Rich was born and raised in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1967 with the help of his Mother who had to sign for him since Rich was only 17. He did two tours in Vietnam finally ending up in Korea. Rich retired from the U.S. Army after 21 ½ years. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal/Vietnam Campaign Medal/Vietnam Service Medal/Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm/Combat Infantryman Badge/Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea) Purple Heart/Air Medal (1st & 2nd Award) Sharpshooter Badge (M-16) Good Conduct Medal (5th Award) NCO Professional Development Ribbon (3) Army Achievement Ribbon with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster/Army Commendation Medal with 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster.

Rich joined the Winthrop Harbor Memorial Post 7448 in June 1988 and is a Life Member. He immediately became involved by becoming a Post Trustee. He then went on to be elected Junior Vice Commander, Senior Vice Commander and finally was elected Post Commander. Rich served as Post Commander 11 years and was an All State Post Commander for each of those 11 years.

Rich has held many positions in the VFW 5th District becoming All State District Commander in 1997-98 while also achieving All State Post Commander honors.

Rich served the VFW Department of Illinois as Assistant Voice of Democracy Chairman, was appointed Regional Membership Director for 5 years and appointed Department Membership Director in 2004-2005. He has received the National Recruiter Century Award for the last 6 years.

Rich was appointed National Aide-de-Camp in 1994-95 and again in 2000-2001. He was appointed a member of the National Citizenship Education & Community Service Committee in 2001-2002 and appointed a member of the National Veterans Care Committee for 2004-2005. In June of 2007, Rich was elected Department of Illinois Commander at the 86th Convention in Peoria.

A Life Member of the VFW, Rich is also a Life Member of the Military Order of the Cooties, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans and a member of the Polish Legion of American Veterans. He works full time for General Loose Leaf Bindery in Waukegan and resides with his wife Karen in Winthrop Harbor, Illinois. Rich has 2 children, a boy, Richie and a girl, Kimberly.

Rich has always given all he can give, and more, to the VFW and anyone who might need him. He has received calls from all over the United States for one reason or another. He is looking forward to serving you, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and anyone who needs him as Commander in 2007-2008.

Vince was born and raised in the Lincoln area, he graduated from Lincoln Community High School in 1964. He joined the Us Navy in 1965 and earned his eligibility to the Veterans of Foreign Wars while serving aboard the Uss Forrestal CVA 59 as a fire controlman in the Tonkin Gulf in 1967. He earned the National defense Ribbon the Viet Nam Service Ribbon with 1 bronze device and the Vietnam campaign Medal.

Vince returned home in August 1968 and joined Cronin Brothers VFW Post 1756 in March of 1969, where he was appointed acting chaplain. Long served as Sr. Vice Commander 70-71 and was elected Post Commander 1971 to 1973 and again from 1993 to1999. Long also served as Post Quartermaster in 1983 to 1984 and again from 1999 to the present earning All State status in 2000.

Vince served the 10th District as Jr Vice Commander from 1973 to 1974 and as Commander in 1974 to 1975 and has been Quartermaster from 1976 to the present. Vince has served the Department every year since being District Commander in the following offices, Assistant Sergeant at Arms, Sergeant at Arms, Youth Activities Director, Seminar Director, Inspector, Community Activities Director, Historian, Photographer, and Voice of Democracy Director. Vince has served the National Organization in the following Offices, National Deputy Chief of Staff 1977-1978, 1993-1994, National Budget and Finance Committee 1993-1994, National Aide-de-camp 1995-1996, Assistant Inspector General 1998-1999, national Finance and Internal Organization Committee 1998-1999, and National Youth Development and Scholarship Recognition Committee, 2003-2006.

Vince and his wife have been Married since 1970 and have lived at rural Beason since 1980. Vince is retired from the Teamsters Union after 32 years of service in the freight industry. He is also a member of the Cooties, Life member of the Amvets, and a member of the American Legion, The 40/8, The Vietnam Veterans of America, and a Life member of the USS Forrestal CVA 59 Association.

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 Jr. Vice Commander at the 86th convention in June, 2007, in Peoria. J.D. has served on national committees on seven separate occasions.

Spindler worked for a major insurance company for twenty yeas 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.

