A Critical Look at the VFW Politics and Pettiness that Keeps Younger Vets Away: An Opinion Piece

A Critical Look at the VFW Politics and Pettiness that Keeps Younger Vets Away: An Opinion Piece

Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed in this post are solely my own and do not reflect the official stance or views of Medium or the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

Today’s topic is something I have debated writing about for some time. I have a personal connection to this topic because I like many things about this organization. However, after my experience and the experience of those I have met through this organization, I feel like the only way to encourage change is to speak out against things that I don’t believe are right. This version has been slightly revised as some things were incorrect in my original letter.

I almost deleted this article but realized that nearly two years later, nothing had changed with this VFW Post in which I was so actively involved. There is now an auxiliary member who was kicked out of the post, helping the Post Bookkeeper Manage the books and the bar, which is a conflict of interest. Is the person running the bar also helping with the books? Well, rumor has it she is. This post already had an issue with a previous person (allegedly) embezzling as well as laundering gambling winnings through this Post.

Screen Capture of ProPublica website with VFW 990 filing FY 2021

April 21, 2022, To whom it may concern: I am writing this letter to bring light to some of the internal issues the VFW has caused Veterans like myself to decide to leave the VFW or not join the VFW at all. I have done my best to bring this issue up at every level, and it appears it is not essential, but it should be.

First, I want to start with some background about myself so you can understand why this matters to me. I did not want to join the VFW. I had zero interest as an OEF Veteran, and I figured it was a place full of people I had no interest in being around.

A family member encouraged me to join, so I finally signed up. The very person who signed me up told me about the camaraderie amongst my peers I would enjoy and that I would not regret joining. I had no intention of being involved in the VFW. I joined just so my family member and his friends would stop bugging me about it. I thought, what the heck, why not?

I should have stayed away from joining. I know now that it was an error, as everything the membership recruiter told me has turned out to be a lie.

I began volunteering at this post under an outstanding bar manager whom the Quartermaster hated. There is no doubt about his hate as I and many others listened to him trash her in the bar or make allegations that she stole from the Post. He also would decide to pay everyone but her.

While the House Committee (think of it as an internal review board or a liaison between the post and the bar management) would sit down and try to address it, everyone, including the Quartermaster, would agree to pay her.

We went through this same ritual every week beginning March 14, 2022. The Quartermaster chose to call her a “c***” several times in one evening in her absence (of which I have video evidence) and relayed to another bartender an allegation that “she steals.” He also chose to bad-mouth other Officers of the Post.

He created an extremely toxic and hostile work environment that the Bar Manager finally quit on April 19, 2022. She has substantial evidence to support a hostile work environment claim (at the time of this event) should she seek legal representation, along with numerous patrons who can attest to this treatment.

This issue was addressed with the House Committee and the Post at Post Meetings to no avail.

I chose to reach out to the State Judge Advocate and instead reached someone else in a similar position, whom I asked for guidance in how we, as a Post, could resolve this issue. She gave me some advice on how I could handle things and I started to work on that.

She immediately got off the phone with me and called the Quartermaster, who within minutes texted me, upset that I “accused him of not doing his job.”

I did not accuse; I stated facts; he was choosing to withhold payment, which is against the law. Which is exactly how I responded to him.

I have also witnessed members of this Post be discriminated against because while they are Veterans, they are affiliated with a Veterans Motorcycle Club. These Veterans used to spend a lot of money at this Post and even conduct volunteer and charity work with this very Post.

Here is an example of how petty and passive-aggressive things have become. The Quartermaster has been elected as the incoming Post Commander. He tore down any fliers this organization had for the charity events the day he was elected.

When they were put back up, he tore them down again. Oh, and by the way, on the day of the election, someone else observed him passing out papers to new members who don’t really get involved in post-events that stated who they were to vote for.

When this was brought to my attention, the Judge Advocate immediately told me that I was mistaken and shut me down.

I could write ten or more pages describing the toxic culture that exists at this Post.

The outgoing Post Commander worked very hard to advocate for the members of the Post rather than act like a politician searching for his white hat, and he had no luck either.

I did happen to notice that the slogan for the VFW is “Nobody does more.”

Well, based on the behaviors and actions I have encountered so far, that is false unless you change that slogan to “Nobody does more to sweep things under the rug.”

I also noticed the following on the VFW website:

Our Mission: To foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts. To serve our veterans, the military, and our communities. To advocate on behalf of all veterans.

Our Vision: Ensure that veterans are respected for their service, always receive their earned entitlements, and are recognized for the sacrifices they and their loved ones have made on behalf of this great country.

This may be the goal of the VFW, but this is not happening in this Post, and it is no wonder that it almost went bankrupt once.

My goal in writing this letter is to get somebody's attention because the VFW could live up to these standards, and there are probably many that do, but I am not a member of those Posts; I am a member of Post *****(redacted for privacy).

I tried going up the Chain of Command as written in the by-laws and had no luck either.

I was responded to by State, District, and National that they do not care about canteen issues as it is a Post issue. If it can’t be resolved at the Post level, how is it only a Post issue? What is the point of by-laws when you can’t follow them?

This is bigger than a canteen issue.

These are the very Veterans and families that the VFW prides itself on respecting, so I ask two questions: Do I have your attention now? Can we get this respect you speak of?

Sincerest Regards,

Jamie Hairston

Screen Capture of Propublica website with VFW 990 filing for 2021 FY

Screencapture of post on VFW website from John Stroud’s comments — that clearly went unheard.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is a non-profit organization that claims to assist U.S. veterans and their families, but it does not always serve the best interests of those in need. While the VFW offers various services designed to help veterans, these programs are often underfunded and do not provide enough financial or emotional support for those who have served our country.

Ultimately, while the Veterans of Foreign Wars is an admirable organization for attempting to help out our nation’s heroes, it does not always serve their best interests or provide enough resources to ensure they get the proper care and attention they deserve.