Antonio "Tony" Banchs was elected DISTRICT 1 Commander VFW DEPT TN on May 16th, 2026, at The District Convention in Johnson City, TN POST 2108. 

 

Tony served in the United States Army from 1984-2016, earning his VFW eligibility in three deployments/assignments: Southwest Asia Service Medal w/Bronze Service Star and KUWAIT Liberation Medal (June 1991-Nov 1991), Imminent Danger Pay Area Yemen (OCT 2011-DEC 2012), and imminent Danger Pay area LEBANON (JULY 2013-MAY 2015). In recognition of his service, he received the Legion of Merit Medal, Defense Super Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Medal (4th Award), Army Commendation Medal (6th Award), Army Achievement Medal (3rd Award), Joint Meritorious Unit Award (6th Award), Presidential Unit Citation, National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Superior Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award) Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon (7th Award). and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (2nd Award). He joined the VFW in 2005 as a life member with POST 10810 in Stuttgart, Germany, and upon retirement from the Army in 2016 transferred to POST 2166 Elizabethton, TN where he maintains his Gold Legacy life membership. He has served in elected and appointed positions at the Post and District levels, and notably as Post Quartermaster when both Post 10810 and later Post 2166 achieved All-American status.   Tony attended the University of Iowa for his Bachelor's degree (1989), Troy State University for his Master's in International Relations (1999), and the Army War College for his Master's in Strategic Studies (2014). He is a Life Member of the VFW National Home, the American Legion, and Disabled American Veterans. Tony and his wife, Kathy, reside in Unicoi, TN.