Bill served in the U.S. Army from October 1964 to October 1967 in Vietnam as a tank driver with the First Squadron, Fourth Armored Calvary/First Infantry Division. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon with device, Presidential Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Expert Badge with Pistol and Rifle Bars.

Bill joined the Bloomingdale VFW Post 7539 as a Charter Member in 1991. He earned All American Post Commander status in 1999-2000 and was All State Post Commander in 1998-99 and 2003-04. He served as Nineteenth District Commander in 2002-03 where he earned All State District Commander status.He has served on the Department of Illinois VFW News Committee, was appointed as National Aide-de-Camp in 2003-2005 and served as the Department Emergency Service Director in 2004-2006. Bill is currently the Chairperson for Bloomingdale Septemberfest Commision, a member of the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, West Suburban Fire Fighters Assn., 1/4 Cav Association, Vietnam Veterans of America and the Lions Club.

Prior to his retirement, Bill served as a Firefighter and was Assistant Fire Chief of Operations for the Bloomingdale Fire Protection District for thirty two years. He enjoys fishing, golf, spending time with his family and his grandchildren and serving his fellow veterans.

Bill is a life member of the Bloomingdale VFW Post 7539-19.

Bill served honorably in the United States Army from December 1965 until December 1967, earning his eligibility to the Veterans of Foreign Wars while serving as an aircraft crewman with the 79th Transportation Company, 229 Air Mobile 1st Calvary and 498 Medevac Company earning the National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Champaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and Aircraft Crewman Badge.

Bill joined the Mendota VFW Post 4079 in 1969 becoming a Life Member on December 22, 1976 and has served his Post as Jr. Vice commander, Sr. Vice Commander and Post Commander in 1995-1996 earning “All State Commander” and has served other elected and appointed offices. He also served the LaSalle County Council VFW as Jr. Vice Commander, Sr. Vice Commander, and as Commander during the 1998-99 term.

On the National level he has served on the National Convention By-Laws Committee in 2002-2003, served as National Aide-de-camp 2003-2004 and served on the National Security Committee in 2005-2006.

Bill and his wife Margo reside LaMoille, Illinois.

Joseph served honorably in the United States Army from January 1968 to October 1969, earning his eligibility to the Veterans of Foreign Wars while serving with Company "B", 4th Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade as a combat rifleman, earning a National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge and Parachute Badge. Wounds received in action resulted in a medical retirement from the United States Army.

Joseph is a life member of Johnson-Phelps Post 5220 in Oak Lawn, Illinois, where he served in all chairs including Post Commander ten times (All-State Commander four times), he also holds offices in the Military Order of the Cooties Pup Tent #42.

Joseph served the 3rd district in a number of offices including Commander in 2002 and currently serves as District Quartermaster.

Joseph served the Department of Illinois in many offices including National Aide-de-camp, National By-laws Committee, Department Ways and Means Committee, Deputy Chief of Staff, National Chief of Staff, Regional Membership Director, and the Department Newspaper Committee.

Joseph, retired from the Chicago Police Department after 30 years of service, is an active member of FOP Lodge #7 and the Retired Chicago Police Association.

Joseph is involved in various veteran and civic organizations as a life member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter #575, life member of Disabled American Veterans Chapter #84, treasurer of American Legion Post #757, member of the 173rd Airborne Association, member of Chapter #242 of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Vice-President of the Oak Lawn Athletic Club, member of the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce and a member of Oak Lawn Elks Lodge #2254.

Joseph and his wife Barbara have been married for 41 years and have three grown children and four grandchildren. They reside in Palos Heights, Illinois.

Vance was born and raised in Cropsey, IL, and was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1966. He medically retired in 1969 from combat injuries sustained in Vietnam.

Vance served honorably in the United States Army from September 1966 until October 1969, serving in Vietnam l967-l968 with the 51st Airborne Infantry Long Range Patrol Company “F” Special Operations. A Combat Veteran, he was awarded the Silver Star (the Nation’s third highest medal for Gallantry in Action), the Purple Heart, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, the Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, National Defense Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Good Conduct Medal and Parachutist Badge.

