National candidates for 2002-03 membership year.

* To date, 11 individuals have announced their candidacy for National Office for the 2002-2003 membership year. Elections will take place during the DAV National Convention in Dallas, August 10-14. The biographical information presented below may help acquaint you with these announced candidates.

As your DAV National Commander, I will do all within my power to ensure the DAV stands unsurpassed as the nation's leader in building better lives for America's disabled veterans and their families," DAV National Senior Vice Commander Edward R. Heath said on his announcement to seek the office of Disabled American Veterans National Commander at the upcoming DAV National Convention in Dallas, Texas, August 10-14.

"I know, from personal experience, the vital role the DAV serves in the lives of disabled veterans, their dependents and survivors. Ours is not only a mission of advocacy and service, but of hope and justice. As your DAV National Commander, I will strive to honor the heritage of our organization and its dedicated leaders by working diligently to enhance the service excellence that is the hallmark of our DAV."

Other national officers seeking election to national office in Dallas are Junior Vice Commanders Alan W. Bowers, James E. Sursely, Paul W. Jackson, and Bradley S. Barton; National Judge Advocate Edward G. Galian; and the Reverend Gerald V. Stump, Jr.

Ed Heath enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1954. His Army assignments included tours of duty with the 7th Army 12th Transportation Company, Boeblingen, Germany; the 1st Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas, where he was deployed to Georgia and Florida during the Cuban Missile Crisis; and the 7th Infantry Division, Camp Casey, Korea.

Unfortunately, Mr. Heath's Army career was cut short when he was severely injured by a civilian vehicle in a head-on accident in 1967. He was serving as an Army recruiter at the time of the accident. He retired from the Army in 1968, due to his service-connected disability.

Mr. Heath is a life member of DAV Chapter 11, Lewiston, Maine, where he has served as Judge Advocate and Senior Vice Commander. At the Department level, he served on the Constitution and Bylaws Committee for the DAV Department of Florida, 1991-1995, and currently serves as Department of Maine Judge Advocate. At the National level, he served on the 1995 Constitution and Bylaws Committee and chaired the 1997 Credentials Committee. He was elected National 4th Jr. Vice Commander in 1997, advancing consecutively to his current position as the organization's National Senior Vice Commander.

Mr. Heath is a practicing attorney.

Alan Bowers enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1957. He is a graduate of the Aviation Cadet program, and was commissioned a second lieutenant and earned his navigator wings in 1958.

Mr. Bowers suffered a spinal cord injury while ejecting from a disabled OV-10 aircraft over Vietnam in 1972. Due to his service-connected disability, Mr. Bowers was medically retired from the Air Force in 1974. He immediately joined the DAV.

Mr. Bowers currently serves as National 1st Jr. Vice Commander. He is a life member of DAV Chapter 46 in Athol, Mass., where he has held most appointed and elected positions, including Chapter Commander and currently serves as Chapter Adjutant. At the Department level, he served as a member of the Department Audit Committee, Junior and Senior Vice Commander, and Department Commander. He currently serves as President of the DAV Department of Massachusetts Past State Commanders' Association. Mr. Bowers served as a member of the 1997- 98 DAV National Executive Committee. He was elected National 4th Junior Vice Commander in 1998, advancing consecutively to his current position. Mr. Bowers earned BS and MS degrees in computer science at Pennsylvania State University.

James E. Sursely, currently serves as DAV 2nd Jr. Vice Commander. Mr. Sursely is a combat disabled Vietnam War veteran. He enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1965 and volunteered for duty in Vietnam in 1968.

While assigned to the Americal Division's 17th Armored Cavalry during a combat mission in January 1969, he stepped on an enemy land mine and lost both legs above the knee and his left arm above the elbow. Following extensive recuperation at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Colorado, Mr. Sursely was medically discharged and returned to his home in Rochester, Minn. Currently a resident of Apopka, Fla., he earned an Associate of Science degree at Seminole Community College and became a licensed real estate agent in 1977.

A life member of DAV Chapter 16, Orlando, Fla., Mr. Sursely has served on a variety of chapter executive committees, as well as Chapter Junior and Senior Vice Commander, and Chapter Commander. At the Department level, he has served as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Jr. Vice Commander. At the National level he served as a member and Chairman of the General Resolutions Committee in 1997 and 1998. He also served as a member of the National Interim Legislation Committee, was named the DAV Outstanding Disabled Veteran of the Year for 1993, and received the DAV Freedom Award at the 2001 National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic. Mr. Sursely was elected National 4th Jr. Vice Commander at the 1999 DAV National Convention, advancing consecutively thereafter to his current position.

