CVSO Office Updates
The 11th Annual Disabled Veteran deer hunt was another success. Out of 33 hunters, 27 deer were harvested. Thanks to passionate and dedicated Minnesota DAV members, Olmsted county employees and volunteers, the event was a success!! Jennifer Shumaker, Olmsted County CVSO, DAV Chapter 28 service officer and DAV MN Outdoors Committee Chair says,”This hunt is what the DAV is about, supporting Disabled Veterans. Some Veterans may have thought that they could never hunt again due to their disabilities. What better way to support them than to give them another chance to do an activity that they love.” The purpose of this hunt isn’t only for enjoyment, but also to create a healing and camaraderie building experience for Veterans. Even if a Veteran has never hunted or is severely disabled, they can still show up and have a great experience.
Jennifer Shumaker County Veteran Service Officer
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The Bob Briggs Memorial Goose Hunt was hosted the weekend of November 18-20. There were 12 veteran hunters, and the event was a success! This hunt, put on by non-veterans, and backing of the local community, tell veterans they are appreciated.
 Ashley Laganiere
Senior County Veterans Service Officer
Veteran Service Office Snapshot
October 2022:
Total claims submitted to VA: 120
Compensation: 86
Pension: 2
VA Healthcare: 8
DIC: 3
Burial: 15
Survivor’s Pension: 0
CHAMPVA: 2
Records Request: 4
Points of contact with veterans (office visits, incoming mail, phone calls returned,
emails returned, etc.): 516
Veterans in office: 111
Outreach visits: 4
Total phone calls: 389
Average number of calls per day: 13
Average call length: 2:30
ZVMS Foot Clinic
VA Travel Claims Online Portal
You can scan (with the camera on your smart phone) the QR code below and it will take you to a quick tutorial, also found here: https://youtu.be/T-joySVMhso
ID Cards at the Rochester VA Clinic
 VA ID Cards may be obtained at the Rochester VA Clinic by appointment only on the following upcoming dates. These days are by appointment only. Please call the VA at 1-866-414-5058 to make an appointment for ID cards in Rochester. You may visit the Minneapolis VA Medical Center daily for an ID card.
December 19, 2022
March 16, 2023
May 18, 2023
July 20, 2023
September 21, 2023
November 16, 2023
Be Vigilant of PACT Act Scams
Olmsted County Veteran Services recommends filing any new claims with your county service officer.
Please call our office to make an appointment or you may do so online at olmstedcounty.gov/veterans.
VA Benefits COLA Increase
 On October 10, the president signed into law H.R. 7846, the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2022, which authorizes a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for veterans receiving Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation, clothing allowance, and survivors receiving dependency indemnity compensation payments.
The VA adjusts veterans’ monthly disability compensation amounts based on the yearly change in the cost of living as determined by the Social Security Administration. The recently announced 8.7% COLA will increase the amount paid to veterans and their survivors effective December 2022 and will be reflected in January 2023 compensation payments.
In 1983, the COLA was over 7%. This year’s COLA of 8.7% is the largest increase in over 50 years. The new VA compensation rates are not available yet, but click here to view the VA’s website, where they will be posted soon.
MN VFW Needs Your Support
The Department of Minnesota Veterans of Foreign Wars Charitable Association participates in the Amazon Smile program. When you sign up for an AmazonSmile account at https://smile.amazon.com/gp/charity/homepage.html, select our charitable association as your charity of choice and shop at smile.amazon.com, Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases. There is no cost to you, and you would be contributing to our association enhancing our ability to fund VFW programs (think Voice of Democracy, Patriot’s Pen, Teacher of the Year, etc..) and to assist veterans and their families.
If you already have an amazon account, you can sign in at the link above and select our association as your charity. When shopping, you must use sign in at https://smile.amazon.com/ for the association to receive your donation – very easy process and you will be doing even more to support the VFW in Minnesota.
I believe this program has tremendous potential to enhance our ability to sustain our programs and provide needed assistance to veterans and their families. Please sign up today – as the holidays are quickly approaching, your charitable association could realize an immediate benefit.
