Much like the US Postal Service, DAV van drivers try not to let the weather stop them from their appointed rounds. So says volunteer driver Jim Bogle of Oak Harbor.
“Rain or shine, if the clinics (at Seattle Veterans Administration hospital) are open, then we’re on the road,” said Bogle. “On the other hand, if wintertime road conditions are bad, we won’t attempt it, because the safety of our riders is most important of all.”
A DAV van volunteer since about 2001, Bogle says he has come to know, and become quite fond of, those who depend on him for round trip rides to VA hospital appointments.
“We see lots of vets: many are Vietnam-era, and Korean-war, but we also have the WWII vets, and veterans of the desert wars, too,” said Bogle. A veteran as well, Bogle stressed that is not a requirement for being a van driver.
“I’m a retired police officer from New Mexico, and my wife is a retired Navy nurse,” said Bogle.
His background as a former Navy Hospital Corpsman assigned to the 2nd Marine Division during the 60’s gives him a natural affinity for van driver service. But medical experience is not a requirement either, he said.
“One day, I was looking for something to do, and saw an ad in the newspaper for volunteer drivers,” he said. “After a physical, background check, and a couple of ride-alongs with experienced drivers, I joined up, and have been doing this ever since.”
The DAV van makes a number of scheduled stops for the convenience of their passengers. These include Safeway, Liberty Market, and the Anacortes ferry, among others. They also have the flexibility to pick up passengers at their home addresses, for those who are unable to connect in any other way, although a doctor’s note is required for home pickup.
“We want to be there for the veteran,” said Bogle.
Riders must also be ambulatory, since the vans are not equipped to handle wheelchairs, he said. Sometimes, he even transports passengers other than people.
“We have patients who take their dogs and other service animals or companions along,” Bogle said, noting that this also requires a doctor’s note.
The roundtrip rides are generally very routine, taking about one-and-a-half to two hours’ travel time each way. One rare exception occurred late last year.
“I was driving last November, around Thanksgiving time, when it started snowing,” said Bogle. He said that day turned into an 18-hour round trip for him and his nine passengers. “We were held up for 3 1/2 hours at Deception Pass bridge — but thankfully, that sort of occurrence is pretty rare.”
The DAV is always interested in finding qualified volunteers to drive the vans. And while the work provides a much-appreciated service for veterans, it has also been a rewarding experience for him, says Bogle.
“I’ve stayed with it all this time because of the stories I’ve heard from some of these fellows, especially the guys from WWII. You simply would be spellbound, as I was,” said Bogle. “They are wonderful.”
Drivers needed:
If you have an interest in being a volunteer driver for Disabled American Veterans, stop by the DAV office in Building 13 on the Seaplane Base in Oak Harbor. Call 257-4801 for information.
