By John Cuddy – 8-26
This morning the Valley Patriot had coffee and donuts with Vietnam Veteran, Lawrence resident, and current Commander of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) “Queen City” Chapter 2, Dan Tirone. We met at the DAV Chapter 2 Headquarters on 112A East Haverhill Street in Lawrence, Massachusetts joined by key members of his staff. The concept of an organization that would serve wounded or injured World War I Veterans was first formed on Christmas Day in 1919 during a gathering of World War I veterans hosted by Ohio based, Cincinnati Superior Court Judge Robert S. Marx.
On September 25, 1920, the Disabled American Veteran held its first national caucus in Cincinnati, Ohio, which is recognized as the organization’s formal founding date. The Disabled American Veterans was issued a formal federal charter by the United States Congress on June 17, 1932. A decorated US Army Captain, Judge Marx, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (only the Medal of Honor is higher in precedence) and was the DAV’s first National Commander. He suffered near-fatal injuries from a German shell on November 10, 1918—the day before World War I ended. In 1920, Judge Marx was elected to the Superior Court of Cincinnati.
At age 29, Judge Marx was the youngest person ever elected to that bench and was a pioneer in identifying the need to insure American automobiles. In 2026, the DAV currently has over one million members, in over 1,300 chapters nationwide.
A class of 1964 graduate of Sommerville High School, Dan Tirone was drafted by the US Army in March of 1968. He was sent to Vietnam in November of 1968, he served near Can Tho, Vietnam with the 507th US Army Transportation Group. Can Tho is the third largest municipality in Vietnam, the city is located in the Mekong Delta region. The community is noted for its floating markets, Bánh tráng-making village, (also known as Rice Paper Wrappers) and a network of rural canals.
Dan served in Vietnam as a U.S. Army Radio Teletype (RATT) Operator. His MOS was 05C. Dan managed vital, non-voice battlefield communication. Using cryptographic and teletypewriter machines, he sent and received encrypted, typed messages. He and his fellow Soldiers holding the MOS of 05C, handed a higher volume of data than the standard voice radios carried by our US Army and US Marine Corp Infantrymen. MOS 05C was a US Army Vietnam area skill. In our current US Army, the role is filled by Soldiers designated with the MOS of 25U Signal Support Systems Specialist.
During the Vietnam War, the 507th Transportation Group (Movement Control) served as a critical logistical element for the U.S. Army, operating under the United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV). Dan said that the unit was tasked with resupplying American military units throughout IV Corps. During the Vietnam War, the American military referred to the broader Can Tho region as the IV Corps Tactical Zone (commonly called IV Corps). One of Dan’s fondest memories of his tour in Vietnam was to Sydney, Australia! He received an Army Commendation Medal for his service in Vietnam.
After leaving the US Army, Dan worked in the automotive wholesale industry as a warehouse manager. Today, he serves our Veterans as the Commander of Lawrence’s DAV Chapter; Dan also served our city as the umpire-in-chief with South Lawrence West Baseball & Softball Youth Leagues. Dan and his wife have two daughters and two granddaughters, sadly his wife passed away in 2014. Helping Veterans, umpiring youth sports, husband, father, and grandfather, US Army Vietnam Veteran Dan Tirone is a “Hero in our Midst.”
During our meeting, I met several Veterans, who all volunteer at the Lawrence DAV Chapter, assisting their brother and sister Merrimack Valley Veterans. Former DAV Commander Joe Augusta, a US Army-Retired First Sargent. Denise Gray, a US Army Veterinary Specialist, who had the privilege of caring for “Blackjack” the horse in President Kennedy’s Funeral Procession. Fellow US Navy Veteran Steve Cook is the organization’s treasurer. He served on the attack submarine USS Jack-SSN 605. The Valley Patriot hopes to feature all three of these Veterans in our future monthly issues.
For all our communities Veteran’s, our Lawrence DAV, is open Monday through Thursday from 9am to 12:00. However, the Volunteers will meet with Veterans needing assistance outside of these hours.
The Lawrence DAV Chapter meets at the Haffner Fournier building on 78 Amesbury Street (ample parking, handicap accessible) on the Northern Essex Community College campus, on the fourth Thursday of each month at 1:30pm. The exception being November and December when the DAV meets on the third Thursday at 1:30pm. All Veterans are invited to attend, regardless of membership in the DAV.
American Patriots who want to help this fantastic organization, can simply send a check or money order, made out to “Lawrence DAV Chapter 2”, the funds will help wounded or injured Veterans. The organization’s US Postal address is PO 374, Lawrence, MA 01842. If every Valley Patriot reader skips Dunkin Donuts, one morning, and sends the Chapter $5, we will make a tremendous impact.
Reminder, the U.S. National Park Service is inviting all Veterans to stop by any U.S. National Park with their Military ID or DD 214 to apply for a free lifetime U.S. National Park Pass. The nearest U.S. National Park for a Merrimack Valley resident is in Lowell, Massachusetts, at our Lowell National Historical Park, on 246 Market Street.
Once obtained, the U.S. National Park pass will be accepted at all our Nation’s National Parks.
The Catholic War Veterans of America asks all Catholic Veterans, all eras, all branches, all ranks, to visit their website and join an organization that supports our Nation’s Veterans. The values of our men and women in the Catholic Veterans are faith, loyalty, and patriotism. To join the Catholic Veterans, visit the organization’s website, at thecwv.org.
The Merrimack Valley’s American Legion Posts ask all World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War Veterans to call (603) 518-5368 and sign up for an Honor Flight to the National Memorials in Washington DC!
The Valley Patriot staff asks Veterans of all eras, to go to the American Legion’s website www.legion.org, and join the American Legion. The American Legion’s mission is working with our elected officials, our Nation’s Veterans, and our communities, preserving our Veteran’s Benefits for future generations and serving all Veterans and their families. Our core values in the American Legion include, selfless service, devotion to mutual helpfulness, community engagement, and promoting patriotism, while operating under the motto “Veterans Strengthening America.” Veterans can join by visiting www.legion.org.
John Cuddy served in the US Navy’s Construction Battalions (also known as the Seabees) after retiring from the US Navy; he earned a bachelor’s in history/political science and a master’s in economics from the University of Massachusetts on the Lowell Campus. He has been employed in Logistics at FedEx for the last 29 years.
If you know a Merrimack Valley Veteran, of any rank, serving during any era, with any branch of service, who would like their story told, preserved for future generations, please email him the Veteran’s phone number, send to John.Cuddy@Yahoo.com. ◊