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Northern Illinois Coordinators
H.E.R.O.E.S. Care now has two Northern Illinois Area Coordinators; pictured left to right: Mark Demmin, Sr. and Dave Carl.
About Mark Demmin, Sr.
I am the son of an evangelical chaplain/pastor/missionary/evangelist who was a mighty Christian visionary and entrepreneur. He was led by the Lord to found and lead many organizations and ministries throughout the world. I personally have been involved in outreach ministries for over 40 years with my family and numerous organizations in the Peoria area for 14 years and the Naperville/Aurora area and in 3 foreign countries during the past 26 years. 1965 was spent on the mission field with my parents on the island nation of Jamaica. My parents provided quite an example and heritage for me and for my family. I have been very blessed in many ways. I answered the call of my nation during my senior year in high school which included 4 years of Civil Air Patrol cadet training. I enlisted in the IL Air National Guard in 1972. This was my initial "launch" into my passion of caring and supporting our military members and those left behind. I married my lifelong church sweetheart upon my return from training and TDY on 31 Jan, 1975. Julia is my partner, best friend and the love of my life. I have two adult children who are in music ministry with my wife and I as a family and individually. My daughter has her Masters Degree in Bio-Ethics from Trinity International University. She received her Bachelor’s Bio-PreMed Degree from Olivet Nazarene University. My civilian education is focused in the commercial interior design, kitchen design and construction industry. I currently freelance my services. I have 30+ years in sales, design and retail management.
Below is a snapshot of my journey which only highlights my connection to the US Armed Forces and Christ based ministries. Civilian activities are not shown.
- 1966-1969: Christian Service Brigade / Battalion Cadet (Christian version of JROTC)
- 1969-1972: Peoria Civil Air Patrol Cadet, Attained Cadet 1st Lt. and awarded The Billy Mitchell Award
- 1972-1975: Enlisted as an E-2 USAF/ILANG 183rd TAC Ftr Group / Air Operations Specialist and Chaplain’s Assistant
- 1975-1984: Commandant of Cadets, Peoria Civil Air Patrol / ILANG Liaison and Air/Ground Search and Rescue Officer / Pilot / Warrant Officer
- 1978-1983: Founded and elected president of the Peoria area chapter of the Air Force Association, based in Arlington, Virginia. During my 5 years of leadership, I was the youngest elected chapter president in the AFA, Peoria chapter 142 / 200+ members. Focus was with the 182nd TASG ILANG
- 1979-1986: ILL. AFA state board member
- 1982: Nominated for National AFA "40 under 40" board position / Top 8 candidate out of 480 submittals. BGen. Steve Ritchie (1 of only 2 Vietnam War USAF Aces) won the competition. I was proud to have been selected to be pitted with him. He won, which was fully understandable, given his credentials. We became friends and are still in touch to this day
- 1988-1995: Founding member and Exhibits Flight Manager/Director / Air Classics Museum of Aviation, Du Page Airport, West Chicago
- 1990-1995: Ground Ops Boss / Static Display Manager, Du Page Airshow managed by WGN-TV Special Projects Div., Chicago
- 1999-2004: USAF representative and host for Veteran’s Radio Hour, Web Based in Downers Grove, IL
- 1996-2005:Local advocate for Civil Air Patrol / AFA /USAF Programs and MilAv historical education, outreach, and Moral Education (Lay Chaplain)
- 2007-Current: Founder / Director of VetCom military outreach at The Compass Church, Naperville
- 2009-Current: Member and Lay Chaplain for Operation Support Our Troops- America (OSOTAM) based in Naperville. Gary Sinise and his Lt. Dan Band provide fund raising along with other groups for OSOT by providing a yearly concert which draws 15,000+ to the Cantigny Military Park / 1st Div. Big Red 1 Military Museum in Wheaton, IL
- 2005-Current: Founder and Director of Warbird Ventures Group MilAv historical tours and education. I arrange for and lead bus tours of the National Museum of the USAF in Dayton, Oh 3 times yearly. It is church based and focused on providing a Christian and safe military history environment for veterans, their family members and the many friends of military aviation
- Provided a military/war focused prayer with visuals for One Way Worldwide Ministries, based in Aurora in 2009: http://prayercast.com/uniquepcast/war
I became a Stephen Minister at The Compass Church (Previously the Evangelical Free Church of Naperville) in 2004 with the future development of VetCom in mind. The Stephen Ministry model was what I needed to prepare myself for the care and support of our veterans and their families. I have a total of 23 years of high school youth ministry and CSB Battalion leadership experience in both the local church environment and with the Peoria and Downers Grove YFC. My father was one of the co-founders of YFC Europe with Billy Graham in 1950. I thank the Lord for sharing me with parents that gave my family quite a servant focused legacy and heritage that is still vibrant and winning souls for Christ today.
