The Veterans Sound Off Podcast
On each episode of the show we will travel across the State of Mississippi and visit each American Legion Post and discover how the members there are still serving America in their communities.
The Veterans Sound Off Podcast
Department Commander & Adjutant: Mississippi American Legion's New Leadership
From the historic streets of Natchez, Mississippi comes a riveting exploration of veteran leadership, service beyond the uniform, and the powerful community that forms when military bonds extend into civilian life. Jerry Allhands, USAF and Army veteran, brings listeners into the heart of the American Legion Department of Mississippi's annual convention.
Meet Mark Harrington, the incoming Department Commander whose journey began 16 years ago after returning from Iraq. What started with his son's baseball team evolved into a lifelong commitment to veterans' causes. Harrington shares his ambitious plans for membership growth and statewide outreach with remarkable clarity and purpose that resonates whether you're a Legion member or simply someone who supports those who served.
The podcast delivers a fascinating conversation with Deborah Fielder, Department Adjutant and 41-year Air Force veteran who joined at just 17 years old. Her remarkable transition from military service to Legion leadership reveals the profound need many veterans feel to stay connected to service after hanging up the uniform. "You miss the people and you miss the job," she explains with disarming honesty, "so you find something else that's going to keep you close to the military, to the veteran, and that's the American Legion."
Throughout these conversations emerges a theme of resourcefulness and dedication to supporting fellow veterans. The convention's Veterans Expo represents a growing effort to connect veterans with vital services and resources. As Fielder poignantly notes, "The one great disappointment is for a veteran to call you and ask for help and you don't know where to go."
Whether you're a veteran seeking community, a military family member looking for resources, or simply someone who appreciates stories of service and dedication, this episode offers valuable insights into how veterans continue their mission long after leaving active duty. The camaraderie, sense of purpose, and commitment to fellow service members shines through every conversation.
Have you ever wondered how veterans organizations work behind the scenes? Listen now to discover the remarkable stories of those who continue to serve.
Don't forget to subscribe and share with your friends and family. Drop us a line today at JDAllhands@outlook.com. If you'd like to become a sponsor of our show or advertise with us please send an email to jdallhands@outlook.com or call us at 662-902-6658.
This is the Veterans Sound Off Podcast. Hard work, work, let's get it going. Let's go, hard work, work. I'm your host, jerry Allhands, a veteran of the US Air Force and US Army. I'm a past Department of Mississippi Commander of the American Legion and a paid-up-for-life member of the VFW. Each week, I invite you to join me as we visit with members of our veteran families and other groups and organizations that support military veterans.
Jerry Allhands:This week, I attended the American Legion Department of Mississippi's annual convention, held in historic Natchez Mississippi. It was in the Natchez Convention Center, where the coffee was always hot and the people were great. Hey, speaking of coffee, this series is made possible by the generous gifts and sponsorships of people just like you. If you'd like to sponsor an ad in this series, please call 662-902-6658. Or you can become a sponsor simply by clicking on the Sponsor the Show button and you can make a donation on our page where it says Sponsor the Show. Hey, we really appreciate your help in making this program possible. We're at the Department of Mississippi American Legion Convention in Natchez Mississippi where, in just a few moments, we will have a new commander for the state of Mississippi for the American Legion. I'm sitting across from Mark Harrington, who is from Hattiesburg, mississippi. Mark, I don't want to steal your thunder. Tell us a little bit about your military background and how you got into the American Legion.
Department Commander Mark Herrington:Hey, jerry, thank you for inviting me. Yeah, I started about I guess 16 years ago. I got back from Iraq and my son was in baseball and starting young eighth and ninth grade. So that's kind of attracted me into the Legion was the baseball program. And then when we started our own team in Hattiesburg in 2006, 2007, it just took off and we had a, you know, a Legion team since. So that's how I got started with the Legion. And then when I joined the post, they was offering a sponsorship and I started sponsoring our two teams. So they asked me to join the board. All right, my first year out, sergeant Arn just worked my way up through the chairs to vice commander and then been the post commander the last 15 years, 16 years at post, 24. And so now I've been. I held the southern area commander for the last two years and now I'm looking forward to having a great year as a commander of the Department of Mississippi.
