Legion ‘champion’ Pete Wheeler passes away

Pete Wheeler, who served as commissioner of the Georgia Department of Veterans Service continuously since 1954, passed away April 21. The World War II Army veteran was a nationally revered expert on veterans benefits and a 59-year member and leader in The American Legion.

“Pete Wheeler is one of our champions … we don’t have anybody else like him,” said Randy Goodman, commander of the Legion’s Department of Georgia. “He has served this state for over 60 years and has created an atmosphere where veterans feel welcome to walk into an office to get a claim done. He was the point man for all areas that affect veterans in the state of Georgia, and advised the governor and carried out all the programs.”

Goodman said that Wheeler “started something that has been very helpful to Georgia’s 780,000 veterans. Each year, he holds a veterans ‘supermarket of benefits’ around the state, to inform veterans of their benefits.” One such event drew more than 1,000 veterans. “He has done tremendous work for the veterans of Georgia.”

Thanks to Wheeler’s efforts, Georgia operates two state-supported nursing homes for veterans, one in Augusta and the other in Milledgeville. Each home has the capacity for about 230 residents and Goodman said the cost can essentially be covered by VA aid and attendance benefits. “So the nursing homes that he created, that serve our elderly veterans, that was his own compassion that he gave back to those veterans as they entered their final days. That was one of his greatest accomplishments for Georgia.”

A member of James T. Rayle Post 123 in Lexington, Ga., Wheeler was a recipient of The American Legion Gold Honor Medal. American Legion National Commander Michael D. Helm said that Wheeler was known throughout the organization as a tireless veterans advocate, “serving Georgia veterans, assuring care and assistance to all. He will be greatly missed, but his legacy will ensure the continued care of all veterans in need.”

“He was a champion for every issue that we had for helping veterans,” said Dale Barnett of Georgia, the national commander’s representative on the Legion’s Legislative Commission. “He always said, ‘What’s good for veterans, I’m all for.’ He lived to work for the veteran.”