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The American Legion, commonly known as the Legion, is a
non-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
organization An organization or organisation (Commonwealth English; see spelling differences), is an entity—such as a company, an institution, or an association—comprising one or more people and having a particular purpose. The word is derived from ...
of
U.S. The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
war War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...
veteran A veteran () is a person who has significant experience (and is usually adept and esteemed) and expertise in a particular occupation or field. A military veteran is a person who is no longer serving in a military. A military veteran that has ...
s headquartered in
Indianapolis Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...
,
Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
. 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 Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
,
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
, by a thousand
officer An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," f ...
s and men of the
American Expeditionary Forces The American Expeditionary Forces (A. E. F.) was a formation of the United States Army on the Western Front of World War I. The A. E. F. was established on July 5, 1917, in France under the command of General John J. Pershing. It fought alon ...
(A. E. F.), and it was chartered on September 16, 1919, by the
United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washing ...
. 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 The Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly known as the G.I. Bill, was a law that provided a range of benefits for some of the returning World War II veterans (commonly referred to as G.I.s). The original G.I. Bill expired in 1956, bu ...
". 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 In politics, lobbying, persuasion or interest representation is the act of lawfully attempting to influence the actions, policies, or decisions of government officials, most often legislators or members of regulatory agency, regulatory agencie ...
on behalf of interests of
veteran A veteran () is a person who has significant experience (and is usually adept and esteemed) and expertise in a particular occupation or field. A military veteran is a person who is no longer serving in a military. A military veteran that has ...
s and service members, including support for benefits such as pensions and the
Veterans Health Administration The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the component of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) led by the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health that implements the healthcare program of the VA through a national ...
. It has also historically promoted Americanism, individual obligation to the community, state, and nation; peace and good will.


History

The American Legion was established on March 15, 1919, in Paris, France, by
delegate Delegate or delegates may refer to: * Delegate, New South Wales, a town in Australia * Delegate (CLI), a computer programming technique * Delegate (American politics), a representative in any of various political organizations * Delegate (Unit ...
s to a
caucus A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a specific political party or movement. The exact definition varies between different countries and political cultures. The term originated in the United States, where it can refer to a meeting ...
meeting from units of the
American Expeditionary Forces The American Expeditionary Forces (A. E. F.) was a formation of the United States Army on the Western Front of World War I. The A. E. F. was established on July 5, 1917, in France under the command of General John J. Pershing. It fought alon ...
(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 St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...
,
Missouri Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...
, 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.