I am currently in training for the opportunity that I have been offered to serve our warriors and their loved ones through H.E.R.O.E.S. Care and its allied ministries. I see no end to the need for godly response’s to the tremendous and ongoing need. I am currently serving VetCom in a consultative and visionary position.
Get in touch with Mark:
Phone: 630-631-9380
mdd.heroescarenil@yahoo.com
About Dave Carl
David L. (Dave) Carl is Volunteer H.E.R.O.E.S. Care Coordinator for Northern Illinois. He supports H.E.R.O.E.S. Care Outpost Coordinator Brandon Dunman by teaching the 8-hour H.E.R.O.E.S. Care training sessions to Stephen Congregations (Outposts) in Northern Illinois. Along with Mark Demmin, Dave is also co-leader of a team that will brief National Guard and Reserve unit commanders and service members on the merits of participating in the H.E.R.O.E.S. Care program.
Dave is a retired colonel (O-6), U.S. Army, having served 10 years on active duty and 20 years in the U.S. Army Reserves prior to his retirement in 1998. He was privileged to command six different units on active duty and in the reserves. His first command was as a junior captain with the 23rd Infantry Division (Americal) in the Republic of Vietnam, where he commanded a 155mm towed howitzer firing battery with 120 men in combat. Dave’s unit suffered major casualties when one of its fire bases was attacked and overrun by NVA and VC sapper forces. While serving on active duty he also commanded a 105mm towed howitzer firing battery of 100 men with the 25th Infantry Division.
Dave’s reserve command assignments included: Division Headquarters Company of 280 soldiers with the 104th Division (Training), Vancouver, WA; One Station Unit Training (OSUT) Battalion (drill sergeants) of 135 soldiers with the 104th Division (Training) in Portland, OR; Training Brigade (Lanes) of 450 soldiers and 20 full-time staffers with the 78th Division (Training) at Fort Dix, NJ; and Simulation Exercise Group of 130 soldiers with the 85th Division (Training) at Fort Sheridan, IL.
Dave’s most significant military awards and decorations included the Legion of Merit, seven Meritorious Service Medals, two Bronze Stars, the Air Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, the Parachutist Badge (airborne wings) and the Ranger Tab.
Dave has been blessed to be married to his wife and best friend Nancy for more than 43 years. They have two adult sons, both of whom are married and live in Washington State. Dave and Nancy were blessed with the births of their first two granddaughters last year. Their younger son Matt is a U.S. Army major currently stationed at Fort Lewis, WA. Matt has served three combat tours in Iraq thus far.
Dave and Nancy are members of Crossroads Community Church in Aurora, IL, where they participate in a variety of volunteer ministries. Dave and Nancy are both trained as Hometown Support Volunteers. They are passionate about supporting our service members, especially those who are deployed in harm’s way in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Dave is a financial advisor and investment advisor representative with World Equity Group, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. He teaches retirement seminars at colleges and universities in the far west and southwest Chicago suburbs. Dave holds a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY. He also earned a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree in management from Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, while serving on active duty.
Get in touch with Dave:
Phone: 630-820-6870
dcarl777@gmail.com
