. She put herhusband on the phone and I told himJoe had called me. … We talked, andafter a little while, he started talkingabout his POW experiences and hismedical problems.”

He said that by the end of theirconversation, Harry perked up andseemed to be feeling better. Aftercalling Joe to let him know his buddywas going to be OK, Daniels called

VA Counselor Reaches Across Country to Help Former POWthe VA clinic in Gloucester, near theformer POW’s home, to alert them toHarry’s medical conditions.

When Secretary Anthony J.Principi was in San Diego in earlyMarch 2002 for a rotary club lun-cheon, Joe was there. He waited inthe back until the event was overbefore introducing himself andsharing his story. He expressed hisgratitude for employees like RobertDaniels—someone he’d never met,but whose reputation for helping ex-POWs had spread across the country.

Daniels pointed out that he wasjust doing his job. “I like workingwith these guys … they keep megoing,” the 69-year-old said. ❏

By Matt Bristol

Construction of the National World War II Memorial is progress-ing on schedule for completion and dedication in the spring of 2004,according to Mike Conley, memorial spokesman. Work began at thememorial site on the National Mall in late August 2001. The firstphase in building the foundation of the memorial involves construct-ing a concrete cutoff (slurry) wall extending from ground level downto bedrock. That work, shown above, began in early February andwill continue for several months. Granite for the memorial architec-tural elements should begin arriving early next year.

The memorial has now received more than $182 million in totalcash and pledges, Conley said, of which about $25 million is from thefederal government or earned interest. Although the American BattleMonuments Commission wrapped up major fund-raising activity,individuals continue to support the current and future needs of thememorial with financial contributions.

WWII Memorial Construction

May 2002 15

In February, Maryland GovernorParris N. Glendening was diagnosedwith melanoma, the fastest-growingcancer in the U.S. and a deadly formof skin cancer. The governor’sdiagnosis arrived near the one-yearanniversary of my own melanomadiagnosis and brought back the fearand anxiety of learning that cancerhad invaded my body.

Gov. Glendening’s diagnosis alsorenewed my resolve to educatepeople about the danger of overex-posing your skin to the sun’s ultra-violet (UV) rays.

In 2001, 51,400 people werediagnosed with melanoma, accord-ing to the American Cancer Society.The rate of melanoma is on the rise,up about 6 percent per year since the1970s. Although only 4 percent of allskin cancer cases are melanoma, itaccounts for 79 percent of skin cancerdeaths. An estimated 7,800 peopledied in 2001 from melanoma skincancer.

I was one of the 51,400 peoplenewly diagnosed with melanoma in2001.

On the day set aside for romance,

Feb. 14, 2001, I sat in the impersonalexam room of my primary carephysician digesting the news. Themole on my right thigh lookedirregular and needed to be biopsiedto check for cancer. I left the officethinking cancer happened to otherpeople, older people, not me. I was32 years old, much too young to beconfronting cancer.

A week later, a simple excisionremoved the mole and a small areaof normal skin. This was sent to thelab for examination and staging.After six sleepless nights, my worstfears were realized. Lab results fromthe biopsy confirmed that the molewas melanoma, 1 millimeter thick. Ihad Stage I skin cancer, deep enoughto have spread to my lymph nodesand beyond.

At the time, I couldn’t believe myincredibly bad luck. One year later, Irealize luck had nothing to do withit. My physical characteristicscombined with sun exposure hadresulted in cancer.

Risk factorsWhat I know now that I didn’t

know then is that I met nearly all therisk factors that placed me at a highrisk for skin cancer. Freckles andmoles cover my face, arms and mostof my body, increasing the risk formelanoma. I have fair skin, blueeyes, and light brown hair.

The risk of melanoma is about 20times higher for whites than forAfrican Americans. The melanin ofdarker skin offers some protectionfrom the sun. Family history ofmelanoma also increases the risk ofskin cancer. People who have beentreated with medicines that suppressthe immune system, such as organtransplant patients, also have anincreased risk.

