LifeVeteransA Sound Publishing Monthly Magazine May 2014

www.kitsapveteranslife.com

By Jessica GinetIn our March 2014 issue,

we covered the basic premise of what is now known as the Anonymous Battle, which took place in War Zone C in South Vietnam on March 26, 1970.

Last month, we featured the recollection of Olalla resident Paul Evans, Private First Class, Rifleman, Charlie Company, Second Battalion, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile).

This month read about Port Orchard resident and Private First Class Stanley Carters experience during the Anonymous Battle.

Carter, part of Alpha Troop, was the loader for Sergeant Guiterrez on the tank American Woman. Alpha Troop rescued Charlie Company after they found themselves literally on top of a North Vietnamese Army strong-hold, outnumbered, and running out of ammuni-tion.

His first firefight was during the Anonymous Battle in March 1970. Carter, who was drafted into the Army in June 1969, was in the country for just over two months when he found himself in the middle of chaos.

The Anonymous Battle on March 26 is always on Stan Carters mind when he recalls his war experiences.

Carter arrived in

Vietnam on Jan. 10, 1970. He was assigned to the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment and also to Alpha Troop, second platoon. Carter went to Armor School in Ft. Knox, KY, where he learned his way around tanks. He loaded ammuni-tion on Sheridan and M-48 tanks while in Vietnam.

I was on a few ACAVs at first, then I was assigned as a loader on a Sheridan tank, an A-27, named Avilla at that time and changed to American Woman soon after I arrived.

While researching the popular culture of this era, it was noted the song American Woman, by the Canadian group The Guess Who, was considered anti-American. The group was prohibited from play-ing this song when they performed for Nixon at the White House in 1970,

the same time that Carters platoon was involved in the Anonymous Battle in Vietnam.

Carters tank com-mander was Staff Sergeant Pasqual Gus Gutierrez. He was a two-year man who graduated top of his NCO class and came out an E-6 instead of an E-5, Carter said, continuing, I have to say right now that Gus saved my life and the crew of A-27 many, many times. When we got into a firefight or were ambushed, in any situation, he knew exactly what to do. I felt safe with him as my tank commander.

Carter recalls the platoon he was assigned as a very capable one. The crew of A-27, if I do say so myself, was exceptional. Our driver [Harry Disler] was a great driver and drove exactly as ordered in battle and out of battle. He was a good mechanic and the tank was always well maintained.

Carter was taught how to load the main gun line on the M-48 by Gutierrez.

In a firefight we had a system that went real smooth. Id turn the main gun switch to on and say, Shes ready. Gus would reply, On the way and pull the trigger to shoot the main gun. I would then reload the canister round.

Carter said that dur-ing a firefight, the dialog between the two, with

Carter saying, Shes ready and Gus replying, On the way, would progress quickly, in a sort of pattern, indicating the main gun was always firing, which was good.

Carter remembers Lieutenant Healey tell-

ing the second platoon, [Were] going to rescue some grunts trapped in a bunker complex.

Without hesitation, the second platoon started busting jungle on their mission to assist Charlie Company. While Carter usually stood on the loaders seat with his upper body exposed outside of the tank, he was quickly told to drop down inside.

Busting jungle was caus-ing a lot of tree branches and vines to come across our turret. Gus told me to get inside, close the loaders hatch, and stay inside till we reached the grunts.

Carter doesnt recall just how long he was sit-ting inside the hot, stifling turret before they reached Charlie Company.

When we got there, we could hear shooting. When we were getting on line to move in, Gus told me to get ready. Then all hell broke loose, Carter said, add-ing, Main guns, .50 cali-bers, M-60 machine guns, M-16s, everything. I dont know what everybody was doing because I was down inside loading the whole time.

At one point, Carter remembers coming up to give Gus additional .50 caliber ammo boxes that he couldnt reach.

At one time our tank shook and Gus came on the horn and said that Sergeant Foreman (of Alpha Troop) got hit. It was a very sad moment, the thought of what happened to him. His crewmen must have been devastated . . . but thats war.

When the firefight was over, Carter came up out of the turret to help Gus change his .50 caliber bar-rel. The barrel had turned red-hot from the continu-ous firing.

Emerging from the tur-ret, soaking wet from being confined the hot, small space for hours, Carter was both weary and anxious. I remember that when leaving the area, the tank in front of us had a body wrapped up in some pon-chos on the rear deck. I was wondering if it was Sergeant Foreman.

In Captain John Poindexters book, The Anonymous Battle, Staff Sgt. Gutierrez described Carter: I dont remember our loaders name, but I can clearly see his face - a skinny kid with blond hair and dark horn-rimmed glasses. I must have looked at his face a hundred times that day as he handed me grenades so I could throw them at the bunker open-ings to keep those RPGs from coming out at us.

One short week after the Anonymous Battle, on April 1, 1970, Carter found himself in yet another firefight. And yet a month later, in May of 1970, Carter was with the troops Nixon sent into Cambodia to locate weapon caches and supplies of the enemy.

I thought at that point that I wouldnt make it out of Cambodia, Carter said.

Carter remained in

country until Oct. 24, 1970, when he was injured by a tank. We usually had a hooch to stay dry under and stay out of the sun with but this time we didnt have the stuff we needed, he said.

His platoon was securing a highway when a mon-soon hit. I saw our gun-ner during the monsoon getting out of the rain by going under the front of the tank and I decided to do the same.

The next morning, how-ever, either the driver for-got or didnt receive word from the tank commander that there were men under-neath the tank. According to Carter, the tank moved, pivoting, and crushed his right foot, breaking a bone in his left foot as well, and injured the gunners calf. That was the first and the last time we ever did that, Carter said.

Carter was supposed to stay in country until his tour was over in January 1971, but he was trans-ported out of Vietnam on November 5, 1970, and sent to Letterman Army Medical Center in San Francisco, to heal and recu-perate.

Carter just happened to be surfing the net in 2004 when he stumbled up on the site for the 11th Armored Cavalry. It was on that site that Carter found contact information from guys he remembered from his platoon. He attended his first reunion in Colorado Springs in 2005, 38 years after the Anonymous Battle took place.

Ive been to every reunion since then except one, Carter said.

When youre drafted, you dont think about being a veteran. Carter contin-ued, adding, As I look back on times as Im older, I realize it was probably one of the best things thats happened to me.

For his service during those intense 10 and a half months in Vietnam, Carter received the National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Sharpshooters Medal, Marksman Medal and the Presidential Unit Citation.

To read the first and sec-ond parts of this series, go to www.KitsapVeteranslife.com.

VETERAN PROFILE: THE ANONYMOUS BATTLE, PART THREE

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Stan Carter

Busting jungle was causing a lot of tree branches and vines to come across our turret. Gus told me to get inside, close the loaders hatch, and stay inside till

we reached the grunts.

