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Allen J. Manuel

Allen J. Manuel of Ville Platte, Louisiana, served in the U.S. Army from 1956-66, with a tour in Korea and two tours in Germany. He retired from Amoco Production Company, where he worked for 24 years. A member of Vietnam Veterans of America since 1992, Allen has served in many leadership positions, including Treasurer of Chapter 632 in Ville Platte and Vice President of the Louisiana State Council (1996-2000).

In 1999, Allen was elected to the VVA National Board of Directors, and he is currently serving his seventh consecutive term as Region 7 Director, representing Vietnam veterans in Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. For the past six years, he has served on the VVA National Finance Committee and the VVA National Veterans Incarcerated Committee.

Allen sits on the Advisory board to the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Alexandria, Louisiana. He is a member of Incarcerated Chapter 689 and is an advocate for veterans incarcerated in the Louisiana State Penal system and elsewhere.

Allen has received numerous local and national awards in recognition of his selfless dedication to his fellow veterans, including, in 2002, the VVA Achievement Medal. In 2007, he was recognized with the VVA Commendation Medal, the organization's highest honor.

Allen and his wife, Norma, have been married for 53 years. They are the parents of Richard, Anita, Scott, Shelly, Vickie, and Tonya, and have 14 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.