David R. Schmidt

Background

About David R. Schmidt

I am Army Airborne(2nd Generation), 3rd Generation Army as well as a Vietnam-Era Veteran(Regular Army 1/14/74-1/13/76). I am an All American Life Member of the 82nd Airborne Division Association as well as a Life Member of Vietnam Veterans of America. I am also a 2021 member and Post Service Officer of American Legion Post 285 in Edgewater, Florida. I just transferred from American Legion Adam Quinn Post 6 in Deland, Florida where I was the Post Service Officer. I was also the Post Service Officer for American Legion Post 197(Pawleys Island, SC), American Legion Post 178(Murrells Inlet, SC), American Legion Post 321(Union Beach, NJ) and American Legion Post 391(Mine Hill, NJ). My service in the United States Army enabled me to receive a college education and that is why I was a Post Service Officer because I wanted to make sure that my fellow Veterans received all their benefits which they deserved. I graduated from Trenton State College(now The College of New Jersey) where I was on Chapter 34(GI Bill). The State of New Jersey even had a tuition aid program for Vietnam-Era Veterans such as myself. I was also in the V.A. Work-Study Program(1980-1982) where I worked as a student counselor in The Office of Special Services providing administrative and support services to veterans and disabled students attending Trenton State College. My experiences have included management, operations and inter-agency systems.From these experiences I have learned the importance of good service and effective administration. While in the V.A. Work-Study Program at Trenton State College, I even worked for The New Jersey Agent Orange Commission during the summer of 1981 under Wayne Wilson as Director. I maintained records and I set-up appointments at the various V.A. Hospitals so that Vietnam Combat Veterans could get their Agent Orange Physicals.