Al Lipphardt: The Vietnam Veteran Who Led the VFW in 2024

A Vietnam Combat Veteran

Lipphardt served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1979, earning his VFW eligibility through two tours in Vietnam — from 1967 to 1968 and again from 1970 to 1971. His combat decorations include the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star with “V” device for valor, a Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service, the Purple Heart, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal with Silver Star and two Bronze Stars, among others.

Rising in the VFW

A resident of the Tucker and Stone Mountain area of Georgia, Lipphardt joined the VFW in 2002 at Post 12002 in North Fulton, Georgia, as a charter member, and maintains a Gold Legacy Life membership at Post 2667 in Newnan, Georgia. He rose through the organization’s elected and appointed positions before being elected the 116th Commander-in-Chief on August 1, 2024, at the VFW’s 125th National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.

‘Follow Me’

Lipphardt framed his year around the slogan “Follow Me,” a nod to his infantry training and to the example he hoped to set for VFW leaders at every level, and an agenda he called “Operation All In.” In simple terms, he urged members to lead by example and to fully commit to the organization’s mission of service and advocacy.

What the VFW Is

Founded in 1899 and chartered by Congress, the VFW is the oldest and largest war-veterans organization in the United States, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. Its roughly one million combat-veteran members — about 1.3 million including the Auxiliary — must have served honorably in a war or expedition on foreign soil or in hostile waters. Over its history the VFW has advocated for measures including the creation of the Veterans Administration, compensation for Vietnam and Gulf War veterans, and expansions of the GI Bill.

As commander-in-chief, Lipphardt led that advocacy machine for a year, representing the organization before Congress, the VA, and the public, and traveling the country to rally posts and departments. The role is demanding and brief by design: VFW commanders-in-chief serve a single year, charged with advancing the organization’s priorities and energizing its members before passing the gavel.

Analysis

Lipphardt’s one-year term reflected the VFW’s tradition of rotating elected leadership drawn from the combat-veteran ranks. As a Vietnam veteran leading an organization whose membership now includes generations from later conflicts, he embodied the continuity between eras of American war service — and his handoff to his successor, Carol Whitmore, marked a notable generational and historic transition.

Conclusion

Lipphardt’s year at the helm added another chapter to a life of service that began in the jungles of Vietnam and continued through decades of advocacy for his fellow veterans.

Key Takeaways

Al Lipphardt served as the VFW’s 116th Commander-in-Chief from 2024 to 2025, elected August 1, 2024, in Louisville.
A Georgia native, he served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1979 with two combat tours in Vietnam.
His decorations include the Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star with “V” device, and the Purple Heart.
He joined the VFW in 2002 and built his term around the slogan “Follow Me” and an agenda called “Operation All In.”
He was succeeded as Commander-in-Chief by Carol Whitmore, the VFW’s first woman to hold the office.

Sources

VFW — VFW Elects Al Lipphardt as New National Commander: https://www.vfw.org/media-and-events/latest-releases/archives/2024/8/vfw-elects-al-lipphardt-as-new-national-commander
U.S. Senate — Sen. Ossoff hosts VFW Commander-in-Chief Al Lipphardt: https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/sen-ossoff-hosts-al-lipphardt-vfw-commander-in-chief-as-his-guest-for-the-presidents-joint-address-of-congress/
VFW — ‘I Want to Make a Difference’ (Lipphardt profile): https://www.vfw.org/media-and-events/latest-releases/archives/2024/9/i-want-to-make-a-difference