Today, The Clinton Chronicle publishes its annual Veterans Section -- these are articles which could not be printed in the section, because of space limitations, but contain important information for our nation's veterans. Thank You for your service.
*New SC law aims to reduce crimes inmates arrange with cellphones
Corrections director will seek $34M to make illegal cellphones in more prisons unusable
BY: SKYLAR LAIRD - OCTOBER 22, 2024 6:59 PM
COLUMBIA — Jared Johns thought he was receiving phone calls from the angry father of a 17-year-old girl who he had been messaging on a dating website.
What the 24-year-old Army veteran and Greenville father of two didn’t know was that it was a scam, and the man on the other end of that call was already in prison.
“To most, this may sound a little fishy, but to a PTSD sufferer, it was a literal death sentence,” his father, Kevin Johns, said during a Tuesday news conference.
Jared Johns died by suicide Sept. 11, 2018.
A law ceremoniously signed Tuesday (Oct. 22) is meant to help prevent similar deaths by stopping crimes committed with cellphones from behind the razor wire of the state’s prisons, Gov. Henry McMaster and other officials said.
The law, which McMaster actually signed in May, sets criminal penalties for prisoners caught with a cellphone.
Before May 13, the Department of Corrections used a law that broadly prohibited contraband in prisons to declare cellphones illegal for inmates.
While department policy counts electronics as contraband, a law with graduated penalties will make it easier to punish inmates violating it, said Corrections Director Bryan Stirling.
“It’s always been against our rules, but now it’s against the law,” Stirling said.
Under the general contraband law, a prisoner’s punishment for having a cellphone was usually decided in magistrate’s court, officials said. Punishment might be loss of privileges.
Now, a prisoner caught the first time with a phone or other electronic device other than their prison-issued tablet must get up to a year tacked onto their sentence. Each subsequent violation is a felony that adds up to five additional years to a sentence.
Any inmate convicted of committing a crime using a contraband cellphone can spend up to a decade longer in prison under the law.
“The bottom line is, anybody that has a cellphone in prison is committing a crime, and now we can hold them accountable, and we can turn those phones off,” Stirling said.
Crimes in prison
In Johns’ case, two prisoners had created a profile on a dating website pretending to be a 17-year-old girl. They then called Johns and threatened to report him to the police for solicitation of a minor if he didn’t send them more than $1,000.
The prisoners called again the next day pretending to be a sheriff’s deputy and told Johns to do what the father said or risk arrest.
“Soldiers are instilled with loyalty, pride and honor and are held to a higher standard, and that’s why he and many others were targeted,” Kevin Johns said. “This scam put him into a place feeling so low that he thought suicide was his only way out.”
This sort of scam was common in South Carolina prisons at the time.
About two months after Johns’ death, officials announced indictments against 15 people, including five prisoners, who received $560,000 in extorted money from 442 military service members they targeted across the country, The Post and Courier reported.
“Having an unmonitored, open line of communication allows inmates to continue orchestrating illegal acts, both inside and outside the prison fence, and we’ve seen repeatedly the tragic results,” said Mark Keel, chief of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
Inmates have used cellphones to traffic drugs and order killings on the outside, officials said.
Prisoners ran a massive international drug trafficking enterprise in prison, leading to convictions for 40 people who were working inside and outside of the state’s prisons.
In 2010, inmates ordered a hit on Captain Robert Johnson, an anti-contraband officer who was shot six times at his Sumter home. The law is named after Johnson, who survived the attack and has since retired.
“I promised (the Johns) and I promised Captain Johnson at the time that we would come up with a solution,” Stirling said. “This is the solution that we’ve come up with.”
Stopping cellphones
Stirling’s ideal solution would be to jam phone signals completely within prisons, making cellphones useless. But federal law allows that technology only at federal facilities.
Stirling has sought permission for years to do so at state prisons, but the cellphone industry opposed the effort.
The Federal Communications Commission agreed in 2021 to allow a workaround. While the state’s still now allowed to shut off all cellphones, they can use a different technology to identify phones making calls from inside prisons. That allows corrections officials to report those phones to the carriers supporting them, getting them shut off.
