American Legion Post 50 SAL 50 New York USA
| July 13, 2009 Sons of the American Legion Report Special Guest: The National Commander of the American Legion David K. Rehbein |
Dave Rehbein of Ames, Iowa, was elected National Commander of the 2.7 million-
member American Legion on Aug. 28, 2008 in Phoenix during the 90th National
Convention of the nation’s largest veterans organization.
A U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam era, Rehbein served as an infantryman with
the 4th and 1st Armored Divisions in Germany from 1970 to 1971. After leaving the
Army, he attended Wayne State College and Iowa State University, graduating with
a bachelor’s degree in physics and a master’s degree in metallurgy. Following
graduation, he accepted a position as research metallurgist at the Ames
Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, where he remained until his retirement in
July 2008.
Nat. Cmdr. Rehbein is a member of Ames Post #37 where he served as
commander and adjutant as well as 12 years as finance officer and 16 years as
newsletter editor. He has been district commander and state vice-commander and
represented Iowa on The American Legion’s National Executive Committee. He
served on many department committees, including Membership, Oratorical,
Strategic Planning and Junior Shooting Sports. During his term as department
membership chairman, Iowa achieved target membership three times in 1991,
1992, and 1993. He was appointed by Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack to a position on
the Iowa Commission on Veterans Affairs.
Rehbein served on the National Americanism Commission 1989-99, with service as
an instructor on the National Information Conference staff, conducting the judge’s
briefing for the National Oratorical Contests and as Match Director of the Junior
Shooting Sports national finals. He has served as chairman of the National Foreign
Relations Commission, Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission and the
Legislative commission.
Cmdr. Rehbein resides in Ames with his wife, Ann. His son Chris, daughter-in-law
Beth, and daughter, Jennifer, are all active members of The American Legion
family. Ann is a past department president of Iowa; Chris is a past squadron
commander and Jennifer is the current Unit President and holds dual membership
in The American Legion and The American Legion Auxiliary. The commander and
his wife have three grandchildren, Greyson, Devin and Camille.
member American Legion on Aug. 28, 2008 in Phoenix during the 90th National
Convention of the nation’s largest veterans organization.
A U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam era, Rehbein served as an infantryman with
the 4th and 1st Armored Divisions in Germany from 1970 to 1971. After leaving the
Army, he attended Wayne State College and Iowa State University, graduating with
a bachelor’s degree in physics and a master’s degree in metallurgy. Following
graduation, he accepted a position as research metallurgist at the Ames
Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, where he remained until his retirement in
July 2008.
Nat. Cmdr. Rehbein is a member of Ames Post #37 where he served as
commander and adjutant as well as 12 years as finance officer and 16 years as
newsletter editor. He has been district commander and state vice-commander and
represented Iowa on The American Legion’s National Executive Committee. He
served on many department committees, including Membership, Oratorical,
Strategic Planning and Junior Shooting Sports. During his term as department
membership chairman, Iowa achieved target membership three times in 1991,
1992, and 1993. He was appointed by Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack to a position on
the Iowa Commission on Veterans Affairs.
Rehbein served on the National Americanism Commission 1989-99, with service as
an instructor on the National Information Conference staff, conducting the judge’s
briefing for the National Oratorical Contests and as Match Director of the Junior
Shooting Sports national finals. He has served as chairman of the National Foreign
Relations Commission, Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission and the
Legislative commission.
Cmdr. Rehbein resides in Ames with his wife, Ann. His son Chris, daughter-in-law
Beth, and daughter, Jennifer, are all active members of The American Legion
family. Ann is a past department president of Iowa; Chris is a past squadron
commander and Jennifer is the current Unit President and holds dual membership
in The American Legion and The American Legion Auxiliary. The commander and
his wife have three grandchildren, Greyson, Devin and Camille.
How you can help our injured veterans:
Operation Comfort Warriors
By National Commander David K. Rehbein
Last December, American Legion Auxiliary National President Desiree´ Stoy, Sons of the American Legion
National Commander Tommie Cisna and I issued you a challenge. We asked that you donate $50,000 so we
could purchase comfort items by the holidays for our wounded heroes recovering in places like Walter Reed
Army Medical Center, the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., and the many other U.S. military
hospitals around the globe.
This challenge was no small feat considering Christmas was a mere three weeks away. The American Legion
family and its friends responded big time. By Christmas, more than $80,000 was raised. By New Years, it was
$100,000 - double our goal.