I’m confident the response to this request will be outstanding, just like the work each of you does to represent the VFW to the best of your ability. I offer my thanks in advance to all who choose to participate!
Dale Hoogeveen
Commander
Department of Minnesota
Veterans of Foreign Wars
USDA Direct Loan Program
USDA Rural Development Section 502 Direct Loan Program
USDA Rural Development offers the Section 502 Direct Loan program which assists low- and very-low income applicants obtain decent safe and sanitary housing in eligible rural areas by providing payment assistance to increase an applicant’s repayment ability. Funds can be used to build, repair, or relocate a home, or to purchase and prepare sites or purchase an existing home.
As Rural Development waits for Section 502 Direct funding to be allocated, we are always taking applications. Things to know:
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Our current interest rate is 3.25%.
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Income Limits apply.
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No down payment required and interest rate when modified by payment assistance, can be as low as 1%
Think that you might have an interested veteran that might be a good fit for a Direct loan? Have them use our Eligibility Assessment tool! AND
Do you know of a veteran who needs a new roof, windows or siding, but isn’t sure how to finance the project? Does the Veteran require a ramp to be built for wheelchair accessibility or a walk-in shower/tub? Or how about a veteran who needs a new well, has a non-compliant septic or electrical updates to their home? USDA Rural Development can help with that!
Rural Development’s Section 504 Home Repair Loan/Grant funding is available to assist very-low income Minnesota Veteran homeowners in making these types of repairs plus many others to their home. Primary components of the program are:
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Bids need to be from licensed contractors – if a contractor’s license is required by the local jurisdiction and follow local building codes.
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Homeowner’s must live in an eligible rural area of Minnesota and both own and occupy the dwelling.
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The repair loan is for very-low income homeowners with a fixed 1% interest rate and 20-year term. Maximum loan is $40,000.
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Grant funds are limited to a lifetime award of up to $10,00 for very-low income elderly applicants age 62 or older. Grant eligible repairs must be health and safety related or be utilized for accessibility improvements for a disabled household member.
I’ve attached our Fact Sheets for convenience. Feel free to distribute them to homeowners who you come into contact with in your daily work. We want your referrals and can partner with other agencies to assist in financing much needed repairs!
Interested persons can contact me by phone or email directly with questions. If you would like to know more about our programs and processes, contact me and I’d be happy to discuss.
Blake Hein
Loan Assistant I Rural Development
United States Department of Agriculture
1810 30th Street NW. Suite #3 Faribault, MN 55021
Phone: (507) 332-7418 ext. 112
Military History with Nate
Where has the year gone is my rhetorical question? If you recall last month, I mentioned something about the word NUTS. Usually, I try to do things in a chronological order for the month, this month there will be some monthly chronological order but to answer the NUTS comment will start off my military history for December.
The 101st Airborne Division commanded by Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe is defending Bastogne, Belgium during the Battle of Bulge in 1944. On December 22 German General Heinrich Freiherr von Luttwitz sent a party under a flag of truce through the lines of the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment to suggest terms of surrender of the besieged paratroopers. McAuliffe and his staff did not take much time to send a formal reply to von Luttwitz with one word: NUTS! The puking buzzards pulled through until the 4th Armored Division could reenforce the 101st Airborne on December 26. For extra bonus history the 327th Infantry was originally part of the 82nd All American Division during the Great War. Neither Division likes to readily acknowledge that 327th Infantry served with the 82nd All American Division way back during the First World War. Some notable commanders of the 327th Infantry include Colonel David Hackworth and Colonel Charles Beckwith both serving in the regiment during Vietnam. The 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division served on several deployments to both Afghanistan and Iraq. On the 2010-2011 deployment in eastern Afghanistan the 327th Infantry suffered several causalities.
George Armstrong Custer was born in 1839 December 5th in New Rumley, OH.
On December 7th, 1941, Japan attacked the naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Thus, waking a sleeping giant and the United States entering the Second World War in force.