Jerry Allhands:And I know that you've done all of the training. That is not required to become Department Commander, but you've attended the basic training course for the American Legion.
Department Commander Mark Herrington:In 22.
Jerry Allhands:22, and then on to the National American Legion College.
Department Commander Mark Herrington:Yeah, I did and American Legion College in 22, and then that was really a good experience. Anybody has the opportunity to do that. They need to try to do that because a lot of knowledge there and of course, when you're a commander you have a lot of scenarios you know doing resolutions and scenarios of how to run a post and stuff like that. It really kind of gets you the mindset how to do that, how you do your job.
Jerry Allhands:What are your plans for the next year?
Department Commander Mark Herrington:My plans is membership. Everybody talks about membership and we're really good, even in the Sons program. I'm the NEC for those, the alternate NEC with the Sons, and we were over 100%, and so that's really good. Now, legion side, we're really strong in the numbers, but I think we could be better at recruiting. Get our committees, get all of our committees, you know people get out and help the Legion grow, and basically that's what we're looking forward to this next coming year.
Jerry Allhands:Okay, any goals that you've set for yourself for this year outside of membership.
Department Commander Mark Herrington:Oh, goals, I'm going to be traveling. I know, jerry, you're a past commander and I'm going to try to outdo you. It's hard to travel to ever post, but you know we have, since I've been in the southern area, covered the largest with 2,000 members then 7th and 8th. Now I'm going to have to, you know, maybe go to Horn Lake and those places in Corinth.
Jerry Allhands:Oh yeah, we're going to bring you up north, and Clark, that's right.
Department Commander Mark Herrington:So I'm going to travel in a little bit and my goal is try to see as many people as I can and visit a lot of posts.
Jerry Allhands:And if they need anything, they can give me a call and I'll be glad to help them. Well, you know, the one thing that I've learned over the many years being in the Legion and in the military is the importance of my spouse.
Department Commander Mark Herrington:Who's your spouse? My wife's, faith Harrington. We've been married almost 40 years. If I had to say that, but yeah, we've been married almost 40 years. I've had to say that, but yeah, we've been married a long time and she's an auxiliary in a unit of 24. She's really just our support. I mean, she does everything for our unit, for our posts, for our veterans. When we put out over 2,000 flags, she's out there putting flags out. You know going to the VA home, helping them. You know visiting at the VA home and so, yeah, that's a big part is you know how that is Our spouse is helping us get through, maybe get through this year and looking forward to a great year.
Jerry Allhands:Anything you would like to say to her before we wrap up?
Department Commander Mark Herrington:Yeah, faith is my best thing that ever happened. We have two kids my daughter and her son and John Mark Jr, and he's around 30, and he's got two kids and they've got a total of six grandchildren.
Curtis Oliver:But yeah.
Department Commander Mark Herrington:I appreciate what she does and I thank you.
Jerry Allhands:You mentioned your son by name. What's your daughter's name?
Department Commander Mark Herrington:My daughter's Gabrielle, we call her gabby. She's uh married and got uh four kids and um two boys and two girls and and so they like coming to the farm, you know, and uh hang out and with the goats and the chickens and all that good stuff.
Jerry Allhands:So good, good, good, grandpa time. I like it mark, thank you so much, we look forward to it and you're going to visit with us many times over the next year, and congratulations, yes, sir. And the best wishes for a very successful year.
Department Commander Mark Herrington:Appreciate you, jerry, anytime. Thank you.
Jerry Allhands:Thank you, Mike.
Be The One :Be, willing to show up for your veteran, your friend, your loved one. Be willing to trust your gut, follow your heart, take a risk. Be the one willing to ask, to guess wrong, to even offend another, to keep them safe, to remind them that they are valuable.
Wreaths Across America:If you know a veteran, be the one to reach out and make them a part of your life. You can join in the mission to remember our fallen heroes, honor those who currently serve and their families, and teach younger generations about the value of freedom. A $17 donation to Wreaths Across America sponsors a fresh balsam remembrance wreath. These wreaths have become a symbol of America's respect for those who have served and no longer walk with us. Sponsor a wreath today. Visit wreathsacrossamericaorg or call 877-385-9504.