I am proud of our American Legion family, but the war goes on. Operation Comfort Warriors has now received
more than $160,000 and we have already spent more than 70 percent of it on our wounded heroes. Don't
worry about the other 30 percent - it will be spent shortly. In fact, not a single penny of donated funds is spent
on administrative costs or fundraising. Those expenses are paid from our headquarters budget.
Your donations purchased items such as hooded sweat shirts and pants, which are especially needed by
amputees and other wounded heroes because of the warmth and flexibility that they provide. The military does
a superb job of treating these heroes, but many "comfort items" don't show up on budget-lines of government
spreadsheets.
Operation Comfort Warriors has provided DVDs, puzzles, iPods, portable electronics and gifts that provide
welcome distractions to the tediousness that often comes with prolonged hospital stays. Operation Comfort
Warriors donations purchased a bio-feedback system which will benefit troops with Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injuries and other war-related injuries at the Madigan Army Hospital in Fort Lewis,
Wash.
As national commander, I visit hospitalized troops often. While some may visit these wards intending to lift the
spirits of the patients, I find the reverse. They inspire me. It is not uncommon to find troops expressing the
desire to re-join their units in combat even after they lost a limb. Their thoughts are not about their own
disabilities but about the safety of their buddies and whether they are allowed to accomplish the missions that
America sent them to do.
Operation Comfort Warriors will continue. It must continue. But we need you.
You can donate online by clicking the donations button at the top of this article or you can mail a check to:
Operation Comfort Warriors, PO Box 1055, Indianapolis, IN 46206.
Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently said of our wounded troops, "We are a wealthy
enough country, even in these financially difficult times, to make sure they are taken care of and their needs
are met for the rest of their lives."
The American Legion couldn't agree more.
Operation Comfort Warriors
By National Commander David K. Rehbein
Last December, American Legion Auxiliary National President Desiree´ Stoy, Sons of the American Legion
National Commander Tommie Cisna and I issued you a challenge. We asked that you donate $50,000 so we
could purchase comfort items by the holidays for our wounded heroes recovering in places like Walter Reed
Army Medical Center, the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., and the many other U.S. military
hospitals around the globe.
This challenge was no small feat considering Christmas was a mere three weeks away. The American Legion
family and its friends responded big time. By Christmas, more than $80,000 was raised. By New Years, it was
$100,000 - double our goal.
I am proud of our American Legion family, but the war goes on. Operation Comfort Warriors has now received
more than $160,000 and we have already spent more than 70 percent of it on our wounded heroes. Don't
worry about the other 30 percent - it will be spent shortly. In fact, not a single penny of donated funds is spent
on administrative costs or fundraising. Those expenses are paid from our headquarters budget.
Your donations purchased items such as hooded sweat shirts and pants, which are especially needed by
amputees and other wounded heroes because of the warmth and flexibility that they provide. The military does
a superb job of treating these heroes, but many "comfort items" don't show up on budget-lines of government
spreadsheets.
Operation Comfort Warriors has provided DVDs, puzzles, iPods, portable electronics and gifts that provide
welcome distractions to the tediousness that often comes with prolonged hospital stays. Operation Comfort
Warriors donations purchased a bio-feedback system which will benefit troops with Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injuries and other war-related injuries at the Madigan Army Hospital in Fort Lewis,
Wash.
As national commander, I visit hospitalized troops often. While some may visit these wards intending to lift the
spirits of the patients, I find the reverse. They inspire me. It is not uncommon to find troops expressing the
desire to re-join their units in combat even after they lost a limb. Their thoughts are not about their own
disabilities but about the safety of their buddies and whether they are allowed to accomplish the missions that
America sent them to do.
Operation Comfort Warriors will continue. It must continue. But we need you.
You can donate online by clicking the donations button at the top of this article or you can mail a check to:
Operation Comfort Warriors, PO Box 1055, Indianapolis, IN 46206.
Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently said of our wounded troops, "We are a wealthy
enough country, even in these financially difficult times, to make sure they are taken care of and their needs
are met for the rest of their lives."
The American Legion couldn't agree more.
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National Commander David Rehbein addressing members of the American
Legion in Queens NY on April 17th 2009
Legion in Queens NY on April 17th 2009
"The Sons of the American Legion Radio Report" is hosted by Ken Kraetzer and John Chuhran every Monday
at 2:30 PM. The program can be heard in Westchester County NY on WVOX 1460 AM and nationally on
WVOX.com. The program is a production of WVOX and American Legion Post 50 Pelham NY.
at 2:30 PM. The program can be heard in Westchester County NY on WVOX 1460 AM and nationally on
WVOX.com. The program is a production of WVOX and American Legion Post 50 Pelham NY.