Veterans Life is published monthly by Sound Publishing Inc.; Corporate Headquarters: 19351 8th Avenue, Suite 106, Poulsbo, WA 98370. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $24/year via USPS. Copyright 2014 Sound Publishing Inc.

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LifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLife

There are no words we could ever express to the families of those who have lost loved ones due to military service. There arent enough hugs, smiles or words of encouragement that could take away the pain of knowing that a favorite uncle, brother, husband, wife, cousin or other relative isnt coming home.

But still, there is Memorial Day. Memorial Day is a way for Americans to pay tribute to those who have paid the ultimate price

to defend the United States of America. It still doesnt bring loved ones back home, but it may be a reminder that their sacrifices are appreciated, respected and never forgotten.

This issue is special to us because of the tight-knit military community there is in this county. As many will say, military folks are a family that takes care of its own. In a special two-page feature this month, readers will meet Mick Hersey, a veteran who spends his free time restoring the countys memorials. He doesnt get paid to do it, but he does it because of how much other veterans mean to him.

This issue also highlights the Run to Tahoma, a bittersweet final ride home for those whose remains have gone unclaimed. Writer Kevan Moore highlights everything the public needs to know about attending or participating in the event, and how the touching event got its start.

Readers will also meet Dmitry Solominsky, an avid biker with a big dream: to cycle across country to raise awareness about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, also known as PTSD. His trip, which started in April, is to raise funds for the nonprofit Hope For The Warriors. The organization assists post-9/11 service members and their families with those stricken with physical and psychological issues from active duty service.

However you will spend this Memorial Day whether it be a family picnic or placing flags on a deceased service members grave site remember to take a moment to pause and reflect upon the lives of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

Memorial Day began in 1866. As it was then, it still is recognized as a sacred day of remembrance and honor. The National Moment of Remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day, which is a moment of silence to honor those who have died in service to the nation. May you remember what memorial means during Memorial Day.

As always, if you have any suggestions or comments, please feel free to contact us at lkelly@soundpublishing.com or spage@soundpublishing.com.

On the inside

ONE LAST LOOK Todd Best, a Navy veteran, shares the importance of taking

care of local memorials and his part in renovating the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

10REMEMBERING THOSE WHO ARE GONE Navy veteran Mick Hersey spends his time restoring Kitsap Countys veteran memorials, and he does it without expecting a dime in return.A TRIBUTE LIKE NO OTHER

Here are the details for this years Run to Tahoma, an event that honors service members whose remains have gone unclaimed.

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By Kevan MooreThe Run to Tahoma has

quickly become one of Kitsap Countys most poignant events, honoring former ser-vice members, especially those whose remains have gone unclaimed.

The celebration of life cer-emony here in Kitsap County stirs many emotions and the long processional to Tahoma National Cemetery allows for some quiet reflection. Once there, a lone bugler, the vol-ley of gunfire and the final-ity of laying veterans to rest with their brothers and sisters leaves a lasting impact that few could ever forget.

The Unforgotten, Run to Tahoma V Celebration of Life ceremony will take place on the outdoor plaza of the County Administration Building in Port Orchard this year. Last years event, outside of the Kitsap County Coroners office, drew more than 400 people and parking

was an issue. This years Memorial Day

weekend event starts at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 24. In the event of inclement weath-er, the celebration of life will be moved indoors, followed by the motorcade to Tahoma National Cemetery. People coming for the Celebration of Life ceremony only can park anywhere on side streets around the county campus. Division Street will be closed.

In 2008 Mike Carroll, a founding member of the Kitsap County Veterans Advisor Board (KCVAB), read an article about the abandoned remains of deceased veterans at a funeral home in Missouri. Carroll contacted Leif Bentsen, the then-coordinator for Kitsap County Veterans Assistance Program (KCVAP) to see if Kitsap County had any unclaimed remains.

Bentsen, who is retired and now volunteers at the Kitsap County Coroners Office as a

Deceased Veterans Liaison, made an inquiry with Coroner Greg Sandstrom who report-ed that his office had six unclaimed, deceased veterans on the shelves in his office. Sandstrom agreed to turn them over KCVAP for intern-ment in Tahoma National Cemetery.

Bentsen brought the issue before the Veterans Advisory Board. Carroll immediately volunteered to help Bentsen with the project. Carroll was also the national chap-lain for Combat Veterans International and arranged for a professional motorcycle escort to Tahoma National Cemetery 50 miles away.

October 2, 2008, was a cold and rainy day when the six deceased veterans were received from the care of the coroner at his temporary office in Givens Community Center in Port Orchard. More than 50 motorcyclists and other con-cerned veterans arrived to join

the procession.Having never done this

before, Bentsen and Carroll made some impromptu deci-sions, which have evolved into traditions: the deceased will be carried by a veteran to the hearse vehicle; pallbearer will be accompanied by an active duty member; on the way to Tahoma, the deceased will be accompanied by an unopened bottle of cognac, a cigar, and the U.S. Flag; the hearse will be black with a premium name badge or an antique in immac-ulate condition; and the hearse will be in the cradle of Combat Veterans International.

The second event didnt occur until 2011 and became a collaboration of countys Veterans Advisory Board, County Coroners Office and Combat Veterans International. The loca-tion and date were changed to the coroners office and to the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend. A Celebration

of Life ceremony was created with music, eulogy, and prayer. That same year, Vietnam Veterans/Legacy Veterans started the tradition of provid-ing simple, wooden urns for each deceased.

At the Veterans Advisory Board June 2011 meeting, the board moved to hold the event every year providing that there was a least one, unclaimed deceased veteran in the care of the county coroner. In 2012, the first veteran who was not unclaimed was included in the event at the request of the sur-viving family.

During the fall 2012, at the request of KCVAP, the coro-ners office reviewed records of unclaimed deceased who were buried prior to 2008. Twenty-one veterans and one widow were identified and recovered from Silverdale Community Cemetery for The Unforgotten, Run to Tahoma IV on May 25, 2103. In addi-tion two surviving families

submitted relatives. We currently have six

deceased, of which only one is unclaimed, Bentsen said of this years event. The other five have been submitted by family or friends. It includes two brothers, one who passed away last fall, the other last month.

People wanting to contin-ue with us to Tahoma, should enter the county campus area at Taylor on Sidney, Bentsen added. They will be guided to designated funeral procession assembly area parking.

The Run to Tahoma funer-al cortege is under the aus-pices of Combat Veterans International and not Kitsap County, Bentsen noted.

Everyone is invited to join the cortege, however partici-pants are responsible for their own individual liability in case of accident or injury to them-selves or others, he said.