List of founding members

The men who initiated the formation of the Legion: * Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., of the First Division * Colonel Henry D. Lindsley, formerly
Mayor of Dallas The Mayor of the City of Dallas is the head of the Dallas City Council. The current mayor is Eric Johnson (Texas politician), Eric Johnson, who has served one term since 2019 Dallas mayoral election, 2019 and is the 62nd mayor to serve the posit ...
, Texas * Colonel Horatio Nelson Jackson, US Army first person to drive an automobile across America * Sergeant John J. Sullivan, of Seattle * Lieutenant Colonel Franklin D'Olier, of Philadelphia * Ex-Senator Luke Lea, of Tennessee * Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Huidekoper, of Washington, D.C. * Major Redmond C. Stewart, of Baltimore * Wagoner Dale Shaw, of Iowa * Lieutenant Colonel
George A. White Major General George A. White (18 July 1880 – 23 November 1941) was an American journalist, magazine editor, and senior officer of the Oregon National Guard, who helped organize The American Legion. He commanded the 41st Infantry Division, m ...
, of Oregon * "Bill" Donovan, of the " Fighting 69th" * Major Thomas R. Gowenlock, of Illinois * Lieutenant Earl B. Dickerson, of the 92nd Division * Sergeant
Alvin York Alvin Cullum York (December 13, 1887 – September 2, 1964), also known as Sergeant York, was one of the most decorated United States Army soldiers of World War I. He received the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine ...
, of Tennessee * Colonel John Price Jackson, of the S. O. S. * Lieutenant Colonel "Jack" Greenway, of Arizona * Sergeant Roy C. Haines, of Maine * G. Edward Buxton, Jr., of Rhode Island * Eric Fisher Wood, of Pennsylvania * Chaplain John W. Inzer, of Alabama * Lieutenant Colonel 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 Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship (refle ...
*
Dwight F. Davis Dwight Filley Davis Sr. (July 5, 1879 – November 28, 1945) was an American tennis player and politician. He is best remembered as the founder of the Davis Cup international tennis competition. He was the Assistant Secretary of War from 1923 to ...
, of the 35th Division * Corporal Charles S. Pew, of Montana * Brigadier General William G. Price, of the 28th Division * Bishop Charles H. Brent, Senior Chaplain of the A. E. F. * Major General John F. O'Ryan, of the 27th Division *
Stewart Edward White Stewart Edward White (12 March 1873 – September 18, 1946) was an American writer, novelist, and spiritualist. He was a brother of noted mural painter Gilbert White. Personal life White was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the son of Mary E. ( ...
, of California * Private Jesus M. Baca, of New Mexico * Brigadier General Charles H. Cole, of the 26th Division * Sergeant E. L. Malsbary, of Nevada * Lieutenant Samuel Gompers, Jr., of New York * Colonel
Henry L. Stimson Henry Lewis Stimson (September 21, 1867 – October 20, 1950) was an American statesman, lawyer, and Republican Party politician. Over his long career, he emerged as a leading figure in U.S. foreign policy by serving in both Republican and D ...
, Ex-
Secretary of War The secretary of war was a member of the U.S. president's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War", had been appointed to serve the Congress of the ...
* Lieutenant Colonel Charles W. Whittlesey, Commander of the " Lost Battalion" * Roy Hoffman, of Oklahoma * Lieutenant Colonel
A. Piatt Andrew Abram Piatt Andrew Jr. (February 12, 1873 – June 3, 1936) was an American economist and politician who served as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, the founder and director of the American Ambulance Field Service during World War I, and a m ...
, of the American Ambulance in France * Brigadier General Harvey J. Moss, of the State of Washington * John MacVicar, Mayor of Des Moines before the
War War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...
* Sergeant George H. H. Pratt, of New Orleans * Colonel F. W. Galbraith, of Cincinnati * Corporal Joseph H. Fountain, of Vermont *
Devereux Milburn Devereux Milburn (September 19, 1881 – August 15, 1942) was an American champion polo player in the early to mid twentieth century. He was one of a group of Americans known as the Big Four in international polo, winning the Westchester Cup six ...
, of the 78th Division * Lieutenant Colonel Wilbur Smith, of the 89th Division * Sergeant Theodore Myers, of Pennsylvania * Colonel Bennett C. Clark, son of
Champ Clark James Beauchamp Clark (March 7, 1850March 2, 1921) was an American politician and attorney who represented Missouri in the United States House of Representatives and served as Speaker of the House from 1911 to 1919. Born in Kentucky, he establis ...
*
Robert Bacon Robert Bacon (July 5, 1860 – May 29, 1919) was an American statesman and diplomat. He was also a leading banker and businessman who worked closely with Secretary of State Elihu Root, 1905-1909, and served as United States Secretary of Sta ...
, Ex- Secretary of State


Headquarters

The national headquarters, informally known as American Legion headquarters, is located on the
Indiana World War Memorial Plaza The Indiana World War Memorial Plaza is an urban feature and war memorial located in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, originally built to honor the veterans of World War I. and (PDF) It was conceived in 1919 as a location for the na ...
at 700 North Pennsylvania Street,
Indianapolis Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...
, 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 national headquarters has expanded multiple times since its establishment.


Emblem

The World War I Victory Button on a narrow circular band of blue enamel, containing the words "American Legion" in gold letters, forms the central element of the American Legion Emblem. The Legion emblem or "button" was officially adopted by the National Executive Committee of The American Legion on July 9, 1919.


