Valley veterans stand watch on freedom
EL CENTRO — The chatter circulating at Boyce Aten Post 25 is always about brotherhood, it is the grid connecting veterans and thanks to them, those leaving service know how to get assistance.
Norman Telford, a U.S. Naval Petty Officer on the USS Mansfield helped set up the Gulf of Tonkin Operation in 1964. And he airlifted staffers out of the U.S. Embassy in 1975. Service on a destroyer means 12 hours of duty and if lucky, six hours sleep. So when a serviceman comes back home, they are stressed.
Fortunately for Telford, his father a World War II veteran, could talk to him because he was one person who knew what he had been through. “I didn’t go through all the alcohol (or post-traumatic stress disorder),” said Telford.
The USS Mansfield would troll the Saigon River and provide cover for the Marine base harried by enemy fire. Telford monitored the radar screen tracking aircraft and alerted U.S. jets where to drop their bombs. Then, during the 1979 migration, Telford assisted rescuing 300 “boat people” from Vietnam and mustered out in March of 1986.
Back in the civilian world
Still, if it wasn’t for guys like Telford who knew the system, entitlements go unclaimed. Yet he could advise those just out of service on benefits like medical, educational and job training.
But happily for veterans, the American Legion kept lists of job openings for those returning from service. That is part of being a good veteran especially when that person knows the pitfalls as Telford. “Biggest downfall, all vets getting out of service should be informed of rights,” he said. “But it’s not being done.”
Veterans have got to get the “Vets Benefits Manual” and a vast majority doesn’t know. In 2016, there were 58 bills passed affecting vets. It’s a 90 day wait to get medical assistance. Meanwhile, Post 25 is much more than a rendezvous point for Telford. He depends on it not only for camaraderie, but to engage in solving veterans’ issues.
“I want to help vets over the rough spots I had when I got out, I want them to get their benefits,” he said. “I’ll be Fifth Area (So. California) commander next year, so if there’s a problem, we need to discuss it.”
Military esprit de corps
What Post 25 members have in common is they are all veterans, even if they did not serve in the same unit, most were in service the same time. Frank Gutierrez was a U.S. Army draftee in 1969 and was assigned to guard mail train cars at Incheon, Korea. Veterans share a similar world view, but they do not all have the same political point of view, noted Gutierrez, a former IID human resources analyst.
“There’s a closeness with vets that’s different from other friends,” said Gutierrez. “Vets gravitate to one another and feel a duty to watch out for each other.”
Edward Castillo-Rubio was a Spec-4 gunner on an 81 millimeter mortar. After being stationed in Alaska, he did a tour of Vietnam. But being from the Valley, he was able to acclimate to the heat much more readily.
Yet, when Castillo-Rubio left the military he wanted to leave combat behind. “When I first came out I didn’t want to know anything more with Vietnam,” he said. Yet the solidarity of fellow soldiers led him to the American Legion. Even though life presented challenges at times, Post 25 kept him centered in an unstable world.
Having served as Post 25 commander for three years, Anacleto Trevino Jr. calls the American Legion a true brotherhood and sisterhood for all veterans. “We stand to watch for all veterans and we’re proud to do that,” he said. “And I want any vets not affiliated with a post to come by here and be part of the family. We are a proud people.”
Veterans Day alert
Tracy Rascoe, 30th District commander informs all participants the El Centro Patriotic Planning Committee had to revise their itinerary.
The Veterans Awareness Walk will meet at Post 25, at 569 Broadway from 7:15 a.m. to 7:50 a.m., Nov. 11 for check-in.
They depart at 8 a.m., proceed down Broadway to 8th Street and continue to the El Centro Veterans Memorial at Bucklin Park.
“It means a whole lot to us,” said Rascoe.
“It’d be nice if people didn’t skip this and go straight through to Thanksgiving. It’s almost like people saying, welcome home.”