Dedicated Veteran: Greenwalt retires from VFW post

Lifelong Ritzville resident Dennis Greenwalt recently announced his decision to retire from the position of post commander for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 11446 after over 20 years of service.

Greenwalt announced his decision to resign in early April in hopes of having the younger generation of veterans with the local post step into leadership positions. Greenwalt intends to stay on in an advisory position to help the new post commanders of the VFW and the American Legion Post No. 51.

Greenwalt grew up 17 miles west of Ritzville and graduated from Ritzville High School in 1962. His ties to Ritzville and the community have remained strong, as he has always been determined to give back where needed.

After graduation, Greenwalt attended community college for a brief time before making the decision to return home to farm with his father. He worked on the farm until he joined the service in June of 1965.

Greenwalt deployed to the Vietnam War in March 1966, where he served as a radio operator. He served with about four or five Americans and the rest Vietnamese, helping to teach them proper tactics.

For the last three months of his service in Vietnam, Greenwalt had the opportunity to serve as the head radio operator.

Greenwalt described his responsibilities in the warzone as “having it pretty easy” as he spent the majority of his time maintaining radio communication and educating the new operators.

After being honorably discharged, Greenwalt returned to his hometown to continue farming. He took over his father’s farm in 1977, but continued to work alongside his father for many years.

In 1980, Greenwalt took a job driving truck on top of his responsibilities of farming. Greenwalt worked as a truck driver hauling fertilizer for Cenex until six years ago, when he announced his retirement.

Greenwalt joined the local VFW post and became a lifetime member in 1993, and simultaneously joined the American Legion branch, of which he is also a lifetime member. He served as the VFW post commander for around 20 years, seven of which he also spent serving as the Legion post commander as well.

His service as post commander provided him with an endless amount of opportunities to meet other veterans in local area and around the nation. Greenwalt explained the experience is something he would never change and while he is retiring, it is not because he wants to stop being involved.

“It’s been fun. If it wouldn’t have for being commander, I never would have gone to Salt Lake City,” Greenwalt said.

Greenwalt and his wife, Iris, traveled to Salt Lake City to attend a national VFW convention and memory of the experience is one Greenwalt cherishes. The trip provided him with an opportunity to network and meet other veterans who had similar experiences, and gave him a foundation to build relationships with VFW members across the United States.

The Greenwalts had the chance to attend a memorial service while at the national convention inside a temple. The choir had been practicing before the service, but stayed to perform for the VFW members. The choir started with the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” followed by taps being played. The performance moved the members to tears and the memory remains vivid in the Greenwalt’s minds.

Greenwalt has been in charge of the local VFW’s operations for many years and his service to the post goes above and beyond the call of duty. Both of the Greenwalts go out of their way to assist area veterans in helping provide them with a fresh start and receive help in the areas it needed.

With over 20 years experience as post commander, Greenwalt has developed a strong network to help benefit all of the area veterans in need of outreach services. He plans to continue to help veterans where needed, but looks to pass the responsibilities and leadership of post commander to the younger veterans.

“The main responsibilities are lots of paperwork,” Greenwalt joked about his duties as post commander. “We try to think of things to bring in new perspective and things to help the community.”

The local branch is dedicated to giving back to the community and focuses on programs such as the Patriot Pen essay contest and other scholarship programs. The branch also awards the Boy Scout and Teacher of the Year award to deserving locals.

Throughout the next year, Greenwalt plans to work closely with newly elected VFW post commander Robert Reynolds and Legion post commander Mark Shepherd.

Assistant post commander Mark Cameron and quartermaster David Niles join Reynolds, and Tyler Fryberger serves as assistant post commander to Shepherd.

“We’ve got a pretty good group coming in this year,” Greenwalt said.

Greenwalt looks forward to working with Reynolds and Shepherd in helping developing their roles as leaders for the local posts.

Alongside his advisory position to the local posts, Greenwalt will also continue to serve as the department membership chairman for the eastern part of Washington.

During the last VFW and Legion meeting, the local members presented Greenwalt with a plaque in recognition of his 20 years of service to the local branch and to the community.

This weekend, Greenwalt will continue to be busy with the responsibilities associated with the local post when the members set up flags in the cemetery to honor veterans on Memorial Day. Greenwalt will also celebrating his 69th birthday on Saturday.

Throughout the next year, Greenwalt will still be present at all of the VFW events and community service projects, serving alongside his fellow veterans and friends.

Greenwalt joked that the main difference is he will go from sitting at the head table at meetings to the back of the room, a place where he fully intends to enjoy watching someone else take the helm of the organization he has helped guide for the past 20 years.

Greenwalt concluded with high praise for the newly elected officers and with high hopes for the future, as he believes both post commanders will contribute greatly to the community.

“I want to thank the community for all of their support in helping the VFW and the Legion,” Greenwalt added.