Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) Appoints New Senior Staff Members

The Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) is pleased to announce the appointment of four new senior officers to its Headquarters Staff. 

John P. “Jack” Leonard III has been appointed as National Adjutant, the Chief Operating Officer of the Order.  Patriot Leonard joined MOPH in 2004 and served previously in MOPH HQ as HR Manager, National Service Director, and Acting Adjutant.  He is a graduate of LaSalle University in Philadelphia, PA and holds a Masters in International Business Administration (MBA) from National University, San Diego, CA.  Severely wounded in Vietnam in August 1969, Patriot Leonard completed active military service in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1990.  Jack and his wife, Sheila, proud parents of two grown children, presently reside in Fairfax, VA.

Francis S. “Frank” Van Hoy has been appointed as National Service Director, overseeing the myriad programs of the MOPH to assist all veterans and their families.  As such, he directs the operations of a nation-wide network of more than 85 offices, staffed by over 170 trained Service Officers and assistants; accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Patriot Van Hoy is a graduate of Troy University, Alabama, with a BS in Social Sciences. Patriot Van Hoy enlisted in the US Army in 1966 and retired from active military service in 1986.  He served two tours in Vietnam and was wounded during both tours, for which he received two Purple Hearts.   Patriot Van Hoy joined the National Staff of the MOPH in 2007 and previously served as the Deputy National Service Director. He and his wife Cindy have three grown children and presently reside in Owings, MD.

John E. Bircher III has been appointed as the National Director of Public Relations. Patriot Bircher held numerous State level leadership positions before joining the National Staff.  He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska and holds a Masters in Political Science and International Relations.  He joined the U.S. Army in 1959 and retired in 1988.  He served in Vietnam with Special Forces in 1969, where he was awarded the Purple Heart.  Before retirement, he served at the U.S. Department of State as Director of Regional Affairs and Politico-Military Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State for the Near East.  From 1988 to 2002, he was President of a Government Relations firm in Washington, DC and advised US Companies doing business in the Middle East.  Patriot Bircher and his wife Carol have two grown children and now reside in Lady Lake, Florida. 

Chuck N. Baker has been appointed as the Editor of the Purple Heart Magazine.  Patriot Baker is the author of two books and has served in numerous editorial positions at some of the top media companies in Las Vegas.  He is also the founder and editor of Nevada's most popular military veterans publication.  In the U.S. Army, Baker was an editor and writer for the post newspaper at Fort Riley, Kansas. He later served in combat in Vietnam with the 1st Infantry Division where he received the Combat Infantryman's Badge and the Purple Heart.  He attended Wright Jr. College in Chicago, Los Angeles City College and California State University in Los Angeles, as well as LaSalle School of Law in Chicago, where he earned a Bachelor of Law degree.

For information contact :
National Public Relations Director, John Bircher, 352-753-5535,
Or
National Adjutant, Jack Leonard, 703-354-2140
Email: PublicRelations@Purpleheart.org    
Web: http://www.purpleheart.org/