Whipple takes helm of veterans service office

It’s just right for a man who reached the pinnacle of the enlisted rates over a 22-year Navy career.

“I get to do what I love, and that’s to take care of people,” Whipple said.

No job’s too big or small to take on. Recently, for instance, a Korean War vet went to renew his driver’s license and was told by the Department of Motor Vehicles he couldn’t until he provided a copy of his birth certificate.

For some reason, the man could could not obtain a copy of the certificate. His driving privileges were gone and he was snared in a bureaucratic nightmare.

The agency would not accept the man’s military discharge papers as proof of date and place of birth. Whipple got involved, and so did U.S. Senator Ron Wyden.

They helped the man obtain Social Security records that gave the necessary information. The whole process took three months.

“It was a small victory, but a victory just the same,” Whipple said.

He said his job, mainly, is to help veterans maintain a good quality of life. Pensions, educational and health care benefits are among the issues he helps veterans deal with, day in and day out.

“I’m working with vets ages 18-98,” he said. “With the older ones there are a lot of concerns about pensions, while the vets coming back now are interested in the very good educational benefits that are available.”

He said that since he hired on, many veterans have come to him with questions about benefits for service-connected illnesses and injuries.

He has helped a number of vets with claims related to Agent Orange, the defoliant chemical that was used extensively during the Vietnam War.

“The government is acknowledging that it causes a plethora of diseases that come out years later,” he said. “I’d say about 20 percent of the vets I’m seeing have questions about Agent Orange.”

Just now, Whipple is involved with letting veterans know about a local commissary on-site sale scheduled for Aug. 20-22. The sale offers a variety of commissary products at savings of 30-60 percent.

The sale, at the National Guard Armory at 404 12th St., runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 20-21, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 22.

“It’s open to all military ID cardholders, veterans and active members alike. It’s a great opportunity to save money,” Whipple said.

Whipple was raised in Rogue River, graduating from the local high school in 1981, and joining the Navy after that.

He was happy from the start, though the service was an eye-opener in more ways than one.

“My first warship, the USS Coral Sea, had 4,000 people on it. You can imagine what kind of effect that had on a young person from the small town of Rogue River,” he said.

He served on various ships as an operations specialist and rose high, coming out 22 years later as a Master Chief Petty Officer, pay Grade E-9.

He said he loved the life.

“I should have paid the Navy for the career I had. I signed up for adventure, and they never let me down,” he said. One highlight was his successful completion of airborne training at Fort Benning, Ga.

“There aren’t very many Navy paratroopers,” he said.

The most valuable experience he had, however, was seeing to the well-being of those under him.

“I think the most important thing the Navy taught me was taking care of my people,” he said.

Whipple left the service in 2003, taking up residence in La Pine. He built log homes for awhile and later took a job as a paraprofessional at La Pine Middle School.

A couple of years ago, he attended a sports show in Redmond, and visited the booth operated by Wilderness Outfitters Network of Union County. What he saw interested him.

“I decided I wanted to do that,” he said.

He moved to the La Grande area and worked for Wilderness Outfitters as a packer. While involved in that, he heard that Jederberg was planning to retire.

Since then, he has been working for local veterans and looking for ways to expand and improve services.

“This is one-stop shopping for veterans to get the benefits they deserve, and if I can’t help them, I find out who can,” he said.

He said he’s been extremely busy since taking the job.

“I’m seeing one veteran about every 45 minutes, every day,” he said. “I may have to go to where it’s by appointment.”

He said he plans to take an active role in outreach. He will soon begin writing a regular column on veterans issues for The Observer, and also will visit veterans in Union County’s outlying communities.

“If they can’t come see me, I’m going out to see them,” he said.

He said he encourages veterans to call him with questions.

“The smallest of phone calls can lead to the biggest of benefits,” he said. “I’ll help with the paperwork and keep you posted all the way.”

Reach Whipple at 541-962-8802.