Puyallup Valley VFW member named veteran of the year

For Paul Herrera, an Iraq War veteran who served 20 years in the U.S. Army, helping veterans is as natural as breathing and a necessity that is second to none.

“I’m out on the streets as a police officer (for the Puyallup Tribal Police),” Herrera said. “I see veterans in all sorts of different stages from homelessness to successful. Everyone has specific needs. Sometimes they will only listen to another veteran. My inspiration in helping veterans comes from the heart. I can relate to them. I’m thankful for what I have.”

In June, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Washington recognized Herrera as the 2016 Veteran of the Year. Herrera, commander of Puyallup Valley VFW Post 2224, was nominated by his peers. The nomination was sent onto District 3, which represents various posts across Pierce and Thurston counties, and District 3 nominated Herrera and submitted it to the VFW Department of Washington.

Herrera, 45, has accomplished a lot in his three years as a member of Puyallup Valley VFW Post 2224. From June 2015 to June 2016, Herrera served as senior vice commander, and in that capacity he recruited 59 new members to the post and encouraged 15 others to renew their membership, bringing the post’s total membership up to more than 700 — making it one of the largest, most active posts in District 3.

Also during his year as senior vice commander, Herrera started a Puyallup Valley VFW Post 2224 veterans assistance booth at the Puyallup Farmers Market. He is continuing it again this summer.

“The booth provides veterans assistance for VA claims and questions about burial rights and the (opportunity) just to connect,” Herrera said. “We like to be down there every weekend and be consistent.”

Herrera staffs the booth with Vietnam War veterans, Iraq War veterans and a variety of experts specializing in filing VA claims.

“There is a lot of red tape (when it comes to filing claims),” he said. “This is all done free of charge.”

Herrera also includes his family when volunteering in the community and for the VFW. He and his wife have been married for 21 years and have two children. His son graduated this year from Puyallup High School.

He said his family helps the poor and hungry through their church. They also connect to veterans living in assisted living communities in Puyallup.

“We do it as a family,” he said. “When I was in the military I was gone a long time, so this is catch-up.”

Larry Heires, outgoing commander of the post, said what’s most striking about Herrera is his ability to engage and communicate with the younger generations of veterans and bringing them into the post.

“Our organization had been pretty much World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans,” Heires said. “(Herrera) was one of the early Iraq War veterans (to join the post). As that, he related to a lot of the Iraq and Afghanistan vets. He is talented in relating to the younger people and helped to recruit a lot of them.”

The officers working under Herrera at the post represent the younger generation of vets and that is due in great part to Herrera’s leadership, Heires said.

“We have to get younger members if we are to continue,” Heires said. “(Herrera) is getting family activities going on here and getting more activities for military wives who are part of the auxiliary post.”

Herrera said what he’s learned during his time at the VFW is that veterans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan are going through the same struggles that Vietnam War veterans experienced.

“The bad stuff still hasn’t gone away,” he said. “There are the same emotions.”

Herrera said his job is to keep the dialogue going with all veterans.

“They’re nervous to ask the questions, or they don’t want to deal with it,” he said. “My job is to encourage veterans to know that it’s okay.”

This story was originally published July 13, 2016 at 12:18 PM with the headline "Puyallup Valley VFW member named veteran of the year."