Vietnam Veterans of America - Twenty-Second National Convention was held in New Orleans, Louisiana from August 5th through the 9th, 2025. During this convention the VVA held their elections are as follows: Tom Burk of New Philadelphia Ohio was elected as VVA National President. John Riling III of Michigan was elected VVA National Vice President. Bill Meeks, Jr. of The Woodlands, Texas. elected as VVA National Secretary. Dottie Barickman of Council Bluffs Iowa was elected as VVA National Treasure. There were also 10 At-large Directors elected: Lize Cannon (NC), Gumersindo Gomez (MA), Charlie Hobbs (TN), Ken Holybee (CA), Dennis Howland (UT), Frederick Gasior (NY), Charlie Stapleton (MO), Dan Stenvold (ND), Steve Williams (VA), and Sandie Wilson (MI). Charlie Montgomery was elected as Regional 3 Director.
Just a short scenario what was the key factors going on at this convention. It was to decide our future of the VVA on when this organization was to be dissolve on March 1, 2028, and the name change from VVA to Viernam Veterans of America Legacy Society, until it came to the "Future Plan: Resolutions". When they started to read and vote on the "Proposed Resolutions Relating to the Plan for Dissolution" it became a nightmare. It appears that the Board of Directors was trying to pass this resolution which no Region Directors nor the Directors at large approved. This is the rumor what was going around on the floor. In this section under Resolved 1 through 8 they could not get pass #2 because of the wording. This went on for several hours playing with changing the wording. It got to a point the Board of Directors right hand does not know what the left and was doing it became a bit chaotic. Even the Delegates were confused. If they showed the power point presentation first, (Future Plan: VVA National Chapters & Stats Councils) a lot of questions may have been answered; but they refused to show this presentation, just an opinion! The DELEGATES VOTED IT DOWN because they wanted to remain Vietnam Veterans of America and not a Society. So, they are back on the drawing board till the 2027 convention on the future of the VVA.
However, there were Constitutional Amendments, and 2025 Convention Resolutions were adopted and some were retied.
Overall it was a good convention. There were 752 delegates attending the convention. Region 3 (South Carolina had 10 delegates) had 139 delegates attending.
Recently our South Carolina State Council President Sam Brick had to resign from his position due to medical reasons. Sam has been with the South Carolina State Council President since August 2018. He has achieved many accomplishments while being in the military service and as the SC State Council President. While in the military he retired as a Colonel in the Army Reserve on June 2002. He was a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer and military judge, serving in various capacities including counsel for HQ Area Command in Vietnam and staff judge advocate for CENTCOM Rear Headquarters during the First Persian Gulf War. With over 30 years with the Department of Defense (DoD) in attorney-advisor roles. His legislative roles included Director of Legislative Reference for the DoD and Chief Legislative Counsel for the Army. He was admitted to practice law before the Maryland Bar and various federal courts, including the Supreme Court. Army Reserve Ambassador for South Carolina from August 2014. While being the SC State Council President, he was elected to the Committee for State Council Presidents as chairperson. It is an Honor knowing Sam, he will be missed as our State Council President and all the good he has done for his fellow Vietnam Veterans. Our SC State Council President Sam Brick has passed away on 19 July 2025.
A decorated Army officer, gifted attorney, and devoted family man, passed away on July 19, 2025, at age 83, surrounded by loved ones.
Born in Baltimore, MD in 1942, Sam grew up in Roland Park and graduated from Loyola High School, where he found his lifelong passion for lacrosse. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1964. He played varsity lacrosse and was active in campus life.
After earning his law degree, Sam was drafted and trained for Vietnam at Fort Polk's Tigerland - until someone noticed he was a lawyer. Promoted from Private to JAG Captain, he served as Command Judge Advocate in Saigon, later chronicling his service in his memoir, Boots and the Law.
His federal career included roles as Chief Legislative Counsel for the Army and Director of Legislative Reference for the Secretary of Defense. He volunteered for active duty during the Gulf War and retired as a colonel. He received the Legion of Merit, notably for his civilian service.
Sam loved coaching youth sports, cheering on the Orioles, and summer trips to the beach, usually in an Army fatigue jacket, digging trenches for the kids. Most of all, he loved his family.
He is survived by his wife, Mary; sister, Carole Potar; children Morgan, Alex, Nathan, Berin, and Jennifer; and 17 grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 p.m., Friday, July 25, at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia, SC.
The funeral service for Colonel Brick will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, July 26, at St. Michael and All Angels' Episcopal Church, 6408 Bridgewood Rd, Columbia, SC 29206, with The Reverend Charles J. Smith officiating. A reception will follow the funeral service at the family residence. Burial with military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery.
Donations may be made to the Vietnam Veterans of America SC State Council.
Memories and condolences may be shared at ShivesFuneralHome.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by The Washington Post on Jul. 24, 2025.
If interested Sam's ceremony will be held on 10 December 2025, scheduled for 1500 at Arlington National Cemetery, with full military honors. Any VVA member who's planning to a ttend please review process on Arlington National Cemetery (https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil) May he rest in peace.
