What Does the American Legion Stand for

Organization of U.S. war veterans

This article is about the organization of U.S. war veterans. For the British military unit, see American Legion (Great Britain).

The American Legion

Emblem
American Legion National Headquarters Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Established	March 15, 1919 (102 years ago)  (1919-03-15)
Founded at	Paris, France
Type	501(c)(19), war veterans' organization
Tax ID no.	35-0144250
Headquarters	700 North Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis, Indiana
Coordinates	39°46′37″N 86°09′22″W  /  39.7770°N 86.1562°W  / 39.7770; -86.1562
Area served	Worldwide
Membership (2018)	~1,800,000
National Commander	Paul E. Dillard (TX) Since September 2, 2021
National Vice Commanders	Jerrold Wilson (OH) Since September 2, 2021 Angel O. Narvaez (PR) Since September 2, 2021 Michael F. Mitrione (VA) Since September 2, 2021 James T. Higuera (CA) Since September 2, 2021 Cory D. Bates (RI) Since September 2, 2021
National Executive Committee	61 voting members 6 national officers 55 committeemen
Key people	National Headquarters Executive Director James Baca Washington Office Executive Director Chanin Nuntavong
Main organ	National Convention
Subsidiaries	American Legion Auxiliary Sons of The American Legion American Legion Riders
Secessions	Forty and Eight
Website	legion.org

The American Legion, commonly known as the Legion, is a nonprofit organization of U.S. war veterans headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is made up of state, U.S. territory, and overseas departments, and these are in turn made up of local posts. The organization was formed on March 15, 1919, in Paris, France, by a thousand officers and men of the American Expeditionary Forces (A. E. F.),^[1] and it was chartered on September 16, 1919, by the United States Congress.^[2] The Legion played the leading role in the drafting and passing of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly known as the "G.I. Bill". In addition to organizing commemorative events, members provide assistance at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals and clinics. It is active in issue-oriented U.S. politics. Its primary political activity is lobbying on behalf of interests of veterans and service members, including support for benefits such as pensions and the Veterans Health Administration.^[3] It has also historically promoted Americanism, individual obligation to the community, state, and nation; peace and good will.^[4]

History [edit]

The American Legion was established on March 15, 1919, in Paris, France, by delegates to a caucus meeting from units of the American Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F.), which adopted a tentative constitution. The action of the Paris Caucus was confirmed and endorsed by a similar meeting held in St. Louis, Missouri, from May 8 to 10, 1919, when the Legion was formally recognized by the troops who served in the United States. The Paris Caucus appointed an Executive Committee of seventeen officers and men to represent the troops in France in the conduct of the Legion. The St. Louis caucus appointed a similar Committee of Seventeen. These two national executive committees amalgamated and were the initial governing body of the Legion. The temporary headquarters was located in New York.^[5]

List of founding members [edit]

The men who initiated the formation of the Legion:^[6]

• Lt. Col. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., of the First Division
• Col. Henry D. Lindsley, formerly Mayor of Dallas, Texas
• Sgt. John J. Sullivan, of Seattle
• Lt. Col. Franklin D'Olier, of Philadelphia
• Ex-Senator Luke Lea, of Tennessee
• Lt. Col. Frederick Huidekoper, of Washington, D.C.
• Major Redmond C. Stewart, of Baltimore
• Wagoner Dale Shaw, of Iowa
• Lt. Col. George A. White, of Oregon
• "Bill" Donovan, of the "Fighting 69th"
• Major Thomas R. Gowenlock, of Illinois
• Lt. Earl B. Dickerson, of the 92nd Division
• Sgt. Alvin York, of Tennessee
• Col. John Price Jackson, of the S. O. S.
• Lt. Col. "Jack" Greenway, of Arizona
• Sgt. Roy C. Haines, of Maine
• G. Edward Buxton, Jr., of Rhode Island
• Eric Fisher Wood, of Pennsylvania
• Chaplain John W. Inzer, of Alabama
• Lt. Col. David M. Goodrich, of Akron
• Chief Petty Officer B. J. Goldberg, of Chicago
• "Tom" Miller, of Delaware
• Major Alex. Laughlin, Jr., of Pittsburgh
• Major Henry Leonard, of the Marine Corps
• Dwight F. Davis, of the 35th Division
• Corporal Charles S. Pew, of Montana
• Brig. Gen. William G. Price, of the 28th Division
• Bishop Charles H. Brent, Senior Chaplain of the A. E. F.
• Maj. Gen. John F. O'Ryan, of the 27th Division
• Stewart Edward White, of California
• Private Jesus M. Baca, of New Mexico
• Brig. Gen. Charles H. Cole, of the 26th Division
• Sgt. E. L. Malsbary, of Nevada
• Lt. Samuel Gompers, Jr., of New York
• Col. Henry L. Stimson, Ex-Secretary of War
• Lt. Col. Charles W. Whittlesey, Commander of the "Lost Battalion"
• Roy Hoffman, of Oklahoma
• Lt. Col. A. Piatt Andrew, of the American Ambulance in France
• Brig. Gen. Harvey J. Moss, of the State of Washington
• John MacVicar, Mayor of Des Moines before the War
• Sgt. George H. H. Pratt, of New Orleans
• Col. F. C. Galbraith, of Cincinnati
• Corporal Joseph H. Fountain, of Vermont
• Devereux Milburn, of the 78th Division
• Lt. Col. Wilbur Smith, of the 89th Division
• Sgt. Theodore Myers, of Pennsylvania
• Col. Bennett C. Clark, son of Champ Clark
• Robert Bacon, Ex-Secretary of State