Protect your skinApproximately 80 percent of skin

cancers are preventable. Don’t justthink about putting on sunscreenwhile at the beach or pool. Theeffects of the sun are cumulative.One or more serious burns beforeage 20 puts you at an increased risk.

Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15or higher each time you go outside.Also wear a hat, sunglasses, andprotective clothing regardless of theactivity. Avoid the sun duringmidday. Don’t be fooled by a cloudyday. Yes, the UV rays will penetratethe cloud cover and bake your skin:it happened to me. Sunlamps andtanning booths also contain UV lightand may double the risk of develop-ing melanoma, so avoid them too.

ABCDs of molesIf detected and treated in its

earliest stages, melanoma is oftencurable. The American CancerSociety recommends a skin examina-tion every three years for peoplebetween 20 and 40 years old andevery year for anyone over age 40.However, you are your first defense.In men, melanoma is most oftenfound on the area between theshoulders and hips or on the headand neck. In women, it often devel-ops on the legs.

There are four characteristics ofan abnormal mole. The mole isasymmetrical; one half of a mole orbirthmark does not match the other.

The edges are irregular, ragged,notched, or blurred. The color is notuniform and may contain shades ofbrown or black, sometimes withpatches of red, white or blue. Thearea is larger than the size of a pencileraser. The mole may be itchy orscaly. The most important warningsign for skin cancer is a mole that ischanging in size, shape or color.Contact your physician immediately.

If I had been sun-savvy, I couldhave avoided the surgery thatremoved two lymph nodes and alarger area around the cancer site. Inow have two scars, 4.5 and 1.5inches long, to remind me that thesun’s ultraviolet rays are damaging.Protect your skin today, for a healthytomorrow. ❏

Last year at age 32, Judith LaVoie, a program analyst with VARehabilitation Research & Development in Baltimore, had toconfront a frightening diagnosis from her doctor. The mole onher thigh was melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer. WithMay designated Melanoma Awareness Month, she shares herpersonal story and what she’s learned about the risk factors,prevention and warning signs.

Fun in the Sun? Know the Dangers

16 VAnguard

Ismael “Milo” Garciamade a run for the Wall onthree separate occasions, butnever made it all the way.This year, he vows, will bedifferent.

On May 17, the Santa Fe,N.M., Vet Center therapistfires up his Harley-DavidsonUltra Classic and hooks upwith a group of ridersmaking the cross-country tripto Washington, D.C., as partof Run for the Wall, anannual ride to the VietnamVeterans Memorial. Once inthe nation’s capital, they’lljoin hundreds of thousandsof people gathering onMemorial Day weekendbetween the Lincoln Memo-rial and the WashingtonMonument for the 15th

annual Rolling Thunder parade.“I’m doing this to be part of the

Run for the Wall family, to representthe Santa Fe Vet Center, and in somesmall way, help promote healingamong veterans,” explained Milo,who holds master’s degrees in socialwork and counseling. “I want to getthe word out to as many vets aspossible about Vet Center services,

VA benefits and, if needed, to makemyself available to those in need as atrained trauma therapist.”

Since 1988, thousands of motorcy-clists have ridden in Rolling Thun-der. Some ride to promote healingamong Vietnam veterans, others todraw attention to the number of U.S.military servicemembers still missingfrom Vietnam. Many ride simply to

Thunder Rolls from Santa Fe to Nation’s Capitalhonor the memories of thosekilled in action. According tothe National League of POW/MIA Families (www.pow-miafamilies.org), 1,932 Ameri-cans are still missing andunaccounted for from theVietnam War. Rolling Thunder wasstarted as a way to promotehealing, but the process canalso spark long-suppressedemotions—depression, anger,pain, loss. As Milo explained,“Many vets may not evenrealize that they’ve beenliving for years with PTSD.They normalize these behav-ioral symptoms and acceptthem … I just want to be thereand be available for brotherswho are in need and towelcome them back.”

