Post Officers

David Hofer was born in Etna, California in January of 1961. Later David joined the U.S. Army in 1979 attending bootcamp in Fort McClellan in Alabama. After bootcamp David transferred to Fort Rucker (later renamed Fort Novosel in 2005) for flight school. There he was educated for Bell UH-1H Iroquois (Huey) mechanics (and UH-60) and pilot school from December 1979 to October 1980.

David’s first assignment was to Camp Laguarda serving as a Warrant Officer(WO) 1 pilot from November 1980 – November 1981. Around this time David first joined the VFW at a local VFW Post in Uijeongbu. After this assignment David was transferred back to the states.

From December 1981 to January 1985 David was stationed at Fort Hood (now known as Fort Cavazos) with the First Calvary division. Thereafter he reported back to Fort Rucker for WO advanced education to December 1985.

After school David returned to South Korea in December 1986 as a medevac pilot at Camp Humphreys for one year. Thereafter returned back to the states to Fort Campbell in Kentucky with the 101st Airborne (Air Assault) for the next three years.

In January 1990 David was transferred to Fort Eustis in Virginia as a maintenance officer for test pilot school to June of 1991. After those 18 months David was transferred back overseas this time to Europe to the 8th Infantry division in Germany to the Wiesbaden air base. It was during this duty station David participated in Desert Storm.

In June 1994 David was transferred back to the states to Fort Benning in Georgia to serve with the 18th Airborne Corps medevac unit until his retirement in March 1996.

David and his family moved to Prescott, Arizona soon after. David is married to Myra Hofer (also U.S. Army Sergeant to 1984, married since 1983), they have two daughters and a son. While in Prescott David was a business repair owner for five years.

During David’s time in Kentucky he obtained a BS in Aviation Management in 1988. And in 2004 he obtained a BA in Intercultural Studies with Biblical Emphasis.

In 2007 David again took work overseas in Papua New Guinea working in aviation support.

“I joined the VFW to serve our fellow comrades.”

*last updated August 24'

Jon was born February 1992 in Lancaster, PA and a graduate of Penn Manor High School (Millersville, PA).

Jon entered the US Army Reserves in April 2009 at the age of 17, entering boot camp at Fort Leonardwood in Missouri. His first duty station was in Owings Mills, MD with the 443rd military police company as a PFC 31B for 5 years. In 2010 his unit was deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan returning home February 2012. In 2014 his unit was changed to 88th Military Police Company and transferred to Fort Eustis in Newport News, VA. During his time there his unit was deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba from February to December 2015. In 2016 Jon was transferred to the 301st Military Police Company out of Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico. His unit was deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba the following year from February to December (2017). Jon is still attached to the 301st Military Police Company and has been promoted to Sergeant at the time of this writing.

Jon moved to Mesa, Arizona in summer of 2018 to attend school. Shortly after moving to Arizona he joined the VFW here in.

“Having moved across the country, finding the VFW has become a safe haven for me. It’s hard to connect with others with having gone through what I’ve been through during my military service. Post 1760 is like a family and being here gives a chance to help other vets that are going through troubled times like we have.”

*last updated June 19'

Joe was born in April 1974 in Chicago, Illinois and raised on the South-side of Chicago. His father worked for the Cook County Assessor’s Office, after serving honorably in the U.S. Army, and his mother worked for the State of Illinois and raised fourteen children. Joe completed his GED in 1991, while staying with his sister in Union, New Jersey.

Joe enter the United States Marine Corps in May of 1993 at the age of 19. His first duty station was MCAS Kaneohe Hawaii where he was attached Fox Battery, 2nd Battalion 12th Marines as an artillery cannoneer (0811). Fox Battery was disbanded in 1994, and he was then moved to Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion 12th Marines. Both Charlie and Fox battery jumped to Japan while Joe was assigned to both units. Joe left active duty in May of 1997 and was on reserve status until 2001. In March of 2009 he re-enlisted as a Military police officer (5811) and was assigned to MCAS Yuma PMO. Joe received orders to MP Company, 1st Marine Division in Camp Pendleton, CA. Shortly after moving to MP Company he was attached to 2nd Battalion 5th Marines to begin his work-up for their deployment to Afghanistan. MP’s are attached to infantry unit to live with and train local police of the host country, also known as P.A.T. (police advisory team). 2nd Battalion 5th Marines was deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan from February 2012 to September 2012. Joe’s PAT team worked out of FOB Now Zad and PB Kurghay. Joe was honorably discharged the second time in May 2013.

