Veterans Blog - October 2009
Douglas Karr, Petty Officer Second Class, United States Navy Veteran
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DoD, VA plan to streamline veteran healthcare process
After Robert Gates, Department of Defense Secretary, finished his unprecedented speech on Monday, it was clear that change was going to happen for the better. His plans focused on alleviating “frustrating, adversarial and unnecessarily complex” paperwork that injured or traumatized veterans undergo throughout their treatment protocol.
It is clear that adequate and accessible support for veterans is much needed. Gates especially urged the support for those retired or discharged who have endured physical wounds or developed mental disorders. He supported this by shedding light on the large backlog of patient requests as well as the high case rate of post-traumatic stress disorder. It has been estimated that 1 in 20 men and women returning from active duty suffer from PTSD.
Joining Gates at the first-ever Department of Defense/VA Mental Health Summit was Eric Shinseski, U.S. Department of Veterans Affair Secretary. Since taking over office in January, Shinseski has set veteran health on the top of his to-do list. In April, Shinseski, Gates and President Barack Obama announced the launch of a new system to streamline veteran health records. This would marry the documentation between the DoD and the Veterans Health Administration, so those transitioning from active duty would not be delayed when enrolling for veteran health benefits.
Shinseki has also established binding promises with the White House and Congress to inform the VA a year in advance about the agency’s budget. This will make long-term planning achievable and resource allocation much simpler. He has also successfully expanded the criteria for collecting Agent Orange disability benefits.
The advances that the Veteran Health Association has made in this short period of time will simplify and organize veteran’s health procedures. The frequency of health problems post duty requires adequate care and a strong support system. Ranging from mental illnesses like PTSD to physical illnesses like cancer, veterans deserve a smooth process in getting the treatment and care they require.
Mesothelioma, the form of cancer caused by asbestos contact, is prevalent among military veterans. Veterans as a whole represent the highest rate of this type of cancer. Since mesothelioma is often diagnosed in its later stages, the treatment regime is often aggressive and excessive.
Veterans and their families deserve an efficient treatment process which must be backed by the VHA. Recognition of the countless health issues plaguing is imperative for solving and simplifying protocol.
Shinseki urged that there is still much work to be done as far as health components go. He had stated at a “State of the VA” presentation on Oct. 14, that “We must work short-term and long-term strategies to reduce the backlog of disability claims, even as they increase in number and complexity. In July, we closed out a VA-record [of] 92,000 claims in a single month--and received another 91,200 new ones."
Female soldier survives breast cancer, has "new lease on life"
I wanted to share the story of Army Staff Sergeant Elizabeth Cowie. Sgt. Cowie, a noncommissioned officer with the California Army National Guard, was diagnosed with stage 0 breast cancer, which, according to her physician, is quite rare.
Stage 0 indicates that the cancer has been detected “very, very early,” stated Sgt. Cowie.
Her cancer was discovered during training in Indiana. An inconsistency on her mammogram prompted her doctor to recommend a biopsy. Sgt. Cowie utilized the services of the military-provided Tricare health plan and located a specialist nearby Camp Atterbury, where she was participating in training. The specialist told her that breast cancer is generally discovered when it is already in stage 2 or 3.
Sgt. Cowie’s first priority was learning about her options. After speaking with an oncologist [a physician specializing in the treatment of cancer] and a surgeon, they determined that she was a good candidate for a new treatment known as MammoSite. MammoSite is a “targeted radiation therapy” that administers radiation daily for five days. Because her unit was scheduled to be deployed in just 30 days following her diagnosis, Sgt. Cowie decided to begin MammoSite immediately.
“It was not an option for me personally to back out and say ‘Hey, I have to go home,’” she said. “I was really committed to my deployment.”
Her treatment consisted of about 20 minutes of radiation therapy during a five-day period. “It was pretty aggressive,” Sgt. Cowie admitted.
While her diagnosis and treatment was emotionally and physically difficult, Sgt. Cowie considers herself to be “pretty lucky.”
“I am a perfect example of early detection. I thanked my lucky stars that someone looked close enough at the mammogram.”