Headquarters [edit]

The national headquarters, informally known as American Legion headquarters, is located on the Indiana World War Memorial Plaza at 700 North Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis, Indiana. It is the headquarters for the National Commander of The American Legion and also houses the archives, library, Membership, Internal Affairs, Public Relations, and The American Legion magazine's editorial offices. The headquarters has expanded multiple times since its establishment.^[7]

Eligibility [edit]

Membership in the Legion was originally restricted to U.S. soldiers, sailors, and Marines who served honorably between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918.^[8] Eligibility has since been expanded to include military personnel who served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, or armed forces associated with the U.S.,^[9] between December 7, 1941, through a date of cessation of hostilities as determined by the government of the U.S., and was an American citizen when they entered that service or continues to serve honorably.^[10] U.S. Merchant marines who served between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946, are also eligible.^[11]

Publication [edit]

The official publication, originally known as The American Legion Weekly, launched on July 4, 1919.^[12] In 1926, the Legion Weekly switched frequency of publication and was renamed The American Legion Monthly.^[13] In 1936 the publication's name and volume numbering system changed again, this time to The American Legion.^[14]

Notable members [edit]

Notable members of The American Legion have included:

List of National Commanders [edit]

• Franklin D'Olier, Pennsylvania, 1919–1920
• Frederic W. Galbraith, Jr., Ohio, 1920–1921
• John G. Emery, Michigan, 1921
• Hanford MacNider, Iowa, 1921–1922
• Alvin M. Owsley, Texas, 1922–1923
• John R. Quinn, California, 1923–1924
• James A. Drain, Washington, 1924–1925
• John R. McQuigg, Ohio, 1925–1926
• Howard P. Savage, Illinois, 1926–1927
• Edward E. Spafford, New York, 1927–1928
• Paul V. McNutt, Indiana, 1928–1929
• O. L. Bodenhamer, Arkansas, 1929–1930
• Ralph T. O'Neil, Kansas, 1930–1931
• Henry L. Stevens, Jr., North Carolina, 1931–1932
• Louis A. Johnson, West Virginia, 1932–1933
• Edward A. Hayes, Illinois, 1933–1934
• Frank N. Belgrano, California, 1934–1935
• Ray Murphy, Iowa, 1935–1936
• Harry W. Colmery, Kansas, 1936–1937
• Daniel J. Doherty, Massachusetts, 1937–1938
• Stephen F. Chadwick, Washington, 1938–1939
• Raymond J. Kelly, Michigan, 1939–1940
• Milo J. Warner, Ohio, 1940–1941
• Lynn U. Stambaugh, North Dakota, 1941–1942
• Roane Waring, Tennessee, 1942–1943
• Warren H. Atherton, California, 1943–1944
• Edward N. Scheiberling, New York, 1944–1945
• John Stelle, Illinois, 1945–1946
• Paul H. Griffith, Pennsylvania, 1946–1947
• James F. O'Neill, New Hampshire, 1947–1948
• S. Perry Brown, Texas, 1948–1949
• George N. Craig, Indiana, 1949–1950
• Erle Cocke, Jr., Georgia, 1950–1951
• Donald R. Wilson, West Virginia, 1951–1952
• Lewis K. Gough, California, 1952–1953
• Arthur J. Connell, Connecticut, 1953–1954
• Seaborn P. Collins, New Mexico, 1954–1955
