Taking the lead: Vietnam vets bring their leadership skills and vision to VFW

VFW Magazine, Sept, 2004 by Scott Westcott

It was a persistent brother-in-law who finally convinced Keith Harman to join his local VFW Post back in 1983.

Harman had come home from Vietnam in 1969, but didn't have a desire to join a veterans organization and "quite honestly no one ever approached me," he says.

That had changed by the early 1980s when Harman's brother-in-law used every time they got together as a potential recruiting opportunity.

"Every time I saw him he'd have an application and stick it in my face," says Harman with a laugh. "I got a little tired of that, so I eventually joined."

And join he did. Once Harman stepped foot in Post 3035 in Delphos, Ohio, he immersed himself in activities. By 1986, he was serving as Post commander and had been involved in a wide range of Post-sponsored programs.

Recently, Harman was elected state commander in Ohio, a position that will put him in touch with scores of the state's 96,500 VFW members.

Across the country stories like Harman's have become increasingly common. For the last three decades, Vietnam veterans have been filling VFW leadership positions at the local, state and national levels.

Now the movement of Vietnam vets into leadership roles has accelerated, as many VFW leaders from the World War II and Korean War eras are retiring from their positions or passing away.

The timing is right for many Vietnam vets who find themselves at a point in their lives in which their children have been raised and they have more time to commit to VFW. And as more Vietnam vets step up to ensure that VFW survives and thrives, they bring with them fresh energy, new ideas and a commitment to see that their fellow Vietnam veterans and younger vets are welcomed into the organization.

"It's very important that Vietnam vets get involved [in leadership positions]," Harman says. "Not so long ago, we were the kids. Now I'm 57 years old, and we need to work to get the vets from Afghanistan and Iraq involved if the organization is to survive. In our Post, we have four or five vets who are in Iraq or Afghanistan, and when they were home on leave we invited them and their families in just to say thank you."

Warm Welcomes

Indeed, Vietnam vets serving in leadership roles on the state and local level often put opening the door to younger vets at the top of their list of priorities. Some say they put such a strong emphasis on that because it wasn't always the case for vets returning from Vietnam.

While most vets say that tensions from the Vietnam era have long since faded, they remember how a sometimes cold reception affected them when they came home from war.

When Larry Doyle returned from Vietnam in 1969, the first veterans organization he tried to join wasn't receptive. A short time later, he found a welcoming home at VFW Post 928 in Folsom, Pa.

"My uncle had told me about the Post, and they welcomed me in," Doyle says. "They welcomed me home."

Doyle, who has served as District and Post commander, now applauds the recruiting efforts of the Post that includes many younger vets. "I think we have a great perspective when it comes to the younger guys coming out of Iraq and Afghanistan," Doyle says. "Vietnam vets understand their situation and are very aware of how important it is that they come home to a Post that welcomes them. We want to make sure they understand that the vets are here to help them."

There also is hope that as a wave of Vietnam vets move into leadership roles, more of their comrades from Vietnam who have put off joining a veterans organization will now come into the fold. On the national level, VFW has put a strong emphasis on recruiting Vietnam veterans, says Jim Rowoldt, national VFW director of Membership.

"We need to be concentrating on recruiting Vietnam veterans and younger vets if we are to remain strong as an organization," Rowoldt says. "For the Vietnam vet, what better time of life to get involved? Many of them are at the point in their lives where they have more free time. Why not join and get involved?"

As a longtime VFW member, Roy Greenfeather agrees. Greenfeather, who served three tours in Vietnam, was recently elected commander of Post 379 in Yakima, Wash. Greenfeather would like to see more Vietnam vets join and said a recent newspaper article about the Post's activities prompted four Vietnam vets to sign up.

"We have some Vietnam vets, but not nearly as many as we should," Green-feather says. "We need more to replace some of the older guys getting on in years. My belief is a vet is a vet. I don't care if they fought in the Battle of the Bulge or the Mekong Delta. A vet's a vet."

Bob Stanton, who serves as junior vice commander along with Doyle in Folsom, Pa., said he is encouraged by the involvement of so many of his fellow Vietnam vets at local Posts around the country.

"It began with the World War I vets carrying the mantle, then it was World War II and Korea," Stanton says. "Now it is time for the Vietnam vets to carry the mantle until the younger generation gets more involved. It's tough for the younger ones now. They're raising families, working and taking kids to baseball and soccer games. My two children are grown, and I have more time now. I love volunteering for the vets."