Of course, Sgt. Cowie received support from her military family. It was difficult at first, of course, because her commanders were male, but she recalls how “great” her unit was throughout her ordeal.
“They were a big, big help to me,” she said.
Following treatment, Sgt. Cowie was declared cancer-free, and deployed with her unit as planned. Her experience has given her a new appreciation for life in general, as well as a greater appreciation for the constant breakthroughs in cancer treatment research.
Like Sgt. Cowie, many other veterans and members of the military community find themselves diagnosed with cancer. An unfortunate number of Navy vets, for example, have suffered from mesothelioma cancer, a fatal disease that is caused by previous exposure to asbestos [which was not unusual on board naval ships]. Unlike breast cancer, mesothelioma has a grim survival rate – 99% of sufferers lose their battle in less than two years.
October, as you know, is breast cancer awareness month. It’s important to remember the women [and men] who serve our country and have also battled this – and other – diseases during the month of October.
VA health facilities struggling to care for female veterans
During a month when the focus of the country has turned to breast cancer awareness and women’s health care in general, a report released by the Government Accountability Office admits that the state of health care for female vets at veteran’s facilities throughout the country is less than adequate.
While the study reports that most Department of Veterans Administration (VA) facilities offer basic services for veterans of the female persuasion, such as gynecological exams, many lack a number of other fundamental elements, such as private check-in areas for women, exam rooms that provide an appropriate degree of privacy, and even rest rooms with sanitary napkin dispensers. As a matter of fact, only about one-third of all VA treatment centers offer a separate space for women to receive gynecological, mental health and social work services, according to Patricia Hayes of the Women's Veterans Health Strategic Healthcare Group.
There are currently 1.8 million female veterans in the United States with an average age of about 47. A large portion of these women consistently seek health care services from Veterans Administration facilities but are often disappointed when their expectations aren’t met.
Historically, this isn’t the only area in which VA hospitals and other government healthcare facilities have fallen short. The VA has failed to meet the needs of veterans in the past as well, including those who were injured by Agent Orange during the Vietnam War and those who worked in asbestos-laden World War II shipyards and later developed mesothelioma. Mesothelioma navy veterans often needed to fight for their rights for benefits as victims of this disease, which was acquired during their service to the country, and were often disappointed in the VA’s response to their dilemma.
As Veteran’s Day approaches, physicians like Dr. Harvey Pass of the New York University Division of Thoracic Surgery continue to treat veterans who suffer from mesothelioma developed due to exposure during military service. Dr. Pass, founder of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, concentrates on early detection research, which will allow veterans who were exposed to asbestos to receive a diagnosis before it’s too late to treat the disease successfully.
Nearby at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, doctors there continue to look for new ways to treat the disease. The Sloan Kettering mesothelioma program is one of the best in the country and an excellent place for veterans to turn to learn more about clinical trials and treatment options for this aggressive disease.
Military mom finds comfort in her son's final moments
In a small close-knit town in northern Virginia, family, friends, coaches and teachers, line the streets to say ‘Thank you’ to a young community member who lost his life on October 3rd in a Taliban attack on a remote outpost in eastern Afghanistan.
Stephan Mace, 21, of Purcellville, Virginia, was in involved in the deadliest battle for U.S. troops in Afghanistan since July 2008. Mace, along with seven others, battled Taliban insurgents for a total of 12 hours, with the most vicious fighting lasting seven of those twelve. All eight soldiers involved were assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, and 4th Infantry Division, based at Fort Carson, Colorado.
Just three days after the deadly battle, Vanessa Mace attended the Dignified Transfer of her 21 year old son to be with him on the last leg of his trip home from Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. “I brought him into this world, and he was my baby,” she said. “I thought it was my responsibility as a mother to bring him home.” She sat beside her son’s flag-draped coffin to be with Stephan as they made their journey back to Purcellville, Virginia.
Mace was first deployed in May to Afghanistan, fulfilling his childhood dream of joining the Army. His service to our country would not stop there. He had aspirations of continuing his career by joining the Department of Homeland Security or the CIA. Sadly, these dreams were dissolved upon his burial in Arlington National Cemetery.