Joe and his wife Alma along with their two children (JD and Sofia) moved back to Arizona in 2013. Joe went back to work for Southwest Airlines as a Ramp Agent. Joe also attended Mesa Community College and Arizona State University, where he received two Associate degrees (science and real estate appraisal) and a Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition Management.

In May of 2018 Joe joined the VFW as a “at large” member. He went to multiple VFW’s to see which one he thought he would fit in to.

“Post 1760 has been the best find for me since leaving the Marine Corps. This post has welcomed me in and I’ve witnessed others being brought into this friends and family atmosphere with opened arms. I love the post and hope to help improve it where and if it is necessary. Semper Fi.”

*last updated June 19'

Clifford Brown was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in September of 1963. An Army brat, he graduated Lakes High School, near then Fort Lewis, Washington. In June of 1986, Clifford was commissioned a second lieutenant in Air Defense Artillery from the University of Washington, “Huskies,” Army ROTC battalion, concurrent with his graduation with a double BA in Political Science and History. He was fortunate to be picked up for “Gold Bar Recruiting,” on full time duty with his ROTC battalion until his scheduled Officer Basic Course date. This was a great chance to get mentorship from the captains and squared away sergeants. Clifford joined the battalion commander and other Infantry cadre in summiting Mount Rainier that summer.

Active Duty 1986-1993

Reporting to Fort Bliss, Texas for his basic officer training, he joined the first gender-integrated class, also noted for being Regular, Reserve, and National Guard integrated. The class studied and partied hard together, forming professional and personal relations for many years to come. Completing the Chaparral, Vulcan, Stinger track, Clifford proceeded, February 1987, to his first operational assignment, 2-59 Air Defense Artillery, shortly reflagged 3-6 ADA, 1^st Armored Division, south of Nuremberg, Bavaria, in West Germany.

Due to a surplus of new lieutenants, Clifford got the opportunity to take a Signal captain’s job, and was made a success by an amazing crew of signal soldiers with something to prove. This was the first unit in the Army to conduct admin operations from the field, rigging up an early drum-feed office fax machine to a power inverter, and hooking into the German telephone network to communicate with our higher headquarters in their garrison.

He then led a Chaparral platoon, learning excellence from an outstanding E-7 platoon sergeant, from field exercises to missile gunnery on Crete. He finished his platoon time as a Vulcan platoon leader, participating in gunnery and an early rotation at the new Combat Maneuver Training Center, Hohenfels, Germany. Before leaving Germany for the ADA Officer Advanced Course, Clifford got great mentorship as the HHB executive officer, with a battery commander in his third command and seasoned motor and food service sergeants.

He commanded Charlie Battery, 5-5 ADA at Camp Casey, ROK, in October 1990. This was a 12 month short tour. After some serious duty, when the original Kim was still alive, Captain Brown rotated back state-side for a staff job, getting his choice of post, and chose Fort Lewis, where his father was nearing the end of a long career as an Army doctor.

Fort Lewis was great duty, made better by near-genius majors leading and training the captains, and by another superstar section NCO, a master sergeant. However, it was the big post-Cold War drawdown, and Clifford decided to try civilian life, ETSed the summer of 1993, and moved to Tucson, Arizona. After two years growing his beard in the IRR, a Reserve major, one of his professors, knocked sense into him and he got back in the Army game.

Reserve Duty, 1995-2016

Clifford’s first reserve duty was as an IRR member, attached for schooling to an officer schools battalion, where he got to meet National Guard and Reserve captains taking the staff course required to qualify for the majors’ promotion board. He then joined his first drilling reserve (TPU) unit, 164 Corps Support Group, in Mesa, Arizona. There he was quickly promoted to major, and qualified as a maintenance track Ordinance officer. Clifford became the executive officer to a new Petroleum Supply headquarters, 418 Quartermaster Battalion, in Tucson, November 1999. Three months later, he suddenly found himself tagged as acting battalion commander.

Promoted below the zone, through the old position vacancy board process, after fully qualifying as a liquid logistician, LTC Brown took his headquarters to Iraq, April 2003, entering theater in time to support the battle for Baghdad with bulk fuel. 418 QM ended up storing, testing, and transporting four different fuel types, peaking at 1 million gallons per day through-put. Success came again, despite jury-rigged gun trucks with “hillbilly armor,” because of amazing citizen soldiers, Reserve and Guard, from private first class to command sergeant major, and a can-do officer corps of platoon leaders, captains and iron majors.

