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In this episode of ClackCo Works, host Dylan Blaylock talks with Gus Bedwell, the Veterans Services Officer Supervisor for Clackamas County. Gus explains how his team helps veterans and their families understand and access VA benefits, while also clearing up common myths. He shares real stories, including one about helping a family facing a rare dementia diagnosis, to show the real impact of their work. The episode also highlights other county resources for veterans, like housing and job support, and offers tips on how to connect with the Veterans Services Office. Tune in for an inspiring look at the people dedicated to making a difference for veterans in Clackamas County.
Transcript
Dylan: Welcome to ClackCo Works, where we chat with the people who make Clackamas County work for their community. I'm Dylan Blaylock with Clackamas County Public Affairs. We're here today with Gus Bedwell, the county's Veterans Services Officer Supervisor. Thanks for being here.
Gus: Thank you for having me.
Dylan: You have a cool job, helping veterans. It's very noble. How long have you been doing that?
Gus: I've been doing this work for the county for the last four years, but I've been a veteran service officer, a veteran advocate, for the last 25 years.
Dylan: Thank you for what you do. So, what does the Veteran Services office do in a nutshell?
Gus: We help veterans and their family members navigate the complex VA system when it comes to compensation and pension benefits—everything from getting disability claims awarded to burial and survivor's benefits. We help them get through the entire process from a legal standpoint.
Dylan: Are you the VA?
Gus: No, we are definitely not the VA. We get asked that a lot. I love to tell folks, no, we're not the VA. We actually work for the veterans and their family members.
Dylan: Do you serve all kinds of veterans? Generally, how many people do you serve in a year? And how big is your team?
Gus: Yes, we serve all kinds of individuals who have served in the military in one capacity or another, including all branches. We also serve their family members. On average, we serve about 1,800 to 2,000 people per year doing claims, but about 3,000 people access our office for various reasons, either walk-in or by appointment.
Dylan: Is that 3,000 different people, or could there be multiple people from the same family?
Gus: It could be multiple people from the same family, or someone coming in for repeat visits. On average, we might see someone once or twice a year. It's rare to see them three times a year because the claims process takes that long.
Dylan: Are they mainly Clackamas County residents?
Gus: Mostly Clackamas County residents. As for my team, we have four veteran service officers and one assistant who manages our front desk.
Dylan: Four people for 3,000 over the course of a year—you guys are busy.
Gus: We're very busy. We're seeing about four to five people a day between all of us. We're averaging about four to five weeks out for appointments. We don't do walk-ins; we do appointments so we can take the time with each individual who needs our help.
Dylan: From an outside perspective, it's obviously important what you do in helping veterans navigate the VA. Why would you say what you do is important?
Gus: There's a concept within the veteran community that if you got told no from the VA once, that's a forever no. One of the biggest things we do is debunk myths within the VA system. Laws and culture change, and what happened in someone's life or their medical diagnosis can change whether they get benefits. We take time to educate folks on benefits they may be entitled to today that they weren't before, or just never knew about.
Dylan: Why is the VA system so challenging to navigate?
Gus: Mostly it's just a lack of education or familiarity with the system. It seems complicated, but once you get into it, it's not really. You just have to know how to work through it. It's like fixing a car—if you've worked on that type of car a thousand times, you're familiar with it. Most veterans walking through our door have never engaged the VA, so it seems complicated. We help them navigate that process.
Dylan: I've read online that your office particularly focuses on young veterans, Gulf War veterans, and Vietnam era veterans. Is that right?
Gus: That is correct.
Dylan: Why those groups?
Gus: Vietnam veterans were probably the worst treated of all wartime veterans. They were drafted, went off to war, and were treated horribly when they came home. Their community forgot them. Now, this is our opportunity to say we appreciate their service and help them access the benefits they deserve. Gulf War veterans are few because the war was smaller, but it's actually the longest-lasting war in our history, starting in the 1990s and still ongoing. Many people forget about them, but they're entitled to benefits. Our younger veterans often don't get good information when they leave the military. They're focused on school, work, or family. We try to set the foundation now in case they need benefits later.
Dylan: Is it true that a lot of what's come up in recent years with veterans' rights, as far as accessing benefits, relates to toxins and exposure?
Gus: Yes, that's a big one. In August 2022, President Biden signed the PACT Act, which opened the door for veterans exposed to certain toxins—burn pits, Agent Orange, asbestos, and others—to get VA benefits for different conditions. It even expanded benefits for those exposed to toxins at places like Camp Lejeune. There's a lot more available now for veterans with toxin exposure.
Dylan: Have you seen a lot of toxin-related claims in your office?
Gus: Yes, that's probably one of the biggest claims we help with. Most are straightforward if there's a presumptive service-connected issue, but sometimes we have to help with legal or medical navigation.
Dylan: If a veteran has died, can you still assist their family members?
Gus: Most definitely. Sometimes the veteran never engaged the VA or had a negative experience and told their family not to talk to anyone from the VA. Often, those veterans could have gotten a benefit, but because they didn't apply, they can't get it now. However, the family member could potentially get some benefits in their own right. We love engaging with family members and survivors of veterans.
Dylan: Is there a particular story of helping a veteran that you're proud of, where your office really made a difference?
Gus: I love talking about my team and the work they do. Recently, one of our newer veteran service officers fought a claim for Lewy body dementia, which is a new type of dementia we're hearing more about. He tied that dementia to benzene exposure for a particular veteran, which is rare. He helped the family get a medical nexus letter and got it service-connected, even researching case studies and VA law. It made a huge difference for the family, who were struggling financially to care for the veteran.
Dylan: What are some other resources available to veterans in Clackamas County that aren't through your office?
Gus: Clackamas County is unique in having housing and employment services tailored to veterans. They're not administered out of our office, but if you come in and ask, we'll refer you to the right place. We have some really good housing and employment resources through the county.
Dylan: Where should people go to learn more about your office or to make an appointment?
Gus: You can go to our website, but the best way to make an appointment is to email us at veterans@clackamas.us or call us at (503) 650-5631 and talk to our front desk person, who will get you scheduled with a veteran service officer.
Dylan: Excellent. Gus Bedwell is Clackamas County's Veterans Services Office Supervisor. Thanks for being here.
Gus: It's a pleasure. Thank you.
Dylan: Great.
Gus: I hope that wasn't too bad.
Dylan: It was totally fine.
Gus: Perfect.