Where corrections officials will shut off cellphones next
Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia
McCormick Correctional Institution in McCormick
Kershaw Correctional Institution and Reentry Center in Kershaw
Lieber Correctional Institution and Reentry Center in Ridgeville
Ridgeland Correctional Institution in Ridgeland
Evans Correctional Institution in Bennettsville
Source: SC Department of Corrections
Since installing the technology at Lee Correctional Institution in July 2023, officials have deactivated 1,500 phones at the high- and medium-security facility. With just over 1,100 inmates housed there, that suggests repeat offenders, Stirling said.
At the same time, the number of calls made using the monitored, landline phones at Lee has increased nearly 70%, as inmates use the legal wall phones to contact loved ones instead of their contraband cellphones, Stirling said.
Shutting down phones doesn’t stop inmates from getting more.
Persistent inmates will continue finding ways to get phones into the prisons. But it increases demand and reduces supply, making it harder for inmates to get ahold of cellphones that can sell for as much as $10,000 in a prison, Stirling said.
Using $7 million in one-time funding and $3.8 million additional recurring dollars the Legislature provided for the fiscal year that began July 1, the Department of Corrections is working to install the system at another six prisons, Stirling said.
Putting it in place at all 21 facilities will cost $34 million, officials said. That includes $21.3 million to install the technology and $12.6 million annually to continue running it.
The prisons agency will ask again for the rest of the funding next year, Stirling said.
The issue is a high priority for legislators, said House Speaker Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, as well as for McMaster.
The law ceremoniously signed Oct. 22 is a good start, McMaster said.
“We think that’s going to have a big impact,” he said.
Skylar Laird covers the South Carolina Legislature and criminal justice issues. Originally from Missouri, she previously worked for The Post and Courier’s Columbia bureau.
SC Daily Gazette is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
How SC teen went from homeless to the Marine Corps
A Lexington County sheriff’s deputy helped an unsheltered teen find a new career
BY: SKYLAR LAIRD - NOVEMBER 11, 2024 1:55 PM
COLUMBIA — After Brian Gilbert graduated from Marine Corps basic training, he greeted the Lexington County deputy who had arrested him months earlier with a hug.
Deputy John Sanders booked Gilbert into the county’s detention center on charges of shoplifting from a grocery store deli before discovering the then-18-year-old high school senior was homeless and struggling to get food. Sanders, a U.S. Army Reserve member, thought a military enlistment could be the way to get Gilbert on a better path, he said in a news release commemorating Veterans Day.
During the 2020-2021 school year, nearly 12,000 public school students were homeless, according to the most recently reported data by the state Department of Education. About a quarter of those students were unsheltered, meaning they were living in parks, campgrounds or cars, according to the department.
Joining the military isn’t an option for all of them to escape homelessness, but it is one potential path, Sanders said.
Gilbert was one such case. He didn’t have a job. He rarely went to school. He was living in the woods behind a shopping center in the town of Gilbert. A military enlistment could help get him back on his feet, the deputy said.
“From my experience with the military, you’re fed, you get a place to sleep and you get paid for it,” Sanders said.
Sanders wasn’t sure whether Gilbert would want to join, but when he mentioned the Marines to the teen, Gilbert agreed to meet with a recruiter.
So, after helping clear Gilbert’s shoplifting charges, Sanders called Sgt. Brent Latham, a Marine Corps recruiter.
“I at least wanted to give him a foot in the door and see if he ran with it,” Sanders said.
After meeting at a coffee shop, Latham brought Gilbert back to the office to talk about the teen’s goals. Gilbert didn’t know what he wanted to do, he told the recruiter.
But when Latham brought up the Marines, Gilbert was on board.
“I was like, ‘You know what, let’s just go for it,’” Gilbert said in a sheriff’s department video.
Gilbert passed the mental and physical exams required to enlist, and Latham signed him up for 13 weeks of basic training on Parris Island, where about half of all Marine Corps recruits train each year.
Sanders and Latham both came to see him graduate in May.
Gilbert “was grinning ear to ear,” Sanders said. He hugged Sanders and thanked him for his help. Latham, too, thanked Sanders for calling him.
