Executive Committee

 

 

Paul Dillon, President Paul Dillon is a next-of-kin member of the American Ex-Prisoners of War. He is the son of a former Prisoner of War. His father was a B-17 ball turret gunner who was shot down over Germany during WWII and a POW for a year and eight months in Stalag 17B. Paul is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and an Army Veteran who was assigned to the 6th PSYOPS BN. (ABN), Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He illustrated the child-friendly book about the POW-MIA legacy entitled, “N is for Never Forget,” written by Nancy Polette.

Art Schuermann, Vice-President – Art is a retired Major from the Missouri Air National Guard and a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom. Art has served in one roll or another at Jefferson Barracks since 1982. He last served the Air National Guard as the Historic Preservations Officer for the Jefferson Barracks Air National Guard Station. He is a historian, a writer, and has a Masters Degree from St. Louis University. He co-authored the book, “Jefferson Barracks” with Sandie Grassino. Art is the President of the Jefferson Barracks Community Council, a member of the Executive Board of the South St. Louis County Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Executive Board of the Jefferson Barracks Heritage Foundation.

Richard Heigert, Secretary – Richard is a graduate of Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville, and of the US Army Command and General Staff College. He entered the U.S. Army in 1966 serving as an officer in the Army Corps of Engineers, remaining active in the Army Reserve until 1994, retiring as a Colonel in the Military Intelligence branch. He joined the American Legion in 1981 and has served as Post Commander, District Commander and Missouri Department Commander. Among the many positions Richard has held, he is currently the American Legion National Executive Committeeman for Missouri, as well as the National Legislative Council Liaison for Senator Claire McCaskill. Richard is also the current Legislative Chairman of the Missouri Association of Veterans Organizations.

Ken Kennedy, Jr., Treasurer – Born in St. Louis, MO, he is the son of two WWII veterans. His father served as a gunner on a B-27 in the Pacific, and his mother was a Navy nurse who was also a Disabled Veteran.  Ken graduated from High School in 1966 and attended one year at a Community College before enlisting in the U.S. Navy.  He served four years attaining the rate of Petty Officer, Engineman Second Class.  A Vietnam veteran, he served three tours in and around Vietnam.  During which time he would be assigned to Swift Boats.  He was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star.  An AMVET since 2002, he has also been a member of the American Legion since 2006.  He is a Life Member of both organizations.  Ken has worked as an AMVET Judge Advocate, and is also Post Adjutant for both the AMVETS and the American Legion.  He serves on the Missouri AMVET POW-MIA Committee as Finance Officer, and is the AMVET Ninth District Second Vice-Commander.

 

Board of Directors

Gloria Barnes – Missouri American Legion
Jeff Stewart  – Missouri Veterans Commission
Nancy Foley – American Ex-Prisoners of War
John “Jack”Poitras – Missouri Veterans of Foreign Wars
Tom Mundell – Missouri Veterans of Foreign Wars
Sandy Findeiss  Missouri American Legion Auxiliary
Stephanie Roesslein – Missouri American Legion Auxiliary
Russ Whitener Vietnam Veterans of America
Carl Ramsey – Marine Corps League
Sydney Staton  Military Order of the Purple Heart
Andrew Day  Military Order of the Purple Heart
Barb Wentworth – Daughters of the American Revolution
Kathy Kennedy – Missouri AMVETS Auxiliary
Kelly Guenther – Together Credit Union (FKA, American Eagle Credit Union)
Paul Martin – Together Credit Union (FKA, American Eagle Credit Union)
Pat Kessler – Missouri AMVETS Auxiliary
Kathleen Ditch – VFW Auxiliary
Noel Freesh – Military Officers Association of America
John Glenn – Military Officers Association of America
Joe Black – AMVETS Riders, Missouri Department
Charlie Weaver – AMVETS Riders, Missouri Department
Wanda Gaebler – Missouri AMVETS Auxiliary (Emeritus)
Doug Meyer – Missouri Veterans Commission (Emeritus)
Mike Brown – Vietnam Veterans of America (Emeritus)

In Memoriam

Dale Gaebler – Missouri AMVETS (Board of Directors, 2012 – 2017)
Sandie Grassino – Daughters of the American Revolution (Board of Directors, 2017)
Carl “Skip” Schumacher – Financial Support Services (Advisory Board, 2012-2018)
Bill “Gunny” Kiefer – Marine Corps (Board of Directors, 2012 – 2019)

Advisory Board

Russ Carnahan – Former U.S. Congressman, Co-Founder
Joe Grohs – Co-Founder
Stuart Symington, Jr. – Attorney
General Cassie Strom – Missouri Air National Guard, Retired
Bill Florich – Jefferson Barracks Heritage Foundation
Kathy Waltz – Former Outreach Coordinator, Congressman Russ Carnahan
Harry Hope – St. Louis Honor Flights
John Comerford – Former Board Member, Missouri Veterans Commission
Norb Plassmeyer – Former Missouri State Representative
Eva Tucker – Technical Advisor
Jeff Dickerson – Together Credit Union (FKA American Eagle Credit Union)
Brad Beineke, LUTCF – Gateway Insurance
Mike Polizzi – ABF Security, Fenton, MO
Ray Ruetsch – American Ex-Prisoners of War
Col. John Clark – USAF, Retired (Emeritus)