Marin County’s lone VFW post celebrates 75th anniversary

A few dozen combat veterans gathered recently for stories, dinner, drinks and plenty of wisecracks at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7816 in Novato.

They served in war zones such as Vietnam, Korea and Afghanistan. Many relaxed at the post’s outdoor bar before the organization’s general meeting.

Several members smiled while they listened to Novato resident James Stein, a former Army helicopter pilot who served two and a half tours in Vietnam. He was shot down several times.

“He cost us a fortune, you know that?” one member joked.

Post 7816, which marks its 75th anniversary this month, is Marin County’s sole remaining VFW post. The county also has three American Legion posts, as well as the Marin County United Veterans Council.

The Novato post is open to all veterans who served overseas in combat zones where campaign medals were awarded, said its quartermaster, Rick Hanley.

Post 7816 is involved in community services such as supporting Homeward Bound of Marin’s new apartment building for homeless veterans, aiding former soldiers through the Department of Veterans Affairs, and helping veterans in need, including one who is in hospice care.

“You probably think that we just drink and tell war stories, but we do much more than that,” Hanley said. “We’re supporting things in the community.”

In August, an auxiliary formed at the Novato post that is open to relatives of combat veterans who are eligible for VFW membership.

“It’s exciting to hear their excitement and the post that welcomes them and encourages them,” said Angela Prill, an official of California’s VFW District 16.

September also marks 80 years since the death of Donald Westlund, the post’s namesake, during World War II.

“He was a kid from Novato,” said Douglas Sekishiro, a leader at the post.

Westlund enlisted in the Army in 1941 and he was captured by the Japanese Army in the Philippines. He survived the Bataan Death March, when more than 75,000 American and Filipino war prisoners were forced to trek 65 miles to a prison camp, and thousands died along the way. In 1944, Westlund was being transported on a Japanese prisoner ship that a U.S. submarine torpedoed, mistaking it for an enemy target, Sekishiro said.

Westlund’s photograph is prominently displayed on a wall in the Post 7816 meeting room.

“What we’re doing is to maintain that memory, bring it forth to a new generation of people so it’s not forgotten,” said Sekishiro, a Novato resident. “As we do that, we’re looking to bring more members, younger members into this post because we have a legacy to continue on.”

He said the median age of the Post 7816 membership is 77.

Nationwide, the average VFW member is 73, said Randi Law, a national VFW spokesperson. The number of VFW posts across the country decreased from 7,034 in 2013 to 5,667 posts last year. Law noted that closures can occur for different reasons, including mergers between posts.

Sean Stephens, Marin County’s veterans services officer, stressed that younger members are needed at the county’s last VFW post.

“If we don’t have younger foreign war veterans step up and become members of that VFW post, we’re going to lose it,” said Stephens, a VFW member who served four tours in Afghanistan.

Stephens said the population of Marin veterans shrank from 17,000 in 2010 to 9,000 today. He said the majority of veterans are between ages 55 and 60.

“The Novato VFW is doing really well as far as civic-minded things, but they could only do so much because a lot of them now are getting older,” he said.

The photographs of several Novato veterans, both young and older, are displayed on street banners along Grant Avenue.

Sekishiro, an Afghanistan veteran, reflected on his son who served in the Army. He said that his son felt uncomfortable with people thanking him for his service because he believed he was just doing his job.

“What’s more important than getting the thanks is the opportunity to tell their stories about what they experienced and why that was important,” Sekishiro said, pointing at his fellow veterans at the gathering. “Each one of these guys and gals have a story about being somewhere — that most Americans would never go to, would never want to be — and doing what was asked of them. That’s what has been important to these folks.”

Stein, the former helicopter pilot, earned two Silver Stars, three Bronze Stars, four Distinguished Flying Crosses and 96 Air Medals for valor. He lost a leg in combat, which led to his discharge in 1974.

Stein summarized what he admired about his fellow VFW members.

“All the members, the brothers, the friendships, the stories — you can’t beat it,” he said.