LifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransThe Voice for Kitsap’s Veterans and their Families December 2014

Honoring those who bear the scars

A visit to the American Disabled for Life Memorial

Published monthly by Sound Publishing Co. | Updated regularly online on KitsapVeteransLife.com

❚ Compass House: Where second chances are born: pages 6-7

❚ Careers, job sources, and bene� ts: pages 8-9

❚ Pro� le: Burt Boyd❚ Veterans Advisory Board needs you: pages 11-12

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By JEFF VANDERFORDSpecial to Veterans Life

There are a lot of monuments and memorials in the

nation’s capital, honoring generals and bureaucrats and presidents and wars — wars we won, wars we lost or, as with Korea, a war which ended in stalemate.

And now, finally, there is a place of remembrance, a tribute to the brave men and women who fought those wars and came home with permanent scars, dis-abled for life.

On Oct. 5, the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial was dedi-

cated as a way for sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, wives, husbands and friends to reflect on the price of valor by all of this country’s courageous service members, both the living and dead.

Unlike those that line the National Mall or Tidal Basin, the new disabled veterans shrine sits on a 2.4-acre triangle of land between busy streets just south of the Botanical Gardens, in the shadow

of the Capitol and the Rayburn House Office Building.

The initial concept was begun in 1998 by private residents, then propelled to completion through the efforts of dedicated veterans and members of Congress. The central point of the Memorial is a star-shaped infinity pool, with one ceremonial flame in the center. A grove of cypress and gingko biloba trees stands sentry beside the reflecting waters, sig-nifying the persistence of hope, according to Richard Murray, the site’s public affairs officer.

“We want people to come, to be comfortable, to understand the suffering our veterans experienced — and still do,” he said. “Above all, we want people to remember.”

Facing the pool, green glass laminated panels are used to encase the thoughts of disabled veterans, some famous — such as former Kansas Senator Bob Dole, severely wounded in Italy in World War II — others not so famous, but all heartfelt and genuine. Interspersed are bronze cutouts that capture the somber mood, combined with haunting, transparent life-sized pho-tos embedded in the glass.

At night, the images and quotes are illuminated, dra-matically highlighting the elements of loss and sac-rifice. Strategically-placed granite benches allow the

2 I VETERANS LIFE | DECEMBER 2014 DECEMBER, @

“Each of you bears upon his body the permanent, honorable scars of dangerous service. Service rendered in order that our great nation might

continue to live according to the expressed will of its own citizens.” — Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower

For those who bear the scarsFacing the pool, green glass laminated panels are used to encase the thoughts of disabled veterans. Interspersed are bronze cutouts that capture the somber mood, combined with haunting, transparent life-sized photos embedded in the glass. Jeff VanDerford / Special to Veterans Life

The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington, D.C.

See MEMORIAL, Page 3

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The Galletta Dance Theater Presents

December 13, 2014 At 1:00pm and 7:00pm

At North Kitsap High School Auditorium

Adults $15.00 Seniors $12.00 Youth $10.00www.gallettadance.com (360) 779-1122

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Shelby WilliamsRetail Operations ManagerHarrison Medical Center

It takes all of us working together to be successful!Make a pledge today at www.unitedwaykitsap.org

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Downtown Port OrchardPart of Festival of Chimes & Lights

Free movies at Dragonfly Cinema, Jingle Bell Boutique at Port Orchard Pavilion, Jingle Bell Run, Wagon Hay Rides,

Tree lighting, Music, Santa and more!

• Prizes to be awarded

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public to offer silent tribute. There’s lots of space for visitors in wheelchairs.

Bordering the site to the south is a newly-created garden which, as with the trees when they grow, will eventually help to soften the sights and sounds of traffic while providing a living backdrop, a sym-bol of renewal. The landscaping was care-fully selected to thrive in the tough urban environment.

The Memorial was designed and built as a constant reminder to all who visit of the terrible cost of human conflict.

And it works.On a recent visit to the capital, my wife

Nancy and I took the Metrorail and bus to the site, having seen the dedication ceremony on television. As we wandered through the Memorial, we were immedi-ately struck by the serenity of the scene and how the city sounds receded as we read the quotes and viewed the photos and sculptures. It isn’t as grand as the Lincoln or Jefferson monuments, but it doesn’t need to be.

Thankfully, the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial will be here forever. On your next trip to Washington, D.C., don’t miss it.

— Jeff VanDerford, a retired reporter for Sound Publishing, served as a Navy lieuten-ant during the Vietnam War. He now lives in Staunton, Virginia. He can be reached at jenabo670@whidbey.com.

DECEMBER 2014 | VETERANS LIFE I 3

The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial is located at 150 Washington Ave., Washington, D.C. It is bounded on the west by Second Street, on the east by Washington Avenue, and on the south by opposing entrance ramps to Interstate 395. The Memorial is adjacent to Bartholdi Park with a clear view of the Capitol Building.The easiest way to reach it is by Metrorail, taking either the Orange or Blue line to the Federal Center SW station. Metrobuses numbers 32, 34 and 36 stop behind the U.S. Botanical Garden Conservatory at Independence Avenue and First Street SW. Look south and you’ll see the green panels in the distance.