From there, it was a lot of staff time, finally joining a 2-star headquarters in California, 63^rd Regional Support Command. It inactivated and a new 2-star logistics headquarters stood up in its place. Promoted to Colonel, Clifford had the privilege to help establish and shape this new, lean unit, 79^th Sustainment Support Command, with administrative control and training responsibility for most Army Reserve logistics units west of the Mississippi. It was his great good fortune to have a super lieutenant colonel and master sergeant. Then there was the staff sergeant who played tough guy bit pieces in movies, but rose to the challenge and turned out to be a wizard with a new unit management software system. It certainly helped to work directly for a commanding general who was also a rocket scientist. Really.

Clifford Brown’s career was capped off by commanding a great group of Reserve logistics soldiers organized under the 211^th Regional Support Group. Once again, great civilians, sergeants, and officers, including two gutsy battalion commanders and the best command judge advocate he’d served with in the Army, made all the positive difference. With nine months between end of command and mandatory retirement, Clifford was called up the highway to San Antonio, to assist the rear detachment of the 4^th ESC (Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)) with the full load of managing four brigades, preparing other units for deployments. Once again, an amazing civilian, iron major, and squared away sergeants, along with sage advice from the rear detachment commander, a colonel with complementary skill sets, made for great duty and satisfaction on retirement.

VFW

Clifford Brown joined the VFW in 2004, on the invitation of members of Post 1760, who came to one of our welcome home ceremonies. On first renewal, he chose to become a fully paid up life member. Yet, he never got involved, not even visiting the post, until November 2016. Thereafter, Clifford got increasingly interested in the success of the post, until he finally stepped up as Quartermaster in 2019.

Dan was born in Phoenix, Arizona and graduated from Paradise Valley High School in 2003. Two weeks after graduation, Dan joined the US Army.

Dan reported for bootcamp in Fort Benning, Georgia. After graduation he was assigned to the 101st Airborne, 502nd brigade 1st Battalion Delta company -Heavy Weapons Infantry. Dan completed 3 tours of Iraq and received the 4 Star Campaign medal. During his time on active duty he rose to the rank of Sergeant (E-5) and lead men in combat. Dan is a rated Expert for following weapon systems: 50 cal, mark 19, M240, M249, M4, M9 & M203. Deployed to Iraq: 2003-4, 5-6, 7-9.

After completing his active duty contract, he completed 1 year in the Reserves. After which, Dan was honorably discharged in 2010. Dan then graduated from Arizona State University with a Master’s in Electrical Engineering and is now a System Protection Engineer at APS. He currently resides in Glendale with his wife Courtney and thier son Bellamy.

*last updated June 19'

*Bio coming

Bob Burns was born in Anaconda, Montana in April 1946. His family later moved to Butte in 1958 and is a graduate of Butte High school. Bob worked in several jobs around town such as “pin setting” at bowling alleys and paper delivery. After that he left home a little early on and joined the United States Navy in February of 1964.

After boot camp in RTC Great Lakes, he attended Submarine School in New London, Connecticut and then assigned duty to a WWII submarine USS Tunny (SSG-282) stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The Submarine was refitted to a Regulus Missile Launcher. He served on board at the close of her missile patrols and continued to serve on board during the next re-fit to a new class of submarine designated APSS to be a troop carrier. Petty Officer Burns was later reassigned to the USS Perch (SS-313) out of Subic Bay for 4 months, transporting Special Ops into and out of Vietnam. Petty officer Burns ratings were Engineman qualified Submarines and a Scuba Diver. In 1968 Petty Officer Burns was out to Fleet Reserve status, and honorably discharged in 1970.

Bob Burns joined the VFW Post 1760 in 2002. He has served on various committees and was appointed to the Quartermaster office for transition to an online accounting system. He has worked with several improvement projects in the Club Committee and Hall during this time. He has also represented the VFW post when the Veterans Day Parade was turned over from a City of Mesa function to a volunteer organization and still does today. Bob is also a representative for Post 1760 with working with the City of Mesa in forming the Veterans Task Force to make Mesa, Arizona a “Veteran Friendly Community”.

Ron Heraty was born in Alton, Illinois on July 1944. He lived on a farm and did heavy farm labor during the early years of his life. He attended Jerseyville High School, graduating in 1962. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corp at the age of 17 on June 12, 1962. He left St. Louis, MO on August 8, 1962 on a train to San Diego, CA. for boot camp at MCRD. The heat in New Mexico and Phoenix on the train was in the 100’s and once they got there the DI’s were even hotter.

He was a sea-going Marine on the USS HANCOCK for the first two years and four months in the Corp. He left the USS Hancock for the Marine Corp infantry in 1965 in North Carolina. He also spent time in Cuba and other destinations with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines out of Jacksonville, NC. During Christmas 1965 he had an opportunity to leave Cuba. He then went to Viet Nam after 30 days of leave. He was wounded in July 1966 in Operation Hastings with the 3rd Battalion Fourth Marines and received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star with combat V. He left Viet Nam in January, 1967 with a heavy heart for his comrades that he left behind. He left the Marines on 01/20/1967.

