Veterans of Foreign Wars
of the United States

US Army PFC Drew E. Dixon

VFW Post 2514 New Bern, N.C.

USMC Aviator 2nd Lt Robert J. Conderman

New Bern VFW Post History

Dixon VFW Post 2031
(13 Jul 1931 - 15 Nov 1944)

Dixon - Conderman VFW Post 2514
(15 Nov 1944 - Present)

VFW POST 2514 PAST COMMANDERS

M.W. PUGH . . . . . . . 1944-1946 W.F. DOWDY JR. . . .1946-1947 J.F.B. MEACHAM . . 1947-1948 I.C. VERRONE . . . . . 1947-1948 E.C. BEESON . . . . . . 1948-1949 J.B. MULLINEAUX . .1949-1950 C.V. PAUL . . . . . . . . .1950-1951 E.L. HANNA JR. . . . . 1950-1951 C.N. PARKER . . . . . .1951-1952 J.W. BECTON . . . . . .1952-1953 C.B. SARRETTO . . . .1952-1953 P.A. McSORLEY . . . .1953-1954 R.A. PAUL . . . . . . . . .1954-1955 E.P. KALEEL . . . . . . .1955-1956 G.W. SCALES . . . . . .1956-1958 G.A. ROMANUS . . . .1958-1959 E.P. KALEEL . . . . . . .1958-1959 J.H. BLYTHE . . . . . . . 1959-1960 M.W. PUGH . . . . . . . .1960-1961 J.A. HARTLEY . . . . . .1963-1964 T.L. ALDRIDGE . . . . .1964-1965 P.A. McSORLEY . . . .1965-1966 R.E. DUTCHER . . . . . 1966-1967 G.W. SCALES . . . . . . 1967-1968 M.E. GATLIN . . . . . . .1968-1969 H.T. SWINDELL . . . . 1969-1970 H.J. McMANUS . . . . .1970-1971 W.S. KOONCE JR. . . 1971-1972 G.C. BELL . . . . . . . . . 1972-1974 R.E. MURPHY . . . . . .1974-1975 R.H. DIETZ . . . . . . . .  1975-1976

D.R. HOGAN . . . . . . . .1976-1977 P.A. PEARCE . . . . . . . 1977-1978 M.E. GATLIN . . . . . . . 1978-1979 W.J. KIELY . . . . . . . . .1979-1980 L.W. GASKINS . . . . . .1980-1981 D.A. BIRDSONG. . . . .1981-1982 B.D. THORN . . . . . . . .1982-1983 M.A. DIXON JR. . . . . .1983-1985 R.O. ANDERSON . . . .1985-1986 GR Huffstetler Jr. . . . .1986-1987 D.L. PURIFOY. . . . . . 1987-1988 NORMAN KING . . . . 1988-1989 M.E. GATLIN. . . . . . . 1989-1990 J.J. CATTLE III. . . . . . 1990-1991 KEN WALDO . . . . . . .1991-1992 FLOYD IRELAND. . . 1992-1994 W.C. PELHAM. . . . . . 1994-1995 BILL PAKE . . . . . . . . .1995-1996 REX FURGASON. . . .1996-1997 BUCK WOOLARD. . .1997-1998 BUSTER MASSEY. . . 1998-1999 W.C. PELHAM  . . . . . 1999-2000 N.F. ANDREWS . . . . .2000-2001 FLOYD IRELAND. . . 2001-2002 DALTON ANDREWS 2002-2003 J.T. WHITE . . . . . . . . . 2003-2007 W.J. KIELY . . . . . . . . .2007-2008 Patrick Mullican . . . . 2008-2010 RED RIGGS . . . . . . . .2010-2011 JON SCHULTHEIS. . 2011-2016

National VFW History

The VFW traces its roots back to 1899 when veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service: Many arrived home wounded or sick. There was no medical care or veterans' pension for them, and they were left to care for themselves.

In their misery, some of these veterans banded together and formed organizations with what would become known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. After chapters were formed in Ohio, Colorado and Pennsylvania, the movement quickly gained momentum. By 1915, membership grew to 5,000; by 1936, membership was almost 200,000.

Since then, the VFW's voice had been instrumental in establishing the Veterans Administration, creating a GI bill for the 20th century, the development of the national cemetery system and the fight for compensation for Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange and for veterans diagnosed with Gulf War Syndrome. In 2008, VFW won a long-fought victory with the passing of a GI Bill for the 21st Century, giving expanded educational benefits to America's active-duty service members, and members of the Guard and Reserves, fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The VFW also has fought for improving VA medical centers services for women veterans.

Besides helping fund the creation of the Vietnam, Korean War, World War II and Women in Military Service memorials, the VFW in 2005 became the first veterans' organization to contribute to building the new Disabled Veterans for Life Memorial, which is being constructed in Washington, D.C., and is expected to open in 2010.

In 2001, VFW unveiled its tribute to service and country with its dedication of Centennial Plaza.

Annually, VFW members and its Auxiliary contribute more than 13 million hours of volunteerism in the community, including participation in Make A Difference Day and National Volunteer Week.

From providing $2.5 million in college scholarships to high school students every year to encouraging the elevation of the Veterans Administration to the president's cabinet, the VFW is there--honoring the dead by helping the living.

National VFW History