Run to Tahoma is a poignant tribute to vets

6 | V E T E R A N S L I F E | M A Y 2 0 14

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By DANNIE OLIVEAUXFormer South Kitsap

teacher Tom Juvik won the 2014 Syracuse University Institute for Veterans and Military Families Prize for writ-ten work by a veteran for his short story War on Terror.

The prize is selected by a panel of experienced writers who also are mili-tary veterans.

Juvik, 66, served as an Air Force radio operator in Vietnam during the 1968 Tet Offensive. He is a graduate of Peninsula High School.

A graduate of the University of Washington creative writing program, Juvik retired in 2011 after a 35-year career teaching English and social stud-ies at South Kitsap High School and Cedar Heights Junior High. He began teaching in the district in 1974.

For several years, he sponsored writing clubs and literary magazines at both schools.

The annual prize con-sists of a $500 cash award and an original alabaster stone canoe carving by noted sculptor Tom Huff.

War on Terror, is set in Manchester and involves a Vietnam vet-eran whose son has vol-unteered to serve in the Marine Corps following 9/11.

Juvik said his home overlooks Manchester with a view of Seattle and Puget Sound shipping channels, whichprovides

a sort of crisis setting for the story in the wake of 9/11.

One scene in the story involves a ferry ride from Bremerton to see a Seahawks game about a year after 9/11and involves the first timeI remember having a Safeboat escort across the Puget Sound, said Juvik. It was eerie.

He said he started tin-kering with the story, then in 2002 he came back to it because it haunted him.

I began writing it in earnest over the course of the last two years, said Juvik.

Like many war veter-ans, Juvik said he still hasmoments wherehe worries about all the bad things that could happen.

As beautiful as the view is from our home, I some-times imagine everything going up in flames, he said. So, I guess thats the inspiration for the main character, who feelshelp-less to watch over his son who is stationed in Basra.

In the end, hecomes to understand he can only do what he can do, which is deal with the ordinary household crises that are right in front of him the thingsmost families face.

He said winning the award is special for two reasons: the award came from aveterans organiza-tion and was selected by soldier-writers who served in more recent wars, and resurrecting his writing careerafter some personal setbacks.

Getting my work out there in front of read-ersis very humbling and exciting at the same time, said Juvik. Just to know Im not too old to Rock n Roll has me jazzedto write some more.

He feels the reason the story won the award is itis not strictly speak-ing a war story.

It captures the pressure on families,not just those who have directly served, Juvik said.I thinkthe non-draft era soldiers and

their families have taken on an inordinate share of the responsibility over the last 30 years for protect-ing Americas interests. We tend not thinkabout the true weight of the war because they have taken that on their shoulders for the rest of us;we do notthank them enough.So, in essence, the story is a family story set in war time.

Juvik said as his 67th birthday nears, he is scramblingto place a full-length novel he just finished in the hands of book publishers.

He was raised in Tacoma, then moved to Gig Harbor where he graduated from Peninsula High School. He has lived in South Kitsap since 1974, where he spent his first year teaching at Cedar Heights Junior High.

Juviks story appears in Issue Eight of Stone Canoe, a journal of arts and literature published annually by Syracuse

University. The issue also includes prize-winning work in poetry, nonfiction and fiction.

Juviks short fiction has appeared in numerous literary magazines over the course of the past 30 years, including publica-tions such as Glimmer Train, Seattle Review, Soundings and Steam Ticket.

He also was a recipi-ent of the Writers Digest Grand Prize, the Hackney Literary Award for short fiction, and the Pacific Northwest Writers Conference Award for mainstream novel. He also served as a staff writer for The Fox Late Show and Comedy Centrals Almost Live, in addition to writ-ing a column for The News Tribune.

Stone Canoe is avail-able through the Syracuse University Bookstore, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.com.

Vietnam veteran wins award for short story

Contributed photo

Tom Juvik

M A Y 2 0 14 | V E T E R A N S L I F E | 7

By Leslie KellyThe year was 1944.

He was just 17 and join-ing the U.S. Navy. And a very short time later, Ray Tee was aboard the USS Ammen heading for the South Pacific.

I just kept thinking whats a skinny farm boy like me doing here? said Tee, now 86 and a resi-dent of Silverdale.

Tee was born Feb. 4, 1927, at New Port, Washington. He lost his mother early on and he was sent to live with an aunt and uncle on a farm in Latah, south of Spokane. Farm life was difficult and sometimes he wasnt able to attend school. So at 17, he decided to leave school and join the Navy. He found his father, who signed the papers that allowed him to enlist at 17.

His first stop was boot camp in Idaho, and then he was assigned to the Ammen, a World War II destroyer that had a mis-sion to fight in the South Pacific.

There were five of us from boot camp who were put on a bus and sent to California, he said. We were sent to the Mare Island shipyard where the first thing we saw was a ship that had been hit in the Leyte Gulf in the Philippines by a kamikaze bomber. Both smoke stacks of the super structure were missing.

It was a omen of sorts, he now knows, of what was ahead. For the next year, Tee would be in the midst of some of the worst sea combat of World War II. Aboard the Ammen, he was part of a convoy of ships stationed between the Philippines and Japan, that protected Okinawa as an American held ter-ritory and fought off the Japanese kamikaze pilots who were attempting to take it.

The invasion of Okinawa happened on April Fools Day 1944.

Very little has been written about it, Tee said. I was assigned to radar duty. There was one row of ships about 25 miles out and another row of destroyers about 50 miles out from Okinawa.

Tee said the worst part

was being closer to Japan.Our job was to inter-

cept the kamikazes trying to get to the bigger (U.S.) ships, he said.

Most of the time, Tee was in the powder stores handling cans of gun powder, send-ing them up through an eight-inch hole to feed the five-inch guns.

Basically, youre trapped in there, he said. If the ship were to get hit, there was no escap-ing.

He and the other sail-ors were assigned to gen-eral quarters from dusk to dawn. At night there was no stopping to rest. Sometimes, they could catch some sleep during the day. The battle went on 82 days.

It seemed like it was forever and ever, Tee said. I thought it would never stop.

During that time, 35 U.S. Destroyers were sunk and another 122 were scrapped or sunk. Five thousand sailors were killed and another 4,832 were wounded. Tee knows that now, but at the time, the losses were kept very quiet. About 80 percent of the U.S. ships in the area were lost.

The U.S. didnt want those at home to know that we were losing the war in the South Pacific, he said. At the time, nothing was reported in the media and no one talked about it.

His ship, the Ammen had a near miss with a 500-pound bomb.

It disabled us for awhile, Tee said.

The Japanese planes were suicidal and when they flew into U.S. ships, the pilots blew them-selves up, along with damaging the ships and killing Navy sailors.

While the U.S. losses were great, Japan finally ran out of airplanes. The war was still on, Tee said, when Okinawa was secured.

Some of the ships were then sent to bom-bard Japan, with sailors abroad who were unaware that the U.S. planned to drop atomic bombs on Japan.