IF YOU GO

MemorialContinued from page 2

The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial was designed and built as a constant reminder to all who visit of the terrible cost of human conflict. Jeff VanDerford / Special to Veterans Life

“This memorial is my country’s gift to me ... It is a memorial of healing. It is a

memorial of hope.” — Roberto Barrera, USMC

By THOM STODDERTVETERANS VOICE

Most veterans have a lot of misunderstanding with how the VA functions

and thus are confused in dealing with the VA for both compensa-tion claims and/or getting medical treatment.

Hospitals, clinics, Vet Centers and such provide treatment. They work under their own guidelines, regulations, and budgets. The Veterans Benefits Administration — or, as most commonly called, the Regional Office — manages compensation/service connection for military-related chronic ill-

nesses and injuries, plus other commonly known benefits such as home loan guarantees and education.

The Veterans Benefits Administration does not work under a budget. They are the people that confer the legal status on what is “service connected” and what is not.

Hospitals, unfortunately, do have budgets. Fortunately, the VA Puget Sound Region has care that is considered very good. VA medi-cal facilities will provide free treat-ment and medications for service connected medical problems. In some cases, all care is free or a co-payment may be required.

Both the hospital and benefits administrations have depart-ments, divisions, subdivisions and contractors. There is lots of room for communications to break down. So be proactive and check carefully who will do what and when. Let’s start with making a claim for compensation of a medi-cal issue.

Evidence is essential when making a claim for service con-nection of a medical problem and most frequently comes from mili-tary medical records. If these are missing, evidence can come from other sources such as civilian medical records, witnesses, pho-tos, news stories, and old letters home — almost anything support-ing a link between the medical issue and military service.

Credibility of the evidence is more important than the source. A statement from your wife, who stands to benefit financially from a favorable decision, is not as valued as a former military supervisor whom you have not seen in years. Humorously, a veteran’s wife signed a document attesting his tinnitus was so bad she could hear the ringing in his ears even in the kitchen with the TV on. Again, the strength of the evidence is more significant than where it comes from.

The first time any claim is made

4 I VETERANS LIFE | DECEMBER 2014 DECEMBER, @

WRITE TO US: Veterans Life welcomes letters from its readers. To make room for as many letters as possible, keep your letter to 350 words maximum. Include your name and daytime phone number for verification. Send to P.O. Box 278, Poulsbo, WA. 98370; fax to 360-779-8276; or email rwalker@soundpublishing.com.OPINION

Several stories in this edition of Veterans Life direct veterans to services that can help them get ahead in housing and health care. In many cases, getting that hand up starts with

your friendly, local Veterans Service Officer. Here’s a directory of VSOs and others assisting veterans. Give them a call.

American Legion Post 109, SilverdaleAddress: 10710 Silverdale Way, Silverdale. Meets on the third Monday of the month, 7 p.m., at All Star

Lanes & Casino.Contact: Email alpost109cmdr@gmail.com, or visit on Facebook.

American Legion Post 149, BremertonAddress: 4922 Kitsap Way, Bremerton. 360-373-8983. Online: www.legion149wa.org

American Legion Post 172, Bainbridge IslandAddress: 7880 NE Bucklin Hill Road, Bainbridge Island. 206-842-

5000. Meets first and third Friday of the month, 7:30 p.m.Online: www.bainbridgeislandpost172.org

American Legion Post 200, BelfairMeets on the first Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. Contact: Tom Welch, email xtw@aol.com.American Legion Post 245 Veterans Service Office, PoulsboAddress: 19068 Jensen Way, Suite 3A, downtown Poulsbo. 360-

779-5456.Open every Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Disabled American Veterans■ 2315 Burwell St., Bremerton. 360-373-2397.■ 4475 Birch Ave W., Port Orchard.Chapter meetings: Potluck noon, meeting 1 p.m., second

Saturday of each month■ Adjutant/Service OfficeNorth Mason Resources, 140 NE State Route 300, Belfair. 360-

552-2303.Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday or by appoint-

ment.Kitsap County Veterans Assistance Program

Address: Kitsap County Department of Human Services, 614 Division St., MS-23, Port Orchard.

Contact: Tom Vialpando, program coordinator, 360-337-4811. Online: www.kitsapgov.com/hs/veterans/VA.htmMarine Corps League Olympic Peninsula Detachment 531Address: 2315 Burwell St., Bremerton. 360-265-7492.Meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m.

Suquamish Tribe Veterans Resource OfficeLaVada Anderson360-394-8515 landerson@suquamish.nsn.us.

VFW Post 239, BremertonAddress: 190 Dora Ave., Bremerton. 360-377-6739.Meets second Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m. (For a veterans services officer, visit the Disabled American Veterans

post at 2315 Burwell St., Bremerton)VFW Post No. 1694, Shelton

Address: Memorial Hall, Second and Franklin streets, Shelton. 360-426-4546.

Meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, 7 p.m. Beverages and snacks are served at 6 p.m. by the Ladies Auxiliary.

WorkSource Kitsap CountyAddress: 1300 Sylvan Way, second floor, Bremerton. 360-337-

4767. Contact: Michael Robinson, disabled veterans outreach, 360-

337-4727, mrobinson@esd.wa.gov. Or jmckenna@esd.wa.gov.

Veterans service officers can help

See STODDERT, Page 5

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IN OUR OPINION

ADMINISTRATIONLori Maxim, publisher, ext. 1050Jodi Blackmore, office administrator, ext. 1550

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LifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeThe Voice for Kitsap’s Veterans and their Families

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360-779-4464 | 360-779-8276 (fax)Email: (First initial, last name)@soundpublishing.com

SOUND OFF

The VA is bigger than most realize

Attention: Military Families

Military Retirees and Active Duty Family members in Kitsap County now have a choice in where they receive their health care. They can visit the high quality primary care providers at Harrison Health Partners and enjoy all the benefits and security of TRICARE Prime under US Family Health Plan.