Jerry Allhands:And now back to our visit with the Department of Mississippi's American Legion Convention in Natchez Mississippi. Still at the American Legion Convention in Natchez Mississippi, and I have the very special, distinct honor to speak with our department adjutant, deborah Fielder, who has been patted and talked about and praised so much today by the vendors here in the building. Are you for real? I am for real. I am for real. How did you hear about us? Well, this lady down at this blue ribbon or this yellow ribbon or this other, yes, ma'am, you you are. Everybody in here knows you. They may not get your name right, but they know you and what you're doing. Okay, we're at the american legion department of mississippi convention in natchez, mississippi. Uh, today I am meeting with a representative from the mississippi va, mr curtis. Oliver. Sir, welcome and appreciate you being here today thank you j.
Jerry Allhands:Jerry, how did you find out about the event here today?
Curtis Oliver:Man, you guys got one of the most tenacious recruiters outreach members on hand Debbie Deborah Fielder. Deborah Fielder, yes, we met a few years ago and we were talking about this, and so from that point to this point, she's been inviting us out to come.
Kevin & Cindy Wittenberg:I'm Kevin Wittenberg. I'm a veteran volunteer with Soldiers Freedom Outdoors.
American Legion:Yes, I'm Cindy Wittenberg. Our organization is Soldiers Freedom Outdoors and I've been volunteering with them for about six years.
Jerry Allhands:How did you become aware of our convention here today?
Kevin & Cindy Wittenberg:So we actually were talking at a Yellow Ribbon event, if I remember correctly, and one of the ladies that spoke out, Miss Debbie, I think it was- Deborah Shilder. Deborah correct Anyway so we were at one of those and we were asked to come out and speak, and so that's we're like gladly, because we're trying to get our information out there.
Ramona Williams:I am Ramona Williams. I'm an employee of Mississippi Department of Human Services, Aging and Adult Service Division. I am the legal assistance developer licensed attorney, and our quest is to make certain that all Mississippians age 60 years of age and older receive any legal assistance that they may need as residents of the state of Mississippi. How did you become?
Jerry Allhands:aware of our convention here in Natchez.
Ramona Williams:The adjutant, Ms Deborah Fields, invited us down. I saw that as an opportunity to provide information about the many services that we provide in our aging and adult service division.
Jerry Allhands:Deborah Fielder is our department adjutant. She has been with us for five years now. Since 2019 as the adjutant, but I have been a member since 2002. Okay, I know that you are a veteran. Can you tell us which branch of the service?
Department Adjutant Deborah Fielder:Yes, I can. I am a 41-year veteran of the United States Air Force via the full-time Air National Guard 41 years 41 years.
Jerry Allhands:Now look, you know that we're not on camera, so how do you expect me to tell people how gorgeous and young-looking you are and tell me that you've been in the military for 41?
Department Adjutant Deborah Fielder:years. Okay, I'll give you that dollar later, but I um joined when I was 17 while I was still in high school and I joined the air national guard.
Department Adjutant Deborah Fielder:I stated and went to basic training, went to uh, all of this with the training, with the tech school, and came back and was in college and everything and needed to further my education. But college was expensive. So I got a job full-time at the Air Guard and once I did that I earned my degree. But it was through the United States Air Force College. So I got a degree that way and still had a full-time job. The excuse me, United States Air Force College.
Jerry Allhands:Okay.
Department Adjutant Deborah Fielder:So I got a degree that way and still had a full-time job, and so I retired. I loved the full-time job.
Jerry Allhands:What was your first job in the Air Force?
Department Adjutant Deborah Fielder:The very first job in the Air Force and we can go back. The Air Force has changed the way they code things. The very first job was a 293, which was administration, and since then they've changed it numerous times, but it was administration.
Jerry Allhands:I don't even keep up with the numbers anymore. I was a security police 8-1-1-5-0 or 3-0 way back. You know, it's like every few months, they were changing something like our uniforms, you know, yeah, yeah.
Department Adjutant Deborah Fielder:But look, I can still with the, with the numbers. It's. It's amazing what you can remember because you know the air force regulations change throughout the years, but 35-10 will always be dress and appearance is it?
Jerry Allhands:still no it's my heart is yeah, mine too you know, in my eyes, the haircut, the beard, and you know, air force security police, we were always. You had to, you had to set the standards.
