New Member

Edgar R Shepherd

Edgar is a Life Member transferring from Post 2100. He is a native of Traford City, PA. He served with the Navy 1942-45 in the South and Northwest Pacific. He worked in Fire Control aboard the USS Helena CL-50, a light cruiser and USS Louisville, a heavy cruiser. The Helena was sunk by a Japanese torpedo July, 1943, in the Battle of Kula Gulf. Edgar is an Edmonds resident.

John E Rogalski

John is a Life Member transferring from Post 15040, Pennsylvania. A Philadelphia native, he served with the Army 1966-68. He served in Vietnam with the 69^th Engineer Battalion at Can Tho 1967-68. He is retired and resides in Everett with wife Maxine.

Don Stapleton

Don, a native of Yakima, WA, served with the Marine Corps Reserve 1955-57. He switched to the Air Force in 1957 and retired as a Master Sergeant in 1978. He served in Vietnam 1971-72 at Tan Son Nhut Airfield where he assisted with direction and control of tactical airstrikes, search and rescue operations and command briefings. He also served in the United Kingdom and at various stateside bases. Awards include the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star. Don is a retired Boeing employee. He resides in Edmonds.

Ann Marie Jackson

Ann Marie entered active duty with the US Army in 2004 and is currently stationed at JBLM. Her hometown is Las Vegas, NV. She served in Iraq in 2008 and Afghanistan in 2012. Other posts include Korea and Germany overseas and Ft Campbell, KY. She has worked in military police, medic and human resources positions. Awards include Army Achieve-ment Medal (4) and Good Conduct Medal. She has a BA in Criminal Justice. Ann Marie lives in Tacoma and has 3 children with 1 granddaughter on the way.

Mark Schildknecht

Mark grew up in the Sequim area and resides there now. Mark enlisted in the US Marines in 1963 and served until 1967. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam 1966-67. He was in avionics and aircrew (CH-46 helicopter). Units included 1st MAW, HMM164 and MAGII. Awards include the Combat Air Crew Insignia, Good Conduct Medal and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Dominican Republic). Mark is Commandant of the Mount Olympus Detach-ment #897 of the Marine Corps League in Port Ange-les. He is retired from trucking. Mark and Diana have 3 children and 3 grandchildren.

Amos B Chapman

Amos grew up in Toppenish, WA but also lived in Seattle and graduated from Franklin HS. He joined the US Navy in May, 1943, just a couple months before turning 18. He served aboard the USS Killen (DD-593) in the Pacific as a Fire Controller. The Killen was a new destroyer built in Bremerton. It provided convoy escort, shore bombardment and antiaircraft screen. It participated in action in the Surigao Strait. The Killen was attacked by 9 Japanese Aircraft off of Leyte and was heavily damaged by a bomb, killing 15 crewmen. Amos resides in Edmonds. Amos retired from the US Postal Service Seattle. He has 3 daughters, 7 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

Nick Rogers

Charles “Mick” Wheeler

Mick is an Army veteran of Vietnam. Originally from Foxboro, Mass, he enlisted there in Sept, 1967. His 4th day in country 1968 with the 1st Calvary Division,  he was sent to Khe Sanh where he spent 3 months in a bunker interrogating prisoners and getting shelled. He extended his tour twice for 6 months each. He served as a Huey helicopter door gunner and later as a crew chief on a light observation helicopter. His awards include the Bronze Star and Air Medal. Mick is a member of DAV. Mick was a truck driver for 32 years before retiring. He and Jill reside in Edmonds and have 6 children, 10 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Mark Williams

Mark is a Life Member and Marine transferring from Mercer Island Post 5760. Mark is a Seattle native. He’s a retired USMC Major, having served 1966-86. He had two tours in Vietnam flying both fixed-wing and a Cobra gunship. Decorations include Navy Commendation with Combat V and 16 Air Medals. He has degrees from UW and USC. He is active in the A-4 Skyhawk Association. He and wife Jacqueline reside in Edmonds.

James Cox

James Cox, who is a native of Beaverton, Oregon, retired from the Air Force as a Major.  He was a navigator, assigned to the Strategic Air Command (SAC).  For most of his career, he flew on KC-135’s on aerial refueling missions.  James served a combat tour in Southeast Asia, flying out of U Tapao and Tahkli Royal Thai Air Bases in Thailand.  While his primary mission was refueling B-52’s, his Wing supported all Air Force operations in Laos.  He and his wife, Sally, reside in Edmonds.  They have five adult children and are the proud grandparents of two grandchildren.