“It took one phone call from a deputy to a Marine Corps recruiter to get someone from a terrible situation in the woods to where he’s at now, in a full career with a salary,” Latham said. “One phone call can absolutely make a difference.”
Latham was not surprised to see Gilbert succeed. After all, the teenager was bright and enthusiastic despite his difficult circumstances, Latham said.
“Brian was outgoing. Brian was smart. Brian wanted to succeed,” Latham said.
Gilbert, now a Marine Corps private, moved onto advanced engineering training at Camp Lejeune military base in North Carolina. He is learning to be a utilities systems technician, a job that involves installing and running utilities in the field, such as power generators, showers and air conditioners. He’s considering pursuing a bachelor’s degree, according to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.
“I mean, this is way better off than I thought I would be,” Gilbert said.
Skylar Laird covers the South Carolina Legislature and criminal justice issues. Originally from Missouri, she previously worked for The Post and Courier’s Columbia bureau.
SC Daily Gazette is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
Lander ROTC student and National Guard member committed to life of military service
GREENWOOD, S.C. — Determined to “heal wounds you cannot see,” Declan Dunn came to Lander University with a plan.
A sophomore psychology major from Summerville, Dunn is a member of the University’s ROTC program and is looking forward to a career in the military. With the educational benefits offered by Lander University and her military service, she plans to pursue a doctoral degree in psychology. This will prepare her to work with our nation’s veterans and service personnel whose mental health needs may go undiagnosed and untreated.
Dunn’s career choice comes from a realization “that many veterans have mental health problems that affect them long after they leave service, and service personnel experience mental health issues, too,” Dunn said. “I’ve always had a desire to help others, and this is where I can help. Too often, there is a stigma attached to mental health problems, and people don’t receive the care they need. I want to make a difference in this field.”
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reports that mental health issues are among the most common diagnoses of veterans. Nearly one in three veterans from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan develop post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD). Female veterans are more than twice as likely as male veterans to experience PTSD.
Further, depression accounts for about one in 10 appointments in military outpatient clinics. In 2023, more than 35,500 veterans were reported to experience homelessness, which is often accompanied by substance abuse.
Dunn already has established a record of commitment to the military. She was in the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program for four years at West Ashley High School in Charleston and scheduled her coursework so that she could graduate a semester early in order to enter basic training for the Army National Guard.
“I wanted to complete my basic training before going to college,” said Dunn, who graduated from high school in January 2023 and within 10 days was at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri to brave the chilling temperatures of winter for her future in the military. “I never really had been far from Charleston, and I arrived in Missouri in the winter. It was freezing 24 hours a day, seven days a week. At times, I wasn’t sure I wanted to be there. But everything worked out.”
She landed next at Fort Jackson in Columbia for additional training and came to Lander in the Fall of 2023 to join Lander’s ROTC program. “I was drawn to Lander because of the opportunities in ROTC and the school’s outstanding psychology program,” she said. “I took a virtual tour of the campus and liked what I saw. When I came for my tour, I loved the campus and the sense of community that I found here.”
At Lander, Dunn became involved in campus life as a peer leader in the University’s LINK program for incoming freshmen and a Presidential Ambassador. “I love being able to give tours and share my love of Lander with prospective students and their families,” she said. “Lander is everything I could want.”
She has earned Dean’s List and President’s List academic honors and has excelled in ROTC training, even enjoying the physical training exercises at 5:45 a.m. required by ROTC.
“I love the order of the military. There is structure to our lives, and I love being part of something that is bigger than myself,” she said.
Although Dunn isn’t aware of any family members who have pursued military service in the past, she has forged a new path for them. “My stepbrother has joined the military, and my family says that they are a military family. They’re proud of that.”
The annual observance of Veteran’s Day across the nation holds a deep meaning to Dunn. “It is exciting to know that I will be that person – a veteran -- that I’m aspiring to be as a member of the military. These are the people I look up to now.”
Franklin Rausch Discusses Revolutionary War Records at Issaqueena Chapter, NSDAR Meeting
GREENWOOD, S.C. - In recognition of Veterans Day, the Issaqueena Chapter, NSDAR invited Dr. Franklin Rausch, a history professor at Lander University and an American Revolutionary War re-enactor, as guest speaker for their November chapter meeting.