• J. Addington Wagner, Michigan, 1955–1956
• Dan Daniel, Virginia, 1956–1957
• John S. Gleason, Jr., Illinois, 1957–1958
• Preston J. Moore, Oklahoma, 1958–1959
• Martin B. McKneally, New York, 1959–1960
• William R. Burke, California, 1960–1961
• Charles L. Bacon, Missouri, 1961–1962
• James E. Powers, Georgia, 1962–1963
• Daniel F. Foley, Minnesota, 1963–1964
• Donald E. Johnson, Iowa, 1964–1965
• L. Eldon James, Virginia, 1965–1966
• John E. Davis, North Dakota, 1966–1967
• William E. Galbraith, Nebraska, 1967–1968
• William C. Doyle, New Jersey, 1968–1969
• J. Milton Patrick, Oklahoma, 1969–1970
• Alfred P. Chamie, California, 1970–1971
• John H. Geiger, Illinois, 1971–1972
• Joe L. Matthews, Texas, 1972–1973
• Robert E. L. Eaton, Maryland, 1972–1973
• James M. Wagonseller, Ohio, 1974–1975
• Harry G. Wiles, Kansas, 1975–1976
• William J. Rogers, Maine, 1976–1977
• Robert C. Smith, Louisiana, 1977–1978
• John M. Carey, Michigan, 1978–1979
• Frank I. Hamilton, Indiana, 1979–1980
• Michael J. Kogutek, New York, 1980–1981
• Jack W. Flynt, Texas, 1981–1982
• Al Keller, Jr., Illinois, 1982–1983
• Keith A. Kreul, Wisconsin, 1983–1984
• Clarence M. Bacon, Maryland, 1984–1985
• Dale L. Renaud, Iowa, 1985–1986
• James P. Dean, Mississippi, 1986–1987
• John P. Comer, Massachusetts, 1987–1988
• H. F. Gierke III, North Dakota, 1988–1989
• Miles S. Epling, West Virginia, 1989–1990
• Robert S. Turner, Georgia, 1990–1991
• Dominic D. DiFrancesco, Pennsylvania, 1991–1992
• Roger A. Munson, Ohio, 1992–1993
• Bruce Thiesen, California, 1993–1994
• William M. Detweiler, Louisiana, 1994–1995
• Daniel A. Ludwig, Minnesota, 1995–1996
• Joseph J. Frank, Missouri, 1996–1997
• Anthony G. Jordan, Maine, 1997–1998
• Harold L. Miller, Virginia, 1998–1999
• Alan G. Lance, Sr., Idaho, 1999–2000
• Ray G. Smith, North Carolina, 2000–2001
• Richard J. Santos, Maryland, 2001–2002
• Ronald F. Conley, Pennsylvania, 2002–2003
• John A. Brieden III, Texas, 2003–2004
• Thomas P. Cadmus, Michigan, 2004–2005
• Thomas L. Bock, Colorado, 2005–2006
• Paul A. Morin, Massachusetts, 2006–2007
• Martin F. Conatser, Illinois, 2007–2008
• David K. Rehbein, Iowa, 2008–2009
• Clarence E. Hill, Florida, 2009–2010
• Jimmie L. Foster, Alaska, 2010–2011
• Fang A. Wong, New York, 2011–2012
• James E. Koutz, Indiana, 2012–2013
• Daniel Dellinger, Virginia, 2013–2014
• Michael D. Helm, Nebraska, 2014–2015
• Dale Barnett, Georgia, 2015–2016
• Charles E. Schmidt, Oregon, 2016–2017
• Denise H. Rohan, Wisconsin, 2017–2018
• Brett P. Reistad, Virginia, 2018–2019
• James W. Oxford, North Carolina, 2019–2021
• Paul E. Dillard, Texas, 2021-2022

List of Honorary Commanders [edit]

• Marshal Ferdinand Foch^[15]
• General John J. Pershing^[15]

List of past National Commanders by vote of National Conventions [edit]

• Henry D. Lindsley, Texas, 1919
• Milton J. Foreman, Illinois, 1921
• Bennett Champ Clark, Missouri, 1926
• Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., New York, 1949^{[ citation needed ]}
• Eric Fisher Wood, Pennsylvania, 1955
• Thomas W. Miller, Nevada, 1968
• Maurice Stember, New York, 1975
• Hamilton Fish III, New York, 1979
• E. Roy Stone, Jr., South Carolina, 1987
• Robert W. Spanogle, Michigan, 2008

