Rose, Orndorf lead charge for veterans of recent conflicts

by Melissa Reurink on January 14th, 2010

By Kevin Courtney
FOR THE STAR

Saturday, January 02, 2010

Gary Rose sells houses. Steve Orndorf manages tenant rentals at Napa Pipe, the industrial site being eyed as a master-planned residential area.

Those are their day jobs. The activity that touches their hearts most deeply is the Pathway Home, a treatment and counseling program for Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans at the Veterans Home of California in Yountville.

As leaders of the Rotary Club of Napa, Rose and Orndorf have spearheaded three years of community support for the emotionally and physically injured vets. Ski trips in the Sierra, weekly games at Napa Bowl, Super Bowl parties, summer barbecues and gift baskets at Thanksgiving and Christmas are among the Rotary-sponsored activities for the men who are by far the youngest members of the Veterans Home of California, home to about 1,000 elderly veterans of earlier military clashes.

The young men have seen combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, often in street-by-street fighting against an enemy who may not be wearing a uniform.

They've seen and experienced things unimaginable to the rest of us,” Orndorf said. “Regardless of what your political position may be, these guys deserve to be supported when they come back.”

The veterans at the Pathway Home come from across the U.S. for 60 to 90 days of intensive counseling. The program is primarily funded by a $5.6 million, three-year grant from the Tides Center in San Francisco that will run out next summer.

Under the leadership of Orndorf and Rose, local Rotary clubs have provided Pathway Home with $40,000 to $60,000 annually to pay for supplies and activities.

Rotary donations have bought two vans, a large-screen TV, camping equipment, bike racing jerseys, even a subscription to Netflix.

But the most significant donation is one of time. Rotary members hang out with the vets, helping them become reacquainted with the civilian world.

“It’s really helped them to become more comfortable with everyday people — people they thought probably didn’t care,” Fred Gusman, Pathway Home’s executive director, said. “It’s been extremely helpful beyond words.”

It can be a “surreal” experience to return from war to a nation where everyone seems caught up in their everyday concerns, oblivious to the sacrifices of soldiers, Gusman said.

Knowing that many program members have post traumatic stress disorders, Orndorf said he was concerned at first that he and the vets wouldn’t be able to relate to each other.

This fear quickly faded. “They seem like regular guys when you’re with them. It’s a blast,” he said.

Orndorf said when socializing with Pathway Home soldiers he goes out of his way not to bring up the war, leaving it to the veterans to talk about it as they choose.

“Some want to talk about it, some don’t,” Rose said.

Graduation ceremonies are emotional affairs, with some vets admitting they were suicidal before coming to Pathway Home. Rose remembers one man saying, “Iraq took my life away. Pathway gave it back to me.”

“We can’t go (to Iraq or Afghanistan) and fight, but we can guarantee that they don’t die when they come home,” Rose said.

An additional concern for the vets is their future in the working world. A few Pathway graduates remain in the service, but most are preparing to reenter civilian life with uncertain vocational prospects.

Rose led the charge in getting Rotary clubs, other service organizations and local businesses to sponsor an annual bike ride/wine festival fundraiser for Pathway Home and Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Called Cycle for Sight, last year’s event attracted 2,000 participants and netted $80,000.

This year’s Wine Valley Cycle for Sight — Rotary Ride for Veterans will take place on April 17, Rose said, with riders taking off from Justin-Siena High School on one of three routes before returning for the festival.

Earlier this month, Orndorf accompanied the vets on a trip to the bowling alley. Orndorf said he nursed a sore thumb the next day, but could hardly complain. One of the bowlers was a double amputee who bowled from a wheelchair.

These men are nothing but inspirational, Orndorf said. In helping out, “there’s no doubt I’ve gotten more from it than they have.”

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