US Family Health Plan is an alternative to United Healthcare Military and Veterans and Naval Hospital Bremerton. US Family Health Plan Members get:

Same-day urgent care appointments Your choice of primary care providers within the Harrison Health Partners Medical Group Quick and seamless approvals for specialty care First class customer service when you need help Discounts on chiropractic care, eyeglasses, acupuncture, naturopathic medicine, recreational activities and much more.

Find out if this TRICARE Prime option is right for your family. Call 1-866-418-7347 or go to www.usfhpnw.org to request an information packet or reserve a seat at a briefing.

A new TRICARE® Prime option has come to Kitsap County.

TRICARE is a registered trademark of the Department of Defense, Defense Health Agency. All rights reserved.

Ask for a private consultation with a USFHP representative if you cannot attend a briefing. www.usfhpnw.org

AdKitsapwBoldLead-inshalfpage.indd 1 4/22/14 3:35 PMDECEMBER 2014 | VETERANS LIFE I 5

“When writing to the VA, keep remarks short and to the point. Adding drama to any correspondence can lower the credibility to the readers —

VA employees. If there are implausible aspects of your story, explain them in simple terms and get some sort of corroborative evidence.”

MAIL CALLHave the courage to report on sexual assault in military

Regarding the article, “PTSD: It’s real, it’s treat-able, and you’re not alone” (August 2014 Veterans Life):

A good article and helpful to those of us with PTSD, but it is a shame that the thousands of men and women who suffer with PTSD from Military Sexual Trauma (MST) have been left out. Each time we are ignored only reinforces the aura of shame we are encouraged to carry when we did nothing wrong. And each time a report is silent about the consequences of this crime only encourages the perpetrators to act again.

I am saddened that this publication does not have the courage to speak truth to power.

MARY MCLEOD PARMENTER

U.S. Marine Corps, 1960-61Bremerton

Editor’s note: Thank you, Marine, for your advocacy. Look for a story on this issue in the January Veterans Life.

during the lifetime of a veteran, a VA form 21-526 or VA form 21-526EZ must be filled out. After that, a simple handwritten let-ter is sufficient for any further issues. In fact, a claimant does not even need to fill out VA form 21-526 at first. Just write to the Regional Office and they will send you what they need for documentation.

Once the 526 is completed, it starts building a history or, in VA jargon, the C-file. A copy of every communication sent to the veteran or received from the veteran is supposed to be in that file forever.

When writing to the VA, keep remarks short and to the point. Adding drama to any correspon-dence can lower the credibility to the readers — VA employees. If there are implausible aspects of your story, explain them in simple terms and then get some sort of collaborative evidence to submit at the same time.

Often, a vet speaks with a help-ful VA employee who suggests to the veteran that the injury or illness is service connected. In other cases, the veteran knows that the injury or illness is service connected and even gets treatment for it. In either situation, the veteran incor-rectly expects that he or she will receive compensation, and waits and waits and waits. Then, he or she finally calls and is told there is no record anywhere of that claim ever being made.

The vet is upset, believing the VA has lost his or her claim. In reality, the vet failed to make a formal claim to the Benefits Administration of the VA.

Generally, a claim for benefits or an increase in benefits specifi-cally must be made by the veter-an, submitted with his or her own signature. A visit to a medical facility should not be considered by a veteran to be a claim of any sorts. The appropriate paper-work is needed and, again, with a signature. Claims for service connection can never be made through a medical facility.

Access to medical treatment is started with an application from a VA medical facility. Then, a deci-sion is made as to what category the veteran will be assigned to. Every veteran is eligible for care, but the category determines if the applicant will be assigned to a care team with a primary medical provider.

Not all facilities can serve all the categories, so assignment is based on the rating percentage awarded by the Regional Office with further consideration that the veteran was a POW or is a Purple Heart recipient. Recently discharged combat veterans are eligible for the enhanced Combat Veterans benefit. Emergency care at a non-VA facility can sometimes be provided. Care is needed here, so best call the Hospital Administration ASAP.

Medical treatment at a VA treatment facility does not confer the status of “service connection” on a medical problem. “Service connection” is the legal status conferred on a claim that is made only by a Regional Office and only after a rating decision has

been completed. So many veter-ans get this wrong.

This brings us to one final and very important point: read and re-read all that the VA sends you. Determine what is appropriate for your case. The VA is a very large complex organization and, with all bureaucracies, often fails to communicate well within its own. Anger and frustrated are not the answer; just get informed.

Last but not least is the VA Cemetery Administration; any funeral facility can assist here.

The above information is general so use the following resources:

n “Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, and Survivors” in an excellent handbook, downloadable from the VA’s website for free. www.va.gov/opa/ publications/ben-efits_book.asp

n Department of Veteran Affairs, 915 Second Ave., Seattle, WA 98174. 800-827-1000.

n VA Medical Center and American Lake facility, 800-329-8387.