Eligibility

Membership in The American Legion was originally restricted to soldiers, sailors, and marines who served honorably between April 6, 1917, and
November 11, 1918 The Armistice of 11 November 1918 was the armistice signed at Le Francport near Compiègne that ended fighting on land, sea, and air in World War I between the Entente and their last remaining opponent, Germany. Previous armistices ...
. Eligibility has since been expanded to include
personnel Employment is a relationship between two parties regulating the provision of paid labour services. Usually based on a contract, one party, the employer, which might be a corporation, a not-for-profit organization, a co-operative, or any othe ...
who served on
active duty Active duty, in contrast to reserve duty, is a full-time occupation as part of a military force. In the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations, the equivalent term is active service. India The Indian Armed Forces are considered to be one ...
in the Armed Forces of the United States or armed forces associated with the U.S.,Amer. Legion Const. art. IV, § 1. between
December 7, 1941 The attack on Pearl HarborAlso known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States against the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, ju ...
, through a date of cessation of hostilities as determined by the
federal government A federation (also known as a federal state) is a political entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a central federal government (federalism). In a federation, the self-governin ...
, and was an American citizen when they entered that service or continues to serve honorably. U.S. Merchant Marines who served between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946, are also eligible. Honorary, associate, social, or guest memberships in the Legion are not permitted. Members must be eligible through the nature and timing of their
military service Military service is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, air forces, and naval forces, whether as a chosen job (volunteer) or as a result of an involuntary draft (conscription). Some nations (e.g., Mexico) require a ...
. The following is a list of eligibility dates used by The American Legion to determine membership eligibility.


Publication

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


Notable members

Notable members of The American Legion have included: File:President Woodrow Wilson by Harris & Ewing, 1914-crop2.jpg,
Woodrow Wilson Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856February 3, 1924) was an American politician and academic who served as the 28th president of the United States from 1913 to 1921. A member of the Democratic Party, Wilson served as the president of ...
, 28th President of the United States File:TRUMAN 58-766-06 (cropped).jpg,
Harry Truman Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. A leader of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 34th vice president from January to April 1945 under Franklin ...
, 33rd President of the United States File:Dwight D. Eisenhower, official photo portrait, May 29, 1959.jpg,
Dwight Eisenhower Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (born David Dwight Eisenhower; ; October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was an American military officer and statesman who served as the 34th president of the United States from 1953 to 1961. During World War II, ...
, 34th President of the United States File:John F. Kennedy, White House color photo portrait.jpg, John Kennedy, 35th President of the United States File:37 Lyndon Johnson 3x4.jpg,
Lyndon Johnson Lyndon Baines Johnson (; August 27, 1908January 22, 1973), often referred to by his initials LBJ, was an American politician who served as the 36th president of the United States from 1963 to 1969. He had previously served as the 37th vice ...
, 36th President of the United States File:Richard M. Nixon, ca. 1935 - 1982 - NARA - 530679.tif (cropped).jpg,
Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a representative and senator from California and was ...
, 37th President of the United States File:Gerald Ford presidential portrait (cropped).jpg,
Gerald Ford Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. ( ; born Leslie Lynch King Jr.; July 14, 1913December 26, 2006) was an American politician who served as the 38th president of the United States from 1974 to 1977. He was the only president never to have been elected ...
, 38th President of the United States File:JimmyCarterPortrait2.jpg,
Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he previously served as th ...
, 39th President of the United States File:Official Portrait of President Reagan 1981.jpg,
Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...
, 40th President of the United States File:George H. W. Bush, President of the United States, 1989 official portrait (cropped).jpg,
George Bush George Bush most commonly refers to: * George H. W. Bush (1924–2018), 41st president of the United States and father of the 43rd president * George W. Bush (born 1946), 43rd president of the United States and son of the 41st president Georg ...
, 41st President of the United States File:George-W-Bush.jpeg,
George Bush George Bush most commonly refers to: * George H. W. Bush (1924–2018), 41st president of the United States and father of the 43rd president * George W. Bush (born 1946), 43rd president of the United States and son of the 41st president Georg ...
, 43rd President of the United States File:MacArthur Manila (cropped).jpg, General of the Army
Douglas MacArthur Douglas MacArthur (26 January 18805 April 1964) was an American military leader who served as General of the Army for the United States, as well as a field marshal to the Philippine Army. He had served with distinction in World War I, was C ...
, Medal of Honor recipient File:George S. Patton 01.jpg, General George Patton, Jr., two-time Distinguished Service Cross recipient File:LC-DIG-ggbain-37582.jpg, Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., Medal of Honor recipient File:RickenbackerUSAF.jpg, Captain
Eddie Rickenbacker Edward Vernon Rickenbacker or Eddie Rickenbacker (October 8, 1890 – July 23, 1973) was an American fighter pilot in World War I and a Medal of Honor recipient.Alvin York Alvin Cullum York (December 13, 1887 – September 2, 1964), also known as Sergeant York, was one of the most decorated United States Army soldiers of World War I. He received the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine ...
, Medal of Honor recipient File:Humphrey Bogart publicity.jpg,
Humphrey Bogart Humphrey DeForest Bogart (; December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957), nicknamed Bogie, was an American film and stage actor. His performances in Classical Hollywood cinema films made him an American cultural icon. In 1999, the American Film In ...
, Academy Award winner File:Clark_Gable_-_publicity.JPG,
Clark Gable William Clark Gable (February 1, 1901November 16, 1960) was an American film actor, often referred to as "The King of Hollywood". He had roles in more than 60 motion pictures in multiple genres during a career that lasted 37 years, three decades ...
, Academy Award winner


