Veterans Service Commission

Members

David L. McDougall
President

David McDougall

Biography

Mr. McDougall is a Vietnam War veteran having served on active duty in the United States Air Force from 1969 to 1973. He served as a Communications Center Specialist.

Mr. McDougall is a member of the Easter Society of Ottawa County, American Veterans Post 10, and Commander of American Legion Post 113. He previously held the positions of President of the Easter Society of Ottawa County and President of the Ottawa County Board of Mental Retardation.

Mr. McDougall has served on the Ottawa County Veterans Service Commission since January 1998.

Ronald E. Distel
Vice President, Member-at-Large

Ronald Distel

Biography

Mr. Distel is a Vietnam War veteran having served on active duty in the United States Air Force from 1970 to 1974.  He served as an Aircraft Loading Specialist.

Mr. Distel serves as Ottawa County Council American Legion Adjutant and is a member of American Legion Post 279 and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 8732.  He previously held the positions of Commander of American Legion Post 279; Ottawa County Council American Legion Adjutant (4 Terms); Commander of the 1st District, State of Ohio; and member of the American Legion Department of Ohio Executive Board.

Mr. Distel has served on the Ottawa County Veterans Service Commission since January 2009.

Thomas L. Cashen III
Secretary, American Legion

Thomas Cashen

Biography

Mr. Cashen is a Persian Gulf War veteran having served on active duty in the United States Navy from 1986 to 1995.  He served in the Naval Nuclear Power Program as a Power Plant Operator and Electrician’s Mate.

Mr. Cashen is Adjutant for American Legion Post 324 in Genoa, Ohio.  He has served as post delegate to The American Legion, Department of Ohio Convention.  He is also a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9963 and The Blinded Veterans Association of America.  He serves on his church stewardship committee and volunteers with the Genoa Food Pantry.

Mr. Cashen has served on the Ottawa County Veterans Service Commission since January 2014.

Gary E. Cagle
Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars

Gary Cagle


Biography

Mr. Cagle is a Vietnam War veteran having served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps from 1966 to 1970.  He served as a Rifleman.

Mr. Cagle is a member of VFW Post 8732, 26 year member of American Legion Post 114, American Legion Post 279, Disabled American Veterans Post 39, and on the Board of Directors for the Oak Harbor Public Library.  He is currently Commander of VFW Post 8732 and has been for the past five years.

Mr. Cagle has served on the Ottawa County Veterans Service Commission since January 2013.

Michael C. Rohde
Member, Member-at-Large

Rohde (3)

Biography

Mr. Rohde is an OEF/OIF veteran having served on active duty in the United States Army from 2001 to 2004.  He served as an Infantryman.

Mr. Rohde has served as Senior Vice and Quartermaster of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 8732 and is a member of American Legion Post 114.  

Mr. Rohde has served on the Ottawa County Veterans Service Commission since December 2020.

Overview

The Veterans Service Commission, formerly known as Soldiers and Sailors Relief Commission, was established on May 19, 1886, for the purpose of assisting Honorably Discharged Veterans and their minor children, spouse, and widows, who have met with an unexpected hardship resulting from lack of employment, illness or injury.