StoddertContinued from page 4

*APR refers to the minimum Annual Percentage Rate. This APR is a Limited Time Offer for models 2012 and newer with a max term of 48 months. Payment example: Payments on $20,000 loan at 1.99% APR with 48 month term would be $434. All loans are subject to credit approval. The rate for which the borrower qualifies will depend on the borrower’s credit score, term of the loan, down payment, and past credit performance. On new, untitled automobiles, Kitsap Credit Union will finance up to 130% of the purchase price plus tax, license, and warranty not to exceed $3,000 ($3,500 for 4x4 vehicle). Rate not available during first year of existing Kitsap Credit Union loans.

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SaturdayDec. 6th

Port of KingstonA Family Friendly Event

1-3:30pm Kiwanis Santa’s Workshop Kingston Cove Yacht Club 3:30pm Free Cookies & Hot Cocoa at the Port Live Music by the Jingle Jam Band5:00pm Santa arrives by Fire Engine Tree Lighting Ceremony

BONFIRES • WINE & BEER GARDEN • FOOD VENDORS

The Kingston Chamber will be accepting non-perishable food donations

during these events

By RICHARD WALKERVeterans Life

CENTRAL VALLEY — The world is a lot faster to Blue Sky

Gunhammer, Oglala, since he got out of prison this fall after 20 years.

He expresses amaze-ment at the cellphone pic-tures someone is taking of his beaded artwork. People were shooting photos with film when he went in back in ’94.

At this one-acre goat and chicken farm on rural Central Valley Road, Gunhammer is building a new life. He does his part in helping to take care of the place, which he shares with eight others. The farm is bucolic and far from urban temptations; the nearest bus stop is a

mile away. “It’s far enough out of

town that you’ve really got to think about getting into trouble,” he said.

If he’s not doing odd jobs for pay — he recently did some house painting and some horse walking — he volunteers in the community. He’ll soon help build a porch for someone in need. He looks forward to resuming his long-ago career as an iron worker.  

“I like it here because it’s slower,” Gunhammer said. “It’s helped me a lot.” 

This is Compass House, a transitional home for men who got lost on the bad road and are seeking their way back, a place that believes in second chances. 

It opened in December 2013, with room for 15 men but a current popula-tion of nine. Its program of providing a safe and peaceful place to live, where men can focus on improving themselves and securing their future — and providing support services to help them reach their goals — is get-ting high marks from the Department of Corrections and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

All of the men have done time; three are veterans.

“This is a mission for me,” said Hal Fergusson, an Air Force veteran and founder of Compass House. “When I say a ‘mis-sion,’ I mean, I’m a spiritual person. We like to expose, but not impose. We’re not faith-based, but if someone finds faith along the way, that’s all for the better.

“Our primary goal is to [help] fellows that have served the country and got into some trouble, and either don’t have family or they have a family that doesn’t want them back. The only thing we insist on is you have to be clean and sober.”

Getting your life in order after being behind bars is a tall order. When you get out of prison, you

get a $500 voucher for three months to help you cover your expenses on the outside. As far as help with goal setting, manag-ing finances, and life skills training, you’re pretty much on your own.

The advocates at Compass House believe that in order to combat homelessness, the men must be armed with the tools they need to succeed and help them to become contributing members of society.

Here’s how it works. The men who lived here learned about Compass House from a counselor before they got out, or from their probation officer. If the resident is a veteran, Val Hawkins, a veterans services officer, helps them get their VA benefits reinstated.

“In those first three months, it’s crucial they find the direction they want to go,” said Mike Toro, one of the directors of Compass House. “We help them with coming up with a plan.”

House manager Eric Adkins, a native of Cincinnati, is a former Army NCO who served as a cavalry scout in Iraq and is being treated for PTSD. He is a 4.0 student at Olympic College, where he is studying welding. He is one of two Compass House residents that are in school.

He went over the daily routine at the house: After morning chores — there’s a chore list — the men go

6 I VETERANS LIFE | DECEMBER 2014 DECEMBER, @

Where second chances are born

Blue Sky Gunhammer is building a new life at Compass House on Central Valley Road. After completing a 20-year prison sentence, he said the farm-like atmosphere “is therapeutic.” Kipp Robertson / Veterans Life

Transitional home provides a new start for veterans, men on probation

See COMPASS, Page 7

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to school, or to work, or to job interviews, or meet with corrections officer Debra Giczkowski. They help maintain the house and grounds — one resi-dent grabbed the ladder and cleaned the gutters. Curfew is from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., although there’s some flexibility for jobs.

Compass House resi-dents and advocates meet every four to five weeks to discuss challenges or con-cerns; Giczkowski some-times attends. “If they have an objection, they’re not afraid to say it,” Fergusson said of the men. “And they’re not afraid to make the necessary corrections.”

Fergusson made dinner for everybody at the last meeting. There were no complaints about his cook-ing, he quipped.

Caring for the house and grounds is no small task. This dome house is more than 4,000 square feet, with eight bedrooms, five bathrooms, two living areas, two kitchens and a workout room.

The chickens provide a steady supply of fresh eggs for the table. The goats provide entertainment; the ram and doe go to the fence for head rubs from visitors, while their two kids romp and chase.

Raised beds will be cultivated for gardens; Gunhammer and another resident, Bone Redbird, who is Port Gamble S’Klallam, have plans for a clambake bed. There is no opposition to clambakes.

Some computers have arrived, a donation from a government agency; a computer lab will be set up so the men can write their resumes and do job searches.

Kim Toro, Mike’s wife and a director of Compass House, said these men are labor-ready, with experience in painting, drywalling, construction and other skills. Compass House residents have been honing their skills with some remodeling at the house, and advocates have connected them with other work. Toro invites other work opportunities where the men can use their skills, and build their resumes and their self-esteem.