Dr. Rausch was named Lander's Distinguished Professor of the Year in 2019 and was awarded the DAR Distinguished Citizen Medal by the Issaqueena Chapter in 2023. His presentation "America's First Veterans" gave attendees a better understanding of how the U.S., as a newly founded nation, developed a pension program to compensate Patriot soldiers who had served in the American Revolution.
“During the American War for Independence, it was not entirely clear what form, if any, a continued, unified national government would take,” Raush explained. “The idea of pensions for soldiers was the result of various efforts by Continental Congress, the states and eventually the federal government, which led to the 1818 Pension Act.”
The meeting provided valuable insights to those seeking to trace their lineage to soldiers who fought in the American Revolution. Rausch focused on how pension records can be key resources in establishing military service. At times, these pension records contain witness accounts or testimony by the soldier’s family and neighbors providing the only surviving evidence of these individuals' service and identity.
Dr. Rausch also encouraged attendees to explore volunteering with the National Archives to transcribe and tag historical records as part of an ongoing effort to preserve and document the stories of Revolutionary War veterans.
About the Issaqueena Chapter, NSDAR:
The Issaqueena Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution is dedicated to promoting historic preservation, education, and patriotism. Members honor the legacy of those who contributed to the founding of our nation through educational programs and acts of service. To learn, go online to www.Issaqueena-dar.org or connect with us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/issaqueena.nsdar/
South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Announces Additional Award Recipients to be Honored at 45th Annual Summit
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce (SC Chamber), the state’s leading voice for business, is set to host its 45th Annual Summit, presented by Ogletree Deakins, October 28th-30th at the Wild Dunes Resort in Isle of Palms, South Carolina. In addition to providing insightful programming and exclusive networking opportunities, the 45th Annual Summit will honor the recipients of various annual awards.
Having previously announced the recipients of the 2024 Public Servant of the Year Award (Governor Henry McMaster), 2024 Business Leader of the Year Award (W. Tobin Cassels III), and the 2024 House and Senate Legislators of the Year (Representative Roger Kirby and Senator Ross Turner), the SC Chamber is pleased to announce the additional recipients of its 2024 awards who will be recognized at the 45th Annual Summit.
“As the SC Chamber strives to fulfill its mission to be the leading voice for business in South Carolina, it is important to recognize the companies, organizations, and individuals who make our state an even better place to live, work, and raise a family. A thriving economy creates opportunity and prosperity for all South Carolinians,” said SC Chamber President & CEO Mike Brenan. “The 2024 award winners deserve to be celebrated for their outstanding contributions to the Palmetto State and its people. We hope you will join us at the 45th Annual Summit to help us to do so.”
Kevin A. Shwedo, Executive Director of the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and former Deputy Commanding Officer of the United States Army Training Center at Fort Jackson, was selected as the recipient of the 2024 Sgt. William Jasper Freedom Award for his distinguished 32 years of service with the United States Army, defending our country and our state, and his continued commitment to public service in South Carolina through his leadership of the DMV. During his military career, Director Shwedo received numerous awards including the Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and eight awards of the Meritorious Service Medal.
Lowcountry Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (LEAP) was selected as the 2024 Boeing Veterans Leadership Award recipient for its outstanding service to South Carolina’s veterans and their wellbeing.
TD Bank was selected as the recipient of the 2024 Excellence in Workplace Diversity Award for its commitment to creating a culture that celebrates the unique talents and contributions of each teammate, and, as the “Human” bank, making diversity, equity, and inclusion a core part of the bank’s identity as it seeks to best represent the diversity of the communities it proudly serves.
Milliken & Company was selected as the recipient of the 2024 Exemplar Award presented by the South Carolina Healthy Business Challenge for its commitment to creating a work environment that promotes a culture of well-being.
Bryson Amick, from Spring Hill High School, and Santana Pina, from Bluffton High School, were selected as recipients of the 2024 South Carolina Business Week Scholarships for the academic excellence and exceptional leadership abilities they displayed at Business Week this past Summer.
All of the 2024 award recipients will be honored on Tuesday, October 29th at the SC Chamber’s 45th Annual Summit.
