Hershel Wayne Gober (born December 21, 1936[1]) is a former government official and Vietnam War veteran. He served as acting United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) on two occasions during the administration of Bill Clinton: first from July 1, 1997,[2] until January 2, 1998,[3] between the resignation of Secretary Jesse Brown and the appointment of Togo D. West Jr. as acting secretary, and the second time from July 25, 2000,[4] until January 20, 2001,[1] after the resignation of Secretary West; this time Gober served in the post until the end of the Clinton presidency.
He started out in the VA as deputy secretary, serving from February 4, 1993,[4] until August 10, 2000.[5] Gober was also briefly secretary-designate, when Clinton named him on July 31, 1997,[6] to replace Jesse Brown. However, the nomination was withdrawn before Senate action on October 27 the same year[6] because of fears that nomination hearings for Gober would become heated due to questions about a 1993 claim of sexual misconduct made against him;[7] he also wished to stay as Deputy Secretary.[8]
During his tenure Gober, as a close and longtime aide, played an important role in the Clinton-era VA.[2] He headed a delegation that traveled to Vietnam to seek the fullest possible accounting of missing veterans.[9] He was also active in improving health care and expanding clinics for veterans.[9]
Before serving in the VA, Gober was director of the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs from January 4, 1988,[1] to February 4, 1993,[1] during Clinton's tenure as governor.[10]
Gober served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1956 to 1959. He served in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1978, retiring as a Major.
Service in Vietnamedit
Gober served two tours in Vietnam.[4] In addition to his combat duties, at one point he worked with an American-Vietnamese team that produced songs to help sway Vietnamese public opinion in favor of the American and South Vietnamese causes and to encourage the leadership in Washington to favor reaching the hearts and minds of the Vietnamese people. Later, in 1969, he was wounded while serving as a company commander.[11]
Musicedit
In 1970, Gober released a 45 rpm single, "Picture of a Man", which received some airplay on popular music radio stations.[12]
Gober had at least five single releases and one album as a recording artist; the first two were as Hershel Almond on Ace and Challenge in 1959. The others were on ABC ("The Proud American", 1966), "Tee Pee" (1967) and "Buddah" (1969).[13]
^ abcdDeArmond-Huskey, Rebecca (July 3, 2007). "Monticello (Drew County) Encyclopedia of Arkansas". EncyclopediaOfArkansas.net. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
^ abStaff reporter (June 7, 1997). "Veterans Affairs Chief Steps Down After Four Years". CNN.com. CNN. Retrieved January 15, 2008. Veterans Affairs Secretary Jesse Brown plans to leave his post July 1, and President Bill Clinton accepted the resignation Saturday "with deep regret."
^ (Press release). White House. December 2, 1997. Archived from the original on October 5, 2006. Retrieved January 15, 2008. The President today announced the appointment of Togo D. West, Jr., as Acting Secretary of Veterans' Affairs; the appointment will be effective January 2, 1998.
^ abc. va.gov. US Department of Veterans Affairs. July 2000. Archived from the original on May 18, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
^ (Press release). US Department of Veterans Affairs. August 10, 2000. Archived from the original on August 18, 2007. Retrieved January 15, 2008. President Clinton has appointed Edward A. (Ned) Powell, Jr., as the Acting Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Powell, currently VAs Assistant Secretary for Financial Management, will fill the position held by Hershel W. Gober, who was named Acting VA Secretary.
^ abU.S. Senate. Chapter 10: Cabinet Nominations Rejected or Withdrawn Accessed December 24, 2007.
^Rosenbaum, David E. Clinton Withdraws Nomination For Secretary of Veterans Affairs. New York Times. 1997-10-25. Accessed December 25, 2007. "In confirmation hearings, the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs intended to explore circumstances surrounding the exoneration of Mr. Gober after he was accused of sexual misconduct in 1993, a Congressional staff member said tonight."
^Rosenbaum, David E. Clinton Withdraws Nomination For Secretary of Veterans Affairs. New York Times. 1997-10-25. Accessed 2007-12-25. "Mr. Gober said he preferred to remain as Deputy Secretary, and Mr. Clinton said he regretted Mr. Gober's decision not to pursue the nomination."
