District 4 Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Victoria resident Gus Villalobos, achieved All-American status, being one of 64 command leaders worldwide to attain the title.

Villalobos is district commander with Lunenburg VFW Post #9954, which is headquartered in Victoria.

Villalobos, 84, who has lived in Victoria since 1990, credits the members of the Lunenburg post for supporting him as he and the Lunenburg VFW work to not only serve other veterans, but the wider community.

“I get the award because I happen to be the District Commander,” Villalobos said. “But you need the support of your post. And I got the support from my post, all of them.”

According to a release from the VFW, district commanders qualify for the All-American status after meeting strict requirements in their leadership roles, including achieving significant membership growth and supporting VFW core programs.

Villalobos said the Lunenburg VFW holds an annual banquet each year that honors community service members, including firefighters and police officers. The VFW also holds fundraisers selling Brunswick Stew and other items to raise funds for the organization’s operations.

“And of course the activities that we do are for veterans who support veterans,” Villalobos said. “We help veterans in any way that we can.”

An extension of the VFW building on Marshall Avenue was recently completed, Villalobos said.

Villalobos has an extensive public service history, having served in the Korean War in addition to working decades with the U.S. Navy and performing contract work with the U.S. Government. Much of his work required Villalobos to travel overseas, which he said gave him valuable insight into the wider world.

For example, Villalobos said he has been in every country in South America except for Chile and Uruguay.

A native of El Paso, Texas, Villalobos said he and his wife, Agnes, first met in Hawaii on assignment as both were in the U.S. Navy. That was more than 50 years ago.

Villalobos said he and Agnes will celebrate their 64th wedding anniversary this November.

Villalobos officially retired from the U.S. Navy in 1991, but continued contract work with the U.S. Government until 2001.

The VFW Post #9954 was founded in 1949 and holds a breakfast meeting on the second Saturday of each month at 8 a.m. and a dinner meeting on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m.
To learn more about the area VFW, call (434) 696-3303 or visit lunenburgva.org.