Paul W. Jackson currently serves as National 3rd Jr. Vice Commander. A service-connected disabled veteran, Mr. Jackson retired a U.S. Army sergeant first class in 1973 after 21 years of service. His career included wartime service in Korea as a member of the United States Marine Corps and two tours of duty in Vietnam as a member of the U.S. Army 1 st Infantry and 101st Airborne Divisions. Mr. Jackson's military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star with Oak leaf cluster and the Air Medal.

Mr. Jackson joined the DAV in 1985 and is a life member of Colorado DAV Chapter 7 where he has held all elected officer positions. At the Department level, Mr. Jackson has also held all Department elected offices, and has served as a member of the Department Board of Directors, a member of the Thrift Store Committee, and Chairman of the Awards Committee. At the National level, he was appointed to the DAV National Employment Committee in 1999, later chaired the National Employment Committee, and also chaired the Voluntary Service Committee. Mr. Jackson was elected DAV National 4th Junior Vice Commander at the DAV 2000 National Convention in Reno, Nev.

A native Texan, Mr. Jackson earned an Associate Degree in Police Science from Pikes Peak Community College and is a graduate of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation School. He has extensive training and experience in management development, human relations, and effective communications, and served as a welfare fraud investigator and Supervisor of Investigative Services for El Paso County and Manager of Fraud Control for the Colorado State Department of Social Services after retiring from the Army.

Bradley S. Barton currently serves as National 4th Jr. Vice Commander. He is a service-connected, combat disabled Vietnam War veteran. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1966.

In 1968, while serving with the Marines in the battle for Khe Sanh, during the Vietnam War, he was severely injured when shrapnel from an enemy mortar severed his spinal cord.

A retired attorney, Mr. Barton has been active in the DAV since joining DAV Chapter 3, Indianapolis, in 1975. He is currently a member and past commander of DAV Chapter 1, Portland, Ore.

Mr. Barton is a recipient of the Indiana Governor's Handicapped Hoosier of the Year award, and past recipient of the DAV Department of Indiana DAV Meritorious Occupational Achievement Award. He currently serves as a member of the DAV Department of Oregon Finance Committee, the DAV National Finance Committee Chairman and the National Executive Committee.

Ed Galian, lost a leg to a land mine while serving in the Army during the 1944 liberation of Holland, but that didn't stop him from providing decades of service to America's disabled veterans and their families.

Mr. Galian was elected DAV National Commander in 1982-83 and has been National Judge Advocate since 1993. He has also enjoyed a long law career in New York City, since earning his law degree from Wayne University in 1949.

Mr. Galian served as a National Vice Commander from 1978 to 1982. Additionally, he was on the DAV's National Interim Constitution and Bylaws Committee for two years and National Executive Committee for two more. He also served as Commander, Adjutant, and Judge Advocate of the DAV's National Amputation Chapter, and served as President of the National Amputation Foundation for three years. Currently Adjutant of the Department of New York, he served the Department for one year as Commander, 13 as Judge Advocate, and 16 as Chairman of the Finance Committee.

THE REVEREND Gerald V. Stump, Jr., is a disabled U.S. Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War as a helicopter aircraft crewman with the 1st Aviation Brigade and 1st Air Cavalry Division as a flight platoon sergeant. He also served in the Indiana National Guard, where he retired a sergeant first class with more than 20 years of military service.

Rev. Stump is the Chaplain and a life member of DAV Chapter 20, Greensboro, N.C. and serves as Chaplain for the DAV Department of North Carolina. He was elected DAV National Chaplain at the organization's 2001 National Convention.

Rev. Stump began his career in the ministry in 1972 and was ordained to the Gospel Ministry in 1974. For nearly 30 years he has served churches in Alabama, Indiana, Ohio, and North Carolina.

A native of Akron, Ohio, Rev. Stump earned his diploma in Christian Ministry in 1978 from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., his BA degree in religion from Franklin College in Franklin, Ind., in 1983, and is currently pursuing graduate studies.