Milo, a U.S. Army veteran whoserved from 1967-1969, is gettingsome support for his cross-countrytrip from a local Harley-Davidsondealership. On the road, he’ll beconducting outreach activities,providing veterans with informationon VA benefits, and referring veter-ans he meets to vet centers in theircommunities. ❏

More than 50 high school stu-dents, all winners in the Voice ofDemocracy national essay competi-tion sponsored by the Veterans ofForeign Wars (VFW), paid a visit toVA Central Office on April 5 for abehind-the-scenes look at the federalagency responsible for caring fordemocracy’s defenders.

Gordon Thorson, who has servedas VFW’s national director of theprogram since 1989, explained whatit was all about. “Voice of Democ-racy is a wonderful program,” hesaid. “It’s a patriotic essay competi-tion designed for 9th to 12th gradehigh school students that gives thema chance each year to speak out on apatriotic theme and hopefully winsome scholarship money.” He addedthat the VFW plans to give out a totalof $141,500 in scholarships to compe-tition winners this year.

The Voice of Democracy program

began in 1947. Judges that yearincluded VA Administrator Gen.Omar Bradley and Adm. Chester W.Nimitz, commander of the U.S. NavyPacific Fleet during World War II.VFW took over primary sponsorshipof the program in 1961.

It works like this: students write ashort essay on a patriotic subject,record their essay onto audiotape,and submit it to the VFW. Last year,about 86,000 students participated inthe competition. A panel of judgesselects winners to represent eachstate, and from them, a nationalwinner is chosen for the top prize, a$25,000 scholarship.

The students, all state-levelwinners who were visiting Washing-ton, D.C., as part of a ceremony inwhich the national winner would beannounced, stopped in for a tour ofVA Central Office. They rode theelevators up to the 10th floor, strolled

through the glass doors of theSecretary’s suite, and took seats atthe long mahogany table in the OmarBradley Conference Room.

They met with Deputy SecretaryDr. Leo S. Mackay Jr. and listened ashe spoke about the VA mission andthe significance of public service.Later, they snacked on box lunchesand took a tour through theSecretary’s suite.

Kenneth M. Butcher, a highschool senior from Fairmont, W.Va.,said he enjoyed his visit to VA. “It’sinteresting to see behind the scenesof a Cabinet agency,” he said. “Ididn’t really know what VA did.”

Butcher admitted that he learneda lot during his Voice of Democracyexperience. “It was definitely alearning experience as far as know-ing how much veterans have contrib-uted to our society and freedom andhow much they fought for us.” ❏

Milo Garcia, a therapist at the Santa Fe, N.M., Vet Center,plans to ride his Harley in Rolling Thunder.

Voice of Democracy Winners Visit VA Central Office

May 2002 17

MEDICALadvances

Constraint-Induced Therapy AllowsStroke Victims to Regain Lost Abilities

For years, physical therapists thought they had a limitedtime frame in which to rehabilitate stroke victims who had lostthe use of their arms or legs. But research conducted byinvestigators at the Birmingham, Ala., VA Medical Center andthe University of Alabama shows stroke victims can regain useof their limbs even years after the stroke occurred throughConstraint-Induced (CI) Movement therapy. The therapyenhances the brain’s ability to heal itself by retraining regions ofthe brain responsible for motor function, a process calledcortical reorganization.

Edward Taub, Ph.D., an investigator at the Birmingham,Ala., VA Medical Center and professor of psychology at theUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham, invented the CI ap-proach. “Converging data from four experiments has shown thatCI therapy produced massive alterations in brain organizationand function correlated with the large improvements in motorability,” wrote Taub, in a summary of his research.

When the brain is damaged by stroke, victims often losesome mobility in an arm or leg on one side of their body. Overtime, they tend to accept the loss and attempt to use theaffected limb less frequently.

Consequently, the region of the brain that controls the limbbegins to shrink. In addition, chronic stroke patients aresusceptible to developing psychological barriers that inhibit theirability to re-learn motor function. CI therapy allows strokepatients to overcome these challenges.

Taub and colleagues discovered that by constraining, orlimiting, a patient’s ability to use their “good” arm, they are

forced to use their affected arm. The brain responds byexpanding the region that controls function in that arm. In CItherapy, patients with limited use of an arm are forced to usethe affected arm for 90 percent of their waking hours for aperiod of two or three weeks. They also perform intensivephysical training with the affected arm seven hours a day for 10consecutive weekdays.

