Veterans
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SAN ANTONIO – Air Force Airman Gage M. Taylor graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Taylor is the son of Norman Taylor of Lakeport, Calif.
He is a 2013 graduate of Clear Lake High School, Lakeport.
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President Obama on Tuesday awarded long overdue Medals of Honor to five Californians who served our country valiantly during World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War.
Being recognized posthumously are Specialist Four Leonard L. Alvarado, Specialist Four Jesus S. Duran, Sgt. Eduardo C. Gomez, Pvt. Joe Gandara and Pvt. First Class Salvador J. Lara.
Although these men received the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation’s second highest military award back then, a review of Jewish American and Hispanic American Veterans through the Defense Authorization Act of 2002 found that these men were more than eligible to receive the Medal of Honor.
“These Medals of Honor have been a long time coming and I am most pleased that such a regrettable oversight is finally being addressed,” said Peter J. Gravett, Secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet). “These men fought for our country and their fellow soldiers with bravery, commitment and patriotism and now their descendants can receive comfort in knowing they descend from authentic American heroes.”
On Tuesday, May 27, CalVet will hold a special ceremony to recognize the bravery and gallantry of these patriotic Hispanic soldiers on the West Steps of the Capitol in Sacramento.
In 2002, Congress, through the Defense Authorization Act, called for a review of Jewish American and Hispanic American veteran war records from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, to ensure those deserving the Medal of Honor were not denied because of prejudice.
During the review, records of several soldiers of neither Jewish nor Hispanic descent were also found to display criteria worthy of the Medal of Honor.
The 2002 Act was amended to allow these soldiers to be honored with the upgrade – in addition to the Jewish and Hispanic American Soldiers.
Specialist Four Leonard L. Alvarado will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as a Rifleman with Company D, 2d Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) during combat operations against an armed enemy in Phuoc Long Province, Republic of Vietnam, on Aug. 12, 1969.
Specialist Four Jesus S. Duran will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as an acting M-60 machine gunner in Company E, 2d Battalion, 5th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) during combat operations against an armed enemy in the Republic of Vietnam, on April 10, 1969.
Sergeant Eduardo C. Gomez will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving with Company I, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Tabu-dong, Korea, on Sept. 3, 1950.
Private Joe Gandara will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving with Company D, 2d Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Amfreville, France, on June 9, 1944.
Private First Class Salvador J. Lara will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as the Squad Leader of a rifle squad with 2d Platoon, Company L, 180th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Aprilia, Italy, on May 27 and 28, 1944.
The Medal of Honor is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who distinguishes themselves conspicuously by gallantry above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Lake County Veterans Service Officer Bob Penny is retiring after 20 years of service to local veterans.
A party in his honor will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, at the American Legion Hall, Second and Gaddy, Kelseyville.
All are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served.
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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The Veterans Home of California-Redding recently produced high scores in the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) initial survey.
The survey means that the Redding Veterans home is now formally recognized and certified as a state veterans home in compliance with all USDVA standards.
Areas of review focused on the Residential Care for the Elderly (RCFE) and included evaluations on the quality of care for the residents, administration, plant operations, admission policies and dietary practices and other areas such as health and safety codes and policies and procedures of operation.
“I am very pleased with the results of the survey,” said Diane Vanderpot, CalVet Undersecretary for Veterans Homes. “Our mission of caring for veterans and their families is now acknowledged by the USDVA thanks to dedicated work by the employees and administration at the Redding Veterans Home.”
Amenities at the Veterans homes of California include single occupancy rooms, three meals per day with in between meal snacks, weekly housekeeping, scheduled transportation, opportunities for worship in all denominations, daily activities and satellite television to name a few.
The Redding home also offers certified nursing care, medication management, weekly entertainment, special events and a beautiful facility for which all veteran residents can call home.
The Redding Veterans Home is currently accepting applications for residency in both the RCFE and Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF).
Those aged 55 or older, younger if disabled, who served in the armed forces of the United States for other than training purposes, during a period of war or period of hostility as defined by law, during peacetime, or in time of peace in campaigns or expeditions for service in which medals have been authorized by the government of the United States, who were discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions, who are eligible for hospitalization, nursing home or domiciliary care in a federal veterans facility in accordance with the rules and regulations of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and who are residents of California at the time of application. Subject to available space and certain other requirements.
