Calling all women veterans to health fair

SUBMITTED PHOTO
Pictured left, Candy Tuller of Osgood is an Air Force veteran.

Mary Mattingly
EDITOR
mmattingly@ripleynews.com

Candace Tuller of Osgood is an anomaly of her generation. An Air Force veteran, she joined the military in the ‘70s when few women were doing so. And she didn’t go into the clerical field, but trained in a male dominated field of airfield electronics where she worked on fighter jets during the Vietnam War. “I was from a very patriotic family. I grew up on John Wayne military movies and it just had a hold on me, it pulled me in,” Tuller explained as to her desire to serve.

She met some resistance from her male peers, but soon proved herself on the job. She’s never regretted it, and actually made a career from it. The petite woman was just 20 years old when she joined and became an aircraft electrician at the Canyon Air Force base in New Mexico, working on small electronics. A mother of two (she met her husband at the base there), Tuller served our country for six years and is currently working with Ken Hylton in the Ripley County veteran services department.

“I’m very proud of being in the military. And I love airplanes!” She’s recently retired from working full time in the Ohio veteran’s service office.

Women make up 15 percent of the military population, 19 percent if you include the National Guard and Reserves. Currently, over 200,000 are serving in the U.S, and of those 4,000 are from Indiana. The Air Force has the largest percentage of women among the military branches, with 19 percent serving, 16 percent in the US Navy. In Ripley County, about 40 women are serving in the military; however, women don’t often talk about their service, nor their needs after their call of duty. That’s one reason for the Women’s Veterans Health Fair is going to be held on Friday, Aug. 23 at the courthouse annex lobby. It’s the first time it’s being offered here, and any woman who has served in the military during any time period is encouraged to attend.

Tuller says they’ll learn about what is available for female veterans in regards to health care and the VA hospital, and be able to partake in various free screenings, such as blood pressure, osteoporosis, etc. Besides the mobile VA van, there will be several booths set up inside the annex. Margaret Mary Health, George’s Pharmacy, nutrition booths, and even the American Legion are a few of the booths or tables at the health fair. Tuller, who moved to Osgood a year ago to be with family, is a member of the Versailles American Legion and of the Color Guard.

Tuller reported a national trend is that “newer women veterans” such as those who served in Iraq or Afghanistan are more likely to file for benefits, but “we need to get more women veterans out to use the VA system.” Tuller said she sees few at the courthouse annex office to file or ask questions.

The health fair is free and will be held Friday from 10 am. to 2 p.m. The van will be parked outside the annex and will be available for screenings, but Tuller encourages everyone to come inside to take full advantage of the health fair.

Home burglary in Cross Plains

A Ripley County resident on SR 62, west of SR 129 arrived home around 4 pm on Wednesday, August p.m., and found herself face to face with the thief inside. After a short exchange of words, the male subject immediately ran out her front door.

The same day, a nearby home was also forcibly broke into as well. Items were taken from both homes.
The Ripley County Sheriff’s Office is investigating both burglaries and urges anyone with information to contact the sheriff’s office.

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