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About Us

ANSWERING THE CALL, AGAIN

Forged in the wake of sacrifice and service, the DAV Department of Louisiana has been a pillar of veteran support since 1922. With a mission rooted in empowering heroes and their families, we stand as a beacon of hope, delivering unmatched advocacy, benefits assistance, and community connections. Discover the legacy, leadership, and passion driving nearly a century of commitment to those who served.

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Our Mission 

DAV Louisiana is dedicated to a single purpose: empowering Louisiana’s disabled veterans to lead high‑quality lives with respect and dignity.

Each year, DAV Louisiana helps thousands of veterans and their families across the state obtain the benefits they have earned, through our network of DAV offices and local Chapters, including our Baton Rouge presence that assists roughly 12,000 veterans annually. We also reach into rural and smaller communities through Chapters and service officers so veterans don’t have to travel far to get help.

Through DAV’s Transportation Network, veterans in Louisiana receive tens of thousands of free rides every year to get to their scheduled VA medical appointments, including service to facilities such as the New Orleans VA Medical Center and other VA clinics across the state. These rides are provided by dedicated volunteer drivers at no cost to the veteran.

Every February, DAV leaders travel to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of Congress and ensure the promises made to the men and women who served—including those from Louisiana—are honored. We advocate for policies that improve health care, benefits, and quality of life for injured and ill veterans and their families.

Nationwide, DAV has more than 1 million members, and Louisiana proudly contributes to that strength through its own Department and Chapters that have been serving our state’s veterans for decades. DAV is a nonprofit organization founded in 1920 and chartered by Congress in 1932, and DAV Louisiana carries that legacy forward by standing beside our state’s disabled veterans every day.

Meet The Team

Line Officers

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Robert Chapman

State Commander

Chapter #50

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Pam Russell

Sr. Vice Commander

Chapter #21

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Tony Plaisance

1st Jr. Vice Commander

Chapter #9

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Robert Gros

2nd Jr. Vice Commander

Chapter #47

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Beverly James

3rd Jr. Vice Commander

Chapter #23

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Elton Strickland

Chaplain

Chapter #50

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Charles "Tex" Stevenson

Judge Advocate

Chapter #50

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Prentice Massey

Sergeant-At-Arms

Chapter #33

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Al Leger

Jr. Past Department Commander

Chapter #19

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Paul Hermann, Jr. - PDC

Adjutant

Chapter #50

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Kevin Wenthe - PNEC/PDC

Treasurer

Chapter #20

Department Convention Committee

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Matthew Shallington

Chapter #47

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Eddie Figueron, PNEC/PDC

Chapter #7

Commander's Chief of Staff

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Ernest Mitchel

Chapter #17

Commander's Advisors

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G. Eddie Figueron - PNEC/PDC

Past National Executive Committee

Chapter #7

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Jean Mitchel - PDC

Past Department Commander

Chapter #17

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Kevin Wenthe - PNEC/PDC

Dept. Treasurer

Chapter #20

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Belinda Hill - PDC

Past Department Commander

Chapter #23

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Leo Aragon - PDC

Past Department Commander

Chapter #7

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Paul Hermann, Jr. - PDC

Dept. Adjutant

Chapter #50

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Charles "Tex" Stevenson

Dept. Judge Advocate

Chapter #50

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Beverly James

NSO Supervisor

Chapter #23

Department Inspector

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Belinda Hill, PDC

Chapter Adjutant

Chapter #23

Commander's Aide

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George P. Mervin

Chapter #50

National Deputy Chief of Staff

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Leo Aragon - PDC

Past Department Commander

Chapter #7

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Joseph Menard - PDC

Past Department Commander

Chapter #2

Commander's Benefits Protection Team Leader

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Mack Bailey

Chapter Adjutant

Chapter #50

Department Service Officer

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Paul Hermann, Jr. - PDC

Dept. Adjutant

Chapter #50

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Belinda Hill - PDC

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Beverly James

Chapter #23

Chapter #23

NSO Supervisor

State VAVS Chairman

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Shedrick J. Figaro - PDC

Past Department Commander

Chapter #23

Dept. Woman Veterans Representative

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Sandy Franks

Chapter #30

LVAP Coordinator

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Rhonda Sullivan

Chapter #17

Department Grievance Committee

Jerome Lastrapes

Chapter #17

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Eddie Figueron - PNEC/PDC

Chapter #7

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Charles "Tex" Stevenson

Chapter #50

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Don Wilson

Chapter #30

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Finance and Budget Committee

