Dutch DeGroot
Service Officer - Army

 


Dutch earned his eligibility for the Veterans of Foreign Wars through service in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1970, including deployment to Vietnam. He later continued his military career in the U.S. Air Force, serving in Operation Provide Comfort and deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He retired from the military in 2007 after spanning five decades of honorable service and has received numerous awards and decorations.

A VFW Gold Life Legacy Member, Dutch serves as a Service Officer at both the Post and District levels. At the Department level, he has served as Past Department Photographer, Past Legislative Chairman, and Past Assistant Military & Veterans Support Director. His national recognition includes service as National Deputy Chief of Staff (2021–2022), National Aide-de-Camp (2019–2020 and 2022–2023), and appointment to the VFW National Security & Foreign Affairs Committee (2020) and the National Veterans Service Resolutions Committee (2021). He was named VFW Department of Illinois Member of the Year for 2020–2021 and was recently honored as the Allen J. Lynch Medal of Honor Foundation 2024 Veteran of the Year.

Dutch currently serves as the delegate representing the VFW Department of Illinois to the Illinois Veterans Advisory Council and is the 2nd Vice President of the Veterans Assistance Commission of Cook County.

In addition to his VFW service, Dutch is active in several other veterans and military organizations. He is a Past National Commander of the Americal (23rd Infantry) Division Veterans Association and a member of the 440th Air Wing Alumni, American Legion, AMVETS, Military Order of the World Wars, and a Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). He also volunteers with Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR).

Dutch resides in Mount Prospect, Illinois, with his wife of 53 years, Jan. Together they have three sons and nine grandchildren.