American Legion installs new officers

MADISON – American Legion, Post 229 in Madison recently installed new officers for 2018-2019.

Officer elections for Madison American Legion were held during the post’s monthly meeting on May 10 at Lunar Lodge. Individuals elected to office will lead the post’s annual and any new activities, Richard L. Blanton Jr. said. Blanton is a Post 299 member and a retired major in the U.S. Air Force.

“Adjutant Larry Vannoy was elected as Commander, succeeding Carlos W. Woods who has led the post the previous five years from 2012 to 2018,” Blanton said. Earl Watts was elected 1st Vice Commander, succeeding James Vance.

Tommy Whitten will serve as 2nd Vice Commander and succeeds Earl Watts in this post. Stacey Harring was selected as Adjutant, formerly filled by Vannoy.

Andy Caudle will work as Chaplain, a position that Stan Walker formerly held.

“Currently, the position of treasurer is vacant with the current Treasurer Kelly stepping down,” Blanton said.

Several legionnaires were re-elected to their current post positions: Chris Brown as Judge Advocate; Mike Marcel as Sergeant-at-Arms; and Richard Lewis Blanton Jr. as Post 229 Historian. In addition, Cherish Croft is continuing in her position as Post 229 Administrator.

The new slate of officers elected for 2018-2019 were officially inducted during the post’s regular meeting on June 14.

Outgoing Post 229 Commander Carlos Woods was honored with a presentation honoring his five-year tenure from 2014 to 2018 by incoming Commander Larry Vannoy.

Woods entered the U.S. Army in January 1967. He completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. and attended Advance Individual Training at Fort Gordon, Ga.

After training as Telecommunication Specialist, Teletype (72E), he was transferred to his first overseas tour, Philippines Islands on Clark Air Force Base. Then, he transferred to Fort Carson, Colo. and supervised telecommunication operations.

In Missouri, Woods trained as Drill Sargent, his job from 1970 to 1975. He was transferred to Korea as a Shift Supervisor with 169th Signal Battalion in Taegu, Korea.

Woods returned to Fort Gordon as Telecommunication Instructor and later worked as recruiter for 11 years. His final assignment was with U.S. Army Recruiting Command, Fort Sheridan, Ill. as Recruiter Management Non Commission Officer Training Division.