Photos by TERRI SMITH

From L-R: Gene Hellickson, Alternate National Executive Committeeman; Kevin Owens, National Executive Committeeman; Daniel Seehafer, National Commander of the American Legion; Catherine Brockman, President of the Oregon American Auxiliary; and Cory Brockman, the Oregon Department Commander.

American Legion Harney County Post 63 was honored to host Daniel J. Seehafer, National Commander of the American Legion.

Seehafer was elected on Aug. 31, 2023, for the National Commander position in Charlotte, N. C., during the 104th American Legion national convention. Seehafer has served in a number of American Legion offices at every level, including National Chaplain and Commander of the Department of Wisconsin.

Seehafer is a member of American Legion Post 157 in Horicon, Wisc., and is an ordained minister. He earned his American Legion eligibility through service in the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve, where he was a military chaplain.

When asked what exactly the American Legion does, Seehafer stated that the Legion’s mission is “to enhance the well-being of America’s veterans, their families, our military, and our communities through our devotion to mutual helpfulness.”

He added, “What we do is change lives, and we save lives.”

Seehafer noted that the American Legion is the founder/creator of the GI Bill, explaining that the first draft was written in a hotel room by a former National Commander. The GI Bill was not readily accepted, as some skeptics believed it would bankrupt our nation.

However, Seehafer explained that, “With the creation of the GI Bill, service members returning to civilian life are given the opportunity to get educated.”

Stressing the word “opportunity,” he added, “The service member has the opportunity to get a house, the opportunity to get a business loan, the opportunity for so many helpful things to help in their transition back to civilian life, with more and more service members taking advantage of these opportunities.”

Seehafer stressed that the American Legion is not simply involved in the health care of veterans. The Legion also helps veterans get an education and find well-paying jobs.

‘Be the One’ campaign

The American Legion recently launched the Be the One suicide-prevention campaign, which urges veterans to “be the one” who reaches out for help. The American Legion and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) both list reducing the number of veterans who die by suicide as a top priority.

Launched in 2021, Be the One aims to destigmatize asking for help, while empowering everyone (veterans, service members, and civilians) to take the appropriate action when the life of a veteran or service member is at risk.

As a strong national and community leader, the Legion is challenging everyone to “be the one.” Keep your eyes peeled, and make sure you’re the one who reaches out and checks in on our veterans.

A new law called the COMPACT Act ensures that any veteran in crisis can be seen by a provider, regardless of the provider’s enrollment status with the VA. These veterans can be seen either at a VA hospital or a non-VA hospital to get emergency care. The American Legion guarantees that they (not the veteran) will pay for the services provided to the veteran. In less than a year of the COMPACT Act taking affect, 32,469 veterans have used this service.

When the American Legion heard about the suicide rate for veterans and service members, they realized it was an issue and decided that they should help.

According to Seehafer, research indicates that many service members begin to spiral about 180 days after they are discharged.

“Instead of discharging service members back into society without a plan, we have started asking them questions to help them settle back into civilian life easier,” he said.

For example, soon-to-be-discharged service members are asked whether they have a job or a place to live.

“We have found that if they have no job or place to live upon discharge — a plan, per say — that there is a high probability they will experience a downhill spiral due to factors such as financial issues as well as possible relationship issues,” Seehafer explained. He added that this “often has the service member thinking there is nothing worth living for anymore, especially when you consider that soldiers are used to always having things to do.” He explained that, “Suddenly not having anything to do, unfortunately oftentimes leads to depression for the service member.”

Individuals in need of help can dial 988 to reach the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24/7, followed by option 1 if the person is a veteran.

Veterans who are struggling can always contact their local American Legion Post. Not all posts have someone answering the phones 24/7, but if they visit Legion.org or search “American Legion Oregon,” the website will provide contact information for every post.

Seehafer stressed that everyone, not just veterans, should know that it is okay to not be okay.

Veterans Children Foundation

During his term as National Commander, Seehafer also plans to prioritize the Veterans Children Foundation (VCF).

The VCF started back in 1923, with Oregon’s first donation being one of the highest at the time. This foundation helps families in crisis get their feet back on the ground.

Prior to the establishment of the VCF, the Legacy Foundation was in place to help children of deceased service members pay for college. However, the VCF helps the entire family.

The VCF also trains service officers and helps them get the education and accreditation they need to help veterans complete their claims to get their benefits.

About Seehafer
Seehafer said he knew he wanted to become a pastor when he was in the seventh grade. He was very involved with his church and attended parochial school. He was also curious about joining the military. While getting his master’s degree, he met a professor who helped him realize that he could do both by joining the military and becoming a chaplain, so that’s what he chose to do.

During his year as the National Commander, Seehafer will travel to Puerto Rico, Guatemala, and Vietnam, where he will bring back soldier remains. Following Vietnam, he is scheduled to go to Taiwan, where he will dine with Taiwan’s president. He intends to ask the president if Taiwan will join the Be the One campaign and help it go international. Seehafer will then head to South Korea, where the United States has a large base. This visit will be part of the Quality of Life Tour. Seehafer will then head to Pearl Harbor.

In 2024, Seehafer will go on the Europe Tour, which will take him to Brussels, Poland, and then on to Normandy where a reenactment will be performed of the Normandy invasion.
Seehafer explained that — since the National Commander has to be on-the-go, 12-15 hours per day, almost 365 days a year — each commander’s term is for just one year. The only exception to the one-year term limit, in the 104 years that there has been a National Commander, happened due to COVID-19. Due to the restrictions that were in place at that time, the commander was unable to attend the annual convention. The Legion asked the commander to continue serving until they were able to safely hold the next annual convention.

Local visit
A dinner and reception were held for Seehafer, and the dignitaries who traveled with him, at the Burns Elks Lodge on Sept. 25. Seehafer was joined by Cory Brockman, the Oregon Department Commander; Catherine Brockman, President of the Oregon American Auxiliary; Kevin Owens, National Executive Committeeman; and Gene Hellickson, Alternate National Executive Committeeman.