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Pamela Russell

Chairman

Sr. Vice Commander

Chapter #21

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G. Eddie Figueron - PNEC/PDC

Past National Executive Committee

Chapter #7

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Ernest Mitchel

Chapter Commander

Chapter #17

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Paul Hermann, Jr. - PDC

Dept. Adjutant

Chapter #50

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Kevin Wenthe - PNEC/PDC

Dept. Treasurer

Chapter #20

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Charles "Tex" Stevenson

Dept. Judge Advocate

Chapter #50

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Belinda Hill - PDC

Chapter Adjutant

Chapter #23

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Tony Plaisance

Dept. 1st Jr. Vice Commander

Chapter #9

Ways & Means Committee

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Robbie Gros - Chairman

Chapter #47

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Mason Causey - PDC

Chapter #20

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Jason Hill

Chapter #2

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Paul Hermann, Jr. - PDC

Chapter #50

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Kevin Wenthe - PNEC/PDC

Chapter #20

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Charles "Tex" Stevenson

Chapter #50

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Beverly James

Chapter #23

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Prentice E. Massey

Chapter #33

Membership Committee

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Tony Plaisance - Chairman

Chapter #9

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Darrell C. Adams

Chapter #17

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L.C. Thomas

Chapter #5

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Paul Herman - PDC

Chapter #50

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Kevin Wenthe - PNEC/PDC

Chapter #20

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Charles "Tex" Stevenson

Chapter #50

Awards and Recognition Committee

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Robert Chapman - Chairman

Dept. Commander

Chapter #50

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Pam Russell

Dept. Sr. Vice Commander

Chapter #21

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Tony Plaisance

Dept. 1st Jr. Vice Commander

Chapter #9

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Robbie Gros

Dept. 2nd Jr. Vice Commander

Chapter #47

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Elton Strickland

Chaplain

Chapter #50

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Beverly James

Dept. 3rd Jr. Vice Commander

Chapter #23

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Paul Hermann, Jr. - PDC

Dept. Adjutant

Chapter #50

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Kevin Wenthe - PNEC/PDC

Dept. Treasurer

Chapter #20

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Charles "Tex" Stevenson

Dept. Judge Advocate

Chapter #50

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Prentice Massey

Dept. Sgt-at-Arms

Chapter #33

Hospital Service Coodinator Commission

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Kristy Buras - Chairman

Chapter 1st Jr. Vice Cmdr.

Chapter #23

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Jerome LaStrapes

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Chapter #17

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Don Wilson

Chapter Commander

Chapter #30

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Chuck Trenchard

Chapter Adjutant/Treasurer

Chapter #41

 

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Beverly James - Advisor

NSO Supervisor

Chapter #20

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Paul Hermann, Jr. - PDC

Dept. Adjutant

Chapter #50

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Kevin Wenthe - PNEC/PDC

Dept. Treasurer

Chapter #20

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Charles "Tex" Stevenson

Dept. Judge Advocate

Chapter #50

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LOCATION

Galvez Building 
2nd Floor, Room 226
602 North 5th Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802-5312

MAILING ADDRESS

Post Office Box 1271
Baton Rouge, LA 70821

PHONE

Office: (225) 219-1046
Fax: (225
) 219-1045

USEFUL LINKS

In Crisis? 

Call the National Suicide Prevention Line: Dial 988 then Press 1

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