On December 8th, 1941, the United States formally declared war on Japan
December 10, 1898, the Treaty of Paris was signed between American and Spanish representatives following Spain's defeat in the Spanish-American War. Under the treaty, the U.S. gained the Philippine Islands, the islands of Guam and Puerto Rico, and an agreement by Spain to withdraw from Cuba. The treaty passed by a single vote in the U.S. Senate on February 6, 1899 and was signed by President William McKinley four days later.
December 11, 1941 - A major turning point in World War II occurred as Japan's Axis partners, Italy and Germany, both declared war on the United States. The U.S. Congress immediately declared war on them. President Roosevelt then made the defeat of Hitler the top priority, devoting nearly 90 percent of U.S. military resources to the war in Europe.
December 13, 1862 - During the American Civil War, the Battle of Fredericksburg occurred in Virginia as the Union Army of the Potomac under General Burnside suffered a costly defeat, losing 12,653 men after 14 frontal assaults on well entrenched Rebels on Marye's Heights. "We might as well have tried to take hell," a Union soldier remarked. Confederate losses were 5,309. "It is well that war is so terrible - we should grow too fond of it," stated Confederate General Robert E. Lee during the fighting.
December 13, 1991 - North and South Korea signed a treaty of reconciliation and nonaggression which also formally ended the Korean War, although actual fighting had ceased in 1953. Although I would wager with several veterans who have served in South Korea that the war is hardly over.
December 13th, 2003, Saddam Hussein is captured by units of the 4th Infantry Division.
Birthday December 14- World War II General James Doolittle (1896-1993) was born in Alameda, California. On April 18, 1942, he led a squadron of B-25 bombers launched from the aircraft carrier Hornet to conduct the first American air raid of the war against mainland Japan. He also headed the Eighth Air Force during the Normandy invasion and was awarded the Medal of Honor.
December 15, 1890 - Sioux leader Sitting Bull (native name Tatanka-Yatanka) was killed in a skirmish with U.S. soldiers along the Grand River in South Dakota as his warriors tried to prevent his arrest.
December 15, 1943 - The Battle of San Pietro took place during World War II as a German panzer battalion devastated American forces trying to take the 700-year-old Italian village. Hollywood director John Huston, serving as an army lieutenant, filmed the battle and left behind a graphic account.
December 16, 1773 - The Boston Tea Party occurred as colonial activists disguised as Mohawk Indians boarded British ships anchored in Boston Harbor and dumped 342 containers of expensive tea into the water. Apparently, one is an activist when rebelling against an empire “Pax Britannica” about taxation and no representation.
December 16, 1944 - American big-band leader Glenn Miller disappeared in a small plane over the English Channel and was presumably killed. Best remembered for Moonlight Serenade and In the Mood.
December 16, 1944 - During World War II in Europe, the Battle of the Bulge began as the Germans launched a big counter-offensive in the Ardennes Forest along a 75-mile front, taking American troops by surprise. Aided by foggy, snowy weather, the Germans penetrated 65 miles into Allied lines by the end of December. The German advance was eventually halted by Montgomery on the Meuse and Patton at Bastogne. As the weather cleared, Allied aircraft attacked German ground forces and supply lines and the counter-offensive failed. There were an estimated 77,000 Allied and 130,000 German casualties.
December 17, 1777 - At Valley Forge in Pennsylvania, the Continental Army led by General George Washington settled in for the winter.
December 20, 1860 - South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union in a prelude to the American Civil War. Within two months Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas seceded. In April 1861, Virginia seceded, followed within five weeks by Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina, thus forming an eleven state Confederacy with a population of 9 million, including nearly 4 million slaves. The Union had 21 states and a population of over 20 million. Where is the seceding from the Union going to take this country?
December 20, 1989 - The U.S. invaded Panama attempting to capture Manuel Noriega on charges of narcotics trafficking. Operation Just Cause occurred seven months after Noriega had declared unfavorable election results in his country to be null and void. The invasion toppled the Noriega government and resulted in the installation of Guillermo Endara as president. Noriega temporarily eluded capture but surrendered a few weeks later to U.S. troops. He was then tried, convicted, and imprisoned in the U.S. A salute to the 75th Ranger Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, 5th and 7th Infantry Divisions and everyone else who got in on the largest drug bust ever!