Department Adjutant Deborah Fielder:And boy, I tell you, yeah, that's true, Of course I was 40-something years ago. Yeah, yeah, but you know, they've changed dressing, appearance and Some of the things, and we have to always be subject to change, but some of the things that they've changed, I'm thinking that doesn't remind me of the Air Force. That doesn't look like Air Force.
Jerry Allhands:No, no, not even I miss the black leather boots. With the polish, you know, get all your stress out polishing that boot. I need a camera right here where people see me rubbing the boot in my hand you know it's like oh man.
Department Adjutant Deborah Fielder:How long have you been in the American Legion? Since 2002.
Jerry Allhands:Since 2002,. Okay, and where did you first join the Legion?
Department Adjutant Deborah Fielder:I want to tell you the truth, okay, okay.
Jerry Allhands:I'll tell you the truth.
Department Adjutant Deborah Fielder:The truth is, I do not know and I have paid membership continuously I'm thinking that I had gone to.
Department Adjutant Deborah Fielder:I went to Shepherd Air Force Base back in 2002, and I was working not working but for training and I think, somehow or another I joined at that time and the person that I thought asked me to join years later as a matter of fact, it's about five years ago, because I'm thinking all the way from 2002, and I'll go ahead and tell you that I thought Angie had actually signed me up, but then, when I was looking at the records, I was in the American Legion four years before Angie. And so I'm thinking I don't even remember who asked me to join the American Legion, but I faithfully paid my dues every year since 2002. But today I have no idea who signed me up since 2002, but today I have no idea who signed me up. But looking at my records, the paperwork that they used to show that I was a veteran is when I went to a blue flag exercise, and that was back in 2002. And so in between the blue flag exercise or maybe what's-his-all, falls somewhere in there somebody asked me to join and I joined.
Jerry Allhands:So this is Angie. This is Angie Bowman. Angie Bowman, right, our four Duncan now.
Department Adjutant Deborah Fielder:But yeah, I said I told her sometime last year is when I discovered it. I said, angie, I thought all these years that you signed me up for the American Legion, but I've been in four years longer than you have, so you didn't sign me up. So it's a mystery. Somebody signed me up and if you're listening and you sign me up, call me, let me know.
Jerry Allhands:Take credit, take credit where it's due, for sure. Hey, you know it's been a pleasure working with you over the last. What five, ten years that you and I have had an experience together? It has been ten years, but okay, we'll take it Five, ten years. You know, whatever Sure feels like it some days, I tell you.
Department Adjutant Deborah Fielder:I know you're like a hammer. It has been ten years.
Jerry Allhands:But you know, honestly, though, I was so relieved when you became our department adjutant. For those who don't know what a department adjutant does in the American Legion, share with us a little bit about what your responsibilities are, what your duties are as the department adjutant.
Department Adjutant Deborah Fielder:Okay, as the department adjutant, I'm basically a Jane of all trades and everything, because it involves the administrative, the financial customer service above and beyond. Sometimes you have to be I'm trying to think of the word just compassionate, because you're answering the phone and in my position we only have one full-time person, which is me. I do have help occasionally with other individuals, which is Angie, and then my daughter, Jessica, and then everybody else throughout the American Legion, but I'm the only four-time person. So when that phone rings, the American Legion is getting a call and they're calling and they may not. The questions that they're asking, the help that they want, it's maybe not something that the American Legion can even fill, but you don't ever want to leave a veteran with the service or answer saying that I don't know, that's not my job, that doesn't have anything to do with American Legion. So we're trying to answer all the questions of trying to find the resources that are available to help those individuals that call and everything. And so that's just the way, how compassionate I feel about this job and everything.
Department Adjutant Deborah Fielder:And I truly love this job. You know, like I could be retired and at home doing everything else, but it's like being in the military. Once you get out and I told this to various individuals kind of a little bit of downgrade, because you stay in for so long and somebody has told you when to get up, when to be at work, when, when you're supposed to take this shot, when you're supposed to take this physical. Somebody has always told you what to do and everything, and then when you retire, it's like I'm lost. I don't know but you, you, you miss, you miss the people and you miss the job and everything. But you're retired, you can't go back to that job and everything. So you find something else that's going to keep you close to the military, to the veteran, and that's the American Legion.
