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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 17, 2005 Army veteran Cleve Mosley gets a free trim Friday from Pamela Alford, owner and instructor at Oregon Institute of Cosmetology, during Southern Oregon Stand Down in White City. At left, Garry Burden gets a cut from institute student Jessie Vail. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Stand Down Veterans get clothing, a meal and even a haircut By JOHN DARLING for the Mail Tribune WHITE CITY — For Charles Cochenour, the veteran’s Stand Down on Friday meant a new pair of military boots, a hot meal of ham, macaroni and coffee, and a chance to be with fellow veterans. "I could never afford these boots," said Cochenour, a veteran of the Vietnam War, now living on a pension in a mobile home in Eagle Point with two other vets. "There’s something about being a vet. We stick together," he said. Long lines formed at the annual Southern Oregon Stand Down at the former domiciliary in White City. Vets got a hot meal, haircuts and the clothes, most of them never-worn black boots, field jackets, camouflage or navy shirts — and sleeping bags. "They want the military clothing, not the other stuff," said Kit Carson, a volunteer handing it out. "They love it. It’s high-grade clothing, warm, doesn’t show dirt, most of it’s waterproof and it lasts a long time." Advertisement The annual Stand Down, staged all weekend in tents in the domiciliary’s stadium, offers help with housing, legal, medical, mental health, vocational rehab, Social Security, eyeglasses, employment, taxes and drug/alcohol counseling. Organizers define the term "stand down" as the reprieve granted to exhausted combat units in times of war. Troops were removed from the battlefields to a place of relative security and safety. Stand Downs such as the one in White City this weekend are designed to help the nation’s estimated 270,000 homeless veterans "combat" life on the streets. The local event is staged by a consortium of veterans groups, local businesses and social-help agencies, all of which contribute money and/or volunteers. It attracts about 600 veterans, most of them homeless and some living in their own homes on low incomes or government benefits, said Bill Walker of the Disabled American Veterans. "This gives us a chance to reach out and help vets make claims with the VA for disabilities and get help for other needs," said Walker. "The majority need clothes and a medical exam," said volunteer Tom Marshall. Most vets at the Stand Down are getting older and have long-term medical problems, such as high blood pressure, allergies, heart ailments and orthopedic issues, said Domiciliary nurse Jim Phillippe. "We do triage and get them back in the system, so they’re seeing doctors at the VA," he added. "As they get older, their medical problems multiply and they need to be on track with medical help they have coming." A former Army medic, homeless and going by the name "FBI" (Full-Blooded Indian), got free reading glasses from the Lion’s Club and was checked for heart congestion. "I’ve been kind of down on my luck and have been drinking," he added. "The VA told me I have cancer. I’m here to see about getting a cat scan. I’m pretty resilient. For support, I talk with the other vets — and with God. That helps me a lot. You’ve got to turn to your spiritual inner side." Typical of vets here who had a place to live was William Clark Holley, who lives on $846 a month disability but faces rent of $600 for his Medford apartment. He’s bipolar and copes with multiple injuries to spine, arms and legs, he said, and still manages to study veterinary technology full-time at Rogue Community College. "I’m barely able to survive. The housing people here said I’m eligible for dorms they have at $70 a month, for one year. They provide good services here," Holley said. Said Vietnam vet Walt Marmont, "These guys are noted for plugging ahead and being tough." Thirteen-year Army vet Cleve Mosley, who is 50 percent disabled, came to Stand Down for help with low-income housing, legal matters and "to talk to my buddies." The legal tent, essentially a troubleshooting center combined with an actual court, takes care of many thorny issues for vets, mostly mundane "traffic stuff, so they can get their licenses back," said Deputy District Attorney Sarita Glassburner. "Some have probation and parole issues. Some need help about where to appear or get warrants lifted," she said. "One even wanted to know if he was still married." The Stand Down has a clothing tent for women veterans and gets about 100 of them through the weekend, said volunteer Georgia Brookshire. Many of them are former military nurses who’ve been "very disturbed by what they went through in the service, seeing people shot to pieces and then die on them." While the Stand Down has plenty of furs, dresses and lingerie to offer, "most of them women vets just want jeans and a blouse," she noted. "It’s a good thing," said disabled Navy vet Ed Hubbenette. "They take pretty good care of us." John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at [email protected]. Stand Down At 7 p.m. today, the community is invited to share entertainment and camaraderie with participants as they honor returning veterans, volunteers and supporters. For information or to volunteer or donate goods or services, call event coordinator Kathy Patterson 665-5001. Donations may be mailed to Southern Oregon Stand Down, P.O. Box 8396, Medford, OR 97501, or presented in person at any Rogue Federal Credit Union branch. For transportation, check the Web site, www.southernoregonstanddown.org , or call 665-5001. 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