After those bombs were dropped on Aug. 9, 1945, Tee and his shipmates were sent into Nagasaki to secure the city.

It was very frightening, he said. There was a sense of quiet that was unusual. It was a huge city and there was no one. Not even the sound of a bird singing. There were no automo-biles, no horns honking.

What he saw was unbelievable.

The atomic bombs had such intense heat that it melted every-thing, Tee said. If it wasnt concretewell

Tee pulled out his Kodak Brownie 127 cam-era and snapped a few photos. Cameras were not allowed and he wasnt suppose to have one. But he did.

I know my superiors

saw me, he said. But there was such a sense of everything being over-whelming that no one cared.

He went on with his assignment which was to help find and release prisoners of war.

They threw open the gates and the POWs were on their own, he said. The Japanese guards fled and we took care of the POWs the best we could.

Among them were Americans, Australians, English and Filipinos. Soon the U.S. Navys hos-pital ship The Comfort, arrived and the POWs were taken aboard.

It wasnt until Tee arrived home at the end of the war in June of

1946 that he remem-bered the film he sent home from Hawaii to be developed. He looked at the tiny 2 by 4 inch pho-tographs and put them away in an Army green tin box, along with some Japanese occupational money and some jewelry he traded cigarettes for while in the Philippines.

It wasnt until 2002, when he attended a World War II Kamikaze Survivors Reunion that he thought about the photos. It was then, too,

that the photographs were first published in a local newspaper.

His service is some-thing that he is proud of. But being a quiet person, he wasnt the kind to talk about it much. He was ready to get on with his life and he did.

Back home, he met his wife, Helen, through a friend. They were mar-ried on Jan. 18, 1948, and have been married for 66 years.

When I met Ray, I was engaged to another guy at the time, she said. But I knew he was the one for me.

The Tees stayed in Spokane and eventu-ally, Ray joined the Navy Reserves and served in the Korean War. He

was stationed on the Destroyer Escort as a machinist mate third class. He was assigned to the engine room and was located in Tacoma.

I served in the battle of Tacoma, he said jok-ingly.

In 1952, he went to work in the insulation business and he and his wife had two chil-dren, David in 1953 and Delores in 1956. They have three grandchildren and five great-grandchil-dren.

The family moved to Alaska in 1957 and Ray spent 20 years working for the Alaska ferry sys-tem. They then retired to Kitsap County to be clos-er to family. They had a larger home in Poulsbo, until about a year ago when they downsized to the County Cottages retirement living in Silverdale.

Today, Tee spends time in the two greenhouses near his cottage. Hes known by the neighbors as someone with a green thumb.

The entrance to his cottage bears the proof, with pots of pansies and geraniums. And he has a pea patch out back where he grows a few vegetables.

Looking back at his Navy experiences, Tee knows that it forced him to grow up quick.

What I saw made me respect life more. Just seeing so much he trailed off.

He is sometimes both-ered by the fact that those who died at the hands of the Japanese kamikaze pilots arent often remembered in his-tory.

They gave their lives, he said. It was a difficult time because we were not winning. People dont want to remember that.

He knows that is the reason why the bombs had to be dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, even though seeing the aftermath was more than anyone should ever have to bear.

It was very frighten-ing, he said, noting that they had no protective gear on. Troops came in and mine swept and cleared the harbor and then we went on land. It was a city of 100,000 or more and there was not a soul alive that we could see.

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Leslie Kelly/staff photo

Ray Tee and his wife, Helen, enjoy their porch swing.

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Tees photos kept in a tin box for more than 60 years.

8 | V E T E R A N S L I F E | M A Y 2 0 14

By CHRIS CHANCELLORSEATTLE There is no

textbook preparation for his conquest.

As he sat in a friends living room, awaiting the arrival of his bicycle, 30-year-old New Yorker Dmitry Solominsky was aware of just that.

Within days, he would embark upon a journey that would take him from the shores of the Pacific through the Great Plains before finishing in Yorktown, Va. The impetus behind the trip is to raise funds and awareness of the effects of PTSD.

In early April, Solominsky pedaled his mid-1980s Lotus clair from Seattle to Astoria, Ore., where he will

begin his route on the TransAmerican Trail. He is raising proceeds for Hope For The Warriors, a national nonprofit orga-nization that assists post-9/11 service members, their families, and relatives of those stricken with physical and psychologi-cal issues sustained during active duty.

A member of the National Guard from 2001-2009, Solominsky will not be joined by a cadre of vet-erans. He has dubbed his trip rideSolo.

The reason behind that is a lot of guys and gals that do have PTSD feel like theyre alone in their battle, he said, adding that is the reason behind taking the trip alone. They feel

like theyre alone in their battle, they feel like no one is around, no one can help them, no one understands and no one cares.

I am grateful beyond belief to have the opportu-nity to change the norm. If I can assist even one per-son into taking strides they never thought pos-sible, I will consider this trip a success.

While Solominsky did not suffer from PTSD upon his return home, he said his time in Iraq, where he was first stationed in Taji and then Baghdad and its surrounding areas, was difficult. Solominskys role was to help protect the main road between the airport and the Green Zone. The day before his arrival in one area, he said a Bradley Fighting Vehicle was hit by a daisy-chain round of explosives, which killed eight people.

I had a very eventful tour, Solominsky said. I lost 19 of my friends. However I managed to avoid it, I am not sure. I knew every day could potentially be my last.

An avid reader, Solominsky also was impacted last year when he read a Department of Veterans Affairs investi-gation revealing that 22 veterans one every 65 minutes commit suicide each day.

I just have no words for how disgusting, how hor-

rible, how tragic that is, Solominsky said. Im not saying all of those people can be saved. Im just say-ing with more and proper outreach, that number can be petered down.

He hopes those num-bers can be pared down as he shares his story along the more than 4,300-mile TransAmerican Trail. Solominsky, who said his mother is a psychiatrist who had several colleagues check on him after his service ended, has a simple message for those strug-gling with the aftermath of combat.

It will have long-lasting impacts, but its something you can work through, he said. You just need a strong support system.

That includes inspiration from friends. Solominsky said his peers have con-quered goals ranging from

hiking the Appalachian trail to climbing the south-ern portion of Mount Kilimanjaro.

I have nothing tying me down to the city and I really want to give back to the veteran community in a grand way, he said. I wanted to bring outreach and more notoriety for this very, very important issue that is not getting the cov-erage it deserves.

That does not mean the trip will not result in sacrifice for Solominsky. He is a contractor for TaskRabbit, an online and mobile marketplace that allows users to outsource small jobs and tasks locally. The website has gained notoriety for paying people to hold places in lines, but Solominsky handles handyman and carpentry work. He said he is ranked No. 7 on TaskRabbit for his services in New York City. The biking tour will take him out of work for three months, though without compensation.

