A Vietnam veteran in Hot Springs was appointed national inspector general of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States on Wednesday at the group's national convention in New Orleans.
William "Bill" Backes of Hot Springs served in the Navy and Air Force reserves from 1970-1990, retiring as an Air Force master sergeant, according to a VFW news release.
Backes was appointed to the group's inspector general post by newly elected national Commander Keith Harman of Delphos, Ohio, said VFW spokesman Randi Law.
Backes will serve as a watchdog for the VFW, which boasts nearly 1.7 million members and 6,500 posts. Like in government agencies, the VFW inspector general serves to deter and detect fraud, abuse, waste and misconduct.
Backes lives in Hot Springs with his wife Karen, but he maintains his lifetime VFW membership in Brookfield, Wis. He has been recognized for his work at the local level and also was appointed special aide-de-camp from 2008 to 2010, the release stated.
Backes attended Navy builder "A" school in 1971 and carpenter apprentice school in 1972. He retired from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in 2011 where he worked as a carpenter, the release said.
He's also a member of AMVETS, the Military Order of the Cootie, American Legion, Air Force Sergeants Association and the Vietnam Veterans Organization of Hot Springs.
Metro on 07/28/2017