Effort began 5 years agoFergusson, who owns

Geneva Real Estate in Silverdale, got the idea for Compass House about five years ago and began look-ing for a suitable property. In 2013, this property on Central Valley Road, a little over a mile north of Waaga Way, became available. With its size and setting, it was perfect.

Fergusson and three others obtained a lease- option on it and the work began. Compass House filed for and received des-ignation as a charitable lim-ited liability corporation, or LLC, in Washington state, and has filed for designa-tion as a federal 501c3.

The furnishings were provided by donors. Hampton Inn provided

comforters, pillows and towels.

In the course of Compass House’s genesis, proponents had built contacts with the Department of Corrections, Department of Veterans Affairs, National Association of Black Veterans, Catholic Community Services in Bremerton, Kitsap Community Resources, and Department of Social and Health Services. Those agencies and organizations provide various support services to Compass House residents.

Adam Dahl, a 1994 graduate of North Kitsap High School, moved in to Compass House on Nov. 4, after serving one year and a day at Stafford Creek Corrections Center

in Aberdeen. He’s saving money so he can rejoin the pipelayers union. Compass House is helping him to do that, and more.

“What it does is it holds me accountable,” Dahl said of Compass House. “It’s a great group of guys. All of the people here are try-

ing to improve their lives. We’ve got each other’s backs.”

Redbird did two years in prison; he learned of Compass House from his counselor and moved in on Aug. 28. He’s eager to work — he did some house painting and horse walking with Gunhammer — and plans to study to become a fish biologist for the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe. In his spare time, he and Gunhammer drum and sing traditional songs. He makes and paints hand drums.

If he can’t work as an iron worker, Gunhammer would like to work as an artist. He displayed intri-cate beaded work he’s completed — key chains, pendants, pouches — since he’s lived at Compass House. A large, beaded Seahawk pendant gets a lot of attention (sorry — it’s sold). His work will be exhibited at Lisa Stirrett Glass Art Studio in Silverdale in spring.

No one taught him to

do this art form; his skill is part of his DNA, the act of beading is spiritual to him.

“I center myself when I’m beading,” Gunhammer said. It helps connect him with Ancestors who did this work before him.

Fergusson is pleased with what he sees in the men at Compass House — men who need a second chance.

“We believe in sec-ond and third chances,” Fergusson said.

Mike Toro added, “They’re here to change. By providing them with a stable living environment, we can help them forget the past and move for-ward on their future.”

HOW TO HELP: Make a financial con-tribution. Donate bed-ding, cleaning supplies, men’s clothing, personal hygiene items, yard tools. Volunteer. Hire a resident.

Call 360-620-1366 or 981-2058, or email compass-housekitsap@gmail.com. Online: www.compass-housenw.com

DECEMBER 2014 | VETERANS LIFE I 7

CompassContinued from page 6

“They’re here to change. By providing them with a stable living environment, we can help them forget the past and move forward on their future.”

— Mike Toro, member, Compass House board of directors

Left, Compass House manager Eric Adkins listens as founder Hal Fergusson points out facts about Compass House. Kipp Robertson / Veterans Life

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Non-Military Welcome

Seasons Greetings

Civilian Non-Military Welcome

DEC. 9-15n Navy Band

Northwest concerts: Commander Navy Region Northwest presents “A Gift of Music.” Bring your loved ones for an eve-ning of song featuring Deception Brass, a New Orleans-style brass band; and Passage, a rock band that Josh Kerns of KIRO Radio calls “a contempo-rary face on the fighting force.”

The music performed will feature timeless clas-sics, including “March of the Toys” by Victor Herbert, “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson, and a holiday medley sung by the Navy’s barbershop

quartet. Free and open to the public.

Dec. 9, 7 p.m., Everett Performing Arts Center.

Dec. 10, 7 p.m., Bremerton High School.

Dec. 12, 7 p.m., Shelton High School.

Dec. 14, 4 p.m., Oak Harbor High School.

Dec. 15, 7 p.m., Town Hall, Seattle.

Online: www.facebook.com/navybandnorthwest

DEC. 7n 21st annual Pearl

Harbor Remembrance Ceremony, 1 p.m., Naval Undersea Museum, Keyport’s Jack Murdock Auditorium. The event commemorates the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, trigger-ing the United States’ engagement in World War II. Schedule: Capt. Dave Kohnke, commander of NUWC Keyport, historical

review of the attack; com-ments from Pearl Harbor survivors; performances by Navy Band Northwest; reception in the museum lobby. Free and open to the public.

DEC. 11n Kitsap County

Veterans Advisory Board meeting, 5:30 p.m., Silverdale Community Center Evergreen Room. Online: www.kitsap-gov.com/hs/veterans/ meetinginfo.htm

DEC. 11-12n Fourth annual

Seattle Stand Down, Dec. 11, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 12, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Mitchell Activity Center, Seattle Central College, 1718 Broadway, Seattle. Online: www.theseattle standdown.org

DEC. 13n National Wreaths

Across America Remembrance Ceremony, 9 a.m., Washington Veterans Home Cemetery, 900 block of Olney Ave. SE, Port Orchard. To spon-sor a wreath, go to www.wreathsacrossamerica.org (the site code for Retsil is WAWVHR). Contact: Sean, 360-792-6941, mad-lox-man@comcast.net

MARCH 28n Military Appreciation

Day, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Kitsap County Fairgrounds Pavilion. Services and resources from more than 100 organizations; fun, games and entertainment for children; and assis-tance for veterans. Online: www.kitsapgov.com/hs/veterans/VA.htm

8 I VETERANS LIFE | DECEMBER 2014 DECEMBER, @

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

CAREERSPuget Sound Naval Shipyard hiring 850 entry-levels

BREMERTON — Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Bremerton, released the following statement on Nov. 25 after the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility announced it will hire 850 entry-level work-ers.

