RINGTOWN - For the first time in 83 years, the American Legion Department of Pennsylvania commander is from Schuylkill County.
Joseph A. Cocco Jr., Ringtown, a 29-year member of the American Legion Anthony P. Damato Medal of Honor Post 792 of Shenandoah, was elected Sunday during the 94th annual state convention in Harrisburg. For the next year, Cocco will be busy working with the Harrisburg staff and traveling around the state.
Getting to the top Legion position in the state takes many years of moving up the ladder, Cocco said.
"It takes quite a few years. I was very fortunate at the local post here, working my way up from junior vice commander to senior vice commander, and then became the commander," he said. "And from that level, you go to deputy district commander, then to district commander, which takes a couple of years, and then I finally got elected Eastern District vice commander in 2010. I had the whole eastern part of the state with 42,000 Legionnaires. That gave me the eligibility to run this year for department commander on Sunday, of which I had the honor and privilege to be elected. I was unopposed."
The last Legionnaire from Schuylkill County elected to the state position was Charles A. Gebert from Post 173 in Tamaqua in 1929.
District 13 encompasses all of Schuylkill County and its 28 Legion posts. There are 38 districts in the state.
Because of his job and other responsibilities, he was a "paper member" for his first 20 years, but after he retired, he put much more time into Legion business.
"Most people think that the Legion is nothing more than a barroom with a bunch of old guys drinking. In Shenandoah, we don't even have a bar. The Legion is far from that," Cocco said. "That's what kept me active in it. It is because of all the great things we do and all the great programs we have. We have great children and youth programs, which is one of our pillars."
He said the American Legion sponsors athletic youth activities, essay contests and scholarship programs.
"We have the National Emergency Relief Fund. About two years ago, I was fortunate to help a young family in Ringtown through the fund," Cocco said. "That program states that any Legionnaire with school-age children and runs into financial problems, like this gentleman who had a car accident, I made one call and he had $1,500 that does not have to be repaid to the Legion."
The Damato post helped buy the borough clock and the post also turned an empty lot into Legion Memorial Garden, located next to the post home on the 100 block of North Main Street.
As state commander, Cocco said one of his pet projects will be supporting the American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund. Cocco said that the children of any serviceman or servicewoman killed in the line of duty since Sept. 11, 2001, will receive a free college education from the Legion.
"As commander this year, I'm making it my project," Cocco said. "What that means is that I will be sending a letter to all 700 posts in Pennsylvania with almost 200,000 Legionnaires to solicit donations. Next year at the national convention, I'll present the funds to the Legacy fund, which has no administrative costs. The American Legion takes care of it. It is still veterans taking care of veterans, and if somebody loses their life for our country, I think we're responsible for their children as Legionnaires."
Cocco said that his daily agenda is already filled until October, and the months after that already have many entries, including attending Legion functions such as banquets and fundraisers throughout the state. In order to get around the state to carry out his duties, the Legion state department provided him with a white 2013 Ford Explorer, along with gas cards, to use during the next 12 months.
As state department commander, he will represent the Pennsylvania Legion when veterans issues are brought to Congress in Washington.
Cocco enlisted in the Navy in June 1962 and completed basic training in San Diego, Calif. He served aboard the USS Galveston CLG-3 for the next three years. After receiving an honorable discharge in June 1965, Cocco joined the Naval Reserve in 1974 and retired in 1997 as the Battalion Command Master Chief of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 21 (NMCB-21), Lakehurst, N.J., known as "The Fighting Seabees."
In 2010, Cocco retired from PPL Electric Utilities after 37 years, where he worked as a supervisor in the resource management department. He is a life member and past commander of AMVETS Walter H. Wardigo Post 7, Shenandoah. He belongs to the Past Department District Commanders Association, was chairman of the legislative Committee of the Pennsylvania War Veterans Council, is a member of the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 398, and is a member of LA Societe Des 40 Hommes et 8 Chevaux (40&8).
Cocco is also an inductee and member of the Schuylkill County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Fleet Reserve, Navy Club of America Ship 257, Senior Enlisted Association and the USS Galveston Shipmates Association.
The American Legion is the largest veterans organization in the world, created in 1919. Pennsylvania is the largest department and has almost 200,000 members. The national organization has 2.7 million members in 55 departments, which includes all 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico and the Far East.