Chapter Service Officer

Thomas W. Linton II, or Tom, was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1940. He is a 100% Disabled Veteran. Serving in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969, he was awarded a Meritorious Combat Promotion to GySgt E-7 and the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V”. He joined the Marine Corps in 1958 and retired in 1973 on disability as a Marine Gunnery Sergeant (E7). For the past 47 years, he has been an active member of the Disabled American Veterans, serving as State Treasurer, Finance Committee Chairman and National VAVS Representative for the Phoenix VA Regional Medical Center. He is also a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Tom has over 3,000 hours of Volunteering at the Phoenix VA Medical Center. Tom has served the State of Arizona as a member of the Governor’s Research council for three years. He also served three years on the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Selection committee. Tom went to night school and was awarded a Bachelor Science Degree from the National College of Business in Business Administration (Cum Laude) and an associate degree in Accounting. Tom has over 20 years of experience in the Life, Health Insurance and Securities Industry.

Tom and his Service Dog Charlie are well known. Tom Received Charlie in 2014 from The Foundation for Service Dog Support at no charge. The Foundation provides Service Dogs to Veterans and First Responders at no cost. Tom and Charlie are an Ambassador Team, serving as spokesperson for the Foundation traveling and providing information about their facility. Tom and Charlie attended the Phoenix, Arizona Mayor’s Commission on Disability Issues Awards Ceremony to represent the Foundation for the Award they received.

In 2012 Tom was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from The Disabled American Veterans Department of Arizona. In 2016 Tom was Inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society. He joins a very elite group of distinguished Arizona military veterans.

Kim joined the Army in 1985 as a lab technician, and later joined the DAV in 2007 in Clarksville Tennessee where she held the following office’s: Officer of the day, Sgt. at Arms, Treasure for 2 years, Assistant Jr. Vice, CSO for 5yrs.  She and her family relocated to Arizona due to her husband’s job where she now holds the positions as SEC (State Executive Committee), as a certified CSO (Chapter Service Officer) helping her fellow veterans file their claims, and DAV VAVS Deputy Representative for the Phoenix VA Hospital.

Carey Slade is the Adjutant, also a CSO (Chapter Service Officer) for DAV Chapter 1 and DAV Chapter 8 PCC (Past Chapter Commander).  She volunteers as a CSO helping her fellow veterans and their families with questions and VA claims. Carey also handles Chapter 1 website, Facebook and Twitter accounts. She has been volunteering for DAV since July 2014. Carey served in the US Navy Seabee’s as a Builder for almost 5 years before receiving an Honorable medical discharge as BU2 (E-5). She was stationed in Public Works at NAF Atsugi, Japan, and Point Loma Submarine Station in California.