^ abClinton, Bill (July 10, 2000). . Clinton6.NARA.gov (Press release). Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved December 25, 2007. A few years ago, I was honored that he agreed to head a delegation back to Vietnam to seek the fullest possible accounting of our men and women still missing in uniform. Hershel has already made his mark on the critical issue of veterans' health care. Early in our administration, he came to me and recommended that we look for ways to bring health care closer to the veterans who needed it. Since then, we've opened more than 200 out-patient clinics all across America and have more planned this year. That's one of the big reasons we were able to treat -- listen to this -- 400,000 more veterans last year than we did the year before.
^"President Clinton Names Hershel Gober as Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs". Clinton6.NARA.gov (Press release). White House. July 3, 1997. Retrieved December 25, 2007. Prior to his appointment as Deputy Secretary, he served as State Director of Veterans' Affairs in Arkansas under then-Governor Clinton.
hershel, gober, hershel, wayne, gober, born, december, 1936, former, government, official, vietnam, veteran, served, acting, united, states, secretary, veterans, affairs, occasions, during, administration, bill, clinton, first, from, july, 1997, until, january. Hershel Wayne Gober born December 21 1936 1 is a former government official and Vietnam War veteran He served as acting United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs VA on two occasions during the administration of Bill Clinton first from July 1 1997 2 until January 2 1998 3 between the resignation of Secretary Jesse Brown and the appointment of Togo D West Jr as acting secretary and the second time from July 25 2000 4 until January 20 2001 1 after the resignation of Secretary West this time Gober served in the post until the end of the Clinton presidency Hershel GoberUnited States Secretary of Veterans AffairsActingIn office July 25 2000 January 20 2001PresidentBill ClintonPreceded byTogo WestSucceeded byAnthony PrincipiIn office July 1 1997 January 2 1998PresidentBill ClintonPreceded byJesse BrownSucceeded byTogo WestUnited States Deputy Secretary of Veterans AffairsIn office February 4 1993 August 10 2000PresidentBill ClintonPreceded byAnthony PrincipiSucceeded byLeo MackayDirector of the Arkansas Department of Veterans AffairsIn office January 4 1988 February 4 1993GovernorBill ClintonJim TuckerPreceded byGrady BrownSucceeded byNick BaconPersonal detailsBornHershel Wayne Gober 1936 12 21 December 21 1936 age 87 Monticello Arkansas U S Political partyDemocraticEducationAlaska Pacific University BA Military serviceAllegianceUnited States of AmericaBranch service United States Army United States Marine CorpsRankMajor USMC Battles warsVietnam WarAwardsPurple HeartBronze StarHe started out in the VA as deputy secretary serving from February 4 1993 4 until August 10 2000 5 Gober was also briefly secretary designate when Clinton named him on July 31 1997 6 to replace Jesse Brown However the nomination was withdrawn before Senate action on October 27 the same year 6 because of fears that nomination hearings for Gober would become heated due to questions about a 1993 claim of sexual misconduct made against him 7 he also wished to stay as Deputy Secretary 8 During his tenure Gober as a close and longtime aide played an important role in the Clinton era VA 2 He headed a delegation that traveled to Vietnam to seek the fullest possible accounting of missing veterans 9 He was also active in improving health care and expanding clinics for veterans 9 Before serving in the VA Gober was director of the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs from January 4 1988 1 to February 4 1993 1 during Clinton s tenure as governor 10 Contents 1 Military service 1 1 Service in Vietnam 2 Music 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksMilitary service editGober served in the U S Marine Corps from 1956 to 1959 He served in the U S Army from 1961 to 1978 retiring as a Major Service in Vietnam edit Gober served two tours in Vietnam 4 In addition to his combat duties at one point he worked with an American Vietnamese team that produced songs to help sway Vietnamese public opinion in favor of the American and South Vietnamese causes and to encourage the leadership in Washington to favor reaching the hearts and minds of the Vietnamese people Later in 1969 he was wounded while serving as a company commander 11 Music editIn 1970 Gober released a 45 rpm single Picture of a Man which received some airplay on popular music radio stations 12 Gober had at least five single releases and