J.D. Spindler was born in Detroit, Michigan, and moved to Palestine, Illinois at age 7. He graduated from Palestine High School, and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in March of 1967. He served in Vietnam as a 0311 Rifleman with K Company, Third Battalion, Fourth Marines, from August, 1967 until September, 1968. Ultimately, he was transferred to S-2 Section of H & S Company, and became the Chief Scout of the battalion, earning his eligibility to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Spindler received the Combat Action Ribbon; Presidential Unit Citation with Three Battle Stars; Meritorious Unit Citation; Vietnamese Service Medal; Vietnamese Campaign Medal with Device; National Defense Medal; Good Conduct Medal; and Marksman Badge M-14 Rifle.

Spindler returned to college on the GI bill after being discharged from the Marines, and graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1975 with a B.S. in Business. He also holds the professional designations of “Chartered Financial Consultant” and “Chartered Life Underwriter” from the American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.

J.D. joined Crawford County VFW Post 4549 in May, 1986, and became a Life Member in September, 1992. He served as Post Commander from 1996 to 1999, earning “All State Commander” status each year. In 1999, he was named “Captain of the All State Post Commanders’ Team” and “All American Post Commander.” That same year, he also won the National Council Member Award for the Post with the most new and reinstated members.

J.D. served the 17th District through the chairs, and became the District Commander in 1999-2000, earning “All State District Commander” status. He has also served his District on various appointed offices and chairmanships.

Spindler has served the Department of Illinois, as follows: 1999-2000, Budget and Finance Committee; 2000-2001, Regional Membership Director; 2001-2002, Hospital V.A.V.S. Director; 2002-2003, Department Inspector; 2003-2004, Department Assistant Membership Director; 2004 – 2006, Department Inspector; 2006-2007, Department Membership Director. He was elected as Department Sr. Vice Commander at the 87th convention in June, 2008, in Springfield. J.D. has served on national committees on seven separate occasions.

Spindler worked for a major insurance company for twenty years as a District Sales Manager. In 1994, he formed his own agency, and continues to work in the financial services business. J.D. has been married to his wife, Mary, for 35 years, and they reside in Robinson. He has a daughter, Michelle Scott, who is married and is a CPA; and a son, Jules II, who is a senior at Southern Illinois University.

Spindler is a life member of the VFW, Military Order of the Cooties, American Legion, Amvets and Marine Corps League. He is a member of Disabled American Veterans and the 3rd Battalion, Fourth Marines Association. He is also a Board Member for the Selective Service System that serves Crawford County.

He looks forward to serving the veterans of this state, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He will serve the State Commander to the best of his ability, work to promote membership in the Department, and create goodwill among its members.

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.

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.

Al joined the Louis D. David Post #235 in Chicago in 1983 and became a Life Member in 1990. He earned his eligibility by serving in Korea 1953-1955 with Company A 151st Combat Engineers, U.S. Army, receiving the American Defense Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, U.S. Presidential Unit Citation and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation as a demolitions expert. He also served from 1960-1963 in the Army at the Medical Detachment, Patterson Army Hospital, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey as a Food Inspector with the responsibility for inspecting all Food and Dairy Products that came onto Fort Monmouth and for inspection of Food processing plants in the Northeastern United States.

Al has gone thru all the chairs at Post, serving currently as All State Quartermaster (4 times) and District levels, as All State Commander.

In civilian Life Al spent 37 years as a Teacher in the Chicago Public Schools, retiring at the end of 2003.

Al and his wife Harriet live in Wheeling, Illinois, have two children and 5 grandchildren.