LITTLE ROCK — The new leadership of the American Legion Department of Arkansas is looking to bring more and younger veterans in its membership.
During the legion’s 94th Arkansas State Convention, Mary Erdman was elected to be the organization’s commander for the 2012 year.
Erdman, an Indiana native, said the U.S. war efforts in the Middle East have changed the nature of her job - she is the first woman to be in charge during wartime, and the conflict creates a new set of needs for a younger set of veterans.
Recruiting more younger veterans as members is her main goal during her one year term, Erdman said.
Erdman, as the 94th commander, is also only the second woman commander. She said her job will consist mainly of maintaining communication between the Legion’s national headquarters and Arkansas’ Legion.
She will also go to Washington, D.C. when necessary to work on legislation for veteran’s affairs and national security.
“I’m very excited to be the second selected female here in Arkansas, and especially with this day and age and the number of females that we have in the military, that it’s a very exciting time to be in this position,” she said.
The Legion has four main priorities: veteran aid, national security, Americanism and youth programs.
Erdman received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Michigan and her master’s degree in nursing administration from Indiana University.
Department Adjutant Doyle Batey will work under Erdman, his third commander since taking the position. The adjutant reports to the commander, as well as helping her get adjusted to the new position.
“The No. 1 trait is that they want to serve, that they want to make a difference, they want to help, they want to make things better,” Batey said. “She’s got it - there’s no doubt about that.”
After working in a veteran’s affairs hospital, Erdman decided to join the military.
She served from 1986 to 2003 in the Army Nurse Corps, and has served in Panama, Germany and El Salvador, where her units usually operated medical humanitarian missions.
During Operation Desert Storm, she was stationed at a veteran’s affairs hospital in San Antonio.
“Although I didn’t see combat, I saw the results of combat, and there weren’t that many casualties because it was such a short war, but there were casualties,” Erdman said.
“I’ve seen fellows get their Purple Hearts while I was there. It was very touching.”
Erdman moved to Arkansas 16 years ago to be closer to her two sons. She worked at the Eugene J. Towbin Healthcare Center in North Little Rock.
“If the military would let me, I’d still be in it today,” she said.
Arkansas, Pages 7 on 07/23/2012