Rick served honorably in the United States Army from January 1969 to August 1970, attaining the rank of Sergeant and receiving the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Good Conduct Medal and Korean Defense Medal. He also received a Letter of Accommodation from his Company Commander.

Rick became a member of John Hugo Kaiser Post 1461, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States of America in 1970 and served as Post Commander for two terms, achieving All-State Commander in both terms; and has served and continues to serve his Post in various elected and appointed offices, currently as Adjutant, Quartermaster and chairman of many programs.

He has served and continues to serve the Sixth District, Department of Illinois, Veterans of Foreign Wars in various elected and appointed offices, currently as Judge Advocate and having served as District Commander and selected as Captain of the All-State Team of District Commanders; and selected as the first All American District Commander of the Sixth District.

Rick has served and continues to serve the Department of Illinois, Veterans of Foreign Wars in many appointed offices since 1979, having served on the following committees, Convention Corporation, including chairman; By-Laws and Resolutions; Budget and Finance, including chairman; Ways and Means, including chairman; Awards and Citations, including chairman; Veterans Service, including chairman; Illinois VFW News, including chairman; also as Marketing Director; Aide to the Department Commander; and Assistant Adjutant.

He has served the Department of Illinois in the following elected offices, which included Big Ten Delegate, Junior Vice Commander; Senior Vice Commander; and Department Commander; and was selected as All American Department Commander.

Rick has been elected and is currently serving as Vice-Chairman of the Big 10 Conference.

He has served as National Assistant Inspector General and on several National committees, including, Finance and Internal Affairs, three times; By-Laws, Ritual and Manual of Procedures, two times; Vice Chairman Youth Activities; Voice of Democracy; National Security, three times; Veterans Employment & Training, four times, twice as Vice Chairman; Strategic Planning; Vice Chairman Homeless Veterans; Buddy Poppy; Citizenship, Education & Community Service; and General Resolutions, three times.

Rick was elected to a two year term on the VFW National Council of Administration and selected to serve on the National Budget Committee both years.

He has served his community for many years, in many ways, including, two terms as a Boone County Board member, serving on some committees as Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Public Safety Committee; Vice Chairman of the Northern Illinois Chapter of the March of Dimes; Chairman of the Boone County Crime Stoppers Board three times, currently serving as Vice Chairman and Secretary; Boone County United Way Board of Directors, including Planning & Needs Chairman; Six years as a United Way Loaned Executive; Eleven years as Chairman and seven years as Treasurer of the Boone County Veterans Memorial Commission.

Rick retired from Chrysler Corporation in 1996 after thirty years of service. Prior to becoming Department Adjutant/Quartermaster in June of 2007, he had been retired for eleven years.

He and his wife Blanca have five children and seven grandchildren.

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.

Adams served in the U.S. Air Force from September of 1971 until March 1973, having graduated from the Air University with a Certificate in Air Operations. Adams earned her eligibility to the Veterans of Foreign Wars while serving with the 20th Combat Support Group in Da Nang, Vietnam. Adams received a National Defense Service Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal.

Adams joined Martin-Courtney VFW Post 4835, Creve Coeur, in June 1995 and became a Life Member in that same year. She has served her Post in numerous elected and appointed positions including Commander from December 2000 to June 2003, having earned All State Post Commander Honors for the 2002-03 term. Adams has served in numerous elected and appointed positions in the 9th District, including Commander for 2003-04 term, having earned All State District Commander. Adams was awarded the VFW Humanitarian Award for saving the life of a comrade during the 1997 Department of Illinois, VFW, Voice of Democracy Council of Administration meeting weekend, an act which prompted the creation of the Department of Illinois, VFW, EMS team where she has served since 1999.

Adams is now a Life Member of Roy L. King VFW Post 1232, Pekin and served as Assistant Surgeon for the Department of Illinois in 2004-05. Adams was elected as the Department of Illinois Surgeon at the Department's 84th Convention in June of 2005 in Peoria.

Adams is a licensed EMT with defibrillator, and served four years on the Creve Coeur Fire Department as the Safety Captain and elected to the position of Rescue Chief. Adams currently serves as the Lead Medic and Fire Captain at the East Peoria Post Office.