Dan A. White

Dan A. White is a Seattle (and Doe Bay, WA) native. He joined the Army in 1946 and was part of occupation forces in Korea. After he completed Field Artillery Officer Candidate School at Ft Sill, OK and Airborne School, he served again in Korea. He became part of the Army Reserve in 1953 and retired as a Colonel in 1989. Awards include a Bronze Star for Meritorious Service and the Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters. Dan received degrees from Western Washington Univ and the UW. He was a teacher and college administrator. He and wife Shirley live in Edmonds. They have 4 sons.

Darren Blanchard

Darren Blanchard joined the Army in 1987 while living in Maine. He was a Heavy Equipment Operator. He served in Desert Shield. Awards include the Army Achievement and Good Conduct Medals. He resides in Edmonds.

Amos Chapman

Amos grew up in Toppenish, WA but also lived in Seattle and graduated from Franklin HS. He joined the US Navy in May, 1943, just a couple months before turning 18. He served aboard the USS Killen (DD-593) in the Pacific as a Fire Controller. The Killen was a new destroyer built in Bremerton. It provided convoy escort, shore bombardment and antiaircraft screen. The Killen was attacked by 9 Japanese Aircraft off of Leyte and was heavily damaged by a bomb, killing 15 crewmen, including the Captain. Amos resides in Edmonds. Amos retired from the US Postal Service Seattle. He has 3 daughters, 7 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

Mark Williams

Mark is a Life Member and Marine transferring from Mercer Island Post 5760. Mark is a Seattle native. He’s a retired USMC Major, having served 1966-86. He had two tours in Vietnam flying both fixed-wing and a Cobra gunship. Decorations include Navy Commendation with Combat V and 16 Air Medals. He has degrees from UW and USC. He is active in the A-4 Skyhawk Association. He and wife Jacqueline reside in Edmonds.

— Pete Farmer, Chair

Gregory E McLellan

Greg served active duty with the US Navy 1963-66 and was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal. He served aboard the USS Constellation. He was recalled from Inactive status for Operation Desert Shield in 1991. Greg and wife Lilly, a Post 8870 member, reside in Edmonds.

Lilly L McLellan

Lilly has served in the US Navy and Navy Reserve over 20 years. She served in Bahrain as part of the Global War on Terrorism. Awards include Navy Achievement Medal and Navy Reserve Meritorious Service medal. Lilly and Greg, a Post 8870 member, reside in Edmonds.

Jon P Koenig

Jon is an Edmonds native and joined the US Navy in 1989. He is currently serving in the Naval Reserve as a Master Chief Petty Officer. He served in Iraq and in Afghanistan. He has also served in the Horn of Africa. Awards include the Joint Service Commendation Medal and Navy Commendation and Achievement Medals. Jon was a Navy Seabee and works in construction now.  Jon and wife Cheryl reside in Edmonds and have 7 children.

William L Rogers

Bill’s hometown is Long Beach, CA. He served in the US Army 1966-68 with 1 year in Vietnam. He was an Aircraft Repairman. Bill has a BS in Business Management and is a Quality Manager at Boeing. He and his wife have 3 children and reside in Mukilteo.

Dennis Adams

Dennis is a native of Richland, WA. He served with the Marine Corps 1968-70. He was a machine gunner with the 3rd Marines in Vietnam and was awarded a Purple Heart. He’s a retired police officer and works now as a Mortgage Loan Officer. He and wife Lou Ann live in Bothell. They have a son Steve and daughter Sherry.

John McCoy

John is a Seattle native. He served with the US Army and Washington National Guard. He served two tours of duty in Iraq (Baghdad and Mosul) as an infantryman and Team Leader. Awards include Army Commendation and Army Achievement Medals. He also participated in Hurricane Katrina Relief. John is a Field Organizer and resides in Shoreline. He has an Associates Degree from Shoreline CC and is transferring to Evergreen State College. John has four brothers who have served.

David Beavers

David is transferring from Post 6599 in Seattle. He is a native of Chicago and served with the US Army 1989-2000. He was a medical Sergeant and Airborne. He was in Operation Desert Shield in 1991 with time in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait. He also served in Korea 1992. Awards include Army Commendation and Achievement Medals. David resides in Lynnwood, is a chef and is in culinary school. Daughter Leasee’s mother is currently an Army Sergeant in Afghanistan.

John Westfall

John is a Brier, WA native and now resides there with wife Deborah. They have two sons and one grandson. John is the Fire Marshall for Snohomish County Fire District 1. John served with the United States Navy 1983-2010 and was a Combat Swimmer/SEAL. He’s a retired Senior Chief Petty Officer. Overseas duty included the Philippines 2008 and Iraq 2009. Decorations include Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (3), Navy Achievement Medal (3) and Good Conduct Medal.