“A growing workforce at our shipyard boosts a growing middle-class in our community,” Kilmer said. “This announcement is a great opportunity for folks looking to learn new skills and build a career while earning a quality wage. It’s good news for veterans and service-members transitioning to civilian life and looking for a job that builds on their experiences serving on our behalf too.”

For a list of jobs available, go to www.

navsea.navy.mil/ship-yards/puget/page/EmploymentOpportunities.aspx.

New online tool connects veterans to civilian jobs

OLYMPIA — The state-wide WorkSource system has launched a new online tool that makes it easier for veterans and exiting ser-vice members to find jobs in Washington’s civilian workforce.

The Veterans Military Crosswalk on Go2WorkSource.com goes beyond other websites that simply translate military skills into possible civilian occupations. Crosswalk converts veterans’ Military Occupation Codes into spe-cific jobs that match their skills and experience.

The tool works on mobile devices and can send email notification to users when it finds appro-

priate job openings. “I can think of no bet-

ter way to honor our state’s veterans than to make it easier for them to find jobs when they return home,” said Dale Peinecke, commissioner of the Employment Security Department. “The new job translator is a major ser-vice improvement for our veteran customers.”

Washington is home to 632,000 military veterans, and their overall unemploy-ment rate for last year was 7.1 percent.

During the last program year — July 2013 to June 2014 — WorkSource career centers placed nearly 21,000 veterans into jobs at an average wage of $35,600 per year.

Most centers have veter-an employment specialists, whose sole job is to help disabled and non-disabled veterans find jobs.

WorkSource is a partner-ship of state, local and non-profit agencies that deliver a wide array of employ-ment and training services throughout Washington.

To learn more about the Crosswalk, visit go2worksource.com, and click Services for Veterans under What’s Inside. You will find the tool in Employment resources on the left.

Continue in health care field after military service

OLYMPIA — The state Department of Health helps veterans transition into civilian jobs in health care.

“We owe our veterans a tremendous debt of gratitude,” state Health Secretary John Wiesman said. “This is a valuable way to thank them and to help them get started on their post-military careers, as well as help people in our state get access to health care from skilled, qualified professionals.”

The department works with other state agencies and non-profit organiza-tions to match veterans with opportunities and expedite the licensing process for veterans and spouses of military per-sonnel who relocate to Washington. It typically takes two weeks or less to

process an application for most veterans.

Staff members also help identify civilian professions that are similar to military occupations and work with education institutions to fill any gaps in training.

Military services have a significant pres-ence in Washington, and many people who serve want to live and work in Washington after leaving the armed forces. Those who provide health care must have Washington licenses in order to prac-tice in the state.

Veterans and those plan-ning to leave the military who are interested in get-ting Washington health care licenses may call 360-236-4700 or send an email to the agency’s licensing program. More informa-tion about the services provided by the agency can be found online, www.doh.wa.gov.

Job sourcesn For jobs at Puget

Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility: www.navsea.navy.mil/shipyards/puget/page/Employment Opportunities.aspx.

n For assistance finding a job in the civilian workforce: Go2WorkSource.com.

n For assistance in becoming a licensed health-care provider: www.doh.wa.gov.

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Vouchers will help homeless vets find stable housing

Eleven housing agen-cies in Washington state — including four in this region — will receive 335 housing vouchers to help homeless veterans obtain stable housing.

The vouchers are part of the Supportive Housing Program of the U.S. departments of Housing and Urban Development and Veterans Affairs. Through the program, homeless veterans receive vouchers through HUD and case management and services through the VA.

“Each one of these vouchers represents a step toward finding a permanent home for someone who sacrificed for our nation, but is strug-gling to find stable hous-ing,” Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, said in an announcement of the vouchers’ availability.

Murray’s office said the voucher program helped decrease veteran home-lessness 33 percent nation-wide since 2010.

Public housing agen-cies in this region that will receive vouchers, with the VA medical center and number and value of vouchers issued:

n King County Housing Authority, VA Puget Sound Health

Care System/Seattle: 92 vouchers, $745,134.

n Seattle Housing Authority, VA Puget Sound Health Care System/Seattle: 69 vouchers, $485,738.

n Housing Authority of the City of Tacoma, VA Puget Sound Health Care System/American Lake: 23 vouchers, $135,665.

n Housing Authority of Thurston County, VA Puget Sound Health Care System/American Lake: 17 vouchers, $97,951.

Option sent to veterans waiting 30+ days for care

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs began mailing Veterans Choice Cards on Nov. 17 to veter-ans waiting more than 30 days from their preferred date or the date that is medically determined by their physician for an appointment at a VA facil-ity.

“VA continues to focus on implementation of this new temporary benefit so that veterans receive the timely quality care they need in a way that reduces confusion and inefficien-cies,” VA Secretary Robert A. McDonald wrote in an open letter to veterans announcing the implemen-tation of the Choice Card

program.The Choice Program

is part of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, enacted in fall to enable VA to meet the demand for veterans’ health care in the short-term.

