Pair retires from veteran shuttle service to Albuquerque and back

After years behind the wheel in which they have driven an estimated 100,000 miles, veterans George Lloyd and Bennie Olivar are retiring from their volunteer jobs driving other veterans to and from doctors appointments in Albuquerque. (Photo by Jeff Jones/Independent)

By Darrel Beehner
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Long after their obligations to uniform and country had been fulfilled, Bennie Olivar and George Lloyd continued to answer a call to duty.

Olivar, who was injured by a grenade on the Philippine island of Luzon in World War II, and Lloyd, who served in the Marine Corps, made many personal sacrifices for their country.

That continued years after their military commitments were fulfilled. The two Gallup men have driven more than 100,000 miles and logged thousands of hours as volunteers.

Although it's been several years since either have donned a uniform for active duty, the Gallup men supported fellow disabled veterans ensuring they would have means to make their appointments at the nearest veterans' hospital some 140 miles and two hours away in Albuquerque.

Recently, the pair retired from the volunteer driving positions. Olivar called it quits after failing a physical examination required of the drivers. Lloyd, facing the possibility of driving four times a week, followed suit.

Now the Veterans Hospital is looking for as many as four new drivers to drive more than 40 area disabled veterans to Albuquerque. Drivers are not required to be veterans but must have a valid license and insurance and pass a physical.

Gallup vet Jim DeWeese said new drivers are desperately needed. DeWeese, who suffers from a degenerative eye disease among other ailments, recently had to have his son take a day off from work to take him to his appointment at the VA hospital.

Still, he considers himself fortunate, saying that one passenger has cancer on his face and must travel to Albuquerque a couple times a week.

"To me, (the service) is a godsend," said DeWeese, who goes to the hospital about six times a year.

Olivar, who is 82 and had driven for all 11 years of the service's existence, agrees the service is necessary.

"There's a need for it, especially with the elderly vets," he said, adding that most days, there are only a couple of people who use the shuttle.

The volunteer position can be exhausting, because the driver may begin his or her day at 5 a.m. to make sure patients make an 8 a.m. appointment. Other riders may not have an appointment until 1 p.m., forcing the driver to wait until all passengers have been seen. Coupled with a 294-mile round trip, it makes for a long day. Drivers are given a voucher for breakfast and lunch while at the hospital.

However, the job does have its rewards, Lloyd said.

"Some (of the riders) have become good friends," he said. "I didn't mind doing it for some of these folks who really needed it."

Others, he said, probably didn't need the service and were capable of driving themselves. "We have had some people who just wanted to use it as a taxi service.

"But it's been a good experience," Lloyd added. "I enjoyed doing it . I saw that so many of the elderly vets needed (the shuttle). It was an honor serving them."

Anyone interested in volunteering is asked to call the disabled veteran van dispatcher at 1-800-465-8262 ext. 2821.