HH JR Wilson Final 1
DVG President J.R. Wilson talks about the lead up to the first ever Stand Down on the Delta in 2015. Video is part of the Bay Area's Hometown Heroes series.
East Bay Time "Veterans Next Mission"
About our Founder
J.R.Wilson was born in Concord, CA in 1971 and raised in Antioch and Pittsburg.
Although his family did not have much growing up, J.R.'s Father always taught him to "leave things better than you found it". This message would live on through J.R. and his service to his community for years to come.
As a young man, J.R. worked as a paperboy for both the Pittsburg Post Dispatch and the Antioch Daily Ledger. At 13 years old, he went door to door selling subscriptions to the respective companies' paper and the Oakland Tribune. He then went on to work for Straw Hat, Fry's, Savemart, and Raley's. At 17 years old, J.R. found himself homeless living on the streets of East Contra Costa County at night and working during the day before joining the U.S. Army.
J.R. served in the United States Army From 1990-1994, a life altering decision that would shape him into the man he is today. He served in the Military Intelligence Corps as a Non-communication interceptor/analyst (98J1P) with the 3rd Special Forces Group(A) at Ft. Bragg, NC from 1991-1993, where he was Airborne Qualified. J.R. also went overseas and served in the 102nd Military Intelligence Battalion, part of the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea.
J.R. joined the D.A.V. in 1997 as a life member of Chapter 10 in North Virginia. In November of 1997, he applied to be a National Service Officer with D.A.V. and in January of 1998, the D.A.V. invited J.R. to attend the D.A.V. Academy, Class Six, in Denver, CO. J.R. then went on to serve as a National Service Officer in the Roanoke, Virginia N.S.O. office from 1998-2000, and the Reno, Nevada D.A.V. --N.S.O. office supervisor from 2000 to 2002. In 2002, J.R. went back to his home state of California to serve in the DAV National Service Office San Diego as the Assistant Supervisor and the Supervisor from November of 2002 to May of 2004.
Upon returning home to Contra Costa County, J.R. noticed an increase in homelessness among our Veterans. He decided to take action and founded Delta Veterans Group in 2012 with the intent of bringing the first ever "Stand Down on the Delta" of its kind in Contra Costa County and our Veteran community. After three long years of planning, Stand Down on the Delta finally made its debut in September of 2015. Stand Down on the Delta 2015 brought in over 350 homeless and at-risk of becoming homeless Veterans and their families for four days of housing, employment, health, education, recovery, and legal services.
Currently J.R. is serving his community in a greater capacity. His endeavors include:
-President and Founder, Delta Veterans Group
-DAV National Executive Committee Member for District 16
-Commander, DAV State of California 2016/17
-Legislative Director, DAV State of California 2019-
-Commander, DAV Chapter 154, Pittsburg, CA 2015--2017
-Volunteer Department Service Officer, DAV
-Legislative Chair, California State Commanders Veterans Council 20-21
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-Commander and Life Member, VFW Post 6435, Antioch, CA
-Life Member, American Legion
-Chairman Board of Directors, United States Volunteer's of America 2016-2022
-Board of Director's, United States Volunteers
J.R. is also active in his local Rotary, Lions, Masons, and Elks groups.
Although his family did not have much growing up, J.R.'s Father always taught him to "leave things better than you found it". This message would live on through J.R. and his service to his community for years to come.
As a young man, J.R. worked as a paperboy for both the Pittsburg Post Dispatch and the Antioch Daily Ledger. At 13 years old, he went door to door selling subscriptions to the respective companies' paper and the Oakland Tribune. He then went on to work for Straw Hat, Fry's, Savemart, and Raley's. At 17 years old, J.R. found himself homeless living on the streets of East Contra Costa County at night and working during the day before joining the U.S. Army.
J.R. served in the United States Army From 1990-1994, a life altering decision that would shape him into the man he is today. He served in the Military Intelligence Corps as a Non-communication interceptor/analyst (98J1P) with the 3rd Special Forces Group(A) at Ft. Bragg, NC from 1991-1993, where he was Airborne Qualified. J.R. also went overseas and served in the 102nd Military Intelligence Battalion, part of the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea.
J.R. joined the D.A.V. in 1997 as a life member of Chapter 10 in North Virginia. In November of 1997, he applied to be a National Service Officer with D.A.V. and in January of 1998, the D.A.V. invited J.R. to attend the D.A.V. Academy, Class Six, in Denver, CO. J.R. then went on to serve as a National Service Officer in the Roanoke, Virginia N.S.O. office from 1998-2000, and the Reno, Nevada D.A.V. --N.S.O. office supervisor from 2000 to 2002. In 2002, J.R. went back to his home state of California to serve in the DAV National Service Office San Diego as the Assistant Supervisor and the Supervisor from November of 2002 to May of 2004.
Upon returning home to Contra Costa County, J.R. noticed an increase in homelessness among our Veterans. He decided to take action and founded Delta Veterans Group in 2012 with the intent of bringing the first ever "Stand Down on the Delta" of its kind in Contra Costa County and our Veteran community. After three long years of planning, Stand Down on the Delta finally made its debut in September of 2015. Stand Down on the Delta 2015 brought in over 350 homeless and at-risk of becoming homeless Veterans and their families for four days of housing, employment, health, education, recovery, and legal services.
Currently J.R. is serving his community in a greater capacity. His endeavors include:
-President and Founder, Delta Veterans Group
-DAV National Executive Committee Member for District 16
-Commander, DAV State of California 2016/17
-Legislative Director, DAV State of California 2019-
-Commander, DAV Chapter 154, Pittsburg, CA 2015--2017
-Volunteer Department Service Officer, DAV
-Legislative Chair, California State Commanders Veterans Council 20-21
-
-Commander and Life Member, VFW Post 6435, Antioch, CA
-Life Member, American Legion
-Chairman Board of Directors, United States Volunteer's of America 2016-2022
-Board of Director's, United States Volunteers
J.R. is also active in his local Rotary, Lions, Masons, and Elks groups.