BRAINERD VFW
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Leadership

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The Team of  Post 1647 Officers

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Brainerd VFW Commander Chip Borle
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Army Specialist Borle
Christian "Chip" Borle - Commander
Born May 14 1975, he graduated from high school in Abingdon, Illinois, then went to Norwich University military college for 5 years and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree.  Chip joined the U.S. Army in 2000 as a combat engineer (12B) in the 82nd Airborne and was as an E4 specialist when serving in Iraq.  In 2003 he moved to the Minnesota National Guard, in which he is still serving as an E7 staff sergeant .  Chip works at C&L Distributing.

Chip's story:  I am happy to be a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and spend as much time as I can assisting my fellow veterans.  Contact me at 218-851-0855.

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Dave Meyer
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Dave Meyer, U. S. Army Vietnam 1968
David "Dave" Meyer - Senior Vice Commander
Dave graduated from the Brainerd High School in 1967 and went into the Army in 1967 with a Military Occupational Specialty of 11B4P [Light Weapons Infantry]  He served in Vietnam 1968-69 as a sergeant E5 with 2/17 Cavalry, 101st Airborne.  On return to the United States, Dave was assigned to Co. B [Ranger] 75th Infantry.  In civilian life, he was a UPS driver until his retirement.  Dave served as Brainerd VFW post commander 2008 - 2009.   Community Member of the Month. 

Dave's story:  I graduated from Central Lakes College in 1972, then worked for UPS [United Parcel Service] for 30+ years.  I am a member of the VFW, the Disabled American Veterans and the Vietnam Veterans of America.  Contact me at 218-829-0608.

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Mike Williams
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Navy Corpsman Williams
Michael "Doc" Williams, Junior Vice Commander.  Born October 31, 1950, Mike enlisted in the U.S. Navy in July 1969.  His naval occupational specialty was corpsman.  Mike spent one year aboard the U.S.S. Hancock attack aircraft carrier, CVA-19, in the Tonkin Gulf, on the South China Sea at Viet Nam from 1972 to 1973.  He was honorably discharged in 1973.

Mike's story:  I am glad to have the opportunity to serve in the Veterans of Foreign Wars at Post 1647.  One of my duties is to be a part of the Honor Guard with a bunch of great men and women vets.  Mike's Mail Call poem


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Pat Wing
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Pat Wing, Army MP
VFW Post 1647 Quartermaster  Patricia I. Wing (Mogensen) was born in Brainerd, MN, on April 20, 1953.  She graduated from Brainerd High School in 1971 and joined the U.S. Army in October of 1974.

Pat's story:  I took basic at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, then Advanced Individual Training at Fort Gordon, Georgia, as 95B20 (Military Police).  After training, I was sent to Fort Lewis, Washington.  From there I went to Pusan, Korea, which gave me the eligibility to join the VFW.  After Korea I was sent to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey and was discharged in the fall of 1977.
 

I came home to Brainerd and in January of 1978, and married Dale Wing.  We dairy farmed until 2014.  I had a full time job with Chas Levy services for 33 years.  When they moved to Chicago, I started a different career at Mills Fleet Farm in 2007.  We have 2 sons (Travis & Justin) and a daughter-in-law Becky, with a lovely granddaughter named Zorey. 

I’ve enjoyed my membership very much and presently serve as the Post 1647 Quartermaster, along with being a club part-time bartender.


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Mark Persons, Post 1647 Chaplain and Webmaster
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U.S. Army Sergeant Persons, Vietnam 1968-69

​VFW Post 1647 Chaplain and Webmaster:  Mark Persons was baptized as a Presbyterian.  Later he became a Baptist and finally a member of the Park United Methodist Church in Brainerd.  Mark brings the word of God to all faiths at Post 1647.  Some have taken to calling him Father Mulcahy, as in M*A*S*H 4077.

Mark's Story:  I joined the U.S. Army in 1966.  Basic training was at Fort Polk, Louisiana.   I taught electronics at Fort Monmouth, NJ.  Then it was off to Vietnam to be Sergeant in Charge of an avionics repair shop in support of the high-tech OV-1 Mohawk​ Surveillance Aircraft.  Back in civilian life in 1969, I worked as a radio broadcast engineer until retirement in 2018.  Brainerd Dispatch Memorial Day story.  Paula and I shop local and buy American, especially when it come to cars.  The money stays here to help Americans.  We are happy to be participating members of VFW Post 1647.

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Service Officer Steve Rosenow
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Steve Rosenow with a captured weapon in Vietnam
Steve Rosenow is the Brainerd VFW Post Service Officer.  He keeps the membership updated on laws and benefits affecting veterans.  Steve received a purple heart in Vietnam and went on to be a veteran service officer in the southern part of the state before coming to Brainerd in 1986 to be the Crow Wing County Veteran Service Officer until 2000.  

Additional Characters in the Cast:
Trustees:
​Tim Brastrup

Richard Greenwalt
​Keven Jensen
Club Committee:
​Post officers plus the following:
Harry Ruikka
Ron Schultz
Richard Greenwalt
Apply for Membership.  Annual dues are $35, but a life membership us a better choice.  Meetings are the second Tuesday of every month.  Come for a Taco dinner starting at 5 pm, then stay for the meeting at 7 pm.
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Brainerd VFW Post 1647
309 South 6th Street
Brainerd, MN  56401
218-829-6393
Mon-Sat: Noon to 10 pm
Sunday: Noon to 5 pm
& during Vikings Football  
3rd Sun. breakfast 8 to noon
1st Place MN VFW Website
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  2015-2021
All Rights Reserved
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  • Home
  • About
    • Post 1647
    • Facility & Food
    • Youth Scholarships >
      • Voice of Democracy
      • Patriot's Pen
      • Essay
      • Scout
      • CC
    • Buddy Poppies
    • Local Sports
    • Free
    • Calendar
    • Apparel
  • More
    • Events >
      • New Years
      • Mid-Winter
      • St. Patricks Day
      • Vets on Hill
      • Vietnam Vets
      • Downtown Golf
      • Memorial Service
      • Memorial Day
      • Picnic
      • Fall Conference
      • Veterans Day
      • Thanksgiving
      • Santa
    • Press
    • People
    • Thoughts
    • Photos
    • Radio Ads
    • Web Writing
    • Blood Drive
    • Lest We Forget
    • All Vets Memorial
  • Membership
    • Overall Membership
    • Post Officers
    • Honor Guard
    • Chaplain
    • Auxiliary
    • Apply for Membership
  • Newsletter
  • News Stories
    • 2021 Stories
    • 2020 Stories
    • 2019 Stories
    • 2018 Stories
    • 2017 Stories
    • History
  • Links
  • Contact Us