December 21, 1945 - World War II General George Patton died in Germany following a car accident. He had been injured on December 9th near Mannheim and was taken to a hospital in Heidelberg where he died. He was buried in Luxembourg. Nicknamed "Old Blood and Guts," he once stated during the war, "We shall attack and attack until we are exhausted, and then we shall attack again."
December 24, 1814 - The Treaty of Ghent between America and Britain was signed, officially ending the War of 1812.
December 24, 1943 - General Dwight D. Eisenhower was appointed Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force preparing for D-Day.
December 25, 1776 - During the American Revolution, George Washington took 2,400 of his men across the Delaware River. Washington then conducted a surprise raid on 1,500 British-Hessians (German mercenaries) at Trenton, New Jersey. The Hessians surrendered after an hour with nearly 1,000 taken prisoner by Washington who suffered only six wounded (including future president Lt. James Monroe). The victory provided a much-needed boost to American morale.
Yes, we will fight you on Christmas Day. Yours truly was on mission on Christmas Day in 2005 in Afghanistan. On Christmas Day 2007, while serving in Kosovo, I took a patrol out and used the excuse it is better to be on mission then sitting back on base and being miserable because you are away from home. I also told my soldiers that in thirty years they (soldiers) could tell stories to their own families about how they were on mission on Christmas Day in 2007 in Kosovo.
December 29, 1890 - Members of the U.S. 7th Cavalry massacred more than 200 Native American (Sioux) men, women and children at Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota.
December 29, 1965 - During the Vietnam War, North Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh rejected unconditional peace talks offered by the U.S. I wonder if the League of Nations would have listened to Ho Chi Minh after the Great War and let Vietnam get away from its French colonial power if the several years of war would have happened.
December 30, 1803 - The Stars and Stripes flag was raised over New Orleans as the United States took formal possession of the territory of Louisiana, an area of 885,000 square miles, nearly doubling the size of the U.S. The territory had been purchased from France for approximately $15 million. I wonder who got the better part of that purchase agreement.
December 30, 1862 - During the American Civil War, the Union ironclad ship USS Monitor sank off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, during a storm, resulting in the loss of sixteen crewmen.
December 31st- birthday, George C. Marshall (1880-1959) was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. He had genius for organization and served as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army throughout World War II, expanding the Army from 130,000 to 8,300,000 men. He then served as Secretary of State under President Truman and designed the Marshall Plan for the relief of war-torn Europe and to halt the spread of Communism. General Marshall holds a special place at Fort Benning, Georgia as he served there between the World Wars.
Listed below are the battles and operations that have taken place in December for Operations in Afghanistan and Iraq:
Anbar Campaign from 2003 through December 7th, 2011-Iraq. Battle of Tora Bora December 6th through 17th in 2001- Afghanistan. Battle of Musa Qala December 7th through 12th 2007-Afghanistan. Operation Athena from July 2003 through December 2011-Afghanistan. Operation Avalanche December 2003-Afghanistan. Operation Cobra’s Anger, December 2009. Operation Pizmah, Zabul Province December 2005-Afghanistan. Operation Sleigh Ride- Christmas time moral boost at FOB’s Salerno, Ghazni, Orgun-E and Sharana December 2005- Afghanistan. Funny thing I was a mere thirty-minute ride from FOB Salerno and never recall Operation Sleigh Ride. Oh, might be because I was out on mission for most of the month of December 2005. Operation Bayonet Lighting December 2003- Iraq. Operation Able Rising Force December 2005-Iraq. Operation Bulldog Mammoth December 2003-Iraq. The Diyala province campaign December 2006 through October 2007-Iraq. Operation Iron Hammer December 2003-Iraq. Operation Iron Hammer 2005, November to December 2005-Iraq. Operation Iron Justice December 2003-Iraq. Operation Ivy Blizzard December 2003-Iraq. Operation Phantom Strike, August 2007 through January 2008- Iraq. Operation Sayeed (Operation Hunter) July 2005 through December 2005-Iraq.