He was married on 09/22/1967 an moved to Florida. In North Palm Beach, Florida he was on the city council and was Vice-Mayor and Mayor in the early 1970’s. He went to Palm Beach Atlantic College (now University) and received his Bachelors degree in Business and Accounting under the GI bill.

Ron has spent 30 years as an agent selling insurance, the last 27 years as a Agent with State Farm Insurance on County Club Drive in Mesa, Arizona. He has been a member of VFW Post 1760 for ten years and has served as Commander (three times), Sr. Vice Commander, Club Committee Chairman, and Jr. Vice Commander at the District 4 level. “Though teamwork together we have made the VFW Post 1760 a great place to help veterans feel at home and be with those who understand what they are going though.”

Matthew Olsen was born August 1976 in Mesa, Arizona. He moved between Corvallis, Oregon and Phoenix, Arizona a few times with his family until settling in Spokane, Washington, where he spent the rest of his youth life. Olsen graduated from University High School in 1994 and joined the United States Marine Corps, that summer.

Olsen enlisted into the Marine Corps on July 5th 1994 and graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego in September of 1994. He was also meritoriously promoted to the rank of Private First Class upon graduation. Olsen attended Marine Combat Training in Camp Pendleton and Field Artillery School at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma before joining the Fleet Marine Force in Camp Pendleton. He was then assigned to 1st Battalion 11th Marines (1/11) and in April of 1995 he was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. In October of 1995 Lance Corporal Olsen deployed with the 13th MEU SOC to Okinawa, Japan, the Persian Gulf, and then to Somalia to aid in the withdrawal of UNOSOM forces in Somalia. In April of 1997 he was promoted to the rank of Corporal. During his tour with 1/11 Corporal Olsen performed the duties of cannoneer, ammo and powder team chief, assistant gunner, and gunner on the M-198 towed howitzer weapon system. In April of 1998 Corporal Olsen was honorably discharged from active duty service and moved back home to Washington State to attend school at The Washington State University.

In June of 1998, Corporal Olsen transferred to the Marine Corps Ready Reserve and was assigned to Battery A, 1st Battalion 14th (1/14) Marines in Spokane, WA. Battery A 1/14 was later re-designated Battery P, 5th Battalion 14th Marines. Corporal Olsen immediately assumed the duties of gunner and section chief. In September of 1999 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and continued to hold the duties of Section Chief and later Platoon Sergeant. In May of 2002 Sergeant Olsen graduated from The Washington State University with a Bachelor’s of Science and relocated to Tempe, AZ in September of 2002.

Upon arrival to Tempe, AZ, Sergeant Olsen was assigned to Bulk Fuel Company C, 6th Engineer Support Battalion, Phoenix, AZ. He retrained on the job in bulk fuel operations and immediately took over as 2nd Platoon Sergeant. Sergeant Olsen was deployed to Kuwait in January of 2003 in preparation of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During Operation Iraqi Freedom Sergeant Olsen was in charge of part of the construction of the longest mobile fuel line system in the history of the U.S. Marine Corps, that pumped over 6,000,000 gallons of fuel over 60 miles to forward combat units. Sergeant Olsen also aided and led Marines in the construction of separate Forward Arming and Refueling Points in Ad Diwaniyah and Al Kut. Upon returning to home, he was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant in September of 2003. From January of 2004 to February of 2006, Staff Sergeant Olsen continued to serve with Bulk Fuel Company C as the Platoon Commander for 1st Platoon and later 3rd Platoon.

In March of 2006 Staff Sergeant Olsen received orders to report to Marine Central Command (MARCENT) aboard MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, FL. Upon reporting, Staff Sergeant Olsen was assigned the duty of Staff Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge to the new MARCENT Coordination Element on Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, Africa. During this tour Staff Sergeant Olsen completed many assignments throughout the Horn of Africa region in an effort to increase the positive relations between the United States and the people and countries in the Horn of Africa region. Upon returning home to Arizona in January of 2007 Staff Sergeant Olsen elected to serve the rest of his enlistment in the Inactive Ready Reserve and received his final Honorable Discharge in August of 2008.

After his 13 year career with the Marine Corps, Staff Sergeant Olsen continued to pursue the camaraderie of the Marine Corps he had grown to love. He joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars in 2004 and became active at his local post, Dode Morris Post 1760 of Mesa, AZ. Over the years he has served as the Building Committee Chairman, Junior Vice Commander, Trustee, a member of various special committees, and as a Club Committee member and Chairman. He has one younger sister, two younger brothers and three nieces. His favorite past times include riding motorcycles, skiing, camping, fishing, hiking, sailing and almost anything else that requires being in the outdoors.

