Title
The Veteran Affairs Commission (VAC) in collaboration with Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) will continue to review draft versions of the Veterans Monument Criteria, receive and consider input from the veteran community and identify and compose a single version of draft criteria to recommend for approval by the County Board of Supervisors (BOS), as directed by the BOS on 01/14/2025.
Commissioner Vinton reported that the section of the VAC currently reviewing 'Options for Definition of Hero Language' was focused on Captain Paul Jacobs' plaque at the El Dorado County Veterans Monument. He reported that Orange County had awarded Captain Jacobs a plaque that refers to him as a hero. However, in his research on the El Dorado County Veterans Monument, Vinton found no mention within the veteran community of concerns regarding this designation or any suggestion that calling Captain Jacobs a hero contradicts military culture. Since this issue had not been raised, Vinton concluded that it was neither a national nor a state-level matter. Next, Vinton reported the importance of unity, stating that everyone is ultimately on the same team. Vinton highlighted that the veteran community seeks to honor their brothers and sisters who have fallen in combat or performed great heroic acts. Lastly, Vinton addressed criticisms regarding the portrayal of the USS Kirk as the sole ship involved in the rescue of Vietnamese refugees. He clarified that an armada of ships participated in the effort, as documented in multiple books and documentaries about the Vietnam War and Captain Jacobs' heroism. He also shared that many Vietnamese survivors named their children after Captain Jacobs and invited him to their weddings once the children were grown. According to Vinton, the Vietnamese community regards Captain Jacobs as a hero and acknowledges his leadership in the mission to save their people.
Next, Timalynn Jaynes, the Assistant Director of Human Services at HHSA, began by revie...
Click here for full text