Psychological Operations Veterans Association
History & Founding
In 1988, five former members of the 6th PSYOP Battalion who had served together in Viet-Nam met for the first time since returning home. These five....H. Duane Yaeger, Jack O'Neil, Chad Spawr, Dick Winner, and Ronald Copeland, reminisced about their times together, but more importantly, decided to create a "reunion association" whose goal would be to find fellow soldiers from their time in Viet-Nam. They formed the "4th PSYOP Group Viet-Nam Veterans "Mindbenders" Reunion Association" in 1989, and began the process of finding old friends from their days together overseas.
Status Today
In April 2023 the Association listed nearly 600 members, with over 200 life members. POVA membership includes serving members - both active duty and reserve, PSYOP veterans and retirees of all services and a few Allied Nations. The “Leaflet Drop” is a monthly on-line newsletter which is emailed to all members. Initially founded as a reunion organization with a commitment to philanthropy designed in support of PSYOP soldiers, veterans and their families. The 16th, and last POVA reunion was held in Cleveland, OH in 2018 As a stimulus to membership, serving members are offered dues free membership during their service. POVA is a 501C3 non-profit tax exempt organization.
Association Goals
Continue to serve and evolve our support to the PSYOP regiment.
Bolster the Regiment’s traditions, history and esprit de corps by providing speakers to the Regiment and other organizations to instruct and present historical background.
Transition leadership beyond Viet Nam veterans.
Expand member recruitment and engagement with fellow US and Allied Psywarriors and veterans.
Provide scholarships and other financial support to our membership and the Regiment as resources permit.
POVA has held reunions every other year since 1998. We are in the process of recruiting additional members to support outreach efforts such as reunions. Our reunions are great times to reconnect with friends from our service and those who served after us, as well as renew friendships with the families who have grown up around us since our service. We will keep the membership informed as our reunion plans develop.
POVA has three membership options for its members. Significantly, POVA has not raised its dues in the past five years. The membership rates are:
Life Membership for a one-time payment of $250. Benefits include a beautiful Life Member certificate, a POVA Life membership pin, a 15% discount on all POVA merchandise, and reserved seating at the Reunion banquet for the member and family members with other Life Members.
One year membership dues at $25 per year, which includes a POVA membership pin;
OR a two year membership dues at the discounted rate of $45 per year, which includes a POVA membership pin.
POVA offers FREE membership to all active duty and reserve unit PSYOP soldiers for as long as they serve. Membership is as simple as submitting our membership application. We cannot make it any easier, and want all active and reserve PSYOP soldiers in POVA.
Can you be a Member of POVA? If you served in any PSYOP capacity, whether active or reserve duty, you are eligible and welcome into membership. It matters not if you are active or Reserve component. This includes those who were attached from other units to perform PSYOP tasks in support of Allied military operations. If you are not certain, POVA will work with you to clarify your membership status.
In addition, if you are or were a member of an Allied military PSYOP unit or organization, especially if you worked with American forces in any capacity, you are eligible for membership in POVA. Our current membership (summer 2018) includes Psywarriors from Australia, Germany, and Ukraine; POVA is in contact with other nations’ PSYOP units and veterans as well.
To join POVA, navigate to "Join POVA" on the menu at the top of the page and complete the online application at the bottom of the page. For added convenience, you can also pay your dues throughout site; just follow the webpage and it will help you do it quickly and efficiently.
I hope you’ll find POVA to be an interesting Association to reunite and reconnect with fellow PSYOP veterans, soldiers, Allies, and interested friends, and to help provide assistance to those organizations already helping our fellow veterans in need.