Brig. Gen. Daniel J. McHale, USA (ret)

Brigadier General Daniel McHale began his military career as an enlisted Army diver in Vietnam. Retiring with over 35 years of military service, he rose to the rank of Brigadier General, Infantry, Connecticut Army National Guard. General McHale was Commander of the Connecticut National Guard’s Quick Reaction Force following the events of September 11, 2001 and coordinator of the state’s Katrina Relief Operations in 2005 and 2006. He is the recipient of the Legion of Merit, Vietnam Service Medal and currently serves as the Connecticut Department of Defense Transitional Assistance Advisor, providing outreach, advocacy and benefits assistance to all generations of veterans and active duty personnel and their families. General McHale serves as the CT vice-commander of the Association of the U.S. Army. He is Co-Chairman of the Connecticut OEF/OIF Support Coordination Committee and a contributor to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task  Force (INFRAGARD). Additionally, General McHale also serves as a “Senior Advisor” to the United States National Defense Corps (USNDC) and the Lao-Hmong SGU veterans of the Vietnam War. He was recently selected to the CT Veterans Hall of Fame for 2009.

Rear Admiral Richard E. Young, USN (ret)

Rear Admiral Richard E. Young. after graduating with a BA degree from the University of Michigan in June of 1953, entered the U.S. Navy’s Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. Graduating with honors, he served aboard a destroyer in the Western Pacific for two years and then in the Bureau of Naval Personnel where he served in the Officer Detail Section (LCDR Desk).

Upon leaving active duty Admiral Young returned to the University of Michigan and obtained his JD degree from the University of Michigan Law School, graduating in June 1960, having served as Assistant Editor of the Michigan Law Review.

Following graduation, Admiral Young moved to Denver, Colorado, and practiced law in Denver, while remaining very active in the Naval Reserve. He became active in a number of civic activities, including chairing a number of State of Colorado commissions and task forces. He was appointed by the mayor of Denver to chair the Denver Commission on Community Relations, and later founded and became the first chair of the Metro Denver Fair Housing Center, where he served for six years. The Fair Housing Center was recognized nationally, receiving numerous awards, and several large grants from the Ford Foundation for its innovative and effective Diversity programs. Young was elected as one of the Regional Vice Presidents of the National Committee Against Discrimination in Housing, and worked on programs in many locations in the United States for a number of years. He also was recalled to active duty to assist the United States Navy with their housing efforts and was personally recognized by Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, then the Chief of Naval Operations, for his work.

Young was elected chairman of one of Denver’s major political parties and served for seven years. He subsequently ran a number of political campaigns. In 1992 he left the practice of law and entered the corporate world, serving as vice president successively of two different publicly held international corporations.

In 1982, selected for flag in the Naval Reserve, Admiral Young was assigned to the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. In 1985 he was hand picked to be chairman of our country’s Fifth International Review held in New York Harbor on the July 4th weekend of 1986 in conjunction with the 100th birthday of the Statute of Liberty. In addition, he served as Readiness Commander for Region 18 (some 7 states, 22 Readiness Centers, and 5,000 personnel) from 1985 to 1987. Admiral Young also spent considerable time at the Office of Legislative Affairs, Navy Recruiting Command, Naval Air Forces Atlantic, and CNAVRES where he headed up various active duty programs.

Among his awards are three Legion of Merit awards, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, and the Navy Unit Citation. Admiral Young received the United States Navy League’s John Paul Jones Award for Inspirational Leadership in 1988 (the only Reserve officer to ever be so recognized). Young also received the Naval Reserve Association’s Meritorious Service Award in 1980.

Young is currently serving as Chair of the Colorado ESGR, He has been the Employer Outreach Director, and the Vice Chair. He teaches several short courses at a number of community colleges and adult learning organizations, is head of a Colorado cancer research foundation, and chairs several other clubs and organizations. He has also served on the University of Michigan’s Alumni Board of Governors. He is also working on a Masters Degree in History from the University of Colorado Denver. Young is married to Lorie Young and they have four grown daughters. They celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary December 25, 2009.

MG Larry Taylor, USMC(GA 1st Brigade only)

COL Reagan Ngamvilay (AL 1st Brigade only) This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

BG Robert W. Soto (AL & GA only) This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

SGU Lao Veterans Chapter, NYMr. Robert D. Poole (Punta Gonda, FL)

Served as an Advisor and Case officer to Lao Commando Raider Teams in Military Region IV in Southern Laos.  Served as a supervisor for Thai Volunteers in Northern Laos during the period of 1970-1972.

SGU Lao Veterans Chapter, NY

Mr. Thomas L. Briggs (Rockville, MD)

Served as an Advisor and Case Officer to Lao Road Watch Teams who worked along the Ho Chi Minh Trail during the period of 1969-1973 in Military Region IV in Southern Laos.