See also [edit]

• Freedom Bell, American Legion
• List of members of the American Legion
• List of veterans' organizations

References [edit]

Citations [edit]

1. ^ Wheat 1919, pp. 14, 19, 206, 209
2. ^ "American Legion Day". The American Legion Magazine. Indianapolis, Indiana. September 2016. p. 8. ISSN 0886-1234.
3. ^ Burtin, Olivier (2020). "Veterans as a Social Movement: The American Legion, the First Hoover Commission, and the Making of the American Welfare State". Social Science History. 44 (2): 329–354. doi:10.1017/ssh.2020.5. ISSN 0145-5532.
4. ^ Wheat 1919, pp. v, vi
5. ^ Wheat 1919, pp. 206–207
6. ^ Wheat 1919, pp. 207–208
7. ^ American Legion: "Office Locations, accessed December 30, 2010
8. ^ Wheat 1919, p. 206
9. ^ National Constitution and By-laws. Indianapolis, Indiana: The American Legion National Headquarters. February 2016. p. 3.
10. ^ "11 key things to know about the LEGION Act". The American Legion. August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
11. ^ "Membership in The American Legion". The American Legion Magazine. Indianapolis, IN. September 2016. p. 5. ISSN 0886-1234.
12. ^ The American Legion Weekly, OCLC 1480272. Master negative microfilm held by University Microfilms, now part of ProQuest.
13. ^ The American Legion Monthly, OCLC 1781656.
14. ^ American Legion Magazine, OCLC 1480271.
15. ^ ^{a b} The American Legion Ninth Annual Convention: Official Program and Guide Book. Indianapolis, Ind.: The American Legion. 1927. p. 115 – via Internet Archive.

General sources [edit]

• "American Legion 40th National Convention: official program [1958]". American Legion. 1958 – via Internet Archive.
• Ceplair, Larry (2011). Anti-communism in Twentieth-century America: A Critical History. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO. ISBN978-1440800474. OCLC 712115063.
• Heale, M.J. (1990). American Anticommunism: Combating the Enemy Within, 1830–1970. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN978-0801840500. OCLC 21483404.
• Rumer, Thomas A. (1990). The American Legion: An Official History, 1919–1989 . New York: M Evans & Co. ISBN978-0871316226. OCLC 22207881.
• Wheat, George Seay (1919). "The Story of The American Legion". The Birth of the Legion. New York and London: G. P. Putnam's Sons. LCCN 19012694. OL 7238700M – via Internet Archive. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .

Further reading [edit]

• Littlewood, Thomas B. (2004). Soldiers Back Home: The American Legion in Illinois, 1919–1939. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press. ISBN080932587X. OCLC 54461886.
• McFarland, Keith D. & Roll, David L. (2005). Louis Johnson and the Arming of America: The Roosevelt and Truman Years. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press. pp. 24–26. ISBN978-0-253-34626-1. OCLC 1023102538. OL 22709936M.
• Moley, Raymond (1966). The American Legion Story. New York: Duell, Sloan and Pearce. ISBN978-0809325870. OCLC 712139.
• Moorhead, Robert L. (1920). "Chapter XXI: The American Legion". The Story of the 139th Field Artillery, American Expeditionary Forces. Indianapolis, Indiana: The Bobbs-Merrill Company. pp. 179–182. OCLC 263171531 – via Internet Archive.
• National Executive Committee of The American Legion (October 17, 2019). "Resolution No. 10: 100th Anniversary Remembrance Of Our Comrades In The 1919 Centralia Tragedy" (PDF). The American Legion Digital Archive. Indianapolis, Indiana: The American Legion. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
• Pencak, William (1989). For God & Country: The American Legion, 1919–1941. Boston: Northeastern University Press. ISBN1555530508. OCLC 18682663.
• Spencer, Dewey, ed. (1979). History of The American Legion, Department of Arkansas, 1919–1979. Little Rock.

External links [edit]

Official

• Official website

General information

• "American Legion photographs". University of Missouri–St. Louis.
• American Legion politician members at The Political Graveyard
• The American Legion Centennial Celebration
• Works by or about American Legion at Internet Archive

What Does the American Legion Stand for

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Legion

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