Leading the organization

VFW Magazine, Oct, 2002 by Tim Dyhouse

At each national convention, chair officers are elected and other leaders appointed for the forthcoming year. The chair officers are selected from various conferences so each region has a turn at being represented in the ranks of the national leadership.

The leadership in recent years has reflected the changing demographics of veterans in general and VFW in particular. Two chair offices are held by Vietnam veterans and one by a vet of the Taiwan Straits, as well as Vietnam. Most appointed staff positions are filled by vets of the Vietnam era.

Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief Edward S. Banas, Sr.

Edward S. Banas, Sr., Voluntown, Conn., was elected VFW's senior vice commander-in-chief at the 103rd National Convention in Nashville, Tenn., held Aug. 24-30, 2002.

Banas is the second Connecticut native to be elected to this office. He is in line to become VFW's commander-in-chief in 2003-2004.

Banas served as a patrolman on the Norwich (Conn.) Police Department from 1968-79. He owned a haberdashery, Career Corner Uniforms, from 1979-92 and was his VFW Post's manager from 1993 to 2001.

Banas enlisted in the Army in October 1965. From March 1966 through March 1967, Banas served with the 66th MP Co., 18th MP Bde., stationed at Qui Nhon. As a specialist 5th class, he served as a military policeman guarding an airfield there.

From April 1967 until his discharge in October 1968, Banas served with the Armed Forces Police Detachment patrolling Boston's infamous "Combat Zone."

He attended Northeastern University for one school year from 1967-68. Later, Banas graduated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms School for Criminal Investigations in 1975.

A life member of Post 10004 in Jewett City, Conn., Banas joined VFW in 1967 while still in the Army. He attained All-American status in 1990-91 as District 4 commander.

At VFW's national level, Banas has served on the Americanism, Budget and Finance, Bylaws, Legislative and Safety committees, as well as the National Council of Administration.

Banas also was instrumental in garnering political support in his home state to rename Connecticut's Route 2 as "VFW Memorial Highway" to honor the state's veterans killed in war.

Banas is engaged to Sandra Robichaud. He has five children from his first marriage: Julie, Monica, Andrea, Ed (Jr.) and Ashley. He also has three grandchildren.

Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief John Furgess

John Furgess of Nashville, Tenn., was elected VFW's junior vice commander-in-chief at the 103rd National Convention in Nashville, Tenn., held Aug. 24-30, 2002.

Furgess is the second Tennessean to be elected to this office. He is in line to become VFW's commander-in-chief in 2004-2005.

Serving as the assistant commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs since 1983, Furgess supervises 11 field offices.

After graduating from Army ROTC in August 1965, he entered active duty. From October 1967 through October 1968, he served in a military intelligence unit with the Americal Division's headquarters at Chu Lai.

Furgess was discharged in July 1970. He then joined the Tennessee Army National Guard, retiring in 1993 with the rank of colonel.

`Between 1970 and 1983, he was a life insurance associate and assistant editor at The Westview (a weekly).

Furgess holds a bachelor's degree in business from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn., graduating in 1965.

In 1970, Furgess joined VFW Post 1970 in Nashville, Tenn., becoming a life member in 1974. From 1978-79, he was the first Vietnam veteran to serve as Tennessee's Department commander. He also has served as co-editor of the Department newspaper since 1977.

At VFW's national level, Furgess served on the Council of Administration in 1999-2001.

Furgess has a strong record of veterans service. He helped organize the United Tennessee Veterans Association, helped coordinate Nashville's Operation Stand Down, works with Tennessee's Joint Special Committee on Veterans Affairs and is serving a two-year term on the U.S. Veterans Employment and Training Service Advisory Committee of the Labor Dept.

Furgess married his wife, Alma, on March 13, 1971. They have three daughters: Amy Brown, Mary Catherine Conrad and Melissa Springs, as well as nine grandchildren.