Section 60 of Arlington Cemetery holds those who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. Alongside a military escort, Stephan’s mother met the procession as pallbearers gently placed the casket graveside. Condolences were delivered by high-ranking officials along with friends and family who gathered in remembrance of Spc. Mace.
The ceremony continued as flags were prepared and presented by U.S. Army Brig. Gen Reuben Jones, to his mother Vanessa, father Larry Mace and his grandparents, John and Mary Kay Petro. Stephan’s three brothers, Matthew, Bradley and Christopher stood by their parents as the seven-member firing party launched three volleys. Following a bugler’s “Taps”, a bagpiper played “Amazing Grace.”
Mace’s hometown friends, classmates and teammates mourn his loss, speaking of him as a ‘courageous’ and ‘determined’ young man. Childhood friend and football buddy, Sam Chapman comments, “If more people in this country had the passion and the determination and the courage that Stephan had, it would without a doubt be a better place. He was just a great guy."
Among the 6 medals awarded to him by the Army, including a Purple Heart and Bronze Star, his most precious was the one his mother had given him when he was just fifteen: the medal of St. Christopher, the patron saint of travelers.
These brave individuals that sacrifice their life for our country are among the most respected. Although at first glance, serving our country is extremely heroic and courageous, there is a history of tragedy and long line of casualties as a result. Whether it is in warfare or experienced after your service has commenced, our country’s soldiers are at constant risk.
Yes, warfare is the evident killer of thousands of U.S. soldiers, but there is also the danger of a hidden cause of death. Asbestos contact is one of the leading hazards service members come into contact with while serving our country. This dangerous material was used in every branch of the Armed Forces as insulation, brake and pipe lining, as well as an ingredient in cement, to name a few.
An extremely aggressive form of cancer called mesothelioma is particularly caused by the inhalation of asbestos material. Veterans make up the largest group of individuals who are diagnosed with this form of cancer, mainly due to their high exposure levels while serving the country.
The dangerous, unknowing environment of warfare can be detrimental to not only a person’s health but their life. Losing your life in battle is truly devastating to a soldier’s family, friends and community.
Adelson, a friend of Mace’s who survived the attack was able to give closure to the Mace family. In the last moments of Stephan’s life he reached for the St. Christopher medal his mother had given him and passed it on to his fellow soldiers. "I'm glad Stephan didn't die right away because he was allowed to give that one gift to his unit and give them the St. Christopher and that he also was able to feel God come to him and take him away," Stephan’s mother says, comforted by this detail.
Veterans' Day Parade scheduled for November 7th in Syracuse, NY
The Downtown Committee in Syracuse, New York has announced that a Veterans of Central NY Parade will be held on Saturday, November 7th. The parade will serve as a “tribute to all of our CNY veterans.”
According to the committee, the parade will lead veterans and others through the downtown area, beginning on Salina Street and ending at the Onondaga County War Memorial. Last year, about 45 local veteran organizations were represented in the parade, including representatives of American Legion posts, VFW posts, Army ROTC members and representatives from the VA Medical Center.
Several local marching bands also participated, alongside members of local Girl and Boy Scout troops. A Scottish Pipe Band and the Syracuse Brigadiers also marched.
One of the highlights of last year’s event was the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office helicopter, which flew above the parade route. At the end of the route was the Syracuse University Marching Band – known as “The Pride of the Orange.” Over 200 talented musicians saluted the veterans present by performing a variety of patriotic songs.
November 11th is known as Veterans’ Day here in the United States. Since 1919, Americans have been celebrating our veterans and members of the military community. But do you know the history of Veterans’ Day?
On November 11, 1918 an armistice was signed that ended World War I, which many referred to as “the war to end all wars.” A year later, this date was designated as “Armistice Day,” in honor of the lives lost during WWI. Soldiers would march through the streets of their hometown, and politicians and vets would give speeches. It was not until 1938 that Armistice Day was officially recognized by the federal government – this was almost twenty years after the end of WWI!
A year later, World War II began. The United States continued to celebrate Armistice Day. In 1953, a small town in Kansas called Emporia began referring to November 11th as “Veterans’ Day” instead, and not long after Congress decided to officially change the name of the holiday.
