department commander
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Randy Johnson
Department Commander

Deep River, IA

Motto: Together Everybody Achieves More. “TEAM”

2022-2023

Randy Johnson was born and raised in Deep River Iowa. He graduated from Deep River-Millersburg High School in 1978. In Feb. 1980 he enlisted in the USAF and spent the next two decades serving his country. He is a Desert Shield/Desert Storm veteran, deploying to the Gulf and serving with the 1610th Air Division (Provisional) Riyadh Saudi Arabia, and later with US Central Command, Al Muthanna Province, Iraq from Aug 1990-Mar 1991. 

After his military retirement, Randy and his wife Gail moved their family back to Iowa and began their second life. Randy has been active in his community as a bar/restaurant owner, serving 12 years on the City Council (Mayor for 6yrs), and currently serves on the review board for the Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation providing financial management support to partnering nonprofit agencies. He is a Paid Up For Life member of Morrison Schrader Post 296 in Deep River, serving in leadership positions at the post, district, and department levels. Randy is a dual SAL Squadron 296 member.

From the Korean War to the War on Terror, Randy’s family boasts 9 veterans that served proudly. Out of that comes fifty-four, active Iowa American Legion Family members.

Commander Randy’s Goals:

  • STOP our decades-long membership slide
  • Grow our Dept of Iowa Service Office
  • Create awareness for female veteran needs
  • Monitor and maintain our state and local veterans’ services and benefits

Commander Randy’s Projects:

Randy believes If Our Veterans Are Taken Care Of, So Are Their Families And Our Communities Reap The Benefits. Our Department Service Office is staffed by accredited American Legion service officers. It is our department’s greatest asset – they represent 70% of the VA Claims in Iowa. It’s Randy’s intent to bring staffing to 100% and help raise the funds to do it.