U.S. Pres. Gerald Ford and senior advisers receiving an update from Secretary of State Henry Kissinger about the evacuation of U.S. personnel from Saigon, South Vietnam (now Ho Chi Minh City, The last US service members were US Embassy security - US Marines. The war ended at 2000 eastern time, when Presented Gerald Ford received a phone call that all US personal was evacuated 50 years today. To a
Only one of many newspapers headlines the "Vietnam War ENDED".
Welcome to the South Carolina State Council web page. The primary function of the State Council is to provide management guidance and administrative support for the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) chapters within the State. In addition, the Council may from time to time be responsible for various state wide initiatives. The council is comprised of representatives (or delegates) from each of the chapters plus a representative from the Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America (AVVA).
The AVVA Inc.is a 501(c)3 corporation whose main object is to support Veterans and their families, as well as the families of our active military personnel. We are a National, nonprofit, membership organization dedicated to advancing the awareness of issues affecting Veterans, their families and their communities. AVVA is made up of Veterans of all eras, families and friends of Veterans and all persons who support Veterans' issues. For more information on the AVVA go to www.avva.org
The Council meets three times a year on the second Sunday of the months of February, June and October. This is a change to the bylaws approved by the State Council in June 2019. Anyone and everyone are welcome to attend our "always open " meetings (there may be times to invoke executive session, but that is rare.)
The State Council has three meeting a year, February, June, and October.
Dues are now $50 for life membership only.
Founded in 1978, Vietnam Veterans of America is the only National Vietnam Veterans Organization Congressionally chartered and exclusively dedicated to Vietnam-era veterans and their families. VVA is organized as a not-for-profit corporation and is tax exempt under section 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Service Code.
GOALS: VVA's goals are to promote and support the full range of issues important to Vietnam Veterans, to create a new identity for this generation of veterans and to change public perception of Vietnam Veterans.
About Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.
VVA'S FOUNDING PRINCIPLE: "Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another."
ORGANIZATION;
The National BOD consists of four officers, 10 at-large directors, and 9 regional directors representing each of the regions. The National AVVA president also sits on the BOD as a non-voting special adviser. South Carolina falls in the seven-state mid-Atlantic region, Region III. The director for the current term is Rossie Nance NC State Council President. Each state or territory with at least three chapters may elect to have a state council and there are currently 48 state councils, including Puerto Rico. The presidents of each state elects one member from among them to sit on the Conference of State Council Presidents. They are the voice of the membership and have a seat on the National Board. They provide opinions and recommendations of the membership to the board and it respond. See Section 11 of art 1 of the Constitution.
Below is a synopsis of the March 13th Press Release on Jack’s testimony. Our new Government Affairs Director (Our Chief Lobbyist) will meet us at our upcoming CSCP. He appears awesome. A simplified listing of what Jack testified to in March follows for your info. Sam Brick, Chair
Synopsis of VVA Legislative Program that President Mc Manus testified to before the Congressional Veterans’ Affairs See the April 3d Press Release (No. 24-2) for fuller descriptions.
VVA Legislative Program as President Mc Manus testified before the Congressional Veterans’ Affairs
A recent regulations change allows dependent family members of permanently and totally disabled veterans to fly on space-available, or Space-A, flights.
On Oct. 23, 2020, a change to DOD/4514.13 the eligibility requirements for Space-A travel, adding dependents of permanently and totally disabled veterans.
In 2019, those veterans became eligible to fly Space-A on regularly scheduled military passenger aircraft, joining retirees and their spouses; National Guard and Reserve members on the Active Status List; and surviving spouses of those who died on active duty. However, the dependents of those disabled veterans were not allowed to accompany them on Space-A flights. The regulation change states that dependents of permanently and totally disabled veterans may accompany the veteran on flights within the continental United States (CONUS) or on flights between CONUS and Alaska, Hawaii or U.S. territories. Dependents cannot travel without the veteran sponsor. space - available flights, also known as military hops, allow eligible passengers to fill unused seats on Defense Department-owned or -controlled aircraft. Space-A passengers can fly only after all the space-required passengers and cargo have been accommodated. Space-A passengers are then loaded by priority group; those on emergency leave are the top priority, or category 1, and retirees and disabled veterans are the lowest priority, or category 6. Other categories of Space-A travelers include those on environmental and morale leave (EML), house-hunting leave, or other mission-critical or official travel. Several years ago a bill was passed allowing disabled veterans (100%) to fly on space A on military flights but did not allow their dependents. The article appeared in Military.com 02/16/2021.
The Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text. Veterans and their loved ones can call 988 then and Press 1, chat online, or send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. Support for deaf and hard of hearing individuals is available. .
Call or text the Women Veterans Call Center at 1-855-VA-WOMEN (1-855-829-6636) or use the online chat feature. Women Veterans Call Center representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET, excluding federal holidays. If you contact the Women Veterans Call Center after hours and leave a message, you will receive a return call the next day the call center is open..