Veterans for Kerry Leadership Team
August 26, 2003
VFK Role
First Name
Last Name 
County
City
Branch/Conflict
VSO/Post #
Medals/Commendations
Appanoose County Chair
Harold
Kepner
Appanoose
Centerville
Army
Commander, American Legion Post 214; AMVets Post 138 
 
Black Hawk County Chair
John
Harrington
Black Hawk
Waterloo
Army, Vietnam
American Legion Post 138; Lifetime member DAV
Purple Heart
Northeast RD
Brian
Quirk
Chickasaw
New Hampton
Army, Gulf War
Past Commander American Legion Post 38; Lifetime member VFW
Army Achievement Commendation Medal
State Co-Chair
Robert
Oehlert
Clarke
Osceola
Army, WWII
American Legion Post 157
 
Clarke County Co-Chair
UJ
Booth
Clarke
Osceola
Air Force, Vietnam; Air Force Reserve; Air National Guard
American Legion
 
Clarke County Co-Chair
William
Oehlert
Clarke
Osceola
Army
American Legion Post 157
 
Scott County Co-Chair
Chuck
Butler
Clinton
De Witt
Army, Korea & Vietnam
Sr. Vice Commander, AmVets Post 144; Master of Arms, DAV Post 2; VFW Post 8883 
Silver Star, 4 Bronze Stars, Purple Heart, 3 Campaign Medals, 9 Campaign Stars
Southeast Co-RD
Michael
Fry
Des Moines
West Burlington
Air Force
Commander, AMVets Post 29
 
Southeast Co-RD
Theresa
Fry
Des Moines
West Burlington
 
President, AMVets Post 29 Women's Auxiliary
 
Des MoinesCountyChair
Lyle
Nixon
Des Moines
Burlington
ArmyVietnam
Commander VFW Post 10102; American Legion; AMVets Post 29
DubuqueCountyChair
Tom
Howe
Dubuque
Dubuque
Marine Corps, Vietnam
Henry CountyCo-Chair
Dean
Hamilton
Henry
Mt Pleasant
Marine Corps; Army
AMVets Post 44
Henry CountyCo-Chair
Leon
Shahan
Henry
Mt Pleasant
Army, WWII
Quartermaster, VFW Post 5143
Emeritus Service Award
Jasper CountyChair
Don
Dickerson
Jasper
Newton
Marine Corps, KoreaVietnam
National Deputy Chief of Staff, VFW Post 1655
Johnson CountyChair
Kenneth
Krizan
Johnson
Coralville
ArmyVietnam
Vice Commander of American Legion, Post & State Level
Linn CountyChair
DE Pat 
Kane
Linn
Cedar Rapids
Navy
VFW Post 788; DAV Post 10
MadisonCountyChair
Wayne
Kile
Madison
Winterset
ArmyKorea
American Legion Post 184
2 Bronze Stars
State Co-Chair
Laurel
Phipps
Marshall
Marshalltown
Navy, WWII
State Officer & Past Statewide Commander, VFW Post 839
MuscatineCountyCo-Chair
Tom
Emerick
Muscatine
Nichols
ArmyVietnam
Bronze Star with Valor, Air Medals
MuscatineCountyCo-Chair
Tom
Furlong
Muscatine
Letts
Army
American Legion Post 27
State Co-Chair
Jack
Dewey
Polk
Des Moines
Air Force, WWII
American Legion Post 663
Distinguished Flying Cross; Presidential Citation; 5 Air Medals
State Co-Chair
John
Feller
Polk
Des Moines
Merchant Marines, WWII; Navy, Korea
Commander, VFW Post 9127; American Legion
 
Central RD
Marc
Wallace
Polk
Des Moines
Army; National Guard
 
National Defense Service Medal
Polk County Chair
Alexander
McIntyre
Polk
Des Moines
Army, WWII
 
Purple Heart
Pottawattamie County Chair
Andy
Trautman
Pottawattamie
Council Bluffs
Army, Vietnam
President, VVA Post 798; Commander, AMVets Post 152; Lifetime member, VFW Post 737; Lifetime member, American Legion Post 2; County Veterans Commissioner
Presidential Campaign Medal
Scott County Co-Chair
Kenneth
Haas
Scott
Bettendorf
Army, WWII
 
3 campaign stars
HONORARY CHAIR
Gene
Thorson
Story
Ames
Navy, Vietnam
   
Story County Chair
Jeff
Heddens
Story
Ames
Army
 
Meritorius Service Medal
Wapello County Chair
Phil
Traul
Wapello
Ottumwa
Army, Vietnam
VFW Post 775; American Legion 0003
Bronze star, 2 Oakleaf Clusters, Air Medal, Army Commendations Medal 
State Co-Chair
Brenda
Reed
Warren
Norwalk
Army
Dept. of Iowa Inspector, DAV Post 20; Military Order of Purple Heart Auxilliary
 
Warren County Chair
Don
Coffman
Warren
Indianola
Army; Air Force
Adjutant General, American Legion Post 165; AMVets
 
Wayne County Chair
Nelson
Armbrester
Wayne
Humeston
Air Force
VFW; DAV
 
Western RD
Thomas
Salvatore
Webster
Ft Dodge
Army
VFW Post 1856; DAV Post 29; Military Order of the Purple Heart 
Purple Heart
STATE CHAIR
Steven
Warnstadt
Woodbury
Sioux City
Army, Gulf War
American Legion Post 64; VFW Post 1973
Army Commendation Medal, Valor Commendation