Department Officers
Adjutant
John D. Baker - Post 120 - Hunterdon
171 Jersey Street Build #5, 2nd Floor Trenton, NJ 08611
National Executive Committeeman
Berley Hanna, Jr. Post 499 - Union
Berley Hanna, Jr.
Biography
Berley Hanna, Jr. joined the Naval Reserve during high school with a buddy at the age of 17 on August 1, 1962, and honorably discharged in 1968. His active-duty tour was served aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Wasp CVS-18 Boston, Massachusetts. Aboard the Wasp he worked in the “Ice Machine” crew and made Machinist Mate 3rd Class Petty Officer. They were responsible for the ship’s refrigeration, chilled water systems and air conditioning.
Berley was employed by Merck & Co. Inc. for a period of 39 years, retiring in 2006. During his Merck career he was an active OCAW Union Representative. He was elected to several positions, including Steward, Committeeman, Treasurer, Recording Secretary and Vice President.
After trade school graduation as an electrician, he joined the American Legion James E. Mackie Post 499 (Union County) in 1977 and immediately became active within the Organization. He attended American Legion College Basic; Advanced; Service Officer; Club Management; and National Extension Institute Courses.
He is a Life Member of the American Legion and has proudly served for over 46 years! He has held every position in his Post, including Post Commander and is presently serving as Adjutant. He is a Past Department (State) Commander 1999-2000, Department Vice Commander, Union County Department Executive Committeeman, County Commander, County Vice Commander, County Sgt-At-Arms, County Adjutant, and currently serves as Union County Finance Officer.
He chairs Post 499’s Annual Unsung Heroes Program. The Unsung Heroes Program is a Memorial Service honoring Civil War “Colored Troops” (USCT) who are buried in Rahway Cemetery, NJ.
Berley currently serves the American Legion on the Department Revised Legion as Chairman, and he serves as Vice President of the New Jersey Boys State Trustee Program. He has served on the NJ American Legion Boys State Program for over 28 years.
He also serves on the NJ Governor’s State Veteran’s Council as Past Chairman, and he is the liaison to the Facility Council to Veteran’s Memorial Home in Menlo Park, and past liaison to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial & Museum, Holmdel, New Jersey.
On the National Level of the American Legion, he serves as a member of the Media & Communications Commission, he now serves as the liaison for that committee. He currently serves as New Jersey National Executive Committeeman (NEC). He is a voting member on the National Level representing the department of New Jersey.
Berley and his wife Janet are the proud parents of two children, five grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Alternate National Executive Committeeman
Eugene O’Grady - Post 232 - Ocean
Service
US Army Veteran Combat Engineer, Lebanon Grenada Era
US Army Reserve Combat Infantryman SGT E-5
POST
33 year member of John Wesley Taylor Post #232 in Barnegat
5x Past Commander Post #232, 6x Post Finance and many years in various positions, awarded life member in 2008
County
3x OC Vice Commander, 2X county Commander, 2x Ocean County Dept. Executive Committeeman
Chaired multiple committees and participated in all activities.
State
Dept. Scholarship Chair, Dept. Finance Chair, Dept. Vice Commander
Dept. Commander (Hurricane Sandy)
ANEC NJ 2021-2024
National
National American Legion College Graduate 2001 (Senior of NJ)
Many years on National Legislative Committee, Finance committee and the veterans Education and employment committee as member, vice chairman and presently serving as National Chairman Veterans Education and Homeless Committee.
Personal
Gene is married to his wife Sharon and has 2 children and 2 grandchildren.
All Family members are Legion family, Son in law presently 17 year active duty USAF. Master Sargent.