Charles Saint Jr

Charles served in the Air Force 1977-1988 as a Signals Intelligence Officer and was last a Captain. He graduated from the Air Command Staff College. He served overseas in Korea, as well as Goodfellow, Kelly and Mountain Home AFB’s stateside. Awards include the Air Force Commendation Medal with 2 OLC. Charles has degrees from Arizona State and Sul Ross University. He is a retired law enforcement officer. Originally from Phoenix, Charles resides in Mill Creek with wife Jill. They have two sons and a daughter. Charles Saint III, one of the sons, is a current member of Post 8870.

Michael Andrews

Michael, a VFW Member At Large, is joining Post 8870. He served with the US Navy in Bosnia/Kosovo, Operations Resolute Response and Silver Knight. He served on the USS Austin. Michael resides in Snohomish, WA.

Gordon Heintzman

Heintzman is a Life Member transferring from Post 9334 in Germany. He is a native of Yakima, WA, where he enlisted in The Army. He served from 2004 to October, 2011 with a Joint Base Lewis McChord Stryker brigade. He had three tours in Iraq (39 months) and one in Germany. Remarkably, he was in the same platoon his first five years of service. Gordon was a recon scout and team leader and holds the Combat Action Badge and five awards of the Army Commendation Medal. He lives in Everett, has three sons and is a full-time student at Shoreline Community College.

Mike Bunney

Mike Bunney’s hometown is San Lorenzo, California. He served with the Army from November, 1965 to November, 1967. Initially he was at Ft. Riley, Kansas but then served with the 9th Infantry Division at Camp Bear Cat, Vietnam. Vietnam service was from December, 1966 until  his discharge in November, 1967. Michael was awarded the Army Commendation and Good Conduct medals. He is retired from the University of Washington as a Database Manager. Michael and Mary have been married for 35 years and reside in Edmonds. They spend half the year at their Leavenworth cabin. They have 1 daughter and 3 grandchildren.

Preston Hall

Preston Hall is a Life Member transferring from Post 2100 in Everett. His hometown is Fayetteville, NC. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1955 at age 17 and retired in 1978. His first ten years he was in the Strategic Air Command and served at numerous bases in the United States as an aircraft and missile mechanic and a First Sergeant. He was an air traffic controller at Pleiku, Vietnam 1967-68. He was also stationed in Incerlie, Turkey. Preston had a second career in the Washington Corrections Department where he retired as a counselor after 25 years. He lives in Sultan and he and wife Betty have two daughters and five grandchildren.

Malcolm VanHoesen

Malcolm VanHoesen transferred to Edmonds from Post 6142 Greenport, New York. He moved here from Catskill, NY in November after loss of his home and business to a flood. Malcolm is originally from Catskill and enlisted in the US Navy in 1954 at age 17. He completed recruit training at Bainbridge, Maryland. He served as a machinists mate onboard both a destroyer and destroyer escort. Working in the boiler room with responsibility for the evaporators, his rate of saltwater conversion was consistently higher for his shift. Malcolm saw duty in Korea. He would have mustered out at age 20, but a technicality caused that to slip a few days to the ripe old age of 21.  He attended business school and received a degree from Florida Community College in architectural design. He retired from the VA hospital system after 7 years in Florida. His last business was in woodworking and furniture restoration. Malcolm is a stock car racing fan. He resides in Edmonds and has 4 children, 3 of whom served in the military.

Ron Fischer is a native of Tumwater, WA and attended Seattle University. He served in the United States Navy from February, 1968 to November, 1969 with overseas duty in Vietnam from October, 1968 – November, 1969. Served as Operations Department Yeoman.  Ron is in real estate sales and resides in Edmonds. He is married with 3 children and 9 grandchildren.

Michael Santopolo is a Seattle native. He served in the US Army from September, 1966 to April, 1969. He was stationed in Korea at the DMZ from December, 1967 – April 1969. Basic training was at Fort Polk, Louisiana with other assignments at Fort Benning, Georgia, Camp Drum, New York and Fort Meade, Maryland. Michael is in the real estate business and is a contractor.  He currently resides in Edmonds and has 2 daughters and 2 grandchildren.

The Relief Fund Committee recently lost a member, Leroy Middleton who passed in January.  As a result, the remaining members, Fred Apgar and Jim Adams, decided to add two additional members to the committee.  Jim Blossey who is a long time resident of Edmonds but fairly new to VFW and Carl Kurfess were named to the Committee.  The function of this committee is to analyze the various requests we have for funds and, after that review, recommend the expenditures from the Relief Fund to the Board and ultimately to the Post for approval.  The system has been extremely effective in allocation of our resources to those most in need and fitting the parameters of allowable expenditures from the Relief Fund.  As in the past, if you come across a worthwhile project you think the Post should support, let one of the committee members know and they will take it into consideration.