Post PC-02 was reinvigorated and relocated in 2019 to Nuevo Gorgona, located just outside Coronado, Chame District, Panama Oeste, Republic of Panama. Our post has continued to grow from a starting group of 15 veterans to a current membership of 107, some of whom reside full-time in Panama while others split their time between CONUS and Panama.
We now have two VA-accredited Veteran Service Officers (VSOs), Kasey Caldwell and Natasha Hoglund.
At the time of this writing, Kasey and Natasha are currently the sole such VSOs in Central and South America. They have helped veterans, their spouses and children in Panama, Colombia, Mexico, and other countries in Central and South America. American Legion VSOs are volunteers and do not personally accept payment or reimbursement for services. There is no fee or required donation for assistance with your VA claim. You are not required to be a member of The American Legion to receive assistance from one of our VSOs.
Kasey is our first and longest0standing VSO with over four years of service to the expat veteran community. Kasey has assisted veterans and surviving widows with claims that total over $471,000 being gained for those he has assisted. Although Kasey has helped veterans in Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Mexico and the United States, his priority is assisting those veterans and families living here in the Republic of Panama, as the demand for services has increased. Kasey has invested approximately 750 hours performing VSO duties since he started tracking in early 2025.
Natasha brings an important facet to the VSO space, not only as a veteran herself but as an asset to all veterans looking for help but specifically female veterans. In 2000, 15% of enlisted personal were female and this percentage increased to 17.5% in 2022. Approximately 21.6 % of the reserves are female. Now in 2026, this segment of female veterans is retiring and in need of VA benefit assistance. Natasha is uniquely able to relate and assist with the female perspective and needs of female servicemembers. She became accredited in June 2026 and is off and running. In the four months she has been accredited, she has volunteered over 100 hours and helped veterans receive over $30,000 in back pay and increases in their monthly disability.
Post PC-02 supports the VSO program by covering expenses associated with maintaining accreditation.