Work set to begin on $32 million VA nursing home

Work set to begin on $32 million VA nursing home

Facility named for Medal of Honor winner

By PETER GUINTA
peter.guinta@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 06/30/08

Cheers, tears and scores of veterans, dignitaries and flags marked the joyous groundbreaking Saturday morning for the $32 million Clyde E. Lassen State Veterans' Nursing Home on State Road 16.

Lassen, a Navy helicopter pilot, was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1969 for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" during action in North Vietnam.

The official citation said Lassen attached to Helicopter Support Squadron 7 tried multiple times to rescue two downed American pilots at night in a steeply wooded area and under intense enemy fire. Lassen lit flares several times to guide the pilots to his aircraft, but the flares burned out before the men could be rescued.

While hovering, the helicopter hit a tree and descended, but he righted it.

"When flare illumination was again lost, Lt. Lassen, fully aware of the dangers of revealing his position to the enemy, turned on his landing lights and completed the landing," the citation said.

The pilots made it aboard, and Lassen successfully evaded anti-aircraft fire and landed safely aboard the U.S.S. Jouett, a destroyer.

He had five minutes of fuel left in his gas tank.

Lassen retired in 1982 and died in 1994.

With about 150 to 200 attendees at the ceremony, Retired Rear Admiral Leroy Collins Jr. of Tallahassee, director of the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs, recognized the many members of Lassen's family who still lived in the area. Three men attending had served with him.

Collins said his department runs five other veteran nursing homes and one assisted living facility.

"But we're very proud that this one will be the first nursing home in Florida that will be certified as a green building by the U.S. Green Building Convention, and it will be the first one named after a Navy veteran," Collins said.

The 16-acre site, about a half-mile east of Pacetti Road, is still wooded, but a bare patch had been bulldozed for a large canvas tent and parking.

Despite the spartan setting, attendance included U.S. Rep. John Mica, who was instrumental in getting $22 million in federal money for the home.

"This project wouldn't be possible without Adm. Collins' leadership," Mica said in his brief remarks, thanking all the veterans attending for their sacrifices.

Also attending were Florida House legislators Bill Proctor of District 20 and Aaron Bean of District 12; St. Johns County commissioners Ben Rich and Ron Sanchez; County Administrator Michael Wanchick; St. Johns County Veteran Service Officer Joe McDermott; state Veterans' Affairs staffers Earl Danielle, Rene Day and Jim Brody and Steve Murray; Rick Matthews of Northrop Grumman Corp., which sponsored the reception; and St. Johns County staffers Mary Ann Blount and Damon Douglas, who assembled the complex application for submission to the state.

Rich said the Department of Veterans Affairs had told him St. Johns County's application was "the best proposal the VA had ever seen from any county" in Florida.


Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/063008/news_02007040725.shtml

© The St. Augustine Record