August 3, 2010

ATLANTA—Pledging to lead the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) in its mission to build better lives for America’s disabled veterans and their families through unsurpassed advocacy and service programs, Wallace E. Tyson, a service-connected, disabled Vietnam era veteran, was elected National Commander of the 1.2 million-member organization at the culmination of the 89th DAV and Auxiliary National Convention in Atlanta.

A native of Tarboro, N.C., Commander Tyson is a life member of DAV Chapter 46, Fayetteville, N.C. He joined the DAV in 1985 following medical retirement as an Army sergeant first class, and began his DAV service as a chapter service officer and chapter adjutant.

Commander Tyson enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1972. During more than 12 years of service, his assignments included the 101st. Airborne Division, 1st Armored Division and 37th Transportation Group in Germany; 2nd Armored Division at Fort Hood, Texas; and the U. S. Army Recruiting Command.

He attended St. Petersburg Junior College, in Clearwater, Fla., prior to his enlistment and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Methodist University in 1989.

Commander Tyson was appointed Adjutant for the Department of North Carolina in June 1989, and was consecutively elected National 4th through 1st Junior Vice Commander and Senior Vice Commander commencing in 2005. He also served in a variety of other elected and appointed DAV positions, including 9th District Executive Committeeman; a member of the National Executive and Finance Committees, Chairman of the National Finance Committee, as a member of the Interim Committee on Constitution and Bylaws; President of the State Commanders and Adjutants Association, and as a member of the National Service Foundation Board of Directors. Additionally he served as President of the North Carolina Veterans Council and was selected North Carolina Disabled Veteran of the Year in 1985.

Commander Tyson received "The Order of the Long Leaf Pine” for meritorious service from Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. in 1996. The award is the highest civilian honor bestowed by the Governor of North Carolina.

Commander Tyson lives in Fayetteville. He is the father of a son and has two grandchildren.

The 1.2 million-member Disabled American Veterans, a non-profit organization founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932, represents this nation’s disabled veterans. It is dedicated to a single purpose: building better lives for our nation’s disabled veterans and their families. For more information, visit the organization’s Web site, www.dav.org.

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