Rural Alaskan veterans and the VAO

I recently went to the Wasilla Veterans Center to see an old friend. I had just begun to write articles for this newspaper as a guest columnist. It was my first time getting published and I was proud of that achievement. So, I wanted to share it with my friend, Col. Steve Sweet, who works at the center when he is not on National Guard time.

I had heard through the grapevine that he was going to retire from both, and very soon. So I grabbed my copy of the Frontiersman with my first column in it and drove down to the center off Crusey Street at West Point Drive.

Col. Sweet is an easygoing man who has a quiet intensity and a very large heart to help veterans and active-duty military get the help they need to carry on in life. Even though I’m retired, I still call him Colonel as a sign of deep respect from this old non-commissioned officer. Once in his tiny office we began to talk about changes in my life and then went on about our shared love for rock music, history and life in general. And, of course, we swapped tall tales that GIs love to tell to each other.

When the writing thing came up, he was thrilled to hear about it. That’s when I asked about something that has been on my mind since I started writing about veterans. “What about rural Alaskan veterans? How do they get the help they need?”

He just beamed. “I know just the person you need to talk to and he works here as well,” he said in a quiet voice. “Dave Alvarez does work for the Veterans Aviation Outreach along with working here. He is the guy you need to talk to. You ever hear of the VAO?”

I told him I had, but I only knew a little. There was a gleam in his eyes. Uh oh.

“Good! As soon as we are done, I’ll let him tell you all about it,” he said.

It didn’t take long for him to do just that. The next thing I knew, I was being introduced to Dave with a chuckle and a little push from the good Colonel. He is good at that, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Dave is a fellow veteran, a big man who wears his dark hair pulled into a ponytail. He’s retired Air Force. I told him of my new status as a guest columnist and my passion for helping veterans and asked him my question about our vets in rural Alaska.

“Did you ever meet Mo?” Dave asked.

“Mo” is Maurice Bailey, a Vietnam veteran, founder of the VAO and a fellow crew chief of the Huey helicopter.

I told him I knew Mo and explained how we first met during a Veterans Day activity in 2005. We shared a love for that old bird. Even though we served during different times and wars. Our love for that aircraft bridged the gap. Sadly, Mo passed away in July 2010. I wished that I knew him better.

Dave went on to explain about the VAO, an all-volunteer, by veterans, for veterans flight operation to rural villages and the veterans living there. They go out to these remote places to help their fellow veterans get the help they need like food and clothing. Even doctors for exams and clerical help for filing claims to the Veterans Administration, that they could not get without flying into Anchorage or Fairbanks. That can be very hard to do for these hardy souls. As many know up here there are no roads to these remote sites. Access can only be made by either ship or flight. It has worked wonders, but Dave says there is a problem now.

Since Mo Bailey’s passing, donations have dropped and fuel costs have soared. Even the aircraft used for the flights, their maintenance and upkeep have become very expensive. And that has made the mission of the VAO much harder to fulfill. It is all based on donations from Alaskans. People like you can make a difference. I am including contact numbers for the VAO and the Wasilla Veterans center if anyone is interested in helping out.

This mission must go on for many reasons. I may not be a reporter, but I am a veteran who only wishes to continue serving. This is my way of doing so. Simply put, I’m spreading the word.

For more information about Veterans Aviation Outreach, contact Dave Alvarez at 746-6969 or visit alaskavao.org. Or, for information about the Wasilla Veterans Center, contact 376-4318 or visit veteranprograms.com/id249.html.

Wasilla resident Daniel D. Grota retired from the U.S. Army after more than 21 years of service.