This is only a short list of the larger named operations that have taken place during two decades of active combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. We who served in these locations likely have a variety of memories of our operations that we participated in. I can easily recall the countries I served in during the month December and where I was at on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve Day because I was not home in southeast Minnesota with family but with my brothers in arms leaning forward. Wherever you are this month, enjoy the month, the holidays however you choose to celebrate, and I will have more history for the month of January.
Post-9/11 Veteran Service Bonus Available
The application period will begin on July 7, 2022. The last day to apply is June 30, 2024, unless the funds have been exhausted prior to June 30, 2024.
Once the application window is open, review and answer the initial pre-screening questions to assist in determining your eligibility.
If it is determined that you may be eligible for the bonus, you will be directed to the application portal.
- If you have previously applied for the Minnesota GI Bill or Veteran Owned Business Certification, you will login with your existing username and password.
- If you have never applied for the Minnesota GI Bill or Veteran Owned Business certification, you will be prompted to create an account.
If it is determined through the pre-screening questions that you may not be eligible for the Post-9/11 Veteran Service Bonus, then you will be directed to your County Veteran Service Office for additional assistance or guidance.
New Client Openings at Ellie Mental Health
Ellie Mental Health is in network with VA (Optum) and Tricare. Visit elliementalhealth.com for more information.
Women Over 40 Discussion Group
1st Tuesday of each month
VFW Post 1215
2775 43rd ST NW
Rochester, MN 55901
Dec 6, Jan 3, Feb 7, Mar 7, Apr 4, May 2
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
No registration necessary
Saturday Noon Meal Program
Ruby's Pop-Up Pantry
Ruby’s Pantry is for ANYONE that eats! There is no income or residency requirement and Ruby’s Pantry is for anyone looking to extend their monthly grocery budget. Each guest donates a $25 donation and receives an abundance of grocery items. Ruby’s Pantry is not government funded and is a 501 C3. Each donation is used to cover operational costs like trucking, gas, and warehouse staff. All of the food is donated by corporate food donors making it possible to reach more families each month at locations across Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Rochester, MN
Next Pop-Up Pantry is Saturday December 10, 2022
2703 9th Avenue Northwest, Rochester, Minnesota 55901, United States
DAYS AND HOURS
2nd Saturday of the Month Registration begins at 9:00 AM Food bundles available 9:00-10:30 AM Hosted by: Holy Cross Lutheran Church
PTSD Support Group
Want to know that others are going through something similar to you? Learn tips on how to handle day-to-day challenges? Meet with new friends or connect with others who understand you? Learn how to talk about things that bother you or how to ask for help? Learn to trust people?
Then this is the group for you!
SEMCIL and Olmsted County Veteran Services is offering a support group for veterans that have been diagnosed with PTSD, or those who have signs and symptoms of PTSD, and their family members. Sometimes the most painful injuries are not physical. Whether it is PTSD, TBI, combat stress, or any other mental health condition, we are here to help you get through it. The group is facilitated by Jennifer Shumaker, veteran and Olmsted County Veteran Service Officer.
Where: VFW Post 1215, 2775 43rd St NW, Rochester, MN 55901
When: Thursday: Dec 15 (2023 dates will be listed in next month's newsletter)
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
jennifer.shumaker@olmstedcounty.gov
JOBS
Mayo Clinic Hospice Grief Support Groups
Seasons Hospice Ongoing & Special Programs
All grief group participants of Seasons Hospice must be registered 24 hours in advance. To register or for more information, click on the blue button and you will be directed to their website.
Local Service Organization Meetings
For a full list of local organizations and meetings, please click on the blue button.
"To promote the interests and welfare of veterans, their dependents and survivors and to enhance their quality of life through counseling, claims assistance, education, advocacy and special projects."
2100 Campus Dr. SE, Suite 200
Rochester, MN 55904
507-328-6355
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