To apply, contact the admissions office at 530-224-3429 or by visiting the home at 3400 Knighton Road in Redding.
See the facility online and download an admissions application at https://www.calvet.ca.gov/VetHomes/Pages/Redding.aspx .
See information for all Veterans Homes of California at https://www.calvet.ca.gov/calvet-programs/veteran-homes .
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WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jon Runyan (R-NJ-03) and Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA-03) have introduced H.R. 4230 bipartisan legislation that seeks to limit the retirement of the KC-10 aircraft.
Retiring the entire KC-10 fleet was not part of the Obama Administration’s FY15 defense budget proposal, yet Secretary of Defense Hagel stated that “if sequestration resumes at full force in 2016, the Air Force would have to retire its entire fleet of KC-10 tankers.”
This legislation seeks to ensure that the KC-10 tanker aircraft fleet is not retired prematurely and is available to continue to carry out its critical air refueling and cargo missions.
The bill specifies that no funds can be used to retire or store the KC-10 aircraft until the new KC-46A tanker has been tested, is fully operational, and four test and 18 initial tankers have been delivered.
“Air Mobility Command is responsible for the rapid delivery of military assets around the world – something that will continue to grow in importance. This bill would strengthen the continuity of this vital mission,” said Congressman Garamendi, co-chair of the Congressional Air Mobility Caucus.
“This bipartisan legislation would ensure that the Air Force maintains its strategic refueling capability as it transitions from the KC-10 to the KC-46 aircraft over the next few years,” said Garamendi. “The bill requires that critically important acquisition and delivery milestones for the KC-46 are met before a KC-10 divesture could occur. This bill would help maintain stability in the military operations at Travis Air Force Base, our nation’s ‘Gateway to the Pacific.’”
“The KC-10 aircraft, which is the largest, newest, and most capable refueling aircraft currently in the military’s inventory, is a workhorse and vital to meeting air refueling mission taskings for the Arctic, Trans-Atlantic, and Pacific routes,” said Congressman Runyan.
“As one of two primary homes to the KC-10, JB MDL is vital to carrying out these critical missions,” said Runyan. “The KC-10 has made a huge impact on mission readiness by combining long-range aerial refueling and cargo transport, and can be refueled in flight. It is crucial that we keep the KC-10 in full operation until the new KC-46 is completely ready for prime time.”
Runyan and Garamendi, both members of the House Armed Services Committee, teamed up last October and sent a letter to Secretary Hagel urging the DoD not to eliminate the entire fleet of KC-10 aircraft.
Both congressmen also have addressed this issue on several occasions with Air Force and DoD leadership in recent and past House Armed Services Committee hearings and conference calls, expressing their strong concerns that the KC-10 not be retired prematurely.
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YOUNTVILLE, Calif. – Veterans Home of California-Yountville will celebrate 130 years of service to veterans at the annual ‘Founders Day’ on April 1.
This year’s Founders Day Celebration will feature local and resident entertainment, exciting displays of the history of the veterans home, local and national dignitaries and a presentation of the newest member of our Hall of Fame.
“The Yountville Veterans home has served California’s veterans for 130 years and we look forward to a celebration of its founding,” states Undersecretary Diane Vanderpot. “The Veterans Home has been an integral part of the town of Yountville and the Napa Valley and we want the surrounding community to come out and share the day with us.”
The celebration kicks off in Grant Hall, which is adjacent to Lincoln Center at 2 p.m. and be followed immediately by a special Founders Day Reception and dance.
A special award presentation will be made to this year’s induction to the Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame is a prestigious award given to a group or individual that has gone above and beyond the call of duty in the efforts to improve the quality of life for the residents and/or the veterans home.
The Veterans Home of California, Yountville, was founded in 1884 by the Grand Army of the Republic, which included veterans of the Mexican and Civil Wars.
Years later, the mission remains the same; to provide residential care for aged or disabled veterans with the purpose of improving their health, reducing the incidence and severity of their disabilities, and increasing social interaction in an environment that promotes self-reliance and self-worth.
Since the home’s inception, it has been home to approximately 50,000 veterans. Today, it’s the largest veteran’s home in the United States.