Floyd W. "Pete" Buell, is a service-connected disabled veteran and U.S. Army infantry veteran of the wars in Korea and Vietnam.

Mr. Buell enlisted in the Army in 1948 and served with the 3rd Infantry Division and Korean Military Advisory Group during the Korean War (1952-55). After the war, he served in various billets, including senior advisor, engineer, and drill instructor. Mr. Buell's country called on him once again in 1967, and he answered the call in Vietnam. On May 4, 1968, Mr. Buell was wounded in a firefight at Quang Tri. His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star and Purple Heart Medals.

Mr. Buell has been a life member of DAV Chapter 12, Henderson, Nev., after moving to the state in 1982. He first served as Chapter Commander from 1990-91 and went on to serve as Commander four times. He served as the National Executive Committeeman for District 18 for 1999-2000 and as the Department of Nevada's Judge Advocate from 1995-1996. He was named DAV Department of Nevada Disabled Veteran of the Year in 1992 and has been a runner-up for the George W. Seal award.

William Novak, Jr., is a service-connected disabled veteran, who served in the U.S. Air Force from 1964 to 1973.

After enlisting in the Air Force in 1964, Mr. Novak served in Italy as a medic attached to Air Rescue Service. He also served in the Vietnam War (1968-69) where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with "V" device for valor. An accident in 1971 left Mr. Novak with bums over 60% of his body. Following two years of recuperation, he was medically retired from the military in 1973. Mr. Novak attended New York University and Mount Saint Mary College, earning degrees in biological sciences and nursing.

Mr. Novak has been a life member of DAV Chapter 5, Middletown, N.Y. since 1972. He has held all Chapter offices, including 15 years as Commander and currently serves as Adjutant for Chapter 5. At the Department level, Mr. Novak has held all Department elected offices, including DAV Department of New York Commander for 1994-95. He also served on numerous Department committees, including the Americanism, Legislation, Finance Committees, as well as Chairman of the Department POW-MIA Committee. At the National level, he has served on a variety of convention committees including the Colorado Trust (1997-98) and the National Executive Committee (1998-2000).

Robert T. Reynolds, is a service-connected disabled veteran who served in the U.S. Army from 1984 to 1990.

A native of Arlington, Va., Mr. Reynolds enlisted in the U.S. Army following high school. He served in the 82nd Airborne Division, with overseas assignments at the Jungle Expert School and Operation Southern Thrust. Mr. Reynolds was injured in a parachute training exercise while assigned to the U.S. Army 11th Special Forces Group. He underwent two years of multiple surgeries before being honorably discharged from the Army with service-connected disabilities in 1990.

An active life member of DAV Chapter 10, Arlington, Va., Mr. Reynolds' leadership positions include two consecutive years as Chapter Commander. He also served on a variety of DAV Department of Virginia committees. Additionally, he served as an elected Department officer and was elected Department of Virginia Commander in 1998. At the National level, he is Chairman for the Hospital and Voluntary Services Committee and has served as a member of the Nominations Committee.

An avid volunteer, Mr. Reynolds is involved in numerous Chapter community activities and at the Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Va., VA Medical Centers. He is also the Department of Virginia National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic Coordinator.

Henry H. Sadler, is a U.S. Air Force retired master sergeant and service-connected disabled veteran.

Mr. Sadler enlisted in the Air Force in 1961 and served in the Air Force Medical Corps until his retirement in 1982. During his military career, his tours of duty included Korea, Spain, and Germany.

A life member and past Commander of DAV Chapter 10, Mankato, Minn., Mr. Sadler has held all elected Chapter offices and currently serves as Chapter Treasurer. He has additionally held all elected DAV Department of Minnesota elected offices, including Department Commander for 1989-90. He has also served as Department Benefit Protection Team Leader (BPTL) since the inception of the DAV BPTL program. At the national level, Mr. Sadler serves as the DAV 14th District National Executive Committeeman (NEC).

Mr. Sadler attended Fergus Falls Jr. College and Mankato State University. He currently serves as Nicollet County Veterans Service Officer in St. Peter, Minn., where he has served veterans for nearly two decades, including one year as President of the Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service officers.

The National Convention Committee on Nominations will be available to receive additional candidates who present themselves at the National Convention in Dallas, Texas beginning August 10, 2002.