Everything that Im raising is for [Hope For The Warriors], Solominsky said. I dont want to see a benefit from it.

He believes his regular job, where he regularly car-ries a 40-pound backpack up several flights of stairs, will help him prepare for the journey. Solominsky, who said he was inspired to cycle two years ago when he and friends saw the Five Boro Bike Tour pass by on the highway after brunch, said his longest previous bike ride was about 150 miles about 18 months ago. During his ride on the TransAmerican Trail, he hopes to average 60 to 80 miles of cycling per day depending on weather conditions and morale.

If I want to take a day off, I will take a day off, he said, adding that meeting

his goal will require him to pedal six to eight hours a day beginning at 8 a.m.

Solominsky said the physical nature of the ride will be difficult for the first two weeks as his body acclimates. That is not his greatest concern, though.

One of the toughest things about this ride is the route is for all intents and purposes is doable by any-one in somewhat decent shape, Solominsky said. Theres nothing severely extraneous about it. Its the psychological nature of it. Your body can take more than most people think. Its your head that will give out first.

He said that was part of the reason behind him selecting the steel Lotus clair, which was trans-ported via mail while he was staying in Seattle, to make the trip. The well-used bike, Solominsky said, previously has made a trip between each coast in addition to another from Mexico to north Texas.

Its nice to have a travel-ing partner the same age as you, he said, laughing.

There will be plenty of time to become acquainted. Solominsky said he might stay in a hotel on occa-sion and utilize Warm Showers, an organization that finds places for cyclists to rest overnight. But those will be the exceptions.

I plan on camping a lot, Solominsky said. Americas beautiful and I might as well see the most of it. Living in a city like New York, its very rare to see stars and things like that.

That is part of the rea-son why Solominsky, who initially considered an East Coast route for his trip, decided to extend it. But he said there was a larger rea-son behind the change.

I came across this route and it seemed daunting, yet something that will have a lot more outreach than just a local or East Coast ride, he said.

Giving back long has been important to Solominsky. He believes an impetus behind joining the military came from 9/11, when he was in the lunch-room at the High School of Telecommunication Arts and Technology close enough to the epicenter that some students saw smoke from the windows

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Dmitry Solominsky cycles his way across America.

SEE CYCLE, PAGE 9

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as the second plane col-lided into the World Trade Center. That is not the only event that inspired Solominsky to give back. After all, he and his mother came to the United States from his native Russia when he was a young child.

I wasnt born here in the States, Solominsky said. Its a country that took me on as its own and Ive grown to love and embrace everything about America. I figured again that I should give back again in some way.

That venture through 11 states has started. And he does not plan to end it Yorktown. When he finishes the TransAmerican Trail, Solominsky plans to bike to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., which will add another 180 miles to his journey.

Thats like the beacon of life for most guys who come back physically injured, he said. Its a good way to tie every-thing together.

Solominsky, who hopes to blog about his travels at www.hope-forthewarriors.org/ridesolo, might even bike from Bethesda back to Brooklyn. Whatever challenges Solominsky encounters from the grueling climb through the Rocky Mountains to the redundancy of hundreds of miles of corn stalks in the mid-west he will harken back to the resiliency that he had to display during active duty in the Middle East.

It is a message he hopes resonates with those suffering through PTSD.

In any kind of situa-tion, specifically when youre at war, if you dwell on something it makes you kind of com-placent, Solominsky said. When it makes you complacent, you start making mistakes. I had to realize very quickly that the way of dealing with things has to be in a very strict way. Your brain kind of devolves into survival mode. You kind of do what you have to do.

CYCLECONTINUED FROM page 8

How to help...Dimitri Solominsky is making a solo cycle journey across the United States to bring awareness to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).To help fund his journey or contribute to help veterans with PTSD, call Hope For The Warriors at 877-2HOPE4W or email info@hopeforthewarriors.org. Check out www.hopeforthewarriors.org for more information.

M A Y 2 0 14 | V E T E R A N S L I F E | 111 0 | V E T E R A N S L I F E | M A Y 2 0 14

Marion Mick Hersey is a man with a mission. That mission is to see that every veteran memorial in Kitsap County is well taken care of and maintained to preserve the respect that the memorial was intended to hold.

The retired Navy cooks inspira-tion and frustration started with a simple walk down the Bremerton boardwalk near the ferry terminal in 2010. The boardwalks 350-plus plaques for those who served had been obviously ignored for some time.

Saltwater and wind had weath-ered the memorials down. The plaques looked rugged, and, even more upsetting, forgotten by the ones who had put them there in the first place, Hersey said.

I saw the plaques and wondered why nobody was taking care of them, Hersey said.

He went to the city and started asking questions. At first, no one had answers for him. He said he got the runaround, and recalled speaking to several department heads none of which wanted to take on the responsibility.

Then he found out that each plaque had been individually pur-chased. Each one was to be main-tained by the purchaser, he was told.

The excuse was, well, whoever bought the plaque was supposed to maintain it, said Hersey.

That didnt set well with Hersey. He wanted to know how much it would cost to re-paint and refur-bish the memorials. The city con-tacted the business that had put the plaques in, and received a quote for upkeep.

The grand total would be $7,000, the city officials told him money the city did not have a budget for at the time. Hersey quickly discov-ered that most of the businesses that had individually sponsored a plaque had since shut down. Some were even old Navy ships that had been decommissioned.

That left it in his hands as far as he was concerned. After speaking brief ly with Mayor Patty Lent, the two agreed that one plaque would be refurbished for the mayors inspection. He had shown up in her office in his grubby paint clothes, wanting to know if he would be allowed to officially fix up the forgotten plaques.

She liked it so much I got start-ed on them, he said. Next thing I knew, I was working on veteran memorials.

The rest, as they say, is history history to be taken care of by Mick Hersey himself.

That spring, he and his niece, Tameka Hulen, sat on the board-walk from March through May and painted the plaques with a tip jar sitting right beside them.

After that, he couldnt stop. Ive always been interested in

history, he said. If the plaques had piqued his interest; the other memorials he discovered pushed him into an obsession of finding the treasure trove of memorials that others had left alone.

Now, 76 memorials later, he has refurbishing down to a science. He also has the local Navy commands on speed dial, as well as other locals he knows who will happily volunteer their time to restoring the memorials.

He also has managed to solicit the help of Lowes to cover the financial aspect of the refurbish-ments. To date, Lowes has pro-vided between $4,000-$6,000 in materials for painting and upgrades to the memorials, Hersey said. Others, such as his current employer QED, have also donated

toward the project. This Memorial Day, 31 of the

memorial sites with American f lags will be given new f lags to f ly, another donation from Lowes. The cheapest f lag is around $30, and the most expensive f lag is $300.

