Alcorn's last day as Executive Director of the Veterans Commission

Ray Alcorn retires as executive director of the Veterans Commission Saturday.

Alcorn, who retired from the Navy as a captain after 30 years, said he is leaving for health reasons "stemming from my past life.

"Mostly orthopedic reasons, the results of ejecting out of too many airplanes and my long-term disassociated tour," he said, referring to the seven years he spent as a prisoner in North Vietnam.

"I just decided that if I can get some of this stuff fixed, and I'm not getting any younger, now's the time to do it," he said.

Alcorn, 60, said he also has some "personal things" he wants to do.

Alcorn spent two years - 1987 and 1989 - as commander of the Fallon Naval Air Station, site of the Navy's Top Gun school for fighter pilots.

He finished his Naval career with a three year tour at the Navy War College in Rhode Island where he was dean of students.

He was picked to head the Nevada Commission for Veterans Affairs 15 months ago by Gov. Kenny Guinn.

"It's been pretty rewarding being able to give some assistance to vets who are still suffering from their days when they were in active duty service," he said.

Alcorn said he thinks the different veterans' organizations in Nevada are working more together now than when he started the job.

"We'll be speaking with one voice as we go into this next legislative session."

One regret, he said, is that he won't be there when the new veterans home in southern Nevada opens.

"The veterans home has been one of the top priorities," he said.

Alcorn said he and his wife plan to remain in the Carson City area.