- November 8, 2024
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The 84th Annual Convention of The Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) and the 83d National Convention of the Ladies Auxiliary of the MOPH concluded on Sunday, Aug. 14, in Norfolk, Virginia, with the election of new officers for the upcoming year.
Hershel Gober, of Palm Coast is a combat wounded Vietnam veteran and a native of Drew County, Arkansas, was elected as National Commander
Gober’s election, a former acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and long-time MOPH National Legislative director, brings a new depth of experience to the position of National Commander of the Order.
During his second tour in Vietnam, Patriot Gober was leading Co C, 5th Battalion, 60th Infantry, 9th Division on a combat mission on March 11, 1969, when he was wounded by enemy fire. He was awarded the Purple Heart medal.
Gober retired from the U.S. Army in 1978 as a major, and during the following 10 years held a number of positions in Arkansas, including as a senior instructor in a high school JROTC program.
In 1988, he was appointed, by then Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton, to the position of director of the Arkansas Department of Veterans' Affairs. In 1993, President Clinton appointed Gober as deputy secretary and acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. Since 2002, Gober has served as National Director of Legislative Affairs for the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
“I could not be more proud than to serve as Commander of our Nation’s bravest combat heroes, those Purple Heart recipients who have shed their blood to defend the freedoms that all Americans are blessed to enjoy,” Gober said.
The organization now known as the "Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) of the U.S.A. Inc.," was formed in 1932 for the protection and mutual interest of all who have received the decoration. Chartered by the Congress, The MOPH is unique among Veteran Service Organizations in that all its members were wounded in combat. For this sacrifice, they received the Purple Heart Medal.