On November 11th, it is typical for many Americans to observe a moment of silence at 11:00 AM, in honor of the thousands of lives lost since WWI ended on the eleventh day of the eleventh month so many years ago.
Many vets and their families visit various veteran memorials throughout the nation, as do many civilians who may never have served in war but wish to honor those who have fought to secure their freedom.
In Syracuse, NY, on November 7th, the people of Central NY will have the opportunity to salute the men and women who have proudly and bravely served in the military. The parade will begin at noon, rain or shine.
Like the folks in Syracuse, Americans across the nation will be honoring veterans during this weekend in November. For information about Veterans’ Day events in your area, please visit http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/.
How do Navy ships get their names?
Good question. I consulted the Naval Historical Center website for the answer.
As you know, the 234th birthday of the United States Navy was last week, on October 13th. Way back then, the ships of the Continental Navy were not given names with any real significance – ship names came from all kinds of sources. For example, the very first Continental Navy ship was named Alfred, in honor of the King of Wessex, Alfred the Great, who reportedly commissioned the first naval force in England [remember, at this point, the colonists still felt some allegiance to Britain, so this name choice made sense].
Another early ship was named the Raleigh, after Sir Walter Raleigh [an English explorer who was knighted under Queen Elizabeth in 1585], and many others were also named after prominent Englishmen [like the General Greene, named after Nathanael Greene, who served as an officer in the Revolutionary War under George Washington]. Some vessels had names to reflect the ideals of new country [Independence] – in fact; a ship built in 1782 was named the America [in what some might call an ironic twist, the America was gifted to the French Navy].
And so the rather arbitrary but meaningful naming of ships continued until 1819, when Congress decided to bestow the responsibility of naming naval ships to the Secretary of the Navy. At that time, Congress decided that first class ships would be named after states; second class after rivers and third class after cities and towns. No two ships could have the same name, which is still true today [unless a vessel is named in honor of a ship that was destroyed during combat]. First class ships were armed with forty or more guns; second class ships carried between twenty and forty guns, and so on. Any ships purchased by the U.S. Navy were subject to a name-change by the Secretary of the Navy [which is still in effect today].
Now, the ship-naming laws of the 1800s get far more complex – but what is most important is that the Secretary of the Navy has the responsibility of finding an appropriate, meaningful name for each and every vessel in the naval force [the Secretary of the Navy still holds this job today]. To give the Secretary a little help and inspiration, the Naval Historical Center provides a list of recommendations, based on extensive research as well as suggestions from service members [cool, huh?] Before this list arrives on the desk of the Secretary of the Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations must review it and sign off. The Secretary makes the official announcement when a new vessel has been named.
A ship is typically named before it is officially christened. Of course, ships still have a selected sponsor who must christen the vessel. The sponsor, like the ship’s name, is chosen by the Secretary of the Navy. If a ship is named after a person, the Navy attempts to locate the oldest surviving direct descendent of the ship’s namesake to assume the role of sponsor. In other cases – when a ship is not named after a person with a descendent as sponsor – it is customary for the wife of a public official or a high-ranking naval officer to serve as sponsor.
The Navy has made attempts throughout history to ensure that the naming of ships is organized and systematical. Since 1920, for example, only battleships have been given names of U.S. states. Other types of ships that once bore the name of a state were renamed. Cruisers were named for cities, while destroyers were named for prominent naval leaders or American heroes. Submarines – which became a part of the Navy in early 1900 – were first assigned names like Salmon or Porpoise, followed by more “intimidating” names like Viper. In the mid-1900s though, submarines were given “alpha-numeric” names like A-1, which carried on until the thirties, when subs were once again given names reflecting “fish and denizens of the deep.”
When World War II began, the Navy began constructing new types of ships, which, of course, required new naming guidelines. A new type of ship, the cruiser, were given names of famous war battles in American history, and were often bestowed with names of early naval ships. Destroyers were named after fallen members of the Navy or for ships that were destroyed during the war.