About SC Chamber
The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce is the State’s leading voice for business with a vision to make South Carolina’s economy the most vibrant in the United States, creating opportunity and prosperity for all. We promote free enterprise; define and advocate for a pro-business agenda; convene business leaders, and partner with key allies. Learn more at http://www.scchamber.net.
Renasant Honors Service Members with $20,000 Donation to Veteran Organizations
TUPELO, Miss., Nov. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In recognition of Veterans Day, Renasant proudly donated $20,000 to multiple veteran support organizations across the Southeast, continuing its commitment to honoring and supporting military service members. The donation is part of the company’s ongoing efforts to give back to those who have served in the United States Armed Forces and to enhance their lives through community outreach and partnerships.
This donation was evenly divided among 15 nonprofit veterans’ organizations that have been active partners with Renasant. These groups serve military veterans and their families, providing crucial services such as counseling, job placement, housing assistance and social support.
By partnering with local organizations that directly impact veterans in their communities, Renasant is helping to ensure that the brave men and women who served receive the support and recognition they deserve.
The recipient organizations include:
Renasant is also proud to support veterans through the Renasant Veterans Honors Program, a key initiative under the Renasant Roots community outreach platform. Renasant Veterans Honors hosts quarterly webinars designed to help veterans navigate challenges and successfully transition into civilian life. By covering a range of topics from mental health and wellness to career advancement and financial literacy, the program provides vital resources for veterans as they move forward after their military service.
“Renasant’s employees and customers play a vital role in the success of the Renasant Veterans Honors Program, many of whom are veterans themselves or have family members who served,” said Kevin Chapman, President and Chief Operating Officer. “They are instrumental in driving these initiatives and fostering a culture of respect, service, and community engagement. Customers also contribute to these efforts by supporting Renasant’s community-focused programs, helping to ensure that veterans and their families receive the necessary resources to thrive.”
Renasant’s support of veterans is an ongoing priority, and the company is proud to continue investing in the futures of those who have given so much to protect the freedoms enjoyed by all.
This Veterans Day, Renasant extends its heartfelt gratitude to all veterans for their service, sacrifice, and dedication to our country.
For more information about Renasant’s Veterans Honors program, please contact CommunityDevelopment@renasant.com.
ABOUT RENASANT CORPORATION:
Renasant Corporation is the parent of Renasant Bank, a 120-year-old financial services institution. Renasant has assets of approximately $18.0 billion and operates 185 banking, lending, mortgage, and wealth management offices throughout the Southeast as well as offering factoring and asset-based lending on a nationwide basis.
Airlines offer many perks and discounts for the military community. Do you know them all?
By Tim Kinsella
I served for 33 years in the United States Military. As the former commanding officer of the Navy’s largest aviation training installation at Naval Air Station Pensacola, I know firsthand the deep relationships between military aviation and our airline industry.
The airline industry has been one of the leading employers for America's service members, employing more than 50,000 veterans. I’ve been fortunate to fly all over the world for both military and personal reasons, but no matter where I travel, I always know I'll be treated with kindness and dignity when I fly on a U.S. airline.
U.S. airlines offer discounts, waive fees, and provide many other perks for active duty and veterans alike. To make the most of these opportunities, active-duty personnel and veterans should check out the military benefits airlines offer before finalizing travel arrangements.
Discounted fares and vacation packages
Many airlines offer discounted fares for travel itineraries -- including leisure and vacation.
Alaska, American, Hawaiian, JetBlue, and United all offer reduced fares for the military community through a partnership with WeSalute+ -- a benefits and discount program for active duty and veterans, and their immediate families. Southwest also offers lower fares not available to the public if you call ahead.
Several airlines even offer discounts on vacation packages. Delta Vacations offers military discounts up to $200 on a flight-and-hotel package. American Airlines, meanwhile, offers 10% discounts for vacation packages through WeSalute+.
Check extra bags for free (and bring your pets too!)
Most airlines waive baggage fees for members of the military community. Alaska, American, and JetBlue offer up to five free checked bags per flight, for example, depending on whether the flight is for duty or leisure.
