By
DENISE D. TUCKER
Argus Leader
published: 2/19/02
Native American on U.S. board
Being a Native American who served in the Army, Don Loudner is sensitive to the
plight of minority veterans.
The 69-year-old Mitchell man has a national voice in the long and uphill effort
to help minorities take advantage of needed services they've earned by defending
their country.
Through his work on the South Dakota State Veterans Affairs Commission - of
which he is chairman - Loudner was appointed to serve on the national Advisory
Committee on Minority Veterans. He recently had his appointment extended for one
year after serving a three-year term.
"I feel honored to be recommended to continue on the panel," said
Loudner. "I'm very outspoken, and I'm there for the veterans."
The Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans, established in 1994, reports
annually to the VA secretary on how well VA programs and services meet the needs
of minority veterans.
Anthony Principi, the secretary of veterans affairs, recently announced the
19-member panel, which includes representatives from across the country.
Loudner is an enrolled member of the Hunkpati Dakota Sioux Tribe of the Crow
Creek Reservation in Fort Thompson. He served in the Korean War and spent 32
years in the Army Reserve. He is a former commissioner of Indian affairs for
South Dakota.
"He's very vocal, articulate and a forceful voice on the committee relating
to Native American affairs," said Charles Nesby, director of the Center for
Minority Veterans and executive director of the advisory committee.
He said Loudner's work has led to an increase in funding for personnel to get
out to the reservations and assist veterans with VA benefits.
"He was instrumental in getting a VA vet center in Mitchell," said
Nesby from Washington, D.C.
Loudner is one of three Native Americans on the panel.
"Native Americans have always served," Nesby said. "They are
among the highest ethnicity to serve in military service and among the least to
accept veterans' benefits."
According to the 1990 census, South Dakota's minority veterans included: 4,063
American Indian-Eskimo, 2,951 women, 386 Hispanics, 311 blacks and 47
Asian-Pacific islanders.
Living far from VA hospitals is one reason Native American veterans seek less
assistance. South Dakota has VA medical facilities in Sioux Falls, Hot Springs
and Fort Meade. Nesby said Principi will push for more money from Congress for
veterans clinics in remote locations.
"I feel we need to continue to communicate with minority veterans,"
Loudner said. "There is a big lack of information that's not getting to
them. They don't seek help until it's really needed."
Serving on the panel does have its benefits for Loudner.
"The greatest reward is to help a veteran or spouse to get that first-time
service they've been seeking," Loudner said. "I'm finding there are a
lot of services that veterans don't even know about."
Reach Denise D. Tucker at 331-2335 or dtucker@argusleader.com