List of national commanders

# Franklin D'Olier, of Pennsylvania, 1919–1920 # Frederic W. Galbraith, Jr., of Ohio, 1920–1921 # John G. Emery, of Michigan, 1921 #
Hanford MacNider Lieutenant General Hanford MacNider (October 2, 1889 – February 18, 1968) was a senior officer of the United States Army who fought in both world wars. He also served as a diplomat, the Assistant Secretary of War of the United States from 19 ...
, of Iowa, 1921–1922 # Alvin M. Owsley, of Texas, 1922–1923 # John R. Quinn, of California, 1923–1924 # James A. Drain, of Washington, 1924–1925 # John R. McQuigg, of Ohio, 1925–1926 # Howard P. Savage, of Illinois, 1926–1927 # Edward E. Spafford, of New York, 1927–1928 #
Paul V. McNutt Paul Vories McNutt (July 19, 1891 – March 24, 1955) was an American diplomat and politician who served as the 34th governor of Indiana, high commissioner to the Philippines, administrator of the Federal Security Agency, chairman of the ...
, of Indiana, 1928–1929 # O. L. Bodenhamer, of Arkansas, 1929–1930 # Ralph T. O'Neil, of Kansas, 1930–1931 # Henry L. Stevens, Jr., of North Carolina, 1931–1932 # Louis A. Johnson, of West Virginia, 1932–1933 # Edward A. Hayes, of Illinois, 1933–1934 # Frank N. Belgrano, of California, 1934–1935 # Ray Murphy, of Iowa, 1935–1936 #
Harry W. Colmery Harry W. Colmery (December 11, 1890 – August 23, 1979) was an American attorney who served as the National Commander of The American Legion from 1936 to 1937. Considered the principal architect of the G.I. Bill, he was the first past nationa ...
, of Kansas, 1936–1937 # Daniel J. Doherty, of Massachusetts, 1937–1938 # Stephen F. Chadwick, of Washington, 1938–1939 # Raymond J. Kelly, of Michigan, 1939–1940 # Milo J. Warner, of Ohio, 1940–1941 # Lynn U. Stambaugh, of North Dakota, 1941–1942 # Roane Waring, of Tennessee, 1942–1943 # Warren H. Atherton, of California, 1943–1944 # Edward N. Scheiberling, of New York, 1944–1945 # John Stelle, of Illinois, 1945–1946 # Paul H. Griffith, of Pennsylvania, 1946–1947 # James F. O'Neill, of New Hampshire, 1947–1948 # S. Perry Brown, of Texas, 1948–1949 #
George N. Craig George North Craig (August 6, 1909 – December 17, 1992) was an American attorney and politician who served as the List of governors of Indiana, 39th Governor of Indiana, governor of the United States, U.S. U.S. state, state of Indiana from 19 ...
