WASHINGTON — The national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States issued the following statement regarding Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel’s announcement to resign after a successor is confirmed.
“Chuck Hagel is a Vietnam veteran, double Purple Heart recipient, and a proud life member of VFW Post 3704 in Columbus, Neb.,” said John W. Stroud, who leads the 1.9 million-member VFW and its Auxiliaries. “We salute his service, his sacrifice, and his personal commitment to keeping America safe, as well as the close, unprecedented working relationship he built between the Pentagon and the VFW. His leadership and his presence will be missed.”