I think its fabulous. I think its great the communitys gotten behind him on this, said John Benitez, Lowes merchandising department manager. Were excit-ed to be a partner on a lot of the projects with him.

For Benitez, the projects are also personal. His wife, Cindy Benitez spent 20 years in the Navy as a boatswains mate.

I think its a good way for us to preserve our way of life. Were a family that takes care of its own. Its a good thing we give back to those in our community. We come back here and establish the things theyve put here for future genera-tions to appreciate.

When it comes to proper pres-ervation, Hersey doesnt just use any type of tools or chemicals to refresh the work of whats already been done. He has borrowed tools from the Navy, and his work has offered some as well for him to work on the sites. As former Navy, Hersey learned how to take care of brass. Over the years, while doing genealogical research and visiting family graves, he also discovered how to treat the grave sites with the proper chemicals and paint.

Personally, Ive celebrated Memorial Day as a little kid in South Dakota, said Hersey. Wed put f lowers on the graves (of those who served).

For every memorial he and oth-ers retouch, he learns as much as he can about it for listing on the Visit Kitsap Peninsula website. That way, visitors coming to the county can visit every known memorial.

He provided us with a lot of great information. Weve used his work for the basis for some hand-outs for veterans memorials, said

Patty Graf-Hoke, executive direc-tor of Visit Kitsap Peninsula. Its nice that hes taken a leadership to help commemorate them and make sure they dont get lost.

With the help of fellow veteran Leif Bentsen, Hersey created a comprehensive listing of all Kitsap County memorials in the area. For those who visit the official tourism website of Kitsap County, theres a listing with brief history notes and photos to accompany each memorial. Tourists and locals can print out the listing to track through the county on their hunt for veteran memorials.

I think what hes done is abso-lutely wonderful because many of them had been neglected for so many years. He brought a skillset of how to restore them correctly, said Bentsen. People need to understand how horrible war is; this helps them remember it and the sacrifices people have made.

When Hersey started his memo-rial preservation project, he was told there were only 26 total memorials in the whole county.

Once he got going, and word got out about his project, he found more. Some are on public property; others are on private property. The memorials are in obvious places like cemeteries and off-the-beaten path, like at local churches or businesses.

One of the projects that took the longest to work on was Naval Ammunition Depot (NAD) Park in Bremerton. For six months, Hersey worked with Navy vol-unteers and others to repaint a Navy jet to match its paint job it had on the very last f light it ever took. According to Hersey, the plane actually belongs to the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Fla. The jet was deeded to the city years ago, but permission is still required for any updates or paint jobs it might receive.

They actually own any Navy jet thats in any park in the United States, Hersey added.

Upon starting the project, he only wanted to focus on Bremerton. But by then locals started sharing with him their knowledge of other memorials from Hansville all the way down to Port Orchard.

Its something that I dont think should ever be let die. People have money for parks, roads; they have money to put in the memorial, but not to keep it up, he said. With the weather up here, things get covered up with mold and mildew real quick.

And while respect is the driving factor for keeping up the memori-als that no one else wants to take on, his love of the area and history are also what keep Hersey organiz-ing volunteer crews and spending his own time on restoration.

Its a passion that I have, he said. When people ask why I do memorials, its to make sure the younger generation carries on the trend.

Since his first refurbishment in 2010, Hersey is always on the look-out for new memorials that may

need his touch. He also takes every weekend and drives to prior proj-ect sites to ensure that mold hasnt taken hold in the rainy months.

As the weather warms up and the sun pushes away the rain, Hersey will once again get busy in his fourth year of restorations. He already has a list of four new memorials he wants to tend to as soon as possible.

His next project will be at the Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park. Just in front of the memorial park is where a First Responders memorial and a mast from the USS Bremerton sits over-looking the Puget Sound. During the first week of May, Hersey and his volunteers will tackle painting and cleaning the memorials.

The park is also the burial site of Medal of Honor recipient John D. Bud Hawk, a fellow veteran he became close to in his last six months of life. Hersey said his family knew how much Hawk enjoyed Herseys company that he was bestowed with the honor of planning Hawks memorial service.

When around the area, hell visit Hawks grave, and he plans to soon add another memorial honoring the beloved deceased Kitsap vet-eran.

And when it comes to important memories, Hersey hopes that locals will keep his project alive once he can no longer take care of it him-self. It is his hope that his passion is instilled deep enough into his volunteers and locals after theyve been to one of the memorials hes fixed up.

When looking at the guide to Kitsap County Veterans Memorials and Museums from the Visit Kitsap Peninsula website, it is easy for one to become over-whelmed by the sheer amount of areas dedicated to wars as old as the War of 1812.

Even if a visitor doesnt have time to visit them all, just one may touch them like theyve touched Hersey and others who have seen his dedication to the work he does, all for free.

I think its really special that hes cataloged all that. We have a lot of veterans, even regard-less of their affiliation, veterans are always interested in honoring other veterans over the years, said Graf-Hoke. I think hes provided a tremendous service to the veterans that have served our country, and we added his list to the Visit Kitsap Peninsula website. We couldnt of done that without the work he did.

Veteran takes on maintenance and upkeep of memorials as if they were his own

Photos and story by Seraine Page

MicksMemorials:

I think its fabulous. I think its great the communitys gotten behind him on this. Were excited to be a partner on a lot of the projects with him.~John Benitez, Lowes merchandising manager

Its a passion that I have. When people ask why I do memorials, its to make sure the younger generation carries on that trend. ~Mick Hersey

1 2 | V E T E R A N S L I F E | M A Y 2 0 14

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By Thom Stoddert

For those special vet-erans like Butch C. from Washington State, a few words about a federal reg-ulation of the VA called 38 CFR 4.16, or the extra scheduler benefit. Butch is a Vietnam veteran who represents many veterans that get stuck between real-ity and hard regulations. However, Butch is both smart and articulate. First, he got some skilled service officers who worked with him. Second he did his homework well; he famil-iarized himself with the benefits.

Though he is service connected for diabetes at 20 percent, this doesnt show his true impairment due to military service. He has been a truck driver most of his life with an impec-cable record. However, fed-eral regulations unrelated to the VA, deny him his all important Commercial Drivers License because he takes insulin to con-trol his disease. In other words, once he has been prescribed insulin injec-tions he could no longer drive a truck/commercial vehicle and earn a living.

So now in his early 60s and he is unemployable at his usual career. He is not likely to find gainful employment in a related career field and the present economy is only making things worse for him and probably or a lot of other veterans.