There are many types of naval ships, and all have different naming guidelines:
Submarine tenders – named after “submarine pioneers” [Holland]
Ammunition ships – bear the names of volcanoes, or words that “denote fire and explosives” [Pyro]
Fleet tugs – named after American Indians [Powhatan]
Salvage ships – carry names that indicate “salvage” and safety [Safeguard]
Surveying ships – named in honor of individuals who have established themselves in the field of oceanic science or exploration
Oilers/Tankers – carry the name of American rivers or well-known ship builders and designers
Fast Combat – named in honor of previous supply ships [a fast combat ship carries ammo and other supplies]
And, in case you were unaware, the prefix USS means “United States Ship,” and is used on official documents to distinguish a commissioned ship of the U.S. Navy. Until a ship is commissioned, and after it has been decommissioned, its name will not feature USS.
There you have it – an overview of the naval vessel naming process. As a Navy veteran, this type of stuff really interests me, and I think it is important to share this historical information with non-military as well. Pass it along!
LIVESTRONG Challenge Iraq Inspires 600 U.S. Soldiers to "Pick a Fight" with Cancer
More than 7,000 miles away in a sweltering desert, where temperatures reach 125 degrees, 600 soldiers will be participating in their own LIVESTRONG Challenge. The heavily secured streets at Victory Base camp in Baghdad will be host to a 50 mile bike ride and a separate 10k run on October 25th. Organized by Maj. Scott LaRonde, a U.S. Army intelligence planner, this challenge is in memory of his father-in-law, who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer this June.
So far LaRonde, 38, and his crew has successfully raised over $16,000 for the Austin-based Lance Armstrong Foundation, the non-profit organization founded by seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong. This race has not only given LaRonde’s family and his crew honor his father-in-law, but it has also kept him in close touch with his hometown.
"Our kids get bigger, our communities change, our family relations change, and we miss that if we don't work really hard to stay connected. I think that having an event like this here allows all of us to stay connected to and involved with what is going on back home," he says.
The Lance Armstrong Foundation has shipped over supplies, including 300 T-shirts and race bibs for the participants. The word has spread and donations have been flowing in to fund the development of support programs, prevention and screening research as well as improving the quality of life for those affected by cancer.
"Many of us over here, as I have learned in the course of organizing this event, have loved ones who have had to fight cancer," LaRonde says.
This is only the second time a military group has hosted a LIVESTRONG event. This number is sure to increase with the heightened attention being paid to cancer awareness and research. Members of the military have in someway been affected by some form of cancer whether it is themselves, family, or friends.
An aggressive cancer that has specifically been known to strike U.S. military veterans is mesothelioma. This cancer is caused by the inhalation and exposure to asbestos. As a widely used material in the U.S. forces, asbestos was used as an insulator because of its heat-resistance properties. Seen in boiler rooms, shipyards, buildings, and more, military personnel often inhaled hazardous airborne asbestos fibers, which would then cause an attack on their health.
Mesothelioma occurs when the asbestos fibers attack the mesothelium, or layer of tissue covering the body’s organs. As the asbestos fibers infiltrate the mesothelium, symptoms which are parallel to bronchitis and influenza occur. The latency of mesothelioma diagnosis is due to its similarity of a bad cough or cold, causing the disease anywhere from 20-50 years to develop. Its diagnosis often comes too late, usually found in its later stages.
Veterans occupy the largest group of those diagnosed with mesothelioma. It’s those that risk their life for our country, who are among the individuals with the greatest risk of mesothelioma. An event such as the LIVESTRONG challenge remembers and honors those who lost their life or who are fighting cancers such as mesothelioma.
Doug Ulman, president and chief executive officer of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and cancer survivor himself comments, “It just shows that our shared common cause and common mission is important.”
Happy 234th Birthday, Navy
On October 13, 1775, Continental Congress approved the procurement, staffing and arming of two ships that would attempt to stop the British Army from receiving ammunition and other supplies. The two vessels commissioned by the CC cruised the waters off the shore of what we now call America, but was then known as the Colonies. These two ships were the first vessels of the Continental Navy [1775-1783] and by the conclusion of the Revolutionary War the Continental Navy fleet consisted of about fifty vessels, including approximately twenty warships.