It has an active and therapeutic community for 1,000 veterans who come from a wide range of military ranks and civilian occupations.
Current home residents have military service, which spans from World War II to the Afghanistan/Iraq War.
Since 1900, the home had been owned and operated by the state of California.
Founder’s Day promises to be a day of celebration and fun. Veterans and the public are encouraged to come out and join the veterans from the home is celebrating this milestone.
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SACRAMENTO – Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced that Donald Veverka of Port Orchard, Wash, has been appointed administrator of the Veterans Home of California, Yountville.
Veverka has been superintendent and administrator at the Washington Veterans Home since 2011.
He was executive director at Oak Lane Retirement from 2008 to 2011, senior consultant and operations manager at Paradigm Senior Living from 2003 to 2006 and executive director at the Necanicum Village Retirement Community from 2002 to 2003.
Veverka was administrator at the Peoples Retirement Community from 2000 to 2001, vice president of business development at Donald P. Maynes and Associates from 1998 to 2000 and a marketing representative for John Hancock from 1996 to 1998.
He was administrator and consultant in private practice from 1992 to 1996 and owner and administrator at Care Centers West Inc. from 1982 to 1992.
Veverka was administrator at the Torrey Pines Convalescent Hospital from 1978 to 1981 and at the TLC Convalescent Hospital from 1977 to 1978. He served as a medical corpsman in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1970.
“Don has decades of experience in long-term care and we are excited to have him join the Yountville team,” said Undersecretary Diane Vanderpot. “I am confident that Don will prove himself to be invaluable to the Yountville members and will continue the home’s 130 year legacy of quality care.”
The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) will host an event on April 1 in celebration of the founding of the Veterans Home of California - Yountville 130 years ago.
The event will feature entertainment from home residents and activities featuring the history of the veterans home since its founding in 1884.
The Veterans Home is located in Napa Valley at 260 California Dr., Yountville.
For further information regarding the event or general information on the home please contact 707-944-4601.
For information on other Veterans Homes of California located throughout the state, visit www.calvet.ca.gov .
To receive information regarding other activities at Yountville please “like” the new Facebook page at Veterans Home of California – Yountville, www.facebook.com/VHCYountville .
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The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet), the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, and the California State Library will host a reception “Celebrating Women of Character, Courage and Commitment,” in honor of Women’s Military History Week, recognized by the Governor as the third week of March.
The reception will be held on Wednesday, March 19, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the California State Library, 900 N St., Sacramento.
The free reception will feature speakers from the California Legislature and an awards ceremony. Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez will be recognized for his work with the Commission and dedication to helping women and girls of California.
Delphine Metcalf-Foster and Brigadier General Sylvia R. Crockett will receive the CalVet Trailblazer Award for outstanding service and achievements in the military and veteran community.
“We are proud to recognize and honor California women veterans and two in particular who have made amazing contributions to our Armed Forces and to the fabric of our great nation,” said Lindsey Sin, CalVet Deputy Secretary for Women Veterans Affairs.
To register for the reception or to read more about the awardees, please visit www.calvet.ca.gov/Women/MilitaryWeek.aspx .
For more information, call 916-653-1402 or email
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More than 300 veterans gathered on Monday at the California African American Museum to participate at the first Black Veterans Summit co-hosted by the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) and the Black Chamber of Commerce of Orange County.
California is home to more than 1.8 million veterans, roughly one third of which identify themselves as minority veterans.
“We have known for quite some time that veterans and in particular minority veterans often do not apply for and receive the benefits they have earned,” said Peter J. Gravett, CalVet Secretary. “With this summit we hope to address that issue and at least some of the challenges veterans face as they transition back to civilian life.”
Attendees from various ethnic groups listened to impassioned presentations by the Honorable Will A. Gunn, General Counsel, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and California State Parks Director Anthony L. Jackson, Major General (USMC Ret).
In addition, panelists held frank and open discussions with participants on employment, health care, education and housing issues relevant to today’s veterans.
“Special thanks to the Blue Ribbon Committee, the California African American Museum, our speakers and panelists and to all the veterans who took time out of their day to be here,” said Gravett.
Gravett also encouraged all veterans to connect to the benefits and services they have earned through their military service by logging onto the CalVet Web site at www.calvet.ca.gov and the USDVA’s Web site at www.va.gov .
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