Therefore with the loss of earning potential, his lon-gevity at the present career, overall education, and the present economic climate, all make the likelihood of gainful re-employment with his service connected medical issue(s) unlike-ly. Thus the need for an extra-scheduler rating for unemployability because Butch does not meet the normal criteria for individ-ual unemployability and he did learn about 38 CFR 4.16 which reads:

38 CFR 4.16(b) It is the established policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs that all veterans who are unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation by rea-son of service-connected disabilities shall be rated totally disabled. Therefore,

rating boards should submit to the Director, Compensation and Pension Service, for extra-schedular consideration all cases of veterans who are

unemployable by reason of service-connected disabili-ties, but who fail to meet the percentage standards set forth in paragraph (a) of this section. The rating board will include a full statement as to the vet-erans service-connected disabilities, employment history, educational and vocational attainment and all other factors having a bearing on the issue.

Normally a veteran must be rated at 60 percent for a single medical issue or have a total of 70 percent for several issues and one of which must be rated at least at 40 percent. The Rating Board must consid-er the issue of Individual Unemployability (I/U) when these percentages exist and there is reason-able evidence of lack of employment. In most cases the VA informs the veter-ans that if in fact he or she is actually not work-ing, a VA form 21-8940, a request for unemployabil-ity should be filed.

State specifically that you know that you dont meet the normal require-ments under 38 CFR 4.16 for I/U, but that you are in fact not working and not employable because of service connected issues. Do request an extra-sched-ular rating and provide the evidence they will need. My suggestion here is to not only submit the VA form 8940, but send in any information from your for-mer employer(s) indicat-ing why they let you go

and when. The VA will try to verify the information documented on the 8940.

Act fast and dont assume your former boss still has the information the VA needs; do provide what you may already have. Many small shops discard employee informa-tion after the completion of the first tax year and the new secretary hired since you left cant think beyond his or her fingernails. So take responsibility here and not rely on a former boss to rapidly address the need for verification.

The word gainful in relationship to employ-ment was deliberately high-lighted, because it is a very important key word. A job paying even mini-mum wages supplied by sympathetic family mem-bers is not considered to be gainful employment. The veteran in this case would be unemployed if it were not for family. This is often true for charities that find work for the disabled; if it were not for the charity and a sympathetic employ-er, the vet would not be working.

Another thought to con-sider when gathering your evidence for the VA; are there any benefits coming in from the Social Security Administration or other such agencies? This is use-ful information to build and support your claim.

So, bringing this all together, do get all per-tinent evidence of actual unemployment, do have the medical records and/or statements show that the results of your military service do prevent gainful employment. Finally, do identify where all the med-ical treatment records are so that the VA can attempt to get them. By law they have to try or notify you of their failure to get them.

For further explana-tions call the VAs Regional Office at 1-800-327-1000, the Washington State Department of Veteran Affairs at 360-725-2200 or 1-800-562-0132, or VeteranFraud@gmail.com.

For those with special cases of unemployability

Contributed photo

Thom Stoddert

M A Y 2 0 14 | V E T E R A N S L I F E | 1 3

By Margo MyersMargo Myers

Communications

For Marc Bush, a day at the office means loading up the fishing gear, haul-ing the boat, and taking clients out on the water for guided fishing trips. I like the challenge of fish-ing, says Bush. Ive been fishing all my life after my grandfather taught me, and now I like to share that knowledge with others.

Marc and his wife, Chris, are the owners of Twisted Waters Guide Service, a fishing guide company they started in 2009. Marc Bush retired from the U.S. Army after nearly 21 years in Special Forces, and 2014 is his first year as a full-time fishing guide. Chris Bush works as an administrative assistant at Madigan Army Medical Center and runs the busi-ness side of the fishing guide service.

We fish year around on freshwater rivers and lakes, says Bush. Theres always something open, and when the rivers are non-productive, well move to the lakes. Twisted

Waters Guide Service focuses on catching trout, steelhead and salmon, fishing on the Cowlitz and Nisqually Rivers as well as the Satsop and Chehalis Rivers. They consider Lake Lawrence, near Yelm, their home lake.

We cater to families and children, says Chris Bush. Military service

members come out with us, too. A lot of them might have bass gear and dont have local fishing knowledge, so thats where we can show how to fish in this area. Marc adds that on a recent trip, he took out a client who caught his first steelhead, and he was grinning from ear to ear. Theyve had clients as

young as 5 years old, one who caught a 14 pound steelhead last summer. That was an experience, says Bush.

Clients are guided in a 20-foot Alumaweld boat with a 150 horsepower Mercury outboard. A day on the water with all fish-ing gear provided costs $150 per person. Military,

seniors and Washington state employees get a $25 discount. Out on the water, Bush uses a technique called back trolling, where the boat is held against the current and then slowly backed down the river. He also free drifts, where the clients cast off the side of the boat as the boat travels downriver with the current. Even people who are experienced fishermen hire guides to help them learn new areas, says Bush. It helps take the guesswork out of it.

The couple is relying on their education to take the guesswork out of running a full-time business. Marc obtained his bachelors degree in Organizational Leadership from Brandman University, while Chris received her bachelors degree in Business Administration from Brandman, and is now working on her MBA, with graduation in August 2014. We want to use our degrees, says Chris Bush. Im looking to advance on base, and then when I retire, maybe teach, plus run the guide business.

Marc Bushs education isnt done yet. Hes also set to acquire his six-pack Coast Guard license for taking out passengers. Ive had my boat for 10 years, and Ive been guid-ing now for four years, he says.

Why hire a guide instead of just fish from shore? Boats cost money and theres maintenance, says Bush. This way, people dont have to buy a boat, and I can share my local knowledge to get people on the water.

With the weather warm-ing up, the Bushes are hop-ing business heats up, too. And even if the weather is cool and rainy? I get wet, but we still catch fish and have a good time.

For state employees who have been thinking about continuing their education, now is the time to enroll at Brandman University. Summer term classes start May 5 and June 30, and scholarships may be available. For addi-tional information visit www.brandman.edu or call 877-659-3982.

Yelm couple makes fishing their days work

Contributed Photo

Marc and Chris Bush are the owners of Twisted Waters Guide Service which they began in 2009. Marc is retired Army Special Forces veteran.

Here is a listing of resources for veterans:

American Legion Post 245 Service Office, Assisting Veterans, open every Thursday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 19068 Jensen Way, Suite 3A, downtown Poulsbo, 360-779-5456.

American Legion Post

245, general meeting every third Thursday at 7 p.m., 19068 Jensen Way, Suite 3A, downtown Poulsbo, www.alpost245.org, 360-779-5456

WorkSource Kitsap County, veterans represen-tatives, 1300 Sylvan Way, Floor 2, Bremerton, 98310, 360-337-4767, jmckenna@esd.wa.gov, or Michael Robinson, Disabled Veterans Outreach, 360-337-4727, mrobinson@esd.wa.gov.

American Legion Post 149, 4922 Kitsap Way , Bremerton, 98312, 360-373-8983, www.legion-149wa.org.

