Veteran Tom Mano believes in Million Veteran Program

Vietnam Veteran Tom Mano, the 24,000th Veteran from the Seattle area enrolled in the Million Veteran Program, “really believes” in the program.

Mano was a 22-year-old college student at the University of Washington when his life changed forever.

It was February 1970 and like 2.2 million other American men drafted to fight in the Vietnam War, his number was drawn. After several months at basic and advanced individual training, Mano found himself in a sweltering hot combat zone a world away from his college campus in Seattle.

Reporting on the sacrifices of fellow soldiers

Mano was assigned to public affairs. He didn’t have a background in journalism, but he loved to talk and he loved to listen.

“Writing stories made the time go faster, and I found the soldiers really enjoyed seeing their name in the paper,” reflected Mano. He used his reporting to shed light on the sacrifices of his fellow soldiers and offer a window for others into the lived experience of a grueling war.

Even though the Vietnam War is a long, distant memory, many of the soldiers he met and the stories they shared are still vividly etched in his mind.

A legacy and tradition of service

Mano’s father fought in New Guinea during World War II, where he met a young nurse from Virginia. She was skilled at her job, working long hours in the burn unit. They would marry in Australia and have nine children.

The family embraced the constant change that comes with following a parent’s career in the military. “We loved the adventure of it,” recalled Mano, describing his childhood in France, Germany, San Diego and everywhere in between.

All of Mano’s brothers followed in their father’s footsteps and served in the Air Force, Navy and Army.

An invitation to join research

When Mano returned from Vietnam, he eventually settled into a steady two-decade career as a salesman. Now, he’s retired and recently celebrated 40 years of marriage with his wife. Together, they spend most of their time with family and help take care of their grandchildren.

During visits to Puget Sound VA, where he receives his care, a coordinator for the Million Veteran Program invited him to join their research. The Million Veteran Program (MVP) is VA’s largest research effort which studies how genes, lifestyle, and military experience affect health and illness in Veterans.

“I read a lot about it and I really believe in the program,” said Mano, who became the 24,000^th Veteran from the Seattle area to enroll in MVP. The program now has more than 900,000 Veteran participants nationwide.

“If I can do something to help Veterans, then I’m happy to do it.” He sees this opportunity as way to give back and help his fellow Veterans.

Every Veteran who joins makes a difference in our research

The goal of MVP’s research is for Veterans to one day visit their doctor and get individualized screenings and treatment based on their genes, medical history, lifestyle and military experiences.

Thanks to Mano and more than 900,000 Veterans enrolled in MVP, we now better understand certain health conditions. This is just the beginning of what our research has to offer.

Already, data from Veterans in our program have supported the largest genetic studies to date on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression, heart disease, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease—one of the most common forms of liver disease in the country.

Other areas we’re researching include tinnitus, cancer, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, Gulf War Illness and suicide prevention.

How to sign up

Sign up online or call 866-441-6075 to schedule an appointment at a participating VA.

You do not need to receive VA health care to enroll.