, of Indiana, 1949–1950 # Erle Cocke, Jr., of Georgia, 1950–1951 # Donald R. Wilson, of West Virginia, 1951–1952 # Lewis K. Gough, of California, 1952–1953 # Arthur J. Connell, of Connecticut, 1953–1954 # Seaborn P. Collins, of New Mexico, 1954–1955 # J. Addington Wagner, of Michigan, 1955–1956 # Dan Daniel, of Virginia, 1956–1957 # John S. Gleason, Jr., of Illinois, 1957–1958 # Preston J. Moore, of Oklahoma, 1958–1959 # Martin B. McKneally, of New York, 1959–1960 # William R. Burke, of California, 1960–1961 # Charles L. Bacon, of Missouri, 1961–1962 # James E. Powers, of Georgia, 1962–1963 # Daniel F. Foley, of Minnesota, 1963–1964 # Donald E. Johnson, of Iowa, 1964–1965 # L. Eldon James, of Virginia, 1965–1966 # John E. Davis, of North Dakota, 1966–1967 # William E. Galbraith, of Nebraska, 1967–1968 # William C. Doyle, of New Jersey, 1968–1969 # J. Milton Patrick, of Oklahoma, 1969–1970 # Alfred P. Chamie, of California, 1970–1971 # John H. Geiger, of Illinois, 1971–1972 # Joe L. Matthews, of Texas, 1972–1973 # Robert E. L. Eaton, of Maryland, 1972–1973 # James M. Wagonseller, of Ohio, 1974–1975 # Harry G. Wiles, of Kansas, 1975–1976 # William J. Rogers, of Maine, 1976–1977 # Robert C. Smith, of Louisiana, 1977–1978 # John M. Carey, of Michigan, 1978–1979 # Frank I. Hamilton, of Indiana, 1979–1980 # Michael J. Kogutek, of New York, 1980–1981 # Jack W. Flynt, of Texas, 1981–1982 # Al Keller, Jr., of Illinois, 1982–1983 # Keith A. Kreul, of Wisconsin, 1983–1984 # Clarence M. Bacon, of Maryland, 1984–1985 # Dale L. Renaud, of Iowa, 1985–1986 # James P. Dean, of Mississippi, 1986–1987 # John P. Comer, of Massachusetts, 1987–1988 # H. F. Gierke III, of North Dakota, 1988–1989 # Miles S. Epling, of West Virginia, 1989–1990 # Robert S. Turner, of Georgia, 1990–1991 # Dominic D. DiFrancesco, of Pennsylvania, 1991–1992 # Roger A. Munson, of Ohio, 1992–1993 # Bruce Thiesen, of California, 1993–1994 # William M. Detweiler, of Louisiana, 1994–1995 # Daniel A. Ludwig, of Minnesota, 1995–1996 # Joseph J. Frank, of Missouri, 1996–1997 # Anthony G. Jordan, of Maine, 1997–1998 # Harold L. Miller, of Virginia, 1998–1999 # Alan G. Lance, Sr., of Idaho, 1999–2000 # Ray G. Smith, of North Carolina, 2000–2001 # Richard J. Santos, of Maryland, 2001–2002 # Ronald F. Conley, of Pennsylvania, 2002–2003 # John A. Brieden III, of Texas, 2003–2004 # Thomas P. Cadmus, of Michigan, 2004–2005 # Thomas L. Bock, of Colorado, 2005–2006 # Paul A. Morin, of Massachusetts, 2006–2007 # Martin F. Conatser, of Illinois, 2007–2008 # David K. Rehbein, of Iowa, 2008–2009 # Clarence E. Hill, of Florida, 2009–2010 # Jimmie L. Foster, of Alaska, 2010–2011 # Fang A. Wong, of New York, 2011–2012 # James E. Koutz, of Indiana, 2012–2013 # Daniel Dellinger, of Virginia, 2013–2014 # Michael D. Helm, of Nebraska, 2014–2015 # Dale Barnett, of Georgia, 2015–2016 # Charles E. Schmidt, of Oregon, 2016–2017 # Denise H. Rohan, of Wisconsin, 2017–2018 # Brett P. Reistad, of Virginia, 2018–2019 # James W. Oxford, of North Carolina, 2019–2021 # Paul E. Dillard, of Texas, 2021–2022 # Vincent J. Troiola, of New York, 2022–2023