According to Taub, CI therapy has been used to signifi-cantly increase the functional independence of 75 percent ofchronic stroke victims with residual motor deficit. He pointed outthat the basic CI therapy technique has also been usedsuccessfully to improve upper extremity function in youngchildren with cerebral palsy and after traumatic brain injury, withpatients suffering loss of lower extremity function or aphasiaafter stroke, and patients with spinal cord injury or fractured hip.

New Device to Measure Heart’s PumpingAbility Developed at San Francisco VAMC

Patients in the operating room or ambulance will be able tohave their heart monitored more safely with a new devicedeveloped at the San Francisco VA Medical Center thatmeasures the heart’s pumping ability with sensors placed onthe surface of the patient’s windpipe. To diagnose problemssuch as shock or cardiac arrest, doctors need to measure theheart’s ability to pump blood, or cardiac output. Until now, theonly option for an accurate measurement was to insert acatheter into a major vein and risk damaging the heart or bloodvessels.

“The new device provides real-time monitoring of cardiacoutput, which allows you to detect and diagnose a whole rangeof problems,” said Art Wallace, M.D., Ph.D., an anesthesiologistat the San Francisco VAMC and an associate professor ofanesthesiology at the University of California, San Francisco. “Itis safer and less invasive than other options,” he added.

The device uses a network of electrodes to measure theheart’s output. The electrodes are attached to the endotrachealtube inserted into the patient’s windpipe, or trachea.

“It sends an electrical signal into the trachea, and since theaorta is right nearby, the electrodes can detect changes in thesignal caused by the flow of blood,” Wallace said. Thesevariations are used to calculate cardiac output, he added.

Wallace and colleagues developed and tested their deviceat the San Francisco VAMC and have demonstrated itsaccuracy in more than 150 patients. Their device, known as anEndotracheal Cardiac Output Monitor, will be undergoing reviewby the Food and Drug Administration for approval as a commer-cial product. If approved, doctors should be able to use it forpatients in the emergency room, intensive care unit andoperating room.

Previously, doctors have used pulmonary artery catheters tomeasure the heart’s output, but studies have shown that thesecatheters can lead to serious complications due to damage tothe cardiovascular system.

Other devices have attempted to measure cardiac outputthrough electrodes on the patient’s chest, but were lessaccurate because of interference from the lungs and otherorgans. ❏

Dr. Edward Taub, an investigator at the Birmingham, Ala., VAMedical Center, looks on as physical therapy assistant Francilla V.Allen works with stroke patient Jesse Reed using an innovativerehabilitation therapy he developed.

18 VAnguard

HONORSand awards

Phil Forbes, the areaemergency manager at theWashington, D.C., VAMedical Center, was com-mended by The AttendingPhysician of the Congress ofthe United States for hisperformance during theanthrax crisis on Capitol Hill inOctober and November 2001.John F. Eisold, M.D., notedthat Forbes personallydelivered large antibioticcaches needed by the Officeof the Attending Physician onfour occasions over a three-week period. His timelyresponse was crucial inmanaging the crisis. Forbescredited Sgt. RichardWilliams and the members ofthe VAMC police force withplaying a vital role in thedelivery of pharmaceuticals.

The Leadership VAAlumni Association pre-sented its 2001 ExemplaryService Awards to twoemployees. Rosa LindaMcCarthy, an administrative

supportassistantin theSouthTexasVeteransHealthCareSystem,wasrecog-nized in

the GS 1-8 category for herwork as co-chair of theWomen Veterans Expo.Through her efforts, the exposerved as a benchmark forpursuing status as a ClinicalCenter of Excellence forwomen’s health care. JamesM. Galkowski, a physicianassistant at the Durham,N.C., VA Medical Center,was recognized in the GS 9-12 category for his ability tobridge the clinical andmanagerial aspects ofmedical care. He wasoriginally hired to plan,organize, implement and lead

Sara Nell King symbolizes the spirit of a generationthat grew up in the Great Depression and came of ageduring World War II. She joined the Army after thebombing of Pearl Harbor and served in Italy, Germanyand Japan, where she met her future husband. He was anairplane mechanic and had been stationed at PearlHarbor when the Japanese attacked.

