Page 12 - Aerotech News and Review 3-18-16
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High Desert Hangar Stories with Bob Alvis
Special to Aerotech News some of these 90 year old survivors HU¿HOGZRXOGKHDUKLVQDPHFDOOHGRXW
will be joined by other World War II in an auditorium at Antelope Valley
Being the Air Force guy that I am, I veterans that were the avengers of that High school and would walk forward
XVHGWR¿QGLWKDUGVRPHWLPHVWRVKDUH fateful morning. to receive his high school diploma. His
stories of other branches of the mili- mother, who was a widow at the time,
tary. The window of opportunity to in- shared the excitement as she watched
teract with these legendary soldiers is her son shake hands and receive the
But over the years and after many quickly coming to an end, as that gen- document that said he was ready to
military history programs, I have soft- HUDWLRQZULWHVLWV¿QDOFKDSWHUIRUWKH take on the world. For a while he
ened up to say the least and now enjoy history books. We are blessed to still worked odd jobs around the Antelope
sharing the service history of all those have these few remaining opportuni- Valley, but something else was call-
men and women who have made great ties to learn directly from them. But ing him — service to his country on
contributions to America and our Val- with the passing of time and these vet- the high seas with the United States
ley. erans telling their stories, let’s pause Navy was the home calling him and
and reflect on the stories we never he would have that home for the rest
The Los Angeles County Air Show heard. of his short life.
WKLV\HDULVUHPHPEHULQJWKHVDFUL¿FH
and gallantry of the soldiers and sea- The casualties on Dec. 7 were in the Sunday morning on Dec. 7, Ivan
men of Pearl Harbor. thousands; the stories of those lost on :HVWHU¿HOGIRXQGKLPVHOILQWKHPLG-
WKDWGD\ZRXOG¿OODERRNWKDWZRXOG dle of mass confusion as the ship’s
This year is the 75th anniversary take a lifetime to read and digest. For alarm and calls to battle station caught
year of the “date which will live in in- the short time they lived, these brave him and the rest of the crew off guard,
famy” — Dec. 7, 1941. Each morning combatants showed us the very best DVWKHQDWLRQQRWDWZDUZDVEHLQJ¿UHG
of the air show, a history panel with upon by an unknown enemy.
of American heroism, while
at the same time experienc- As Ivan and the rest of the crew memorial will never know either. But I hope to see you all at our Valley’s
ing the horrors of war. This VFUDPEOHGWRWDNHXSWKH¿JKWOLWWOHGLG we do know that their deaths were not air show as we “Remember” March 19
leads me to the story of one they know that within a few minutes in vain and that that the silence ema- and 20. As the smoke rises from the
of these very special young many these sailors would be destined nating from the Arizona Memorial is, living history lesson we’ll witness in
men. A young man who was to spend eternity together. in itself, a very loud message that we the skies during the aerial reenactment
born in 1920 in Illinois to a should never forget: that the men and of the attack on Pearl Harbor, let us
mother named Sara would Ivan and his shipmates found them- women who serve our nation in times look in the direction of Lancaster and
never get the chance to see selves at ground zero in the battle at of war as well as times of peace are al- remember a young man from our Val-
or hear the incredible story hand, for they all had the distinction ways in harm’s way and that those men ley who, for a brief moment in time,
that would forever have him of serving aboard the USS Arizona. In and women are our children who are made history as one of our home town
instilled in the conscience that moment in time, this 1938 Ante- graduating from small town schools all boys.
and the fabric of America. lope Valley High School graduate be- across America.
FDPHRQHRIWKHYHU\¿UVWFDVXDOWLHVRI Till next time, Bob out …
In 1938, Ivan Ayers West- World War II.
We have no way of knowing what
WKRVH¿QDOIHZPLQXWHVORRNHGOLNHIRU
Ivan, or if he even knew whether it was
a drill or an attack, or if he was even
aware of who was doing the attacking.
But one thing we do know is that
he and his USS Arizona shipmates
would become the centerpiece for not
only the Greatest Generation, but for
all the American citizens that would
“Remember Pearl Harbor.”
For me personally, when I have
visited the Arizona and looked on that
marble wall and I see the name of Ivan
$\HUV:HVWHU¿HOG,¿QGP\VHOIVWDULQJ
down at the ship and wondering about
all those men and what those last few
moments looked like for all of them.
I will never know, and the thousands
that share my experience visiting the
Veterans’ News
VA announces additional steps to reduce veteran suicide
The Department of Veterans Affairs announced March 8 new (OHYDWLQJ9$¶V6XLFLGH3UHYHQWLRQ3URJUDPZLWKDGGLWLRQDOUH- Veteran-reported symptoms to tailor mental health treatments to
steps it is taking to reduce veteran suicide. sources to manage and strengthen current programs and initiatives; individual needs;
The steps follow a February 2 Summit, “Preventing Veteran Sui- 0HHWLQJXUJHQWPHQWDOKHDOWKQHHGVE\SURYLGLQJYHWHUDQVZLWK /DXQFKLQJDQHZVWXG\³&RPLQJ+RPHIURP$IJKDQLVWDQDQG
cide — A Call to Action,” that brought together stakeholders and the goal of same-day evaluations and access by the end of calendar Iraq,” to look at the impact of deployment and combat as it relates
thought leaders to discuss current research, approaches and best year 2016; to suicide, mental health and well-being;
practices to address this important subject.
(VWDEOLVKLQJDQHZVWDQGDUGRIFDUHE\XVLQJPHDVXUHVRI 8VLQJSUHGLFWLYHPRGHOLQJWRJXLGHHDUO\LQWHUYHQWLRQVIRU
“We know that every day, approximately 22 veterans take their suicide prevention;
lives and that is too many,” said VA Under Secretary for Health, “We know that every
Dr. David Shulkin. “We take this issue seriously. While no one day, approximately 22 8VLQJGDWDRQVXLFLGHDWWHPSWVDQGRYHUGRVHVIRUVXUYHLOODQFH
knows the subject of veteran suicide better than VA, we also real- veterans take their lives to guide strategies to prevent suicide;
ize that caring for our veterans is a shared responsibility. We all and that is too many.”
have an obligation to help veterans suffering from the invisible ,QFUHDVLQJWKHDYDLODELOLW\RIQDOR[RQHUHVFXHNLWVWKURXJKRXW
wounds of military service that lead them to think suicide is their VA to prevent deaths from opioid overdoses;
only option. We must and will do more, and this Summit, coupled
with recent announcements about improvements to enhance and (QKDQFLQJ9HWHUDQ0HQWDO+HDOWKDFFHVVE\HVWDEOLVKLQJWKUHH
accelerate progress at the Veterans Crisis Line, shows that our work regional tele-mental health hubs; and
and commitment must continue.”
&RQWLQXLQJWRSDUWQHUZLWKWKH'HSDUWPHQWRI'HIHQVHRQVXL-
Several changes and initiatives are being announced that cide prevention and other efforts for a seamless transition from
strengthen VA’s approach to Suicide Prevention. They include: military service to civilian life.
For information about VA initiatives to prevent veteran suicide,
visit www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/.
12 Aerotech News and Review March 18, 2016
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