VWF Post 239 Bremerton Post, 190 Dora Ave., Bremerton, 98312, 360-377-6739, Meetings are 7 p.m. 2nd Tuesday of the month.

Silverdale American Legion Post 109, 10710 Silverdale Way, Silverdale, meets on the third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at All Star Lanes & Casino, Alpost109cmdr@gmail.

com, Facebook: American Legion Post 109 Silverdale.

American Legion Post, 172 Bainbridge Island, 7880 NE Bucklin Hill Rd., (Mail) P.O. Box 10372, Phone 206-842-5000, Meets first and third Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Website: www.bainbridgeislandpost172.org, Facebook: American Legion Post 172 Bainbridge

Island, Twitter account:WashAmerLegion172

Disable American Veterans, 2315 Burwell St., Bremerton, 98312, 360-373-2397.

Marine Corps League, Olympic Peninsula Detachment 531, 2315 Burwell St., Bremerton, 98312, 360-265-7492, meets on the first

Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m.

Mason County VFW Post No. 1694 in Shelton, Memorial Hall, Second and Franklin streets, meets second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 7 p.m. Beverages and snacks are served at 6 p.m. by the Ladies Auxiliary. For more information call 360.426.4546.

American Legion Post 200, Belfair, PO Box 24, Belfair, 98528, 360-731-4415, meets first Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. For more information email Tom Welch at xtw@aol.com.

To be listed in Veterans Resources, email lkelly@soundpublishing.com

Veterans resources throughout the Kitsap area

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By Margo Myers Margo Myers

Communications

Daniel Mwangi is a high achiever with a plan. After serving in the U.S. Army in aviation mainte-nance, he is now a finan-cial analyst with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Kansas City, Missouri. He credits his mas-ters degree in Human Resource Management from Brandman University on the Joint Base Lewis McChord campus in 2013 as a big part of his success.

Mwangi already had a bachelors degree in Corporate Finance from Southwest Minnesota State University, and wanted to build on that knowledge. I knew I needed to improve my people skills and also understand how to channel human capital into sustain-able long term profits for any organization I worked for, says Mwangi. I chose HR, and my degree has helped me a lot. My HR skills help me navigate

through many situations, allowing me to take on leadership to ensure we get to a yes with zero conflict. The people skills I learned are immensurable.

Mwangi also wanted a specific type of learning experience. As active mili-tary, he needed a university

that offered classes that wouldnt interfere with his military duty and missions. He also says he didnt want to repeat what he had seen happen to others after they were halfway done with their degree, and then were told to go online full-time or travel to a campus

located miles away. I chose Brandman because they are military friendly, located on base, and they worked relentlessly to ensure ser-vice members were accom-modated as much as pos-sible, Mwangi says.

Mwangi also credits his Brandman professors,

including Dr. Arron Grow and Dr. Ben Lastimado, with making a lasting impact. Dr. Ben was an amazing instructor, says Mwangi. He connected life experiences and tai-lored them into classroom teachings, igniting the thought process with real life stories, and instruc-tional models that painted a picture that textbooks could not. He taught us how to put wheels onto the wagon of professional, aca-demic and personal life.

Mwangi shares advice for others who are considering advanced college degrees, stating that its not easy, but also isnt hard if it helps you achieve your dream career. Ask yourself what do I love doing, what career would make me happy if I did it for 60 years, advises Mwangi. Remember its not all about the money, but attaining a degree that will bring total life satisfac-tion and happiness.

As for future career plans, Mwangi is dream-ing big. He plans to use his knowledge and experience

as a public servant on a global platform. Having been born and raised in Africa, I have seen what lack of housing, poor urban planning, lack of people skills, poor management of finances and resources can do to young kids who are in their formative years, says Mwangi. I want to use my knowledge on housing and urban development to help ensure we have tomorrows generations bristling with hope, and I want to one day work with United Nations Human Settlements Program.

And this ambitious life-long learner takes one of Lastimados lessons to heart; a lesson all of us could share. He taught me not to wait to get to the peak of my career to see the world and its vast eternity, but to look and see the world as it is, to enjoy the view as well as the challenges, says Mwangi. Most importantly, he taught us not to forget life lessons that still humble us and make us human.

Graduate hopes to launch global career path

Contributed photo

Daniel Mwangi, who served in the U.S. Army, has used his advanced degree to build a career path that will include global humanitarian service.

OLYMPIA Calling the 2014 legislative session one of the most beneficial for veterans in a generation, Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler said the pas-sage of five major veteran-related bills is one more example of how the Majority Coalition Caucus is changing

priorities in Olympia. In April, Gov. Jay Inslee

signed Senate bills that removed the one-year wait-ing period for veterans or active members of the mili-tary to qualify for in-state tuition rates, and award college credit for military training. There are 22,000

veterans, active-duty per-sonnel and their dependents enrolled in Washingtons community and techni-cal colleges; the University of Washington has 1,344 enrolled veterans alone.

In addition to educa-tion benefits, new state laws expand access to home- and community-based service

programs for dependents of military-service members, provide for special recogni-tion on state drivers licenses and identification cards, and provide additional support and maintenance for state veteran retirement homes and facilities.

The Majority Coalition Caucus is working to put

people and solutions above politics, which is a change for Olympia, said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. The people we serve include many veter-ans who were stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base, Joint Base Lewis-McChord or other Washington installa-tions and chose to make our state their home after tran-sitioning out of the military. Our coalition is acknowledg-ing them and their service with these new opportuni-ties.

Sen. Bruce Dammeier, R-Puyallup, is one of three veterans serving in the Senates Majority Coalition Caucus.

We are keenly aware of the sacrifice and personal cost that service in the military requires, said Dammeier, a Navy veteran and graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. We want to keep veterans and their families in our state and make sure they have the best possible transition into civilian life.

Veterans serving in the Majority Coalition Caucus include Dammeier; Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, who serves as a commander in the Naval Reserves; and Sen. Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla, an Army veteran.

According to Defense Manpower Data Center, 11,173 service members left the military in 2013 and made Washington their home; more than 600,000 veterans reside in Washington.

The Senate bills that ben-efit veterans and became law are:

Senate Bill 5318, intro-duced by Sen. Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor: removed the one-year waiting period for veterans or active members of the military for the pur-pose of eligibility for resident tuition.

Senate Bill 5969, intro-duced by Sen. Steve OBan, R-Pierce County: awards academic credit for military training

Senate Bill 5691, intro-duced by Hewitt, R-Walla Walla: establishes a state vet-erans home in Walla Walla.

Senate Bill 5775, intro-duced by Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver: provides vet-eran designation on drivers licenses and identification cards

House Bill 2363 /SB 6351, introduced by Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn: expanded home and community-based service programs for depen-dents of military service members in Washington.

Legislature advanced education benefits for veterans

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