Bill was elected to lead the State of Illinois, Veterans of Foreign Wars at their 90th Annual State Convention and was officially sworn into office on Sunday, June 26th, 2011 in Springfield, Illinois.

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 Cavalry and 498 Medevac Company earning the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and Aircraft Crewman Badge.

Bill joined the Mendota VFW Post 4079 in 1969 becoming a Life Member on December 22nd, 1976 and has served his Post as Jr. Vice Commander, Sr. Vice Commander, and Post Commander in 1995-96 earning “All State Commander” honors. He also earned All State LaSalle County Council Commander honors in 1988-89 and All State Ninth District Commander honors in 2002-2003.

He has served the Department of Illinois, Veterans of Foreign Wars as Safety Director during the 2003-04 and 2004-05 terms, as Regional Membership Director during the 2005-06 term and as the Department Hospital & VAVS Director during the 2006-07 and 2007-08 terms.

He has served our National Organization as a member of the National Convention By-Laws & Resolutions Committee during the 2002-03 term, been appointed as National Aide-de-Camp in 2003-04 and was a member of the National Security Committee during the 2005-06 term.

He is a member of the American Legion, the Amvets, and the Moose Club. Bill retired from Caterpillar, Inc. where he worked in the Engineering and Planning Department for over 35 years.

Bill and his wife, Margo have been married for 48 years and have two grown children and four grandchildren. They reside in La Moille, 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 42 years and have three grown children and four grandchildren. They reside in Palos Heights, Illinois.

Matthew “Fritz” Mihelcic was elected to the high office of State Junior Vice Commander at the 90th Annual Convention held in Springfield, Illinois, June 25th, 2011.

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 Gold Legacy Life member of Sugarloaf Memorial Post 6368 in Dupo, 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 State level he is the Chairman of the By-Laws and Resolutions Committee. On the National level, he serves as the National Judge Advocate General and as Chairman of the Appeals Board. 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.

Terry was born and raised in Cropsey, Illinois and was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1966 where he was medically retired in 1969 due to combat injuries sustained in Vietnam.

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 Service Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Good Conduct Medal and Parachutist Badge.

Terry joined the VFW in 1971 and has established a distinguished record of service at the Post, District and Department levels. He holds the distinction of having earned All American Commander Status at the Post, District and State level. He has held national appointments, too numerous to mention, and was elected to the National Council of Administration to serve during the 2007-2009 term.

He was appointed as State Adjutant in 2008 and was elected State Quartermaster in 2009, positions he still holds today. He retired from the Food Service Industry as President and CEO of Panama Ltd, Inc. in 1991.

He is a Gold Legacy Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a Life Member of the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans and the AMVETS and the Military Order of the Cootie.

Terry has dedicated himself to serving all veterans and has distinguished himself as a true veteran's veteran. He and his wife, Della, reside in Springfield, Illinois.

Victor joined the Guthrie Pierce VFW Post 1239 in Beardstown, Illinois in 1964 where he is a Life Member. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1953 and served until June 1977 where he was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. He served aboard the USS Gearing DD710 as a First Class Petty Officer during the Cuban Blockade in 1962, aboard the USS Mahan, DLG 11 as a Chief Petty Officer offshore in Vietnam in 1964, aboard the USS Piedmont AD17 offshore Vietnam in 1969 as a Master Chief Petty Officer and as part of the Mobile Training Team TAD in Korea, in 1975.

He has served as his Post Commander, Quartermaster, Adjutant, been a Tenth District Commander, Junior Vice Commander, Trustee, Judge Advocate and has served as the State Assistant Judge Advocate, Parliamentarian, Legislative Director and representative to Quincy Veterans Home Advisory Council. On the National Level he has served as Aide-de-Camp, and as a member of the National Legislative Committee.

He is married to his lovely wife, Nikki and they have five children. They reside in Frederick, Illinois.

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 as Membership Director at the Post, District, and Department levels since joining in 1990. He is a Bronze Legacy Life member of Champaign County VFW Post 5520. 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. He served as Commander of the 7th District in 2000-2001 and is currently the Quartermaster. Rich served as the Stae Life Legacy Director during the 2009-2010 term 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 45-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.