American Legion:You know, when you get out and you're a civilian now and you're kind of like not really knowing where to go, the Legion was like my people. I used to work for the commander that's here, the secretary that's here. I used to work for them. So when I got out it just kind of felt like home again. The tight-knit community that they actually have is what surprised me. It's nice to be a part of that. Usually when you think of club, you just think of I'm just going to go here for cheap or something. But they said they actually care about who you are, what you do and what your everyday is.
Jerry Allhands:For more information on joining the American Legion, go to legionorg forward slash, join or call 601-352-4986. Again, that's 601-352-4986. There's a lot of structure in the military life that we don't have in civilian world.
Department Adjutant Deborah Fielder:That's true.
Jerry Allhands:A lot of expectations. I like that. For the department adjutant's position, is there any kind of formalized training that you get from the national organization?
Department Adjutant Deborah Fielder:There is formalized training, but with everything there's formalized training. But the American Legion is made up of 55 different departments. You have the formalized training. They give you the basics on how to do this and how to do that. But you're going to have to go in there and you're going to have to, just like with everything else, use job experience and come up with ways of doing things on your own experience and come up with ways of doing things on your own. Make the final answer to be the correct procedure or whatever, or the final answer to be, you know, getting the person in or getting that particular situation solved. But there is no book that says you're going to have to do this and you're going to have to do that because everybody does it differently.
Department Adjutant Deborah Fielder:When I took over this job rest is so Mr Johnny Bracey had been in it for 21 years and I kept saying I'm not going to stay in for 21 years. I may do five, and since then five has gone past, but it's because I love being in the position. So I'm staying in the position and I'm going to stay as long as possible. But you know, once a year we go to Indianapolis and we get some, some training and it's like backup procedures and we're having zoom meetings where we're talking with other adjutants trying to find out ways that there maybe another department is doing something that you need help with and you find that their procedure. Or you got booklets and everything, and I take, for example, in reference to the CPRs and everything.
Jerry Allhands:No, no, no, we're doing initials here. Let's back up. Indianapolis is where our national headquarters are. Yes, cprs are Consolidated Post Reports.
Department Adjutant Deborah Fielder:Yes, I'm sorry, yes, that is. So. It's not culinary resuscitation, it is Consolidated Post Reports, and so I was looking for a way to get our posts motivated as to, you know, completing their CPR, consolidated Post reports and everything. And I found a great example in another department, department of oregon, the ways that they were doing things, and so I pulled from a little bit of that and then find another department, come up with some ways to make something. Part of them but and then basically our own. So, being being an adjutant, to answer your question, yes, there is a little bit of formal training, but it's always with every job that you get. You get in there and you learn and you grow from experience, and you learn by coming up ways on your own or taking ideas from someone else.
Jerry Allhands:And you do that very well too.
Department Adjutant Deborah Fielder:Thank you, thank you very much.
Jerry Allhands:Thank you. We're talking, you know. We're at our convention here in Natchez, Mississippi, and it's so far today ending up the first official day of the full day of training or convention. It's been an enjoyable experience. What has Natchez meant to you as the department agent, as far as being able to put this convention on?
Department Adjutant Deborah Fielder:The city of Natchez, the Natchez Grand Hotel and then the Natchez Convention Center. I'll go back to 2019. My very first time ever coming to Natchez was at well, actually was midwinter, so that would have been in. No, let's go back, it was July 2019, very first time coming here to Natchez and the hotel we're set up in the hotel. This is my very first convention and I'm trying to get everything set up and everything. Then I look over. The Natchez Hotel is great and they gave us great meeting rooms and everything. But you want to grow and you want to be bigger and everything. But you want to grow and you want to be bigger and everything. And so being over there in the hotel when we wanted vendors and when we had our members, it's like small and compact and I kept looking over here at the convention center and thinking that convention center is just sitting over there and there is no parking over there and we should be over there and everything. Not understanding the process, but later on, understanding the process and God be with us Some benefits came out of COVID.