Vance Joined the VFW in l971. He established a distinguished record of service at the Post, District and Department levels. In 1997, he attained the Status of All-American District-7 Commander. He served as Membership Director Department of Illinois VFW from 1997-2000, and was elected Jr. Vice Commander, 2001 and Sr. Vice Commander 2002. Vance was elected VFW’s State Commander at the organization’s State Convention in Springfield, IL. on June 22, 2003, achieving All-American State Commander in 2004.

At the National level he served as National Aid-de-Camp, National Legislative Committee, National Security Committee, Vice Chairman National Youth, Education, Citizenship Committee, and was elected to the National Council of Administration for the 2007-2009 term.

He retired in 1991 from the food service industry as President and CEO of Panama LTD, Inc. He and his wife, Della, now reside in Fairbury, IL.

A life member of the VFW, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans and AmVets, Vance has dedicated his life to Veteran's issues at the local, state and national level. He has distinguished himself as a true Veteran's Veteran.

Fritz currently serves as the Judge Advocate General for the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. He was elected to this position at the VFW National Convention in San Antonio in August 2003. He is also the Department of Illinois Judge Advocate, holding that position since his first election in 1999.

Fritz was born in West Germany, settled in the United States in the mid 1970’s, and enlisted in the Air National Guard in 1989. Activated for Federal duty and sent overseas, he was medically discharged at the rank of Staff Sergeant as a result of combat related injuries sustained during Operation Desert Storm. A Desert Operations Security Specialist, he received numerous awards and decorations for his wartime service in 1990-1991, including the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with “V” [Valor] device. He earned his VFW eligibility by receiving the Southwest Asia Service medal with two bronze stars.

A life member of Millstadt Post 7980 in Millstadt, Illinois, Fritz joined the VFW on his return from the Persian Gulf War. For the VFW, he has served on numerous National and State committees. Currently, at the National level he is the Chairman of the Committee on Appeals; at the State level he is the Chairman of the By-Laws and Resolutions Committee. Fritz is also a life member of the Disabled American Veterans, and a member of the Military Order of the Cootie.

He is licensed to practice in Missouri and Illinois, as well as several Federal courts, the United States Tax Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Fritz is the Deputy Chief Counsel for Headquarters, Air Force Communications Agency, in the Air Force’s only Information Technology law office assisting bases all over the world. An attorney since 1985, he has also been in private practice, served as a state Administrative Law Judge, and has taught law courses at several universities as an adjunct professor.

Rich served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. His unit supported the Marines in the Northern I Corps. He received the Vietnam Service and Vietnam Campaign medals and also the National Defense medal with 3-bronze stars. He served in Phu Bai and Dong Ha during the Tet offensive in 1968

He has served in membership at the Post, District, and Department levels since joining in 1990. He is a Bronze Legacy Life member. He was Post Commander in 1994-1995, where his Post achieved All-State. He has worked as Chairman of Voice of Democracy, Patriots Pen, Community Activities, Hospital, and POW-MIA. Rich was State Membership Director in 2005-2006. He was Commander of the 7th District in 2000-2001 and is currently the Quartermaster. Rich served the "We try Harder" team as a Life- Life Legacy Director and has been National Aide-de-Camp 5years and Special Aide-de-Camp 3 years.

Rich worked for the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company in Champaign for 28-years where he was a Route Salesman for 15 years and served in management the final 13-years. He currently works for the Department of Transportation for the State of Illinois.

Rich has been married to his wife Jeannie for 44-years and have two children, a daughter Tonya and a son Chad. They have one grandson, Richard. They currently reside in Urbana. He graduated from Urbana High School in 1963 and attended Illinois Commercial College for 2-years.

Rich is a member of Champaign County Post 5520, Champaign.