Vincent Darcangelo was elected Pennsylvania Disabled American Veterans state commander at the organization’s 78th annual state convention.

As state commander, Darcangelo is responsible for the oversight of the organization and its programs and services. The Hermitage resident also has a seat on the Pennsylvania Veterans Commission and on the “War Council.”

Darcangelo served in the Air Force from 1967 to 1971.

He suffered a permanent disabling injury in 1968 while serving in South Korea. Serving in the security forces, Darcangelo was assigned to a three-man vehicle patrol at a base bomb depot. A passenger on a Jeep, he was assigned to man an M-60 machine gun. While on patrol immediately after a monsoon, the road became very muddy, and the driver lost control of the Jeep which rolled over an embankment where Darcangelo was injured.

He joined the Disabled American Veterans organization immediately after being discharged in 1971.

Darcangelo has been re-elected commander of the Mercer County Chapter of the DAV for the 20th year. He has served in numerous chairs at the chapter, district and state level of the DAV and recently retired after serving 25 years as a veterans employment representative at the Mercer County CareerLink.

He has been married to the former Donna M. Villard for 37 years. They met while Darcangelo was assigned to a fighter interceptor squadron in Bangor, Maine, in 1969.

The DAV assists veterans and their families with claims for benefits and provides outreach services. The DAV promotes an employment awards program to those employing veterans.

The organization also fosters legislation to assist disabled veterans and assists in transitioning active military personnel back into civilian life.

The organization is pursuing better screening of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury for those discharged from the military.