VFW

Grafe honored by local VFW organization

  • Long-time member of the Lavaca Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6382, Chuck Grafe, was recognized Wednesday night, June 11 at its meeting for his meritorious and dedicated service to the organization. Grafe served as its adjutant (secretary) for 29 years and has also held every office in the local VFW, including its Commander from 2015-16. Receiving the honored plaque is Grafe (left) that is being presented by outgoing commander Kevin Bright. Contributed photo
    Long-time member of the Lavaca Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6382, Chuck Grafe, was recognized Wednesday night, June 11 at its meeting for his meritorious and dedicated service to the organization. Grafe served as its adjutant (secretary) for 29 years and has also held every office in the local VFW, including its Commander from 2015-16. Receiving the honored plaque is Grafe (left) that is being presented by outgoing commander Kevin Bright. Contributed photo

    Anyone who has ever attended a Hallettsville or Sacred Heart High School sporting event, or Hallettsville Little League All-Stars games, have seen Chuck Grafe covering those events for the local newspaper.

    Besides being passionate in sports coverage and an avid follower of sports in general, what many may not know is he is also a proud United States Army veteran.

    Grafe was drafted into the Army in 1967 and served overseas during the Vietnam War.

    Deployed to Korea, Grafe served as an aircorps medic on medevac missions and was part of a crew on “Dustoff ” helicopters, where they aided wounded soldiers.

    After completing his service, Grafe returned to the states and worked for the Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT) and the Southern Pacific railroad companies.

    Following a work-related injury, Grafe began his passion in life of writing newspaper sports stories and has been doing so for the past 38 years as the Tribune-Herald sports editor.

    Twenty-nine years ago, Grafe was recruited to join the Lavaca Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6282 and has been a dedicated member ever since.

    “James Myrick recruited me into joining the VFW in 1996,” Grafe said. “It’s funny, when I joined I missed a meeting and they were having election of officers. When I came back, the next thing I knew I was the adjutant.”

    According to Grafe, an adjutant is a fancy name for secretary, who keeps the minutes at the meetings.

    Besides serving as an adjutant throughout the years, he has also been elected to virtually every office in the VFW including serving as the commander in 2015-16.

    As the commander, the VFW Post 6382 was named All-State Post of which Grafe said he is very proud of the recognition.

    “Being selected All-State Post is the result of a conglomeration of activities,” Grafe said. “Recently, when Steven Drozd was commander, we made All-American Post. That was pretty neat.”

    In addition, Grafe also served as first vice-commander from 2005 to 2014 and has held the office of second vice-commander as well as a trustee.

    At its Wednesday, June 11 meeting, the Lavaca Memorial VFW Post 6382 honored Grafe with a plaque presentation recognizing him for 29 years of meritorious and distinguished service in furthering the aims and ideals of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

    “Charles Grafe is a valued member of the Lavaca Memorial VFW Post 6382,” newly elected commander Daniel Smith said. “He has held every officer position in his 29 years with the post, along with heading up many of the committees. Along with Chuck’s humor and experience, he is a mentor and friend to all.”

    In receiving the award Chuck said, “I was extremely proud. I put my work in and am a very dedicated member. This is quite an honor.

    Grafe, who has been named four times as Sports Writer of the Year by various organizations, said receiving the honor from the VFW means more to him than the sports writer awards.

    “I think the VFW is an elite group of veterans,” Grafe said. “I remember when I first joined we had 50-55 attend the meetings because we had World War II veterans. Now we only have one Korean War veteran and we usually have 13 to 15 attending. We have new blood to keep it going.”