List of honorary commanders

* Marshal
Ferdinand Foch Ferdinand Foch ( , ; 2 October 1851 – 20 March 1929) was a French general and military theorist who served as the Supreme Allied Commander during the First World War. An aggressive, even reckless commander at the First Marne, Flanders and Art ...
, of the
French Army The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed For ...
* General John J. Pershing, Commander in Chief of the A. E. F.


List of past national commanders by vote of national conventions

* Henry D. Lindsley, of Texas, 1919 *
Milton J. Foreman Milton J. Foreman (1863–1935) was a Lieutenant General, who served as Commander in Chief of the Illinois National Guard. Prior to that, he led the 33rd Division, Illinois National Guard. Foreman attended the Paris Caucuses in 1919 of the Amer ...
, of Illinois, 1921 * Bennett Champ Clark, of Missouri, 1926 * Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., of New York, 1949 * Eric Fisher Wood, of Pennsylvania, 1955 * Thomas W. Miller, of Nevada, 1968 * Maurice Stember, of New York, 1975 *
Hamilton Fish III Hamilton Fish III (born Hamilton Stuyvesant Fish and also known as Hamilton Fish Jr.; December 7, 1888 – January 18, 1991) was an American soldier and politician from New York State. Born into a family long active in the state, he served in t ...
, of New York, 1979 * E. Roy Stone, Jr., of South Carolina, 1987 * Robert W. Spanogle, of Michigan, 2008


See also

*''
Freedom Bell, American Legion ''Freedom Bell, American Legion'', is a public artwork located at Union Station in Washington, D.C., United States. A replica of the Liberty Bell, ''Freedom Bell, American Legion'' was surveyed as part of the Smithsonian's American Art Museum' ...
'' *
List of members of the American Legion This table provides a list of notable members of The American Legion. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y Z References External links * {{DEFAULTSORT:American Legion, List O ...
*
List of veterans' organizations This is a list of veterans' organizations by country. List of veterans' organizations International veterans' organizations * Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League * War Veterans Committee * World Association of Home Army Soldiers * World Ve ...


References


Citations


General sources

* * * * *


Further reading

* * * * * *


External links

; Official * ; General information *
American Legion politician members
at
The Political Graveyard The Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 277,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information. The name comes from the website's inclusion of burial locations of ...

The American Legion Centennial Celebration
*


Archives


Washington American Legion Records
1919–1920. 4 microfilm reels. At th
Labor Archives of Washington, University of Washington Libraries Special Collections

Stephen Fowler Chadwick Papers
1917–1974. 21.1 cubic feet. At th
Labor Archives of Washington, University of Washington Libraries Special Collections
{{Authority control 1919 establishments in France 501(c)(19) nonprofit organizations Advocacy groups in the United States Aftermath of World War I in France Aftermath of World War I in the United States American veterans' organizations Charities based in Indiana Lobbying organizations in the United States Magazine publishing companies of the United States Nonpartisan organizations in the United States Non-profit organizations based in Indianapolis Organizations established in 1919 Patriotic and national organizations chartered by the United States Congress Service organizations based in the United States Title 36 of the United States Code