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Show CIMES April 9, 2009 April 16 is National Healthcare Decision Day BY CAPT. GRAHAM H. BERNSTEIN Judge Advocate N Mires Hbn Photo courtesy of Tech, Sgt. Cory Hebb's family ' ' • , ""*"««*. il •* Maj. Shannon Smith (left), 75th Security Forces Squadron commander, and Tech. Sgt. Cory Hebb, 75th SFS, participate in the Military Heavy Division of the 20th annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., March 29. o one enjoys thinking about their own death or incapacitation, but some simple planning can make all the difference if tragedy strikes. Do you know what the law of your state says on who makes healthcare decisions for you when you cannot? Have you considered your preferences on artificial life support, organ donation and whether you'd like to die at home rather than a hospital bed? April 16 is National Healthcare Decision Day, the perfect motivation to put a little thought and planning into the answers for these questions. Some states have family consent laws permitting other family members to make some healthcare decisions on your behalf. But in most states, no one, not even your spouse, has the legal right to make any kind of decision on your behalf; they might have to file a court petition to get it, and obtaining such guardianships or conservatorships can be expensive, time consuming and still not accomplish your wishes. As a result, most states have adopted various forms of other legal devices to help your wishes be carried out when you're incapable of making such important decisions. This planning is accomplished through advance directives that must be written. Remember that they're only valid if made while you are competent, not when you've entered an advanced state of, say, Alzheimer's disease. Also, state laws about how these documents must be witnessed and created vary greatly. It is a good idea to seek legal help to assure they meet the requirements of your state and are in accord with your overall estate plan. The Hill Air Force Base Legal Office offers Healthcare Powers of Attorney and Advanced Medical Direc- ' tives (also known as Living Wills); powerful tools to help ensure your wishes regarding your healthcare are respected. As a military member or dependant you're eligible for these documents and advice related to health- ; care decisions free of charge. j The Hill Legal Office will be holding a drop-in hour from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., Thursday, April 16, at which you can talk to an attorney about any questions you might have regarding healthcare decisions and draft documents to help ensure your wishes are followed. You can also come to our office for assistance durMgTSfrJ^bf our regularly scheduled legal assistance hours, i.fyou have any questions about this article contact the"r5aselegal office at 777-6751. A tribute of blood and sweat to Bataan survivors BY LEE ANNE HENSLEY Hilltop Times staff C .S. Lewis once said, "Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn," and there is no other effective way of understanding a pivotal moment in history than to experience a taste of it. In a letter welcoming the 20th annual Bataan Memorial Death March participants March 29 at the White Sands Missile Range in Las Cruces, N.M., the range's commander, Army Brig. Gen. David L. Mann, called the event "a living history lesson that will not just test your endurance, but make you think." For the 11 participants from Hill Air Force Base, that statement rang true. "I'm from New Mexico," said Sherry McAllister of the 502nd Aircraft Sustainment Squadron, "and when I read that only 900 of the 1,800 soldiers of the 200th Coast Artillery Regiment from New Mexico survived the march and POW camps, I knew that I had to run it to honor them and all veterans. And I wanted to do it while there are still Bataan survivors alive." The night before the event, Bataan survivor Ward Redshaw died, leaving only 13 Bataan survivors to carry on the legacy of those unbearable six days, April 12-18,1942, at the Bataan peninsula in the Philippine islands. During that time, Filipino and American captive soldiers were forced to walk 80 miles while being deprived of food, water and restroom breaks, and various methods of torture and murder were delivered profusely by their Japanese captors. All 11 participants from Hill AFB agreed that the Bataan Memorial Death March only allowed them to experience a fraction of what those World War n prisoners of war suffered. "We did not have 10 percent of what they had to endure," said Capt. Tracy Rue, 75th Medical1 Group nurse who participated in the military light division, requiring him to wear an Airman Battle Uniform and hydration pack while running the 26.2 mile course. Aside from its length, the course itself offered brutal obstacles. First-time participants Senior Airman John Laffey and Stiff Sgt. Christopher Kane, both from the 75th Security Forces Squadron, were warned about the sandpit that welcomed them at mile 22, but once they reached it facing a 25-knot headwind and realizing it was an uphill climb complicated by the wearing of a 40-pound rucksack required of all heavy division participants, they both suffered crippling muscle cramps and injuries. "I wasn't expecting the sandpit to last about half a mile," agreed first-time participant Staff Sgt. Merwyn Chee, 75th Communications Squadron. "The (ankle-deep sandpit) was the most challenging part of the course." "Everything was kosher until we hit the sandpit," Rue recalled. "(Capt. Paul Conroy and I) were running all the way until we hit the sandpit, and then came the cramps and vomiting." Rue blames himself for tarnishing Conroy's finishing time goal because they decided to stick together throughout the course. "We felt it necessary to stay together as a team," he said, because that was spirit of the veterans during the six-day Bataan Death March. Survivors' recollections tell of torture and death to those who could not keep up with the group of marchers, so the sick and injured POWs only had a chance of survival with the help of their fellow soldiers. That message of teamwork permeates each Bataan Memorial Death March. Retired Master Sgt. James Purtell of the 75th SFS recalled, "Last year, (the 7$th SFS team) had a team member who was struggling to get up a 5 mile long, 1400-foot hill and First Lt David Bullock, (75th SFS Operations officer), said, 'Give me his pack.' So not only did (Bullock) have his 40-pound pack on his back, but now he carried his struggling teammate's 40pound pack up this hill!" Many of the rucksacks the heavy division participants wear are filled with 40 pounds of canned food which they unload at a food bank donation station at the end of the race. Most of the missile range course is a barren desert terrain that the participants described as a blank canvas emphasizing the true focus and motivation of the event. "Along the way at different points, there would be Bataan survivors stationed at a water point on a crest of a hill, and just when you lost motivation, you would see them and become inspired again," Purtell said, who placed 6th overall in the Military Heavy Division and won his 40-49 age division with a 5 hour, 37 minute time. "I did (the marathon) for the challenge at first, See BATAAN I page 8 MARY LOU GORNY/Hilltop Times.;' Janice Hansen works in the contracting area at Hill Air '$ Force Base on April 6.. 3 Hill competition advocate gets| AF professional courage award! BY JUUE PRIMBS Division Chief, Policy and Pricing, OO-ALC J anice Hansen was awarded the Air Force "Professional Courage" award for fiscal year 2008. This was the first year the Air Force established a professional courage award in contracting. The award signifies professional courage in standing up for what you believe is the correct path to take — regardless of the opposition. To win this prestigious award, Hansen excelled as the competition advocate (alternate) for the Ogden Logistics Center at Hill Air Force Base. Her accomplishments included screening sole source re- ? quests for potential competitive requirements and research-• ing alternatives for the government. In an era where competition is paramount, Hansen decreased the sole source awarded contracts by 57 percent during a 12-month period. This resulted in millions of dollars in savings through competition. Her ability to research and seek out competition, for previously sole-source awarded efforts, resulted in a 7 percent increase in competitive acquisitions during Fiscal Year 2008. ; Hansen has been recognized for her excellent customer support by the combat sustainment wing, where she received the coveted Spirit Award jacket. She continues to excel in her personal, as well as professional commitment, and will graduate in June 2009 with a master's degree in procurement and acquisition management. |
