PAST POST COMMANDERS:
Jack Coyle, Commander: July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2026
I graduated from high school in June 1970 and received my induction notice in January 1971. I reported for a physical in February and went for basic training in May at Ft Lewis, Washington, and Ft Gordon for AIT, focusing on telephone and switchboard maintenance. Then we had 30 days of leave to get ready to go to Vietnam; instead, our whole group was sent to Korea to begin our 13-month tour. After sitting in Kimpo Air Base for three days waiting for an assignment, a Sergeant walked in and said he was looking for a volunteer with a Signal MOS. Not thinking anything of it, and what everyone had told me, “Never volunteer for anything in the Army,” I raised my hand and said, “Here, Sergeant.” As we were walking to the processing room, the Sergeant said: “I have good news and bad news; the bad news is you just volunteered to go up on the DMZ; the good news is you will get an extra sixty-five dollars a month for hazardous duty pay.”
I had just volunteered to join the JSASG-UNC (Joint Security Area Support Group-United Nations Command) in Panmunjom, located on the 38th parallel; it was an all-volunteer unit. On days of MAC (Military Armistice Commission) meetings, you would come face to face with the North Korean soldiers, and they would never smile at you. In addition to maintaining the telephone lines between guard posts, one of the duties was recording the meetings between the North and the South on reel-to-reel tape decks. I also entered North Korea twice during my time there to perform routine maintenance on the TA-312 field phone located in the North Korean building known as Panmon Hall. This field phone was used by UNC to contact the North and set up meetings between both sides. I would enter this building escorted by two North Korean soldiers to clean the contacts and replace the batteries. After my 13 months were up, they offered us the option to extend it for a 5-month drop. I extended my stay by two months to get out five months early and arrived home before Christmas, on December 16, 1972. I then served two years of active duty in the reserves and two years inactive in the reserves
I have been in communications my entire life, working for several contractors to install voice and data infrastructure systems, primarily in new construction environments. I retired on February 27, 2015, and moved from Illinois to Sun City West, Arizona, in June 2015. I have been a member of the American Legion for 21 years, 11 of which have been with Post 94.
My wife and I have been married for fifty-four years and have two daughters, five grandsons, and five granddaughters.
Larry Leighton, Commander: July 1, 2018 - Jun 30, 2021
Enlisted in the US Army on December 9, 1968, and completed basic training at Fort Polk, LA. Received my Reserve Officer’s commission as a Second Lieutenant of Field Artillery from the Artillery Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, OK, on February 20, 1970. After commissioning, I received my Parachute Jump Wings at Fort Benning, GA. I was sent to Viet Nam, arriving in October 1970, and assigned to the 3rd Battalion of the 319th Field Artillery, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate) as a Forward Observer in the 3rd Battalion, 503 Inf. I received the Purple Heart for grenade wounds received on a night assault operation on December 12, 1970.
I met and married my wife, Kay, in August 1972 while stationed at Fort Campbell, KY (1971-1976). In 1988, I took command of the Second Armored Cavalry Regiment’s Support Squadron in Nuremberg, Germany. While serving in this position, we deployed our Regiment to Saudi Arabia and took part in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In 1994, I took command of the 20th Area Support Group, with headquarters in Taegu, South Korea, and served in that capacity until I retired on June 30, 1996.
Upon retiring, I was a Project Manager for a Supply Chain Execution Systems software development company in Orange County, CA. We moved to Corte Bella, Sun City West, in 2005.
Gerry Berger: July 1, 2013 - 2018
Gerry Berger joined the US Army in 1964; in 1973, she enlisted in the Air National Guard and served until her retirement in 1999. The most rewarding job was as a First Sergeant with the Air National Guard’s 161st Air Refueling Wing, Phoenix, AZ. I was also with the Air Force Reserve while serving in my civilian position with the Air Force assigned to Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
I learned of The American Legion from a past active member of Post 94, Ray Rodes, who invited me to a meeting. I attended and immediately volunteered to assist with putting up and taking down flags along R.H. Johnson Blvd, and also helped with Flag Retirement. After just a year and a half, I was approached by Harold Stern to consider becoming a part of the Executive Board. Long story short, there was an opportunity to be elected as Commander, and I began my term as Commander on 1 July 2013, serving as Post Commander for 5 years. I have attended every Department Convention and every Fall Conference during these years. I have also attended meetings with the North West Valley Veterans Association and have participated in the Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies at Sunland Cemetery, and also placed our Post wreath during the Pearl Harbor Ceremonies at Wesley Bolin Plaza in Phoenix.
I continue to be an active member by promoting Post 94’s Pancake Breakfast fundraisers and the Memorial Boulevard of Flags event seven times each year, as well as participating in ‘honors’ at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona for 4 years. I have volunteered at the Maricopa County Stand Down, the annual West Valley Massing of the Colors, and I’m a volunteer at a Domestic Abuse Center in the West Valley. I’m also a life member of the Vietnam Veterans of America and the Air Force Association.
Dan Reilly: 2012 - 2013
American Legion (94) Judge Advocate (2017 to 2021)
North West Valley Judge Advocate (2014 to 2017) (2019 to Present)
VFW 10695 Commander (2014 to 2016) (2018 to Present)
Member of DAV Star (24)
Retired VA Fire Department Fire Fighter (1981 to 2002)
Born in New York City
Vietnam Vet
Gene Bogatko: 2010-2012
Harold Stern: 2002-2003; 2005-2007; and 2008-2010
Served in the US Army 1952- 1954 as a Medic and was trained in Optical school. I served at Ft Sheridan, IL, Camp Pickett, VA, and Ft Leonard Wood, MO. After service, I was employed by a vending company in Morrison, IL, for 21 years. We moved to Arizona in 1981.
I joined The American Legion Post 94 in 1990 and served as Commander for five years and Adjutant for eight years. I served as District 11 Sergeant-At-Arms for one year. I was the Chef De Garde and Commander of the Forty and Eight for two years and treasurer for nine years.
I am active in the Department of Korean War Veterans, having served as Department Treasurer for three years, 2nd Vice Commander for two years, and Commander for two years. I am also on the West Valley Chapter Board of Directors (2008-2009 and 2015-2017).
I was the Commander of the Northwest Valley Veterans Association for two years and the Treasurer for two years. I served 17 years in the Sun City West Posse.
I was inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame in 2008.