For the first time in nearly 30 years a husband and wife team is leading the National Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) and the National Auxiliary to SUVCW.
Commander-in-Chief Tad D. Campbell was elected on Aug. 16, the same day that his wife was elected National Auxiliary President at the 2014 Allied Orders Encampment and Conventions in Marietta, Ga.
Tad is a first-generation California native and has lived in Gilroy for most of his life. He is a 22-year veteran 911 dispatcher and trainer with the San Jose Police Department.
Tad attended San Jose State University where he majored in history. In 1997 he joined the SUVCW Department of California Phil Sheridan Camp No. 4 and became a life member in 2005.
His election honors the memory of his seven direct ancestors who served in the following units: Benton County Arkansas Home Guards (US), 1st Arkansas Cavalry (US), 4th Michigan Infantry, 10th Michigan Cavalry, 17th Indiana Infantry, 18th Iowa Infantry, 60th Enrolled Missouri Militia and 5th Provisional Enrolled Missouri Militia. He has also identified 33 blood uncles and 116 first cousins who fought for the Union.
Tad’s wife, Auxiliary to SUVCW National President Rachelle Campbell, is a native of North Dakota. Rachelle joined the ASUVCW in 2000 and became a Life Member in 2005.
She is the organizer of the Dr. Mary E. Walker Auxiliary in 2004 and was the driving force behind a revitalization of the ASUVCW Department of California and Pacific, serving five years as president. She is a recipient of the SUVCW’s Dr. Mary E. Walker Award at both the Department and National levels. The Walker Award is the highest honor to be bestowed on a woman of the Allied Orders by the SUVCW and is given to a woman who goes above and beyond at either the state or national level or both in service to the SUVCW.
She works as an office manager for a computer networking company.
Rachelle’s election honors her ancestors who served in the 6th Iowa Calvary, 27th Iowa Infantry, 4th Wisconsin Light Artillery and the 15th Wisconsin Infantry, “The Scandinavian Regiment.”
The Campbell’s 6-year-old daughter, Emelia, was initiated as a junior member of the ASUVCW on the same day her mother and father were elected.