More than 30 years after their wedding in Japan, herworld fell apart when her husband died of a brain tumor in1977. He was a patient at the Lake City Division of theNorth Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System.Two years after his death, she started volunteering at thehospital “to pay the VA back for being so good to him,”she said.

Since becoming a VA volunteer in 1979, she haslogged more than 50,000 hours of service. Ron Joyner,voluntary service coordinator at the hospital, did the math.“That’s an average of eight hours a day, 23 days a monthfor the past 23 years,” he calculated, “more than a fulltime job.”

But King, who serves as Veterans of Foreign Warsrepresentative on the Voluntary Service council, sees itnot as a job, but a reward. “To help my comrades andhear them say ‘thank you,’ it just makes my day … it givesme something to live for.”

That Volunteer Spirit

Sara Nell King, who has logged more than 50,000 hours as a VAvolunteer at the Lake City Division of the North Florida/SouthGeorgia Veterans Health System, shows patient Louis Parasmo,a World War II Marine veteran, what’s in his “ditty bag.”

the newPrimaryCareMentalHealthClinicServiceLine.Throughhisdiligence and that of histeammates, enrollment hasincreased by 350 percent andthe new clinic was highlightedas a “best practice” model.They each received anengraved crystal plaque and$500 award.

Alex Spector, director ofthe Anchorage VA HealthSystem & Regional Office,accepted the 2002 AstraZenca National ManagedHealth Care Congress’Partnership Award on behalfof the Alaska Federal HealthCare Partnership during anApril 16 ceremony in Balti-more. The partnershipconsists of VA, the Depart-ment of Defense, the U.S.Coast Guard, the Alaska AreaNative Health Service and theAlaska Native Tribal HealthConsortium. Through theircollaborative efforts, a majortelemedicine health caresystem has been imple-mented to improve healthcare services in Alaska.

The Rocky MountainNetwork Decision SupportTeam received a BestPractice Award from theHealth Ethics Trust during aMarch 14 ceremony inWashington, D.C. The teamwas recognized for “Integrat-ing Audit and Internal Controlswith Ethics and Compliance”by developing an internalaudit system for inpatient andoutpatient medical records.They were the only federalagency group to receive thehonor. The Health EthicsTrust is a division of theCouncil of Ethical Organiza-tions. ❏

McCarthy

Galkowski

May 2002 19

you heardHAVE

VA recently submitted itsFY 2001 Annual PerformanceReport to the President andCongress. The report showsthe quality of claims process-ing has improved, going froman accuracy rate of 59percent in 2000 to 78 percentfor rating-related actions in2001. In health care, VAcontinues to receive highersatisfaction ratings than theprivate sector. And VA’ssystem of national cemeteriesreceived a rating of “excellent”from 92 percent of respon-dents who received cemeteryservices recently. Additionalhighlights in the reportinclude: use of the Montgom-ery GI Bill is up; foreclosurerates on home loans is down;and more than 65 percent ofservice-disabled veterans whocompleted a vocationalrehabilitation programacquired and maintainedsuitable employment. Viewthe report at www.va.gov/budget/report/.

Two New Mexico VAHealth Care System physi-cians were recently recog-nized. Linda Macdonald,M.D., a physician in MedicineService, received a two-yeargrant for $300,000 from TakeCare to Learn. This initiative,funded by the Robert WoodJohnson Foundation throughPartnerships for QualityEducation, supports thedevelopment of chronic illnessmanagement programs inasthma and diabetes. Sheserves as the chairperson ofthe health care system’sDiabetes Advisory Committeeand the University of NewMexico’s Internal MedicineResidency CurriculumCommittee. Her research

experience is in the areas ofdiabetes clinical care anddiabetes patient education.Larry E. Davis, M.D., chief ofNeurology Service, receivedthe 2002 A. Earl WalkerNeuroscience ResearchAward in recognition of hiswork exploring the pathogen-esis of various viral andbacterial infections of thebrain. Davis is an internation-ally recognized neurologist.The pathogenesis of Reye’ssyndrome represents his mostrecognized work. Since 1975,he has served with the NewMexico VA Health CareSystem, as well as worked asa faculty member at theUniversity of New Mexico.

