COMMANDER OF NATIONAL VFW TO VISIT

The National Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States will be in Cape Girardeau this week to meet with area veterans and their families.

Commander Robert "Bob" E. Wallace of Milton, N.J., is scheduled to arrive at the Clippard-Wilson-Taylor VFW Post 3838 Home, 1049 N. Kingshighway, at 6:10 p.m., Thursday.

Veterans from throughout Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois will be on hand to welcome Wallace when he arrives, according to Fred W. Naeter, Post 3838 commander.

Wallace was elected Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars at the 92nd VFW National Convention in New Orleans.

He is currently devoting his full time to the VFW. As Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief, Wallace visited U.S. troops and commanders on the front lines in Saudi Arabia shortly before the start of Operation Desert Storm. In July 1991, he traveled to Vietnam and Thailand to discuss the POW/MIA issue with Vietnamese leaders in Hanoi and officials in Bangkok.

Wallace served as a lance corporal with the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division in Vietnam from November 1967 to June 1968. He was wounded twice at the Battle of Hue. After spending five weeks in a hospital in Japan and recovering from his wounds on Okinawa, he returned to Vietnam. A third wound, incurred around Khe Sanh, resulted in the loss of hearing in his right ear and sent him home. He was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in June 1969.

During the next 7 years, Wallace earned a bachelor's degree in management and a master's degree in business administration while working full-time. He has also been active in veteran's affairs. After a successful career in banking, Wallace served as deputy commissioner and administrator for veteran's affairs in New Jersey from 1988 to 1990.

He joined the VFW while still in Vietnam. In 1979, Wallace was the recipient of the VFW's Young Veteran of the Year award from both the national organization and the VFW Department of New Jersey.

Wallace and his wife Diane have one daughter. He is a member of VFW Post 1851 in Newark, N.J.