The adjutant general shall appoint a commissioner of war service records and such additional clerical and stenographic help as may be necessary to the compilation and maintenance of the records and issuance of certificates provided for in the preceding section. The commissioner of war service records shall receive such salary as the adjutant general determines. The commissioner and all appointees employed in performing duties provided for in the preceding section shall be war veterans who entered service from this state and who are residents of the state at time of such appointment.