Department Adjutant Deborah Fielder:Covid came and we were able to because of the law that went into effect or the bill that helped restaurants and other stores and the convention center. If they were losing customers and everything, they could rent the building out and that fund would reimburse them. So that year we didn't have our winter in February because of the weather, we changed it to March, and so March of 2020, we came over to the convention and, lo and behold, everybody fell in love with this convention center, which is undergoing a remodel after 25 years, and we're over here this weekend at the convention center, through the ability to rent it at a great price from Mr, a great prize from Mr Aaron excuse me Walter Tipton, and then his staff members. They have gone above and beyond helping us to set up, asking us if we need anything within our conference, making everything better for our conference. Last year, because of the convention center being able to have it, we had our very first Veterans Expo. Because of the convention center being able to have it, we had our very first veterans expo. When you go to the national, you see all the different departments coming together and then you see this huge room of vendors and everything. So we're not on the scale of national and everything. Yeah, but yes, yeah, but we're growing, but because of the convention center allowing us to be over here and everything we're able to.
Department Adjutant Deborah Fielder:Last year, we held our very first Veterans Expo. It was a huge success. And then this year we're back with our Veterans Expo being a huge success, and so we've been able to give our members the ability to come meet, have great meeting times, have a great general session and then be able to be able to come out in between breaks and go in and talk to these vendors that are giving us the resources that we ourselves may need or we know somebody that needs something or our family needs. The one great disappointment is for a veteran to call you and ask you for help and you don't know where to go to, and that's what being at an expo does. It gives you those resources that you may not be able to help your members because they don't need to help, but a random call where a veteran is needing help and everything you can say. Well, I met this organization at our Veterans Expo and this organization can help you. Now here's the information for it.
Jerry Allhands:And you will hear from many of these vendors in today's podcast. They've been very gracious to give me interviews and they'll be heard throughout this podcast and in future podcasts as well. Again, people here in Natchez have been so great to us. We really appreciate them and thank them so much, and I asked you for 10 minutes. You've given me 16.
Jerry Allhands:Oh look at this, I do want to sit down with you at a future date and talk more about the American Legion and what you know the department does and what you do as well. If somebody wanted to join the American Legion in their, in the state area, how would they reach you to to join the Legion?
Department Adjutant Deborah Fielder:Okay, you can reach me. Our state office is located at 120 North State Street in Jackson Mississippi. Our state office is located at 120 North State Street in Jackson Mississippi. My telephone contact number, commercial, is 601-352-4986.
Jerry Allhands:Okay, now wait, wait, wait, because I'm old and I'm slow.
Department Adjutant Deborah Fielder:Give me that phone number again 601-352-4986, commercial or mobile mobile 601-497-5079. You can reach me at any number. If I fail to answer, leave a voice message and say tell me who your name is and go ahead and tell me what you're seeking the information, or if you're having a problem, go ahead and leave that on the voicemail. Therefore, when I call you back, hopefully I've researched it and I can have an answer for you.
Jerry Allhands:Great and that building address again is.
Department Adjutant Deborah Fielder:It's 120 North State Street, jackson, mississippi. That's the old War Memorial building. We're right next to the old Capitol on North Street. The building is very historical. If you drive by it you don't see the address or anything. You're going to see soldiers out front and you're going to see these beautiful columns. That building is an absolutely gorgeous historical building but it is locked because of security purposes and everything. But when you walk up to it, if you haven't called prior, there's a list of numbers of different organizations just located on the door. You just call one of those numbers and hopefully that person is in or somebody else will answer and they'll let you in the building. In that building we have the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign War. We have the DAV, which is the Disabled American Veterans. We have the NAGIS, which is the National Guard Association. We have Veterans Affairs Office. They're all located within that building. So a veteran that's needing help, you can go one location and you can find it in that building.
Jerry Allhands:One-stop shopping. I love it yes. Deborah, thank you so much for your time today. I appreciate you so much.
Department Adjutant Deborah Fielder:You're so welcome.
Jerry Allhands:Be sure to join me next week for more from the American Legion Department of Mississippi Convention right here in Natchez, mississippi. And don't forget to hit the follow button to subscribe to this podcast and drop us a text message. And, if possible, please consider supporting this show. All the buttons are right here on our page, so don't forget to subscribe, sponsor and leave a text message. Hey, we'll see you next time. On the Veterans Sound Off Podcast, a production of All Hands Media LLC, with offices in Rinalar Mississippi. All rights reserved.
