Officers

Tim Zvoncheck, USN

Commander

Tim served in the US Navy and Navy Reserve from 83-97. During the nearly 15 years of military service, he achieved the rank of Navy Chief. He served as a Gunner’s Mate aboard guided missile frigates, Senior Weapons Systems Technician, Search and Seizure Team Captain, and later a US Navy Police Officer. Qualifying for the VFW with two tours in the Persian Gulf, and smaller conflicts throughout the world, Tim became a member of the VFW in 1991 in Tinley Park, IL. He later moved to Ohio and transferred to VFW Post 3345. Since joining Post 3345, Tim has served on the House Committee, Jr. Vice Commander, and now on his 5th term as Post Commander. He has been a Life Member since 2010.

Phone: 440-667-6154

Tad Brown, USN

Senior Vice Commander

Tad was a Naval Flight Officer for 11 years (’86-’97). His primary mission was tracking Soviet submarines from the P-3C Orion aircraft in the Mediterranean and North Atlantic. He earned his VFW membership during a deployment to the Persian Gulf in ’95 under Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield (Southwest Asia Service Medal). Tad joined the VFW as a Life Member in December, 2010, and immediately joined the House Committee for three months before being named Chairman for the next three years. He also concurrently served as Senior Vice Commander for the past two years, now entering his third. Voice of Democracy Chairman.

Phone: 440-376-7491

Effie Zavatchen, USA

Junior Vice Commander

Effie served in the US Army active duty with the 312th Military Intelligence Battalion, 1st Calvary Division from 1995 to 2000. She achieved the rank of SGT (E-5).

Effie served as an Arabic Linguist, Signals Intelligence Voice Interceptor, Electronic Warfare Squad Leader, Force Protection and Operational Control Element NCOIC, Small Arms Specialist and Combat Lifesaver. During her deployment to Bosnia with the 1st Calvary Division, Effie conducted counter intelligence operations. Effie has been a life member of Post 3345 since February 2018 and is currently the Chief of Staff.

Phone: 440-673-8111

Jim Karecki, USAF

Quartermaster

Jim served in the Air Force during Vietnam (’68-’72), stationed in Saigon for one year and six months at Kadina Air Base in Okinawa. He also served with an SR-71 reconnaissance unit at Beale Air Force base. He obtained the rank of SSGT (E-5). Jim has been a member of VFW Post 3345 for ten years, and has been a volunteer at the post, a Trustee for several years, and has served as Quartermaster since 2013.

Phone: 216-780-4643

Jim McCann, USA

Adjutant

Jim served in the US Army from 66-68. He achieved the rank of SP5 (E-5). He served one tour in Vietnam with the Headquarters Company of the 214th Combat Aviation Battalion at Camp Martin Cox (Bearcat) RVN. Jim has been a Life Member of Post 3345 since 1996 and has served as the Post Adjutant since 2008.

Phone: 216-554-6563

John Price, USA

Surgeon

John enlisted in the Army in December, 1968. He attended NCO school and obtained the rank of SSG (E-6) after 11 months. He was then sent to Viet Nam. Among other awards and citations, John is a Purple Heart veteran. He has been a member of VFW Post 3345 for the past six years, and has served as Surgeon for the past three, administering the Buddy Poppy program with tremendous success.

Phone: 440-570-5180

Bill (Burt) Overton, USA

Service Officer

Bill was drafted in the U.S. Army 1966-1968

Trained at Fort Benning, Georgia and Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

Sent to Vietnam in 1967; assigned to the 1st Air Calvary. Served in the DMZ area.

Service Officer VFW 3345. Appointed by the Commander, five years service.

Phone: 440-865-8783

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Chief of Staff

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