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| 10/11/2011 2:48:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | Spindler elected to national council
By RANDY HARRISON
Daily News
A local man who has been a leader of the Veterans of Foreign Wars on both the local and state levels is stepping up to help guide the national organization.
J.D. "Butch" Spindler, 65, Robinson, was elected as the Illinois representative to the VFW's National Council of Administration during the group's national convention in San Antonio, Texas, in August. He attended his first meeting of the council in Kansas City this past weekend.
Spindler, who will serve a four-year term, takes over from Don Smithenry, Newton. He pointed out it is unusual for two successive representatives to come from such close communities.
It is also unusual for a council representative to only represent one state. Illinois is one of only six states with its own member. Most states share representatives.
Spindler is a graduate of Palestine High School and Eastern Illinois University. He served in Vietnam with the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines from August 1967, through September 1968. Sergeant Spindler was a 0311 rifleman with "K Company," and was the fire team leader.
He later volunteered to become a battalion scout and was transferred to the S-2 section of H & S Company. Ultimately, he became the battalion's chief scout and received a Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Citation, Vietnamese Service Medal with Three Battle Stars, Vietnamese Campaign Medal with Device, National Defense Medal, Marksman Badge M-14 Rifle and a Good Conduct Medal.
Spindler joined Crawford County VFW Post 4549 in May 1986, becoming a life member more than six years later. He served as post commander from 1996 to 1999. He was 17th District commander from 1999 to 2000 and state commander in 2009.
While this is Spindler's first time on the council, it is not the first time he has served on a national level. He was a member of the National Finance and Internal Organization Committee from 1999 to 2000, a member of the National Veterans' Care Committee in 2001, 2002 and 2006 and the Veterans' Service Resolutions Committee in 2002 and 2006. Spindler was also on the National Buddy Poppy Committee in 2004 and the National Veterans Employment and Training Committee in 2005.
He has owned and operated Spindler Financial Services in Robinson since 1994. He and his wife, Mary, have been married for 39 years and have two grown children.
Anything of national significance to the VFW - including its budget - must be approved by the council. "We have a several-million-dollar budget," Spindler explained. "It's just like sitting on the board of directors of a major corporation."
Most representatives are "pretty conservative," Spindler added. "We don't spend money we don't have."
The council meets four times each year. During its annual March meeting, the national commander appears before a joint session of the U.S. Congress to detail what the VFW wants for service personnel and veterans during the coming year. The VFW is considered one of the top 25 lobbying groups in Washington. Spindler said the group, which has more than 2 million members, acts as a "watchdog for our veterans."
The VFW also provides many services for veterans, Spindler said, explaining most people are probably not aware of all the organization does. Services range from giving vets rides to Veterans Administration hospitals to assisting them and families gain financial benefits to which they are entitled, including funds to help families of service personnel on active duty with emergencies. Spindler called the Illinois Veterans Service Office "the best in the nation."
"I encourage any veteran who is eligible to become a member," Spindler said. "A lot of people don't realize what is being done every day" to assist veterans and current service personnel.
He pointed out even veterans who are not interested in active involvement in the VFW can take advantage of the benefits.
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