Officers – Florida Sons of Amvets

Commander

Patrick Holcombe – Squad. #78

Contact: P.O. Box 494653 Port Charlotte, FL 33949

Cell: (850)259-9437

Email: pnh1065@gmail.com

1st Vice Commander

Leroy Robinson – Squad. #100

Contact: 421 Cameron St.

Daytona Beach, FL 32114

Cell: (386)307-5383

Email: robinsonleroy1@gmail.com

2nd Vice Commander

Jerry Padot – Squad. #16

Contact: 12121 Little Rd. #117

Hudson, FL 34667

Cell: (352)278-0951

Email: sonsofamvets16@gmail.com

3rd Vice Commander

Nate Wuesthoff – Squad. #32

Contact: 2225 Deer Run

Lakeland, FL 33809

Cell: (863)808-8273

Email: nathancomar@live.com

Adjutant

Tim Brooke – Squad. #2000

Contact: 4524 Wabasso Ave.

North Port, FL 34287

Cell: (941)875-7977

Email: tim.brooke12@yahoo.com

Finance Officer

Bob Paff Squad. #81

Contact: 16169 Galiano Ct.

Punta Gorda, FL 33955

Cell: (262)344-0803

Paffbob@aol.com

Provost Marshal

John Stansburry SQ# 32

Contact: 301 E. Myrtle St.

Lakeland, FL 33801

Cell: (813) 702-2999

Email: hangmhigh66@yahoo.com

Imm. Past Commander

PDC Michael (Mick) Ciesla Squad.#4

Contact: 11703A Raintree Village Blvd.

Temple Terrace, FL 33617

Cell: (813)445-0253

Email: mickandlynda@verizon.net

Judge Advocate/NEC Man

PDC Mike X Marecek – Squad. #98

Contact: 102 Diogenes St.

Dunedin, FL 34698

Home: (727)744-5256

Email: xmanxm@tampabay.rr.com

Chaplain

John Gallagher – Squad. #2001

1292 7th St.

Okeechobee, FL 39474

Cell: (954)592-3111

Email: jgdolphins72@outlook.com

Inspector General

PNC John Barnhill

Contact: 1481 N. US Hwy. 1, Lot 85

Titusville, FL 32796

Cell: (616)928-8422

Email: johnbarnhill616@aol.com

VAVS Coordinator

Peter Milo – Squad. #312,

18495 Timothy Ave.

Port Charlote, FL 33948

cell: (941)255-5043

email: lindanpeter@comcast.net

Jr. AMVETS Coordinator

Leo Ware – Squad. #30

Contact: 3311 Lawrence St.

Orlando, FL 32805

Home: (407)292-0102

Historian

John Stansbury – Squad. #32

Contact: 1301 E. Myrtle St.

Lakeland, FL 33801

Cell: (813)702-2999

Email: hangmhigh66@yahoo.com

Public Relations Officer

PDC Bill Gerry – Squad #98

Contact: 3917 Stratfield Dr.

New Port Richie, FL 34652

Cell: (727)207-3911

Email: firemanbill15@yahoo.com

Webmaster

Cogan Henson – Squad #98

Contact: 4699 Continental Dr. Lot 161

Holiday, FL 34690

Cell: (727)239-2738

Email: cogan.henson@gmail.com

AMVETS Sons Coordinator

Steve Long – Post #67

Concerned Veterans News Feed

NDAA provides opportunity to spend smarter while protecting American interests June 29, 2020

Title: NDAA provides opportunity to spend smarter while protecting American interests Both the Senate and House of Representatives will begin consideration and markup of the National Defense Authorization Act this week. As the process moves forward, there is an opportunity to refocus America’s defense spending and efforts in the annual NDAA. Concerned Veterans for America... […]

The VA MISSION Act made life better for this North Carolina veteran. But restrictions to access mean not all vets will be so fortunate. June 15, 2020

Bob Phipps comes from a military family. His father was a gunner’s mate in the Navy during World War II. His siblings answered the call to serve, too, with his sister choosing the Army and his brother serving as a Navy SEAL in Vietnam. Bob added a different branch of service to the family legacy,... […]

Pentagon might speed up withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan June 4, 2020

The New York Times reported last week that the Department of Defense is putting together plans for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan. According to sources, one such plan would speed up the timeline to withdraw troops before early November. Additional plans favor a lengthier timeline, including removing troops by mid-2021 as stated in a deal reached... […]

Veterans and their families are questioning the foreign policy status quo June 1, 2020

After nearly 20 years bearing the weight of constant war, veterans and their families are becoming increasingly disenchanted with our nation’s foreign policy. A survey commissioned by Concerned Veterans for America found a growing number of veterans and military family members support less military engagement around the world. In a recent op-ed, CVA Executive Director... […]

Q&A: CVA Senior Advisor Darin Selnick on what limiting community care means for vets May 26, 2020

As the COVID-19 crisis continues, veterans are still looking for answers about their access to the health care they need. In late March, the Department of Veterans Affairs proposed limiting veterans’ ability to seek care in their communities through the VA MISSION Act. This proposal raised many questions: How should veterans move forward with getting... […]

CVA executive director Nate Anderson to White House: Direct the VA to reverse its decision on pausing the VA MISSION Act May 12, 2020

We’ve seen historic reforms to the Department of Veterans Affairs over the last few years, including increased health care choice for veterans and more accountability at the VA. But in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the VA has backtracked on much of its progress, shutting down most access to community health care, leaving many... […]

Sam Rogers: I’ve seen what endless war can do May 11, 2020

By Sam Rogers, Wisconsin Coalitions Director In 2009, I was preparing for my first deployment with the U.S. Army. My unit was training for engagement in Iraq when we received news that our plans had changed. We would be heading to Afghanistan instead as part of a troop surge that continued what was then eight... […]

CVA and coalition to Congress: Reject state bailout requests May 4, 2020

Federal spending efforts should be focused on helping people who are hurting. Instead, many states would use bailout money as an opportunity to clean up fiscal mistakes of the past. Recently, Concerned Veterans for America joined Americans for Prosperity and The Libre Initiative in calling for members of Congress to reject massive state bailouts that... […]

New poll: Veterans and military families want out of Afghanistan, support more health care options for vets April 22, 2020

The majority of veterans and military households are ready for the United States to leave Afghanistan, according to new polling commissioned by Concerned Veterans for America. The national survey found 73 percent of veterans and 69 percent of military households support withdrawing troops from Afghanistan. Those numbers are up 13 percentage points and nine percentage... […]

Six years after the Phoenix VA scandal, the fight for veterans’ health care continues April 10, 2020

Six years ago, the country found out about a massive scandal at the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Phoenix. Staff at the Phoenix VA had been keeping two sets of wait lists for veterans seeking appointments – a digital set, which showed wait times were fairly short, and a paper set, which reflected the... […]