*last updated April 19'

Dan Wilson was born in Los Gatos, California in March of 1971. He grew up in the Bay Area (San Jose, Ca), working various jobs as a newspaper boy, fish cutter and a gas station attendant. Dan graduated from Leigh High School in 1989. After one semester at West Valley (Community) College and having worked at other jobs, he decided to join the military. Like his father before him, he chose the US Navy.

On May 12th, 1992 he left for MEPS in Oakland, Ca and then off to RTC Great Lakes, Il for boot camp and Engineman “A” school. Following that education, he transferred to San Diego, Ca for “C” school (Auxiliaries). In June, 1993 he reported to his first command on board the USS Fife (DD991), a Spruance class destroyer forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan. The ship having just returned from deployment went through a refit period, followed by participating in Exercise ‘Cobra Gold’ in 1994 and again in 1995. Dan finished his time on board participating in a ceremonial port visit to Vladivostok, Russia before transferring to his next duty station.

After some more school in San Diego Dan reported in October 1995 to USS Benfold (DDG65) in the last phase of shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Ms. The Arleigh Burke class destroyer finished in February and transferred to San Diego, Ca via the Panama Canal, and commissioned to service in March 1996. After completing several qualifications for the ship, USS Benfold left for its first deployment to the Persian Gulf in August 1997, returning in February 1998. During deployment the USS Benfold and crew were a part of the beginning of Operation Desert Thunder, and were the primary Tomahawk platform enforcing the no-fly zone with special focus on the U2 flights. Later after returning to home port in 1998 the ship and crew was awarded the Spokane Trophy. Dan next transferred to reserve duty status serving on a reserve duty detachment in San Diego to the USS Frank Cable (AS-40) (a submarine tender home ported in Guam) to June of 1999.

After being honorably discharged from the service, Dan came to visit his mother in Arizona that turned into an extended stay. He went to school and has since earned and received an Associate of Arts in Communications, Associate of Occupational Studies in PC/Network Technology, and a Bachelor of Computer Science in Software Development. Dan found out about the VFW at a friend’s wedding in 2011, came to visit the Post the following January and signed up that day. Dan is a Lifetime member and has served as Commander, Adjutant, Trustee, Chairman positions, District Judge Advocate and Canteen manager along with having worked on several projects with and for Post 1760. Dan is a single father raising a wonderful young son in Zane who enjoys with his son travel, outdoor activities and sports. “I finally found after a substantial amount of time from leaving the service, a place where I could connect with others at Post 1760.”

*last updated June 23'

Jesse Chitwood was born in Phoenix, Az in June of 1979. He attended high school at Dobson High graduating in 1997. After that he attended Mesa Community College before Joining the Marines on November 15th 2000.

He attended boot camp at MCRD San Diego, CA. He was assigned to Reserve Company 6ESB 4th FSSG Bulk Fuel Co. C in Phoenix, Arizona. In January 2003 he was called to active duty and Served in Iraq as a 1391 Bulk Fueler and Radio man where he served in combat until June of 2003. On his return he advanced to the Rank of Sergeant and held the position of Company Training Officer preparing over 400 Marines for their upcoming deployment to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa. He served in the Marines for 9yrs and was stationed in many places like Quantico, Va, Fr Lewis, Wa, Camp Pendleton, Ca, Youn Soun, Korea, and Kansas City, MO.

He currently works for as an Engineering Consultant for an Underground Utility Construction Firm.

Jesse first became involved with the Veterans of Foreign Wars in 2003 when he returned from Iraq were he was recruited at his Marine Unit by representatives a local VFW post welcoming his company home. He has held many positions at Post 1760 over the past seven years such as the Club Committee Chairman, Jr Vice, Sr Vice, Senior Vice Commander, and now again as Commander. He has come to see for himself the VFW is the best place for combat veterans to meet, feel at home, and be welcomed by those who understand what it is to be a veteran the most. It is also one of the best places to learn about and gain a path to obtaining all the benefits we as combat veterans have rightfully earned thorough our service.

“I realized quickly at the VFW that the people I met were just like me, we shared similar experiences, we have had the same struggle with coming home and living normal lives. I found they were the best to understand how I felt. I saw that I wasn’t alone in the things I had experienced and the challenges I was meeting every day. I’ve brought many of my veteran friends here and was happy to see them discover the same thing… a family, community, and a welcome home.”

*last updated June 19'