Many airlines also let members of the military community ship their pets -- a benefit not typically offered to the general public. This is something we took full advantage of when we were stationed overseas in Belgium. Active-duty servicemembers who are relocating or traveling on-orders should check airline policies to see if their four-legged friends can fly for free. Semper Fido!
An enhanced airport experience
Airports can get chaotic, especially around the holidays. Members of the military community, however, may be eligible for a little extra comfort, convenience, and relaxation.
Most airlines offer priority boarding to members of the military and their families. Early boarding offers a chance to secure overhead storage for carry-ons and get settled into a seat before the single-file procession of other passengers starts down the narrow aisle. We sure appreciated this when we were moving overseas with two small children, two cats, and more bags than a discount shopper on black Friday!
Military travelers flying with American, United, or Alaska Airlines can enjoy airline clubs and lounges before boarding, depending on the airport and availability. Whether it's to hang owith the family, find a nook to read, grab a snack, or grab a catnap, these lounges offer a quiet space to relax before boarding.
Know what deals, discounts, and perks are available before you book!
Traveling can be stressful for anyone. To relieve stress and save both time and money, members of the military community should make a point of looking into the discounts, perks, and amenities available to them before they book. Our airlines offer these discounts because they appreciate and value the sacrifices our servicemembers and their families make every day -- something a great number of airline employees have experienced as veterans themselves.
Captain Tim "Lucky" Kinsella, USN (Ret), is the executive director of the Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz Center for Leadership at the University of West Florida. He served 33 years in the United States Navy.
SBA Delivers Tools for Entrepreneurial Success to Millions of Veterans Across the Southeast
By: Allen Thomas, SBA Regional Administrator
Our Southeastern Region is the proud home of millions of veterans, service members, and military families. They are our neighbors and friends – and, in many cases, the owners and employees of local businesses we love and support. Our nation’s heroes and their families make for some of the best entrepreneurs, with an innate sense of grit and determination that set them apart. Supporting these individuals has been an essential component of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America Agenda – because President Biden knows that America cannot succeed if our veterans don’t.
Each year during National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW), the Small Business Administration highlights the unique entrepreneurial spirit of veterans, service members, National Guard members, Reservists and military spouses. This year's theme, "Strengthening #VetBiz Communities," highlights the vital role veteran-owned businesses play in boosting regional economies and serving local communities.
Here in the Southeast, we are proud to take part in this annual celebration November 11-15 with a series of in-person and virtual events hosted by our District Offices that will showcase our Agency’s unwavering support for military small business owners. Our goal, as always, is to show our appreciation and raise awareness of the resources available to every veteran looking to start their next mission as an entrepreneur.
The road to business ownership can be challenging for those who may lack the resources and institutional knowledge necessary to start, run, and scale a thriving business. At SBA, we’re working to help ease that burden so that military entrepreneurs can thrive without facing inordinate barriers to success.
We want every aspiring or established business owner to know: You do not need entrepreneurial success alone. The SBA is ready, willing, and able to be part of your team.
During NVSBW, especially, we encourage entrepreneurs to explore what local assistance may be available. We have Veterans Business Outreach Centers located across the region that provide services tailored to military entrepreneurs and their families. We also offer several programs to help veterans secure capital, such as SBA Lender Match, 7(a) reduced fees, and the Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan (MREIDL).
In addition, your local SBA office may be able to help you pursue federal contracting, which presents a significant opportunity for veteran-owned businesses to compete for and win contracts. During NVSBW, veterans should also look into our Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) and SDVOSB certifications, which are vital for securing those federal contracts and the many benefits that come with them. Under this Administration, the establishment of the VetCert Program has been extremely beneficial to tens of thousands of veterans across the U.S. who have received their certifications with a significantly reduced processing time.
As we celebrate National Veterans Small business Week 2024, it's essential to recognize the invaluable contributions of veteran-owned businesses. Veterans and their families play a crucial role in building strong communities, and it's important to recognize that no one achieves business ownership alone. Through valuable connections, support networks, and resources, veterans are empowered to succeed. The SBA is going further than ever by enhancing support for veterans, particularly in rural and underserved areas – and it is a profound honor to serve those who have served our country, this week and every week.
To learn more about the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD) and its offerings, visit sba.gov/ovbd.
