Nashville Catholic new top official of Veterans of Foreign Wars

Published: 2004-09-01

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CNS) -- John Furgess, a Vietnam War veteran and Nashville Catholic, took over the top office of the Veterans of Foreign Wars as its new national commander-in-chief during the recent national VFW convention in Cincinnati. "As the national commander, you're the spokesman for the national organization of the nation's oldest major veterans' association," said Furgess in an interview with the Tennessee Register, Nashville diocesan newspaper. The VFW's colorful history dates back to the Spanish-American War, and specifically to the Battle of San Juan Hill in July 1898 with Teddy Roosevelt and his legendary Rough Riders. Furgess is the first Tennessean to hold this office in 50 years, and only the second in the history of the VFW. The first was Cooper T. Holt of Chattanooga; Holt, now 80, ceremoniously installed Furgess as commander-in-chief at the national convention. Besides being a lifetime member of VFW Post 1970 in West Nashville, Furgess is a member of the Disabled American Veterans, having fought and won a battle against prostate cancer, presumably caused by exposure to Agent Orange during his tour in Vietnam.

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