FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (May 12, 2011) -A,A Mary Manderscheid, lead paralegal claims specialist on post, was presented with the Career Claims Award May 5 on Fort Leavenworth.
Manderscheid, who also received her 35 years of federal service pin, has spent 28 years of her career handling federal service claims. From 1982 to 2006, Manderscheid processed tort claims, personnel claims and career recovery, according to the award nomination. During that time, she recovered about $7.9 million in claims for the federal government.
The Career Claims Award is presented to personnel who have made lasting contributions to the field of Army claims. Recipients must have at least 20 years of service and worked for claims for at least five years.
Brig. Gen. Thomas Ayres, assistant judge advocate general for military law and operations, presented Manderscheid with the award.
Ayres recalled a particular Soldier serving in Iraq who was constantly asking him legal questions about debt, divorce and other issues that took his focus away from the mission.
"He was a good Soldier, but he had problems back home," Ayres said.
Later, the Soldier was responsible for saving lives when a military vehicle overturned in front of him, tossing fellow service members under water. Ayres said the Soldier rescued a few of his fellow Soldiers that day.
"I think about the number of Soldiers you've served, how many (like him) are out there that need our help," Ayres told Manderscheid.
Col. Fred Taylor, staff judge advocate at Fort Leavenworth, has only worked with Manderscheid a short time, but he said she has an excellent reputation.
"This is one of those days that SJAs dream about," he said of Manderscheid's award.
Taylor credited Manderscheid for being part of a team that won the Judge Advocate General's Award for Excellence in Claims every year it has been offered.
Since 2006, Manderscheid has become a paralegal specialist in the Fort Leavenworth Claims Office. Examples of claims might include property claims during moving or medical claims. She has collected more than $2.6 million in claims since that time. Her area of responsibility includes Iowa, Illinois and parts of Missouri and Kansas.
According to her award nomination, Manderscheid's ability to quickly process claims ended a backlog in 2007. In 2009, she was asked to assist the Fort Hood, Texas, Claims Office and assisted them for two weeks, processing 287 requests for records, bills and attorney agreements.
Taylor gave examples of Manderscheid's work. In one, a Reserve Component CH-47 crashed during a July 4 community celebration. Taylor said there was no loss of life, but it was a significant event. Manderscheid's role was to collect information and conduct interviews for the claim.
"Mary was so responsive in showing the Army cared ... everybody in the community had a good impression of the Army," Taylor said.
U.S. Army Claims Service selected Manderscheid as a facilitator for workshops from 1993 to 2003. She has also conducted claims assistance visits for claims personnel at Fort Riley, Kan.; Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; Fort McCoy, Wis.; and Rock Island Arsenal, Ill.
Manderscheid thanked her co-workers and her family for contributing to her success.
"Thank you everyone for giving me the opportunity to hopefully serve as some kind of mentor," she said.
Manderscheid and her husband, Jim, have one son and two grandchildren. She has a bachelor of science in management from Upper Iowa University.
Manderscheid said she's proud of being known as a woman who speaks her mind and is grateful for the job she's been able to do.
"I love my job," she said. "I'm at a place where I'm allowed to do my job and spread my wings."
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