To gain a better understanding of why the CC decided to acquire and arm two ships, one must understand what was happening between Britain and the Colonies – if you’re a history buff, pardon the mini-history lesson. 1775 was a year of rebellion for the Colonies, and the CC decided to take control – they created the Continental Army, began issuing paper currency, and even created a committee that would be responsible for interactions with other countries. While the Colonies were getting their business in order, Britain was dominating the sea, creating a range of problems for the Colonies [from destroying colonial communities close to the shores to attempts to block ships from entering colonial ports with imports].
Fed up with Britain’s attempts, a few of the Colonies commissioned sparse fleets to defend their seaside communities. Their argument was that the fleets would allow the colonists to protect themselves, but some members of the CC were concerned that this might jeopardize any hope for future reconciliation with Britain. John Adams was not one of these men – Adams [who was from Massachusetts] had been lobbying his fellow CC members for the creation of a naval force that would not only defend colonial towns on the coast from British vessels, but would also aid in the protection of sea trade and the establishment of relationships with other neutral world countries. Many CC members from southern colonies thought that the creation of a navy would only benefit the colonies in the New England region, while others were too afraid that establishing a navy would offend Britain and imply that the colonies were completely sovereign [which, in the end, was achieved by the Revolutionary War].
Finally, on October 3rd, 1775, CC members from Rhode Island presented a plan to their fellow delegates that would create a colonial fleet immediately. The proposal was debated on the floor of the CC, and Maryland delegate Samuel Chase has been quoted throughout history as calling the proposal “the maddest idea in the world.” The Rhode Island delegates left the floor of CC without the support of their fellow delegates, but two days later, with word that at least two unarmed British ships were carrying ammunition to Quebec, their proposal was once again up for debate.
A committee of delegates from MA, RI, and CT was formed almost at once [this could be considered the earliest form of the Dept. of the Navy] and armed ships were ordered out to wait for the British munitions vessels. The CC then approved the release of two additional armed ships that would cruise eastern waters and prohibit all British ships from delivering ammunition, supplies, or goods for trade to the British Army. This plan was “on the table” until this day, 234 years ago, when General George Washington sent a letter to the CC. The letter reported that Washington had procured three schooners and positioned them off the coast of MA to stop British supply ships. General Washington believed that his was an important first step in establishing a fleet that would protect the independence and progress of the colonial states. There were already three armed ships patrolling the waters – could the CC approve the release of two more? Yes, they could.
Then things got moving – a group within the CC known as the Naval Committee began approving the release of armed ships, drafted legislation, outlined rules and regulations, and appointed administrators. This, my friends, was the birth of the Navy.
When the war ended, the CC put the fleet up for sale, and all officers and crew were discharged. This was not the end of the Navy, however. Upon the ratification of the Constitution of the United States in 1789 Congress began the process of establishing a new navy, and in 1794 the construction of six new frigates was approved. The Department of the Navy was not formed until the end of April, 1798, so up until that time the new navy was managed by the Department of War and the Naval Committee.
The 13th of October was not officially known as the birthday of the Navy until 1972, when Chief of Naval Ops [CNO] Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt declared it to be the “official Navy Birthday.” The “Navy Birthday” is not to be confused with “Navy Day,” which commemorates the founding of the Department of the Navy [April 30, 1798].
The “Navy Birthday” is a day for members of the Navy – and old Navy veterans like me, too – to recognize how far the Navy has come, and to appreciate what the Navy has given us. And it’s certainly a day to look back on the amazing history of this country and our military. Think about the meeting in Philadelphia on that Friday 234 years ago: when the decision to outfit two new vessels with carriage and swivel guns and a crew of less than one hundred [arguably inexperienced] men was put to a vote, the Continental Congress had no idea how sophisticated the Navy would one day become.
Today is an important day in American history, not only for the thousands who have served within the Navy since its inception but for all American people. The Navy today assists in the protection of our independence, just like it did during the Revolutionary War.
Happy birthday, Navy.
