Beginnings
The Ocean County POW/MIA Organization was incorporated on March 8, 1984. The Organization was formed to address Veterans' issues such as employment, family stress, substance abuse, housing for the disabled, special needs for children of veterans, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder counseling. From 1984 to 1986, the Organization's activities and services were conducted on a part-time, informal basis. In 1986 the directors established a program known as Vetwork to provide assistance to all honorably discharged veterans in the form of professional counseling for alcohol/drug abuse issues, PTSD, eliminating barriers to employment, supportive services, emergency shelter, homeless-prevention, food, claims for VA benefits and other entitlements, and transportation services. On November 12, 1988, the directors of the Organization changed the name to Vetgroup, Incorporated.
Today
The Vetwork Program, now Vetwork, A Program of Vetgroup, Inc. is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, and is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. The mission and purpose of the agency is to meet the immediate and long-term needs of lower-income veterans. Vetwork provides supportive services to assist the veteran in securing/upgrading employment, obtaining permanent, affordable housing, and transportation to access all necessary medical or basic-needs services. We seek to provide a continuum of care with our services, and to enable veterans to maintain, or achieve, self-sufficiency. To accomplish this end we are committed to advocacy, education, and the prudent delivery of direct, quality services.
Executive Board:
Joseph A. Arata, President
Assistant Director, National Recruitment, US Customs and Border Protection
Capt. US Army 82nd Airborne
Operation Just Cause, Desert Shield/Desert Storm
Susan Washington, Vice President
Pilot, NJ Air National Guard
OEF, OIF, Southern Watch
Thomas M. Haskell, Sr., Secretary/Treasurer
General Plumbing Supervisor, Ocean County
Sgt. USAF Korat Royal Thia AFB
Vietnam
Thomas R. Waskovich, President Emeritus
5th Special Forces Group (A)
Officer in Special Operations Vietnam
Gary Rieth, Vice President Emeritus
Chief Financial Officer, MUA, Morris County
Radio Team Chief, 11th Armored Cavalary Regiment
Vietnam
Board of Trustees:
Dave Ashford
Retired - Verizon
US Army, Spec.4 Armorer 101st Airborne
Vietnam
Robert Holtzen, MD
Doctor, Family Medicine
US Army Medic/Clinical Specialist 5th Infantry Division
Vietnam
Paul Kozak, Director/Vetwork
United States Marine Corps
1371 Combat Engineer, 1st Mar. Div-TAD 3rd Mar. Div.
Vietnam 67-68
James McElroy
Retired NYC Corrections Officer
US Navy Seabees, & Sgt. US Marine Corps
WWII, Korea
Leonard Mueller IV
Joint base McQuire, Ft Dix, Lakehurst Support Equipment, NAV Air
US Navy Commander, retired, Pilot, Joint Chief of Staff
Desert Storm/Desert Shield
Thomas Palczewski
Student
US Army 82nd Airborne
Afghanistan, Iraq
Robert Rosenberg, Esq.
Attorney at Law
Cpl. 1st Bn.9th Marines 3rd Marine Division
Vietnam
Chris Sharpe
New Jersey State Police
3rd Infantry Regiment (TOG)
Iraq
Staff:
Paul J. Kozak, Jr., CSW
Director - Veterans Outreach Services
June Knutson, CSW
Director - Case Management
Mary Anne DiLeo
Office Manager
