Edwin A. "Ted” Tufts II enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1975 and served 21 years as an aircraft loadmaster on the C-141A/B Starlifter assigned to Charleston AFB.

During his service, he deployed in support of several campaigns to include Operations Desert Shield/Storm in Southwest Asia. His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal and the Kuwait Liberation Medal. He retired in 1996 with over 6000 hours of flight time.

After retiring from the USAF, Ted was employed at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in technical support and has spent the last 21 years working at the Medical University of South Carolina as a Systems Analyst retiring in July 2020.

Ted joined VFW Post 3433 in 2007 and has served in numerous positions at the Post and District level. He is a 2013-2014, 2014-2015 All State Team Commander and a 2016-2017 All State Captain / All American District Commander. He has served in numerous positions in the Department of South Carolina and District 1 such as Buddy Poppy Chairman, 3 years as Department Teachers’ Award Chairman, 5 years as District 1 Patriot Pen Chairman and National-Aide-De-camp – 2015-2016, 2016-2017.  He is the Department of South Carolina All American State Commander for 2020-2021

His VFW awards include the Samuel U. Roach (Outstanding District Commander) Award winner 2017, Post 3433 Communications Award winner 6 years and District 1 Communications Award winner 2017.

Ted is a Gold Legacy Life member of the VFW and is a life member of the VFW National Home for Children, Military Order of the Cootie and member of the American Legion Post 166.  He and his wife Beth, who is past Auxiliary president of Post 3433- and three-time District 1 President, and currently the Department of South Carolina VFWA President reside in North Charleston, SC