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Commentary
Asbestos exposure may concern South Carolina veterans even today
NOVEMBER 19, 2024 6:00 PM
The U.S. armed forces overused asbestos-containing products throughout the last century before and since entering World War II, when affordable materials were sought for mass-producing military equipment quickly.
All five military branches utilized asbestos in some form, exposing many service members to the material’s toxic fibers, especially veterans of the Second World War, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
Today’s growing number of toxic exposure cases reflects the health risks our vets assumed, in addition to the challenges of service.
Navy veterans were at a strikingly high risk of asbestos exposure and developing severe diseases decades after service, as the Two-Ocean Navy Act expanded the U.S. Naval Forces by more than 70% in preparation for the States’ entry into the Second World War.
Shipbuilding picked up the pace by applying asbestos insulation wherever possible on Navy ships built before the 1980s.
Moreover, most of the past century’s industries routinely used asbestos, so nobody considered asbestos dust a health threat. This is why the risk of developing asbestos diseases is still a concern for all veterans who might have asbestos fibers in their lungs, including those in South Carolina’s veteran population.
Toxic contaminants represent environmental and health risks on military sites, and exposure to these substances is a severe issue requiring more attention, investigation, and, in most cases, immediate action after discovery.
South Carolina has military bases from every branch, and most of them had an essential role in WWII.
One example is the Charleston Naval Base, an essential piece of South Carolina’s wartime past from 1901 through its closure in 1996. As written on the city of North Charleston website, the Navy Yard provided “construction, repair, and logistic support to the operating forces. Thousands of airmen, soldiers, and sailors trained its military facilities on their way to war.”
Asbestos exposure at the root of veterans’ deteriorating health
Asbestos disintegrates into microscopic particles when disturbed, forming dust that can float in the air for hours.
It’s the white dust many veterans remember. These sharp-edged microscopic threads are easy to inhale or ingest and cause irreversible damage to the tissue of organs, generating life-altering diseases.
Asbestos-related diseases are latent for decades from the initial exposure and usually manifest symptoms when they reach advanced stages.
Even if veterans may not have had health issues during their service, some of them now have to fight for their health, especially when they are diagnosed with illnesses like mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, or other severe respiratory diseases.
Many must accept the fact that their asbestos illness shortens their lives, as no existing treatment can reverse the damage done by asbestos.
Today’s medical procedures can only slow the progression, relieve symptoms, and prevent complications.
With South Carolina ranking 22nd in the nation for asbestos-related deaths, veterans should schedule periodic check-ups to monitor their health. Timely detection is crucial in asbestos diseases because it considerably improves treatment results and prolongs life expectancy.
Inhaled asbestos fibers affect the lungs first, so veterans should undergo chest X-rays or CT scans and pulmonary function (breathing) tests. These noninvasive tests reveal any injury caused by the asbestos fibers and are reliable in diagnosing benign and malignant asbestos conditions.
Veterans who know they’ve served in an asbestos-contaminated environment or those who suspect they’ve been exposed during the military years should know their rights and options.
Compensation programs and legal avenues are available through asbestos trust funds and Veterans Affairs to help those harmed by asbestos exposure, and veterans need to be informed about these resources.
PACT Act helps SC veterans and their families
In 2022, the 117th U.S. Congress enacted The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022, known as the PACT Act.
The Act extends eligibility for VA health care for retired military members exposed to harmful substances during active duty and provides veterans with the care and benefits they deserve.
Thanks to this law, approximately 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans are eligible for extended VA benefits.
Since passage of the PACT Act, nearly 6 million veterans have been screened for toxic exposure, and more than 1.3 million veterans have been approved for expanded benefits, as of Nov. 9, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
In South Carolina, 28,622 PACT Act claims had been approved, paying a total $148.2 million in benefits, as of August, just ahead of the law’s two-year anniversary, according to the VA.
Veterans can consult more information by accessing https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits.
Cristina Johnson is a Navy veteran advocate for Asbestos Ships Organization, a nonprofit based in San Marcos, California. Its primary mission is to raise awareness and educate veterans about the dangers of asbestos exposure on Navy ships and assist them in navigating the Veterans Affairs claims process.
