Clean-shaven men who saw Vietnam, middle-aged men who knew Korea, grizzled gray-bearded vets who remember World War II, members of the Women’s Auxiliary, represent a typical sampling of the legion’s 550 members. Currently, its three divisions (veterans, the Women’s Auxiliary and the Sons of the American Legion) are broaching hard economic times, eager to welcome new members while caring for those already there.
Their conversation does not dwell on something that will probably affect them: the recent naming by President Barack Obama of four-decade Army veteran Gen. Eric K. Shinseki as secretary of veterans’ affairs, or of Iraq veteran Tammy Duckworth, who lost both legs and had an arm mangled when a grenade hit her helicopter, as Veterans’ Affairs assistant secretary.
 From left, Tracy Niles, Montana Bill and bartender Bill Winder are some of the local military veterans who gather for companionship and reminiscences at the American Legion Post 474 in Princeton. |
“You gotta give (Obama) a chance to figure out what’s going on,” said Vietnam veteran Charlie Hall. “He’s had disappointments in some of his picks. But it’s the whole team, it’s not just him.”
“He hasn’t taken anything away or given us anything yet,” said fellow Vietnam vet Larry Gasbarri.
Some of the vets say they want care for the seniors among them, difficult with a current conflict creating a new generation of vets with their own pressing needs.
“The vets here are hurting and need surgery, but that’s got to be put off to help the guys just coming home,” said Bill Winder, who was manning the bar. “There’s no arguing about that. There’s only so many facilities.”
One option available for veterans of any war is the VA Palo Also mobile medical van, staffed by a physician, nurse practitioner and/or health technicians, which visits the post on the third Friday of every month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Available to any veteran regardless of whether he or she is a member of Post 474, the new and larger van provides an efficient and private space for medical consultations. In its large exam area, the doctor can see patients, make referrals to appropriate facilities, prescribe medications and arrange for them to be delivered at home or through the mail, access patient records, provide health education, or even screen for conditions like post-traumatic-stress disorder or hepatitis.
The van covers the “catchment” or geographical area covered by the VA hospital, spanning Sonora to Monterey to the Bay Area to San Francisco — and the Coastside.
“That is just far enough from the Palo Alto VA that people may not know about it, or know what they are eligible for,” said registered nurse practitioner Miki Kwan. “We talk to the patients, let them know our services.”
The local vets are glad of that.
“The van is a good thing for the legion,” said Hall. “Everything is online with Veterans’ Affairs.”
The van, which was arranged in 2005 by then-Cmdr. Russell Bissonnette, answers a range of needs, said Montara resident Renate Bingham. Her late husband Larry served in the German military in the 1950s before they came to America in the 1960s. “So many people need help,” she said. “They (veterans) did so much for us.”
The van brings services to veterans unable to seek it for themselves. “Because of lack of transportation, they can’t get to Palo Alto. This brings (medical help) to them,” said Bill Berggren, sitting at the bar wearing his Korean veterans cap.
In addition to the van, the legion provides other services for members in acknowledgement of the service they gave.
The veterans rallied around the Coastside’s Fourth of July fireworks show, raising funds for it through events like next week’s cioppino dinner. Scheduled at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company with 5:30 and 7 p.m. seatings on Thursday, Feb. 26, it will offer a dinner with the trimmings. Tickets are available at $50/advance, $60 at the door, and $10 for children under 12, from the legion, the Brewing Company, the Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce and Visitors’ Bureau, Princeton Welding and The GraphicWorks. For information, visit www.amercanlegioncoastsidefireworks.org.
When legion members pass away, full memorials with a flag ceremony and honor guard from either Moffett Field or San Francisco, are held. The legion is also the site of a Boy Scouts ceremony for burning old flags.
The medical van will visit the legion from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 20. For information, contact the legion at 728-9224.
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