The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) operates a fleet of vehicles around the country to provide free transportation to VA medical facilities for injured and ill veterans. For local veterans, the van is driven by volunteers and coordinated through the Charles Mix County Veterans Service Office.

DAV Departments and Chapters, along with long-time partner Ford Motor Company, has purchased 3,517 vehicles at a cost of more than $80.1 million, that have been donated to Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers nationwide since the program began in 1987 to ensure that veterans are able to get to their medical appointments.

Any veteran who receives healthcare from the VA is eligible to schedule a ride in the DAV van that is located at the Charles Mix County Courthouse. The van operates on Tuesday or Thursday of each week. We ask that when you schedule appointments at either the Wagner CBOC or Sioux Falls VA you schedule your visits on one of those two days. If your Provider has scheduled you an appointment through the Care in the Community program at a location other than Sioux Falls, you may also request a ride. Please be sure to schedule all appointments on Tuesday or Thursday.

All DAV van drivers are volunteers and do not receive payment for the services they provide. However, they do get reimbursed for their mileage to drive their personal vehicle to the courthouse to pick up the van. We currently have three drivers for the DAV van. They are Kurt Breen, Roy King and Harlan Silbaugh. We are very fortunate to have these individuals who provide this worthwhile service to our veterans.

We are always in need of drivers for our van. Eligible drivers will be given a physical exam and have a background check completed. If you pass both of those you will attend a three hour orientation program. Following the orientation session, you will be eligible to drive a government vehicle.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer driver or would like to schedule a ride to an appointment, contact Charles Mix County Veterans Service Officer Jerry Seiner at 605-487-7691 or 605-481-1338.