Through this initiative, VA medical centers have increased access to care inside and outside of VA, added more clinic hours and work days, deployed mobile medical units, and shared their best practices from VA’s high-performing facilities throughout the organization.

According to VA, signifi-cant improvements have resulted nationally:

n In the past four months, the number of appointments increased 1.2 million over the same period last year.

n New patient Primary Care wait time decreased 18 percent.

n 98 percent of appoint-ments have been com-pleted within 30 days of the veterans’ preferred date or the date determined to be medically necessary by a physician.

n 1.1 million non-VA care authorizations have been made, a 47 percent increase over the same period last year.

n Clinic hours in primary and specialty care have increased, and weekend and evening clinics at VA medical centers have been

added.VA is America’s larg-

est integrated health care system with more than 1,700 sites of care, serving approximately 9 million veterans enrolled in health care services.

Info: 1-866-606-8198 or www.va.gov/opa/choice-act/

Hit a rough patch? Veterans Assistance Fund can help

The Kitsap County Veterans Assistance Fund provides temporary assis-tance to veterans in finan-cial crisis.

Your local Veteran Service Officer is an expert on applying to the county’s Veterans Assistance Fund. The service officer’s role

is to help you prepare your application and to serve as your advocate if needed.

Step one: Ask the ser-vice officer if you might be eligible for benefits from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, the state Department of Veterans Affairs, or through local posts or chapters of vet-eran service organizations.

Step two: Ask the service officer to help you apply to the county assis-tance fund. The service officer will ask you to pro-vide required written docu-mentation to support your request. The more docu-mentation you can provide, the faster your application can be processed. You could receive up to $900 in services, and you might be eligible for services at other agencies.

If you are unemployed, not collecting unemploy-ment, and able to work, you will need to register with the Veterans Jobs Service Section at the WorkSource office at 1300 Sylvan Way in Bremerton. WorkSource will give you documentation to prove you have registered with them.

You do not need to regis-ter with WorkSource if you have been determined by a state or federal agency to be fully disabled, you are temporarily disabled for 30 or more days, you are collecting Social Security, or you are enrolled in an accredited education pro-gram.

To start the application process, see your local Veterans Service Office (see list on page 4).

DECEMBER 2014 | VETERANS LIFE I 9

BENEFITS, ETC.

By LESLIE KELLYlkelly@soundpublishing.com

Burt Boyd always thought he’d be a Navy man.

“When I was drafted, I didn’t expect to pass the eye exam to qualify for the Navy,” Boyd said. “But I wanted to. So by squinting and a bit of memorizing, I did manage to pass.

“I stood in line waiting assignment to the Navy, but before they got to me, they filled their quota. They told us the rest of us would be assigned to the Army.”

That was in early 1944 and, by March, Boyd was headed to Fort Knox, Kentucky for basic train-ing. “I remember the red clay,” he said. “When it was wet, it stuck to our shoes.” His other memory: two hills “aptly named Misery and Agony, which we had to march over to reach the training areas.”

There, he and other soldiers were instructed in the M1 Garand rifle, the carbine, the grease gun (a 45 mm handheld machine gun) and the 30 mm and 50 mm machine guns. “What I recall the most was that there was no ear protection,” he said.

From there, he was selected to attend the Armored Force School for communications.

“While I was in high school at North Kitsap High, I got my amateur radio license,” he said. “So it was an easy course for me to complete.” Soon, he got orders to go to Fort Meade, Maryland, for pro-cessing for overseas duty. “It was there that I had Thanksgiving Day dinner in 1944,” he said. Inside a black scrapbook, there it is — the menu for the day, calling for turkey and all the trimmings.

Boyd’s notebook is a collection of memora-bilia from his service days. Official duty assignment orders. Photos of him in

uniform. Holiday menus. German Deutschmarks and currency from France. It’s all there, along with notes he made when he had time. “We weren’t sup-posed to keep a diary,” he said of his days in the war. “But when I could, I’d write things down.”

His next move was to his points of embarkation, Camp Shanks and Camp Kilmer in New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York. He spent Christmas aboard the MS Volendam, a Dutch ocean liner converted to a troop ship and leased to the U.S. by the British.

“When I went aboard, I so looked forward to see-ing the Statue of Liberty,” he said. “But we were in the middle of the convoy and all I could see from one horizon to the other was ships.”

The food, he said, was “poor.” It wasn’t until GI cooks came aboard to take over the mess that it improved. “And there were British barbers on the ship. They’d stop in the after-noon for tea. That really upset those who were wait-ing in line for a haircut.”

The voyage to Le Havre, France, took 12 days. There were many rough days at sea, Boyd said. “We disembarked by climbing down rope ladders into personnel landing craft to reach shore,” he said. “The weather was freezing and we had only cots and tents.”

Soon they went by train to Fountainebleau, south of Paris. It was a 12-hour ride. When they got there, they were able to take showers and get fresh uniforms. Then they traveled to Metz, France, where Boyd and about 120 others were assigned to the 707th Tank Battalion. The 707th pro-vided armored support for the infantry.

In January 1945, Boyd

became a member of Headquarters Company as a radio operator. He was sent to Epernay, France, for training and then the battalion was sent to meet the 3rd Army. “We crossed the Rhine on a pontoon bridge at St. Goar, the site of the legendary Lorelei,” he said.

