Vietnam War Veteran Elected Leader of The American Legion

INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A U.S. Army Vietnam War veteran has been elected national commander of the nation’s largest veterans organization.

Delegates to The American Legion’s 94th National Convention here chose James E. Koutz of Boonville, Ind., to lead the 2.4 million-member organization of wartime veterans for a one-year term.

Koutz entered the United States Army in August 1969. He attended Basic Training at Ft. Knox, Ky., and Advanced Infantry Training at Ft. Ord, Calif. In January 1970 he reported to Vietnam and served an extended tour of duty with Co. C 169th Engineer Battalion. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Specialist 5 in March 1971 and quickly joined The American Legion. He is a member of Boonville Post 200 where his father, George, was a World War II veteran and a past commander of the post. Jim was honored as a life member of his Post in 1991 and served as its post commander for nine years.

Koutz retired from the Amax Coal Company in 1995 after 21 years of service. He was appointed by the Warrick County Commissioners in January 1995 as service officer for the Warrick County Veterans Affairs office. The Governor of Indiana appointed him Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2005 where he served as president of that commission in 2007. In January 2009 he was appointed to serve four more years.

Koutz has held elected and appointed offices in The American Legion at the post, county, district, department and national levels. As Indiana State American Legion Commander, he achieved an all-time high membership during his tenure in 1990-1991. At the national level, he served on the Foreign Relations Commission and as chairman of both the Economics and Legislative Commissions. Additionally, he is a member of the Citizens Flag Alliance and also served on the Veterans’ Planning and Coordinating Committee.

He was awarded the State of Indiana Council of the Sagamore of the Wabash in 1991 by former Governor Evan Bayh and recognized for outstanding community achievement of Vietnam veterans by President Jimmy Carter. He received the Elks Distinguished Citizenship Award from the Grand Lodge of Order of the Elks and Boonville Elks Lodge #1180.

Cmdr. Koutz took the oath of office along with five other national officers. Serving as national vice commanders are John E. Neylon, of Twin Mountain, N.H.; Glenn A. Hickman of Grove City, Ohio; Jeanette Rae of Reno, Nev.; David R. Hall of New Haven, W.Va.; and James Hallie Holland of Aiken, S.C.

National Historian Neil L. Rozier of Raleigh, N.C.; National Sergeant-at-Arms Alfonso Pulido of Griffith, Ind.; and National Chaplain Ronald L. Derrick of Rigby, Idaho were appointed to their positions by Cmdr. Koutz following the close of the national convention.

A photo of Nat. Cmdr. Koutz is available on request to [e-mail] or can be downloaded from The American Legion website at: www.legion.org