one album as a recording artist the first two were as Hershel Almond on Ace and Challenge in 1959 The others were on ABC The Proud American 1966 Tee Pee 1967 and Buddah 1969 13 See also editUnsuccessful nominations to the Cabinet of the United StatesReferences edit a b c d DeArmond Huskey Rebecca July 3 2007 Monticello Drew County Encyclopedia of Arkansas EncyclopediaOfArkansas net Retrieved January 15 2008 a b Staff reporter June 7 1997 Veterans Affairs Chief Steps Down After Four Years CNN com CNN Retrieved January 15 2008 Veterans Affairs Secretary Jesse Brown plans to leave his post July 1 and President Bill Clinton accepted the resignation Saturday with deep regret President Clinton Names Togo D West Jr As Acting Secretary Of The Department Of Veterans Affairs Press release White House December 2 1997 Archived from the original on October 5 2006 Retrieved January 15 2008 The President today announced the appointment of Togo D West Jr as Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs the appointment will be effective January 2 1998 a b c The Honorable Hershel W Gober va gov US Department of Veterans Affairs July 2000 Archived from the original on May 18 2011 Retrieved January 15 2008 Ned Powell Named Acting VA Deputy Secretary Press release US Department of Veterans Affairs August 10 2000 Archived from the original on August 18 2007 Retrieved January 15 2008 President Clinton has appointed Edward A Ned Powell Jr as the Acting Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs VA Powell currently VAs Assistant Secretary for Financial Management will fill the position held by Hershel W Gober who was named Acting VA Secretary a b U S Senate Chapter 10 Cabinet Nominations Rejected or Withdrawn Accessed December 24 2007 Rosenbaum David E Clinton Withdraws Nomination For Secretary of Veterans Affairs New York Times 1997 10 25 Accessed December 25 2007 In confirmation hearings the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs intended to explore circumstances surrounding the exoneration of Mr Gober after he was accused of sexual misconduct in 1993 a Congressional staff member said tonight Rosenbaum David E Clinton Withdraws Nomination For Secretary of Veterans Affairs New York Times 1997 10 25 Accessed 2007 12 25 Mr Gober said he preferred to remain as Deputy Secretary and Mr Clinton said he regretted Mr Gober s decision not to pursue the nomination a b Clinton Bill July 10 2000 Remarks by the President Secretary of Veterans Affairs Togo West and Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Hershel Gober Clinton6 NARA gov Press release Archived from the original on June 8 2011 Retrieved December 25 2007 A few years ago I was honored that he agreed to head a delegation back to Vietnam to seek the fullest possible accounting of our men and women still missing in uniform Hershel has already made his mark on the critical issue of veterans health care Early in our administration he came to me and recommended that we look for ways to bring health care closer to the veterans who needed it Since then we ve opened more than 200 out patient clinics all across America and have more planned this year That s one of the big reasons we were able to treat listen to this 400 000 more veterans last year than we did the year before President Clinton Names Hershel Gober as Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs Clinton6 NARA gov Press release White House July 3 1997 Retrieved December 25 2007 Prior to his appointment as Deputy Secretary he served as State Director of Veterans Affairs in Arkansas under then Governor Clinton Winning hearts and minds in Vietnam Hershel Gober RateYourMusic com Rate your music Archived from the original on June 30 2013 Retrieved April 15 2013 On That Wisconsin Beat MusicGem 2006 Gary E MyersExternal links editEncyclopedia of Arkansas History amp Culture entry Department of Veterans Affairs biography of Acting Secretary Gober at the Wayback Machine archived January 29 2004 Profile at American President An Online Reference Resource Recordings of Gober singing songs in Vietnam are available in the Edward G Lansdale collection at the Hoover Institution Archives Stanford University Appearances on C SPANPolitical officesPreceded byAnthony Principi United States Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs1993 2000 Succeeded byLeo MackayPreceded byJesse Brown United States Secretary of Veterans AffairsActing1997 1998 Succeeded byTogo WestPreceded byTogo West United States Secretary of Veterans AffairsActing2000 2001 Succeeded byAnthony Principi Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hershel Gober amp oldid 1176854860, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
