Founding
Chartered October 13, 1994 as Ooltewah VFW Post 1697.
Original Charter Members
Johnny M. Arp J. Vernon Herod James R. Nelson
Clyde Benefield Clarence A. Jacocks Robert E. Ogle
Don Brown Sydney S. Jones Cecil L. Owen
Wendell P. Bryant Carl Knight Charles M. Pendergraph
Marvin Dean Patrick D. Lee John L. Pool
Roy L. Foster James F. Massingale Virgil R. Robinson
Randall H. Goodin Harold L. Matherly Raymond E. Scoggins
David A. Gordon Kenneth W. McCarley Allan L. Toon
Andy F. Hall Robert A. Mitchell Charles E. Whidden
Joseph M. Hand John A. Moore Floyd E. White
James D. Hart Carson T. Moss Raymond Zolendjuski
First Elected Post Officers
Post Commander - Vernon Herod
Sr. Vice Commander - James Massingale, Jr.
Jr. Vice Commander - Johnny Arp
Quartermaster - Charles Pendergraph
Judge Advocate - Don Brown
Surgeon - Randy Goodin
Chaplain - Ray Zolendjuski
3 Year Trustee - Robert Mitchell
2 Year Trustee - John Pool
1 Year Trustee - Sidney Jones
Past Post Commanders
*Denotes Deceased
Vernon Herod* 1994-1995, 1995-1996
Joseph Hand* 1996-1997
Chuck Whidden* 1997-1998, 1998-1999
Don Hunt 1999-2000
Brad Hyden 2000-2001
David Warden 2001-2002
Jim Erwin*/Dave Turner* 2002-2003
Dave Turner* 2003-2004
Chuck Whidden* 2004-2005
Clarence Merritt* 2005-2006, 2006-2007
Dave Turner* 2007-2008
Chuck Whidden* 2008-2009
Clarence Merritt* 2009-2010
Johnny Arp* 2010-2011, 2011-2012
Dave Turner* 2012-2013
Clarence Merritt* 2013-2014
Philip Garver 2014-2015, 2015-2016
Robert Brewer 2016-2017, 2017-2018
Lewis L. Szerecz 2018-2019, 2019-2020
Jason M. Cobb 2020-2021, 2021-2022
Keith J. Felix 2022-2023, 2023-2024
Bryan K. Hardy 2024-