By April, he was in Eisennach, and then Gotha, and then passed through Ohrdruf. He saw other cities and then, in the first part of May, the advance was halted. “Except for isolated minor combat, the war ended there,” he said. “The sur-render on May 8, a few days later, was just another day for us.”

Boyd recalled that some of the German soldiers surrendered and volun-

teered to join the U.S. Army. “They had heard that as soon as Germany surrendered, the Russians and Allies were going to fight each other,” he said. “When the war ended, we were in the Russian zone of occupation. As we departed, the Germans begged us not to leave.”

His battalion then got orders to Nuremberg to commence occupation duties. “There was a policy of non-fraternization, which meant we were to snub German citizens,” he said. “If we were seen talking to civilians, we could be picked up by military police.”

Following that, Boyd and others who had a short time left in the service were taken to one of the camps near Le Havre.

“The camps were named after cigarettes,” he said. “My destination was Camp Lucky Strike … It was there that we learned that the atomic bomb had been dropped on Hiroshima, leading to the end of hos-tilities in Japan.”

Boyd got to see many processing depots — Namur, Belgium, Frankfurt, and finally, a Signal Service Battalion in Liege, Belgium. “This was the best I ever had it,” he said. “Two hours of duty every other night, and the rest was free time.”

It was too good to last. He was sent to Le Havre where demobilizing was happening. He was then sent to the Transatlantic Cable head attachment on

the west coast of France.“When I arrived, I was

made a mess sergeant,” he said. “Two French cooks prepared the meals, but when they were caught stealing flour, two German POWs took their places.”

For a time he served as a motor pool sergeant and then, in May 1946, he left for home — Keyport, where he, his mother and brother had moved in 1937. After his father died, when Boyd was 12, his mother, who was a stenog-rapher, learned of jobs at Keyport.

“My family was from Spokane and we lived in Wenatchee,” he said. “We lived in Seattle when my father was a salesman, and then, after he died, in Bellingham. Washington has always been home.”

Right out of high school, Boyd took the civil service exam and scored well. He received an apprentice-ship as a machinist at the shipyard in Bremerton. That was interrupted when he turned 19 and was drafted. When he returned in summer 1946, he used the GI Bill to take classes at Olympic College, which was in its first year.

“We had our classes at the high school,” he said. “There weren’t any build-ings on the OC campus yet.”

DECEMBER 2014 | VETERANS LIFE I 11

After the war, Burt Boyd finally got to be a sailorPROFILE

At 90, World War II veteran Burt Boyd still leads an active life. He is a volunteer at the Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport. Boyd served in the U.S. Army in Europe during World War II. Post-war, he joined the U.S. Navy Reserve. Left: Leslie Kelly / Right: Burt Boyd

See BOYD, Page 12

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TPC-5223-3 Vets Life.indd 1 11/12/14 3:10 PM

in Historic Port Gamble

PORT ORCHARD — The Kitsap County Veterans Advisory Board is accepting applications for several new members.

One position is vacant. Five positions have terms that end on Dec. 31.

The Veterans Advisory Board is composed of 17 volunteers from through-out the county who are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners for one-, two-, or three-year terms. All members must be veterans of military or

merchant marine service. A simple majority of the council shall be members of local chapters of national recognized veterans orga-nizations.

The Veterans Advisory Board advises the Board of County Commissioners on the needs of local indigent veterans, resources avail-able to local indigent vet-erans, and programs that could benefit the needs of local indigent veterans and their families.

The Veterans Advisory

Board also sends informa-tional emails to veterans; co-produces spring and fall stand downs; and, on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, co-hosts The Unforgotten, Run to Tahoma, in which the remains of deceased veterans are escorted to Tahoma National Cemetery.

To apply for appoint-ment, go to www.kitsap-gov.com/hs/veterans/VABoard.htm

He finished degrees in education and psychology at what was then Western Washington College in Bellingham in 1951. “I was counseled to get out of engineering because there were no jobs,” he said. “They told me that there were jobs in teaching.” He taught two years in junior high. Then he got his master’s degree in psychol-ogy from the University of Oregon.

“I decided that my real interest was in mechanics,” he said. “So I came back to Keyport.”

At that time there was a critical shortage of machin-ists. He achieved a jour-neyman rating and spent years there as an estimator, preparing bids for govern-ment contracts. He retired in 1980, but later worked for a local company as a

financial analyst.While in college, Boyd

finally did serve in the Navy, as a reservist for five years. “A couple of classmates talked me into it,” he said. “And when it came time to take a (duty) cruise, I was the only one who showed up.”

He and his wife, Doris, married in 1957. They now live in Silverdale at The Cottages retirement com-munity. They have three children.

Today, at 90, Boyd is well known at the Naval Undersea Museum at Keyport, where he’s

been a volunteer for many years. In his black scrap-book, there are pages of awards given to him for his hours of service to the museum. It isn’t often that he gets out his mementos of his war days and his military service. But when he does, he’s taken back to a time when life wasn’t easy.

“It was a hard time,” he said. “Everything, every-where was rubble. There was so much destruction.”

As for his regrets: He has not seen the Statue of Liberty.

12 I VETERANS LIFE | DECEMBER 2014 DECEMBER, @

A page from Burt Boyd’s World War II scrap-book.

Leslie Kelly

BoydContinued from page 11

OPPORTUNITIES

Apply for appointment to Veterans Advisory Board