Speedway, Middlebury Legionnaires Earn Top Honors

INDIANAPOLIS, July 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Two long-time members of
The American Legion Department of Indiana have been honored by their comrades
with the organization’s Distinguished Service Award.

Ralph Tolan of Speedway, Indiana, and Jack Cook of Middlebury, Indiana, were
recognized for their “impressive record of service in a variety of Post,
District, Department and National Offices. By their service they have brought
great credit on the Department of Indiana,” said Past Indiana Department
commander Robert Newman, who presented the awards during the Legion’s 93rd
annual state convention in Indianapolis July 16.

In the 93 year history of the state’s largest veterans’ organization, only 188
Legionnaires have been honored with the Distinguished Service Award.

Ralph Tolan is a 39-year member of Speedway American Legion Post 500. He was
elected Department Commander in 2008. He is a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam
War, where he served as a helicopter mechanic, crew chief and machine gunner in
1968-1969.

He has served in almost every office available at the post, and is a past 11th
District Commander. He also served the District as Adjutant, and has been active
in Department and National offices and activities for many years. Prior to his
election as Department Commander, Tolan chaired all four permanent department
commissions – Americanism, Children & Youth, Internal Affairs, and
Rehabilitation – and served one term as Department Southern Vice Commander.

Jack Cookended the latest of his many important assignments on behalf of The
Department of Indiana the same day he accepted the award, ending his one-year
stint as Department Membership Chairman.

Cook is a navy veteran of the war in Vietnam, having served in the “brown water
navy” as a swift boat crew member. His deployment to Vietnam began during the
1968 Tet Offensive and ended during the 1969 Tet Offensive. For his service, he
was awarded the National Defense Service Ribbon, Vietnam Campaign Ribbon,
Vietnam Service Ribbon, Combat Action Ribbon, and the Navy Commendation Medal
with Combat V.

In addition to local Legion service, Cook has been Third District Commander,
Adjutant, Membership Chairman, Elkhart County Membership Chairman and Boys State
Enrollment Chairman. His state level assignments include Boys’ State Enrollment
Chairman, Northern Vice Commander, and counselor and Assistant Dean at Boys
State.

SOURCE American Legion Department of Indiana