More than 250 peopleattended the funeral of U.S.Army World War II Medal ofHonor recipient Clarence B.Craft on April 2 at theFayetteville, Ark., NationalCemetery. Craft was avolunteer at the cemetery andraised money with a cem-etery-improvement corpora-tion to purchase land for arecent expansion. He alsovolunteered at theFayetteville VA MedicalCenter, where a new wingwas named in his honor.

Dr. Steven J. Harwood,chief of Imaging Service at theBay Pines, Fla., VA MedicalCenter, served as a technicalconsultant to the BioneticsCorp., a subcontractor toNASA, in a research projectinvolving radioisotopeexperiments on astronautsimmediately after theyreturned from the InternationalSpace Station. The radioiso-tope experiment was one in aseries of tests conducted at

theKennedySpaceCenter ononeAmericanastronautand twoRussiancosmo-nauts.

Researchers tested whetherastronauts within two to fourhours of returning from zerogravity weightlessness retaintheir normal gravity-depen-dent vascular reflex that stopsblood from draining from thehead into the legs when theystand or sit up. Theseexperiments are also sched-uled to be performed onastronauts returning from thespace station in May andSept. 2002.

The Iowa City VAMedical Center celebrated its50th anniversary with a smallceremony on March 16. Whenit opened in 1952, the block-long hospital was the largestbuilding in Iowa City. Nearly12,000 people toured thefacility during its dedication.

Chris Kirkwood, a publicaffairs specialist who hasbeen with the medical centerfor about 30 years, spoke withlocal reporters about thefacility’s history and thesignificance of the goldenanniversary. “We have seen alot of changes, and thisanniversary really is specialfor those of us who have beenhere for a long period of time.”It was the first VA facility inthe Midwest to run a kidneytreatment unit and collabo-rated with the University ofIowa to perform the state’sfirst kidney transplant.

When World War I veteranLester Holman arrived at theVA Chicago Health CareSystem for his monthlygeriatrics appointment, hewas in for a warm surprise.Dozens of employeesgathered around him toapplaud and sing birthdaygreetings as VA Chicago’soldest active patient cel-ebrated his 107th birthday onApril 14. Holman, who retiredonly four years ago from thelegal profession, remains well-read and articulate. ❏

The West Palm Beach, Fla., VA Medical Center hosted abirthday celebration for World War I veteran Al Ross,above, who joined the Navy when he was 16 and servedaboard the USS Richmond. Ross, who turned 100 late lastyear, is still an active member of the community. Hefounded a color guard unit that takes part in communityevents, such as the annual Veterans Day parade, and is afrequent guest speaker at schools and civic groups wherehe talks about the meaning of patriotism.

Harwood

20 VAnguard

HEROES✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩

CorrectionAn item in the Have YouHeard section of the January/February 2002 VAnguardstated that the last publicceremony by the Frenchgovernment honoring Ameri-can WWII veterans whoparticipated in the Normandyinvasion and the liberation ofFrance was held in Decemberaboard a French helicoptercarrier docked in Boston.While it was the final publicceremony in New England,there are many more sched-uled by other French consu-lates throughout the U.S.

The VA Loma LindaTransport Team wastransferring a veteran from aregional hospital to the LomaLinda, Calif., VA HealthcareSystem when they cameupon a freeway accidentinvolving a semi-tractor andthree vehicles. There weremultiple injuries at the scene.While one team memberstayed with the veteran, theothers jumped out of the vanto aid victims. They immedi-ately took charge of theaccident site, evaluatinginjuries and providing direc-tion to volunteers who hadstopped to help. One victimwas unconscious and notbreathing. The team clearedhis airway and administeredoxygen, ultimately saving hislife. The other victims werestabilized until the ambulancearrived 20 minutes later.Thanks to the skills and quickresponse of team membersDrew Crissman, a registerednurse, Del Watkins, alicensed vocational nurse, andDarryl Palmer, a nursingassistant, there were nofatalities in the accident.

