HAMILTON — The Journal-Record conducted a brief “Question and Answer” survey with most of the new officers of the Hamilton Ronnie Gene Avery VFW Post 12245 to learn more about them, their military service and their top goals for the new post.
Shown below are their responses. We greatly appreciate their time, assistance and service in this endeavour, as well as their service to their country and their efforts on behalf of the new post in Hamilton.
Post commander
Agreeing to serve as the post commander for the new organization is Shawn Allen of Hamilton. He served in the U.S. Army for 10 years and achieved the rank of staff sergeant.
“I served in the infantry out of Ft. Campbell in Afghanistan in 2001,” Allen said. “I commanded a camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in 2007 as a correctional officer. I also commanded a camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in 2010 as a correctional officer.
“I commanded the prison in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, in 2011 as a correctional officer. I was also the unit’s SARC (sexual assault response coordinator) and the commander of the AWOL (absent without leave) team.”
As the post’s top officer, Allen’s goals include providing assistance to the community’s veterans and their families, as well as helping the community with local projects.
As the top official, the Journal-Record also asked Allen what had brought him to Hamilton.
“I moved here in 2019 after meeting my wife, Angelique Martinez,” he said. “We’ve been foster parents for three years, and we are currently caring for five children in foster care. We are also interested in adopting.”
Senior vice commander
Aaron DuBose of Hackleburg will be the post’s senior vice commander. He is married to Sylvia Dubose. He served five years in the U.S. Army as a sergeant. He also served as an airborne infantrymen while in the army. He is a Purple Heart recipient, and served during Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2004-2005.
“I’m looking forward to serving the veterans and the community where we’re needed,” DuBose said.
Junior vice commander
The new post’s junior vice commander, Eric Oliver, also served as the interim post commander for six months during its initial organizational stages.
Oliver is from Hamilton. He is married to Barbara Oliver. He served from 1988 until 1996 in the U.S. Navy as a machinist mate third class petty officer.
“The navy was a calling. I had to do it when I was a younger man, and I don’t regret it to this day,” he said.
Regarding the new post, he said, “We need to have a VFW post in this area, and we’ve really needed it for a long time.
“We want to be known in the community that any veteran can come to us and get help, whether they are a member or not. We’re here to help veterans.”
Adjutant/
quartermaster
Michael A. Davis of Hamilton is the post’s new adjutant and quartermaster. He served in the U.S. Navy for 22 years and retired as a lieutenant. He is married to Dalphnia Davis.
“I served in various submarines and shore installations in the weapons department as a fire control technician and as a department head,” he said.
Davis said he hopes to support development of the local post to enable it to support his fellow veterans in Marion County and across the nation.
Chaplain
Michael Skropka of Hamilton serves as the VFW post chaplain. He is married to Tara Skropka. He was active duty U.S. Army from 2005-2014, serving as a specialist.
“I deployed twice to Iraq,” he noted. “I was stationed in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii and Fort Hood, Texas.”
Skropka said the main thing he has implemented is a weekly buddy-check with the members.
“Too many soldiers have lost the battle to the inner-demons,” he said.
Post surgeon
Brian Calvert of Hamilton will be the post surgeon. He is married to April Calvert. He served in the U.S. Navy for four years with the rank of petty officer third class. He also served in the Army National Guard (Tennessee and Virginia) for 13 years as a sergeant.
“In the Navy, I served on board the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN - 69) as an interior communications electrician (1994-1996). I also served in Operation Uphold Democracy (Haiti), Operation Southern Watch (Iraq) and Operation Deny Flight (Bosnia).
“I served as a training and safety petty officer and was in charge of a ship rehabilitation crew. I was also responsible for maintaining the ship aircraft visual landing aid system and integrated launch and recovery television systems.
“In the Army National Guard, I served as a heavy wheeled vehicle mechanic. I served in Operation Iraqi Freedom Kuwait (2003-2004) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (2008-2009) as a truck commander.”
Calvert said some of his goals are to assist veterans and families with knowledge of benefits available to them and how to access those benefits or any new benefits.
“Also, I want to assist veterans with any other needs they may have,” he noted.
Trustee
Bernard Richards is one of the VFW post trustees. He lives in Hamilton and is married to Linda Richards. He served in the U.S. Army for four years, attaining the rank of SPC 5. He served in Vietnam from June 1969 to June 1970.
One of his top goals for the new post is to serve all veterans in the Hamilton area and to make a difference in the Hamilton community.
Other officers
and positions
The other two trustees for the new post are Tim Webb (Colleen) and Norm Tilberg (Tanya). Brian Walker is the judge advocate.
The new post commander also noted veteran and Hamilton city councilor Shane Stidham (Misty) has agreed to lead the organization’s charity committee. He will be visiting local venues for donations and will help set up charity drives.
At the organization’s next meeting on Thursday, Jan. 15, the local VFW will form a “Buddy Poppy Drive” for veterans in need or veteran families in need as a relief fund to go toward helping them with assistance. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the Hamilton Police Department auditorium. See entrance near high school.
See complete story in the Journal Record.
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