By Kim McDarison
Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 409 during the organization’s May meeting installed new officers, according to information released by the group.
New officers, who will serve between 2022 and 2024, include President Donald Gross, Vice President Theodor “Ted” Hoffman and Secretary/Treasurer James “Max” Groehler.
Outgoing 2022 officers included: President David Behling, Vice President Charles Haugen, Treasurer James “Max” Groehler and Secretary Brian Cluver.
Gross, speaking with Fort Atkinson Online by phone, said the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 409 is over 30 years old. The group meets in the VFW building in Fort Atkinson on the third Sunday of each month at 5:30 p.m.
The group has 165 members, Gross said, adding that new members are always welcomed. The group draws its membership from Jefferson County.
“The purpose of the group is to foster and encourage and promote the conditions of the Vietnam-era veteran. It’s not just those who served in Vietnam, but during that time,” Gross said.
Gross has been a member of the group since 2015 and has served as the group’s chaplain for the last four years, he said.
The group also is involved with fundraising initiatives, he noted, some of which include helping to collect tickets at the Jefferson County Fair and manning a booth at a Lake Mills craft fair. Monies collected through fundraising are used to fund scholarships, he said.
The group awards three scholarships annually to children and grandchildren of Vietnam veterans.
More recently, he said, the chapter, along with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1879 and the American Legion Post 166 worked together to donate a bench which has been erected in Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Atkinson, near the Soldiers Circle monument.
To learn more about the chapter, visit its Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/711788492311269.
Newly installed 2022-2024 Vietnam Veterans Chapter 409 officers and board members are: board members David Kuykendall, standing, from left, Dale Wolf, John Firkus and William Scherwitz, followed by Secretary/Treasurer James “Max” Groehler, seated, from left, board member Roland Carothers, President Donald Gross, and Vice President Theodore “Ted” Hoffman.
2022 Vietnam Veterans Chapter 409 officers and board members are: board members David Kuykendallm, standing, from left, Dale Wolf, John Firkus, William Scherwitz, and Vice President Charles Haugen, followed by Treasurer James “Max” Groehler, seated from left, board member Roland Carothers, President David Behling, and Secretary Brian Cluver. Contributed photos.
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