Recent war veterans connect with services at Stand Down

YAKIMA, Wash. -- John Tate Jr. counts himself lucky.

The Yakima resident served a 16-month tour in Afghanistan, working as a combat engineer. When he returned home two years ago, he was amazed at the benefits available to him -- from school funding to medical coverage.

"I see old Vietnam guys and they were left behind," said Tate, 25, adding that he's glad times have changed. "Now, you couldn't ask for better school benefits. ... Veterans aren't getting left behind any more in any way, shape or form."

Tate is one of 800-plus people who took part in the Stand Down event at the Yakima Armory on Saturday. The purpose of Stand Down was to connect veterans with a variety of services, inclu-ding enrollment in the federal Veteran Affairs hospital system, counseling referrals, flu and pneumonia shots, haircuts and dental and medical screenings.

John Rimel, one of the organ-
izers, said he wanted to target
men and women who have return-ed from Iraq and Afghanistan --
many of whom battle Post-Traum-atic Stress Disorder and other medical problems.

"This is the one time they can
come in and everything is orient-ed to serving the veterans," he said. "That's why we have this."

Having all the services under one roof was welcomed by Eryn Nissen, 26, of Selah. served in the Army near Baghdad, Iraq, from 2005-06. A sergeant when she was discharged, she said many veterans don't know what resources were available to them.

"The big thing is letting people know what's out there and getting them services if they need them," said Nissen, now a student at Central Washington University. "When I got out of the military, it wasn't emphasized to veterans that this is something you earned and something you should seek."

Sgt. Halen Dillinger of Yakima agrees there should be more events like Stand Down. While in the Army, he was stationed in Baghdad from 2006 to 2007. Now he serves in the National Guard and works in training and operations at the Yakima Armory.

Although coordinating these events is challenging, he said veterans truly appreciate the convenience of going to one place for aid.

"A lot of these guys do need help, they need a lot of help," he said.

Dillinger, 25, said he's truly grateful to the older generation of veterans, who accomplished so much and who made his life possible. Now, he's intent on giving back.

If President Barack Obama wants to send addi-tional troops to Afghanistan, he said he'd go.

"I will end up going back. I can't stay away," said Dillinger, who has two young children. "As long as those guys are there, I'll go back. ... That's the hat I wear."

* Erin Snelgrove can be reached at 509-577-7684 or esnelgrove@yakimaherald.com.