CONTENTS 1 3 10 15 17 22 24 Reflecting on a year of service, National Commander Dave Riley looks ahead to DAV’s efforts in 2017. National Adjutant Marc Burgess urges members to share their kindness and compassion with fellow veterans in need this holiday season. A call to action spurs generous giving, enabling DAV to expand disaster relief efforts to veterans displaced by massive flooding in Louisiana. DAV members take to the studio of ABC’s “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” supporting fellow veterans during a special episode saluting those who served. The VA reaches a major milestone in building the Million Veteran Program with a little help from DAV members. DAV sits down one-on-one with VA Secretary Bob McDonald to discuss the future of the department. From sleeping in a bus stop to standing atop the Paralympic podium, DAV life member Angela Madsen was one of 34 U.S. military veterans to compete on the world stage this year in Rio. FEATURES 5 A family struggles to find relief for their son and finds hope in DAV’s veteran-to-veteran service. 12 Ridiculed for his beliefs, conscientious objector and DAV life member Desmond Doss defied the odds during the Battle of Okinawa. Cover photo by Mark Rogers © Cross Creek Pictures Pty. Ltd. 20 In commemoration of the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, DAV member Will Lehner reflects on his involvement in the earliest moments of the infamous attack. David W. Riley National Commander J. Marc Burgess National Adjutant/Publisher Daniel J. Clare National Communications Director DAV MAGAZINE • November/December 2016 Contact us: dav.org • Toll Free 877-426-2838 • 3725 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, KY 41076 • feedback@dav.org. Volume 58, Issue 6, DAV Magazine (ISSN 0885-6400). Editorial Office: DAV Magazine, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301. Telephone 859-441-7300 or toll free (877) I AM A VET. Published and circulated bimonthly bulletin by the Disabled American Veterans, a Congressionally chartered, nonprofit organization, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301. DAV Home Page is dav.org. Available on recording for the blind and those with physical handicaps that preclude reading printed material. The magazine is mailed free to DAV and Auxiliary members who are paid subscribers. Nonmembers may subscribe for $15 per year. Periodical postage paid at office of publication, Newport, KY 41071, and at additional offices. Printed in U.S.A. Change of Address: When notifying a change of address, send former as well as new address, including ZIP code, to: DAV Magazine, DAV National Headquarters, P.O. Box 145550, Cincinnati, OH 45250-5550. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to DAV Magazine, DAV National Headquarters, P.O. Box 145550, Cincinnati, OH 45250-5550. Ashleigh Byrnes Deputy National Communications Director Steven Wilson Assistant National Communications Director Charity A. Edgar Assistant National Communications Director M. Todd Hunter Assistant National Communications Director Mary Dever Assistant National Communications Director Bryan Lett Assistant National Communications Director James W. Killen Associate National Communications Director Doreen Briones Production Manager Shannan Archer Senior Graphic Designer