A West Mifflin resident and veteran of operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm has been selected as National Aide-de-Camp for the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
Mike Mauer, a Life Member of VFW Post 914 Intrepid, West Mifflin, received his letter of appointment Dec. 23. He is the husband of Marsey and father of two West Mifflin Area Senior High School honor students, Sarah, 17, and Rachel, 14.
"Your Department Commander recommended you for this appointment for your outstanding services to Posts and/or your Department above and beyond the call of duty," wrote Allen 'Gunner' Kent, Adjutant General of the VFW in his letter to Mauer.
In his new position as National Aide-de-Camp, Mauer will assist both VFW National Commander-in-Chief Gary Kurpius, and Dominic A. DeFranco, State Commander, VFW Pennsylvania. "I am sure you will fulfill this high office as National Aide-de-Camp with dignity and honor, both to yourself and the Veterans of Foreign Wars," wrote Kent regarding Mauer's endorsement.
As quartermaster for VFW 914 since 2003, Mauer has been instrumental in supporting local troops deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. An example of this was an Operation Welcome Home event held in August at West Mifflin's Thompson Run Athletic Club. Invited to the day-long picnic were area military veterans and their immediate family members. A grant written by Mauer and submitted to the VFW of the United States helped fund the event. The picnic also featured donations solicited from local businesses, political leaders, individuals and civic groups.
Additionally, Mauer helped establish a web site that features soldiers and sailors deployed overseas, and organized care packages to be sent to West Mifflin troops stationed with the 300th Area Support Group at Lsa Adder, Iraq. "I could do nothing without the help of my family and that of post commander, Joseph Popovich," said Mauer. "Also Henry Lutz, Joe Coccaro, Chuck Krebs, Walt Kuzma, Jim Leerberg, Russ Emery, Dan Cunningham, Andy Yatsko, Jay Jabbour, Richard Allen and all the others in VFW 914 Intrepid. These folks have taught me that service above self goes many years past the time when uniforms are first relegated to the back of the closet."
While on active duty as an Army photojournalist and public affairs officer
in Southwest Asia, Mauer covered assigned units, did media escort duties and sent stories back to posts and civilian news outlets throughout the world. He was also named non-commissioned officer in charge of the U.S. Central Command's command information office, which served more than 500,000 troops assigned to the first Persian Gulf War. For his efforts, Mauer was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal by Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, as well as one of the Army's highest journalism honors for writing, the Keith L.Ware.
To learn more about VFW Post 914 Intrepid in West Mifflin, visit the
community's Web site at www.15122.com. Anyone interested in joining the group may contact Mauer at 412- 461-2305.
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