Norma Washington, aveterans service representa-tive in the Houston VARegional Office, saved a lifeover the telephone on March14 when she received a callfrom a veteran who wasthreatening to commit suicide.When the veteran asked,“How much will my daughterget if I commit suicide?” sheknew he wasn’t kiddingaround. She kept him talkingon the phone and tried tokeep him calm. At times, hesobbed so hard that she

couldn’t understand what hewas saying, but she continuedto listen and respond in acalming voice. Through thecourse of their conversation,she determined that theveteran was on a pay phonein a restaurant in San Antonio,more than 200 miles away.Once she had his exactlocation, she got the attentionof a co-worker, who advised aveterans service center coachof the unfolding situation. Thecoach immediately contactedthe San Antonio PoliceDepartment. Washingtoncontinued talking with theveteran, discussing thingsthey had in common, such aschildren and music. Hersoothing demeanor calmedthe man and kept him on thetelephone until help arrived.When the San Antonio Policearrived, Washington was stillon the telephone with theveteran. He was taken to theSan Antonio VA MedicalCenter for care and treat-ment.

Last Veterans Day,Bryant Cannon, a licensedpractical nurse at the NorthChicago VA Medical Center,was on his way home fromwork when he saw a VApolice officer involved in aviolent struggle. He slammedon the brakes and jumped outof his car to help OfficerLonnie Jeffrey. Together,they restrained the attackeruntil help arrived. In recogni-tion of Cannon’s actions, theFraternal Order of PoliceLodge 5F, the North ChicagoVA Police Lodge, awardedhim a certificate of apprecia-tion and $50.00 gift certificate.

During the attack, Jeffreysustained serious injuries toboth arms and is still recuper-ating.

Kathy Helmick, alicensed practical nurse at theClarksburg, W.Va., VAMedical Center, was meetingher son and family at a gasstation in Cumberland, Md.,and found herself in themiddle of a robbery. Whenshe arrived at the gas station,she went inside to use therestroom and buy a soda. Asshe came out of the bath-room, a tall, lanky manwearing glasses approachedher. He was dressed as if hewas going hunting, so sheasked if he was. “Yeah, I’mgoing hunting,” he replied. Asshe got in line to pay for hersoda, the would-be hunter gotin line behind anothercustomer who was with hisyoung daughter. “I headed outthe door and the man shovedme and yells, ‘He’s got a gun!’He put his daughter in myarms and says, ‘Take her,’”recalled Helmick. She ran tothe side of the building withthe girl in her arms and kneltto the ground. Suddenly, shelooked up and the robber wasstanding over her. “I said,‘Everything’s cool isn’t it?’ andhe said, ‘Yeah, everything’scool.’” As he walked away, aretired police officer pulled outa gun and yelled, “Drop downto the ground or I’ll shoot!”Though the robber urged himto shoot, the retired officerheld his fire, and the robberwalked off into the woods. Heapparently got away withclose to $4,000, a can ofchips and a soda, but thepolice eventually caught upwith him.

While walking to his car,Dr. Robert Owen, a physicianat the San Francisco VA

Medical Center, saw anunopened letter lying on thecurb. It was addressed to awoman living in San Fran-cisco, so he decided to drop itin the mail. That’s when henoticed the stamp on the letterhad been canceled in 1945.Nearly 60 years had passed,but he decided to try to findthe writer and addressee. Hediscovered that the letter waswritten by a U.S. Army soldierstationed in Japan duringWorld War II. It was written tohis sister in California andmentioned a younger brother,also a soldier, who wasstationed in the Philippines.Though the sister was nolonger at her old address,Owen found the youngerbrother and wrote to himabout this long-lost letter. Thebrother was amazed to hearabout the letter and told Owenhow to reach his sister, whowas married and still living inSan Francisco. He explainedthat his brother had passedaway and the letter wouldhold a very special place inthe hearts of those who knewand loved him. After the letterwas delivered, the familywrote Owen to express theirdeepest appreciation. ❏

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