To view images of Colonial-era ships, check out colonialnavy.org. And please visit our Twitter page – twitter.com/veteransblog – to connect with our veteran-focused Twitter friends.
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Medal of Honor Recipient Says "There Are All Kinds of Heroes"
John Finn, who was wounded during the attack on Pearl Harbor, received a Medal of Honor for his service and was recognized by President Obama and other veterans during the September Congressional Medal of Honor Society convention. If you ask Mr. Finn about being a hero, this is what he will tell you:
“That damned hero stuff is a bunch of crap. Well, it is one thing that I think any man that is in that, you gotta be in that position. You gotta understand that there’s all kinds of heroes, but they never get a chance to be in a hero’s position.”
Mr. Finn’s humble attitude is shared by many, many veterans who bravely served their country. Why did I go back into enemy fire? To save my platoon mate! No, I’m no hero; I was just doing what I pledged to do!
John Finn’s story is pretty amazing. Stationed at Kanoehe Bay Naval Air Station, which was hit by Japanese fire about five minutes prior to the hit on Pearl Harbor, Mr. Finn recalls a neighbor pounding on his door, telling him to report to the squadron immediately. Mr. Finn jumped in his car, and remembers seeing the first Japanese aircraft in the sky before he even reached the base hangar.
“I put that old car of mine in second gear and wound it up getting down to the hangar,” Mr. Finn said.
His first instinct was to grab a machine gun from a painter who had been working in the hangar. Mr. Finn knew that he had more experience firing the machine gun than the painter did. “I got that gun and started shooting at Jap planes,” he recalls. Mr. Finn began firing without realizing that he the machine gun was situated out in the open, without protection from Japanese fire.
But that didn’t stop him.
“I was out there shooting the Jap planes…I was a target for some. I could see their faces.”
Mr. Finn was hit in the head, hand, arm, and foot, but he never retreated. He stood there firing his machine gun, trying to stop the Japanese fighter pilots. Mr. Finn did not leave his post until he received explicit orders to seek medical attention.
He received first aid, and despite the pain of his serious injuries, Mr. Finn returned to the squadron to assist in the supervision of rearming U.S. fighter planes. When asked why he was hesitant to leave his post and receive potentially life-saving medical attention, Mr. Finn said it just wasn’t a priority.
“If you’re busy shooting a machine gun or a rifle or a pistol or doing anything, you can’t worry about getting medical attention. Medical help comes later.”
Mr. Finn says that that is the one and only time that he went to the hospital. For a man that just turned 100, that’s pretty impressive.
About a year after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Mr. Finn had recovered from his injuries. He spent some time in the hospital and reported for duty at a Hawaiian Naval base. He received his Medal of Honor from Admiral Chester Nimitz, with his treasured wife by his side. Typically, Medal of Honor recipients receive their medal at the White House, but Mr. Finn had not visited the White House until this past spring, after President Obama invited him to visit.
Mr. Finn is among an elite group of veterans. The Medal of Honor, which was first awarded in 1869, has been given to less than 3,500 vets. Less than 100 recipients are alive today, according to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
While Mr. Finn is proud to be a veteran and a Medal of Honor recipient, his fondest memories are of his late wife Alice, who married him before the attack on Pearl Harbor and passed away in 1998. A photo on CNN.com shows a handsome young couple, Mr. Finn in his dress whites. I believe this to be just another example of Mr. Finn’s humble attitude – he is one of the few to receive such a high honor, and while the day that a veteran received his Medal of Honor might very well be the most important day of his life, Mr. Finn’s best day was the day that Alice married him.
To view a video of Mr. Finn’s interview with CNN, please visit http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/09/15/finn.medal.of.honor/index.html#cnnSTCVideo.
I also recommend visiting the Congressional Medal of Honor Society website, where you can view the amazing, heroic stories of other medal recipients.
Mr. Finn’s assertion that there are “all kinds of heroes” is very true. The veterans who serve our country but never step foot in front of enemy fire are heroes. The civilians who support the men and women fighting for our freedom could be considered heroes, too.
So, remember: one day, you may be put into a hero’s position. Remember the story of John Finn, and act accordingly.
