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119-771: A group of 20 officers who served in the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I were asked to suggest ideas on how to improve troop morale. One officer, Lt. Col. Theodore Roosevelt Jr. , proposed an organization of veterans, which we know today as The American Legion. The original purpose of The Legion was “to preserve the memories and incidents of our association in the Great War,” helping those who had served in foreign wars to reintegrate into their hometowns while still remaining connected to those with whom they had served abroad. The Legion served as

238-606: A Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). After the United States declaration of war on Germany , when the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) was organizing, Theodore Roosevelt wired Major General John "Black Jack" Pershing , the newly appointed commander of the AEF, asking if his sons could accompany him to Europe as privates. Pershing accepted, but, based on their training at Plattsburgh , Archie

357-524: A lieutenant colonel . After the war, Roosevelt was instrumental in the forming of The American Legion . In addition to his military and business careers, Roosevelt was active in politics and government. He served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (1921–1924), Governor of Puerto Rico (1929–1932), and Governor-General of the Philippines (1932–1933). He resumed his business endeavors in the 1930s, and

476-759: A tentative constitution and selected the name "American Legion". The aftermath of two American wars in the second half of the 19th century had seen the formation of several ex-soldiers' organizations. Former Union Army soldiers of the American Civil War of 1861–65 established a fraternal organization, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), while their Southern brethren formed the United Confederate Veterans (UCV). Both organizations emerged as powerful political entities, with

595-488: A "preparedness" society with a claimed membership of 35,000 that had been absorbed into the Council of National Defense in 1916. The Committee on Constitution reported with a report containing the draft of a Preamble for the organization, specifying organizational objectives. This document stated that the group: desiring to perpetuate the principles of Justice, Freedom, and Democracy for which we have fought, to inculcate

714-567: A 100 Percent Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents of our association in the Great War; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state, and nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and good will on earth; to safeguard and transmit to prosperity the principles of justice, freedom, and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by devotion to mutual helpfulness. The St. Louis Caucus spent much of its time discussing resolutions: whether

833-419: A blizzard of acceptances to attend the opening of the "Liberty League Caucus", as he had begun to call it, Temporary Secretary Eric Fisher Wood began to search for use of a room of sufficient size to contain the gathering. The Cirque de Paris had been retained, a large, multisided amphitheater that could accommodate about 2,000 people. Delegates began to assemble from all over France. The 10:00 am scheduled start

952-578: A brief period to the United States..... I shall start for the Philippines again the first week in November..... While there I hope I can accomplish something." The reaction of many in the U.S. press was so negative that within a few weeks, Governor-General Roosevelt arranged to stay in Manila throughout the campaign. U.S. Secretary of War Patrick J. Hurley cabled Ted, "The President has reached

1071-484: A combat unit despite his past hospitalization. Although Marshall typically refused such political favoritism he remarked that he would make an exception "if what you wanted was a more dangerous job than what you had" and agreed. Roosevelt returned to active duty in April 1941 and was given command of the 26th Infantry Regiment , part of the 1st Infantry Division , the same unit he fought with in World War I. Late in 1941, he

1190-550: A convention in Paris began apace. Wood prepared a convention call and "invitations" were distributed to about 2,000 officers and enlisted men and publicized in the March 14, 1919 issue of Stars and Stripes . The convention call expressed the desire to form "one permanent nation-wide organization...composed of all parties, all creeds, and all ranks who wish to perpetuate the relationships formed while in military service." In addition to

1309-536: A dozen potential names, including Veterans of the Great War, Liberty League, American Comrades of the Great War, Legion of the Great War, and The American Legion, among others. This list was whittled down to five ranked choices for the consideration of the Caucus, with "The American Legion" the preferred option. It was noted in passing during the course of debate on the topic that Roosevelt had been responsible for an earlier organization called "The American Legion" in 1914,

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1428-528: A group of 20 non-career officers to report to the YMCA in Paris on February 15, 1919. Roosevelt had personally selected these men. They were joined by a number of regular Army officers Pershing selected. Twenty National Guard and Reserve officers serving in the A. E. F., representing the S. O. S. , ten infantry divisions, and several other organizations, were ordered to report in Paris. ... Included in this number were Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., of

1547-432: A longer rope was substituted, and Everest was pushed off the bridge again. The lynch mob then shined their car headlights on the hanging Everest and shot him. Although a mob milled around the jail all night, terrorizing the occupants, no further acts of extra-legal retribution were taken. Everest's body was cut down the next morning, falling into the riverbed below, where it remained all day. As night fell, Everest's body

1666-729: A member of the Empire State Society of the Sons of the American Revolution . After service in World War I, Roosevelt began his political career. Grinning like his father, waving a crumpled hat, and like his father, shouting "bully", he participated in every national campaign that he could, except when he was Governor-General of the Philippines . Elected as a member of the New York State Assembly (Nassau County, 2nd D.) in 1920 and 1921 , Roosevelt

1785-452: A number of women's organizations wanted to become the official affiliation of The American Legion. The women who had served so faithfully during the trying days of the war wanted to continue to serve. After careful consideration, the committee agreed that a new organization should be made up of the women most closely associated with the men of the Legion, and that these women would serve with

1904-522: A parade of Legionnaires took place in the mill town of Centralia , in southwestern Washington . Some of the marchers planned at the conclusion of their patriotic demonstration to storm and ransack the local hall maintained by the Industrial Workers of the World , a labor union founded 14 years earlier at a convention of socialists, anarchists, Marxists, and radical trade unionists from all over

2023-687: A period of six months to investigate the actions of Fall in leasing the public lands without the required competitive bidding. Although both Archibald and Ted Roosevelt were cleared of all charges by the Senate Committee on Public Lands, their images were tarnished. At the 1924 New York state election , Roosevelt was the Republican nominee for Governor of New York . His cousin Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) spoke out on Ted's "wretched record" as Assistant Secretary of

2142-526: A petition from 20 of the enlisted women of the U.S. Naval Reserve Force for a charter to organize a post to be known as "Betsy Ross Post No. l", composed entirely of Yeomen (F) of the U.S. Navy. In October of that year, the post changed its name to U.S.S. Jacob Jones, which commemorated the members' Navy heritage. Congress granted The American Legion a national charter in September 1919. The American Legion chartered Paris Post No. 1 on December 13, 1919. It

2261-410: A presidential nominating convention—"We Want Teddy! We Want Teddy!" A minor crisis followed when Roosevelt twice declined nomination for permanent chairman of the session, to the consternation of many overwrought delegates, who sought to emphasize the symbolism of President Roosevelt's son maintaining the closest of connections with the organization. The St. Louis Caucus's work was largely shaped by

2380-539: A program for the unnamed veterans organization. Instead, they chose to expand their number with a large preliminary meeting, to consist of an equal number of elected delegates to represent both enlisted men and commissioned officers. A provisional executive committee of four men emerged from the February 15 "Roosevelt dinner": Roosevelt in the first place, who was to return to the U.S. and obtain his military discharge when able, and then to gather assistants and promote

2499-556: A stand should be taken on the League of Nations , Prohibition , or the implementation of universal military service ; whether posts composed of Negro soldiers should be established; and whether Secretary of War Newton D. Baker should be impeached for his apparent leniency toward conscientious objectors in the months after the war. A particularly hard line was taken toward the American radical movement, with one resolution passed on

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2618-456: A successful career in business and investment banking. Having gained pre– World War I army experience during his attendance at a Citizens' Military Training Camp , at the start of the war he received a reserve commission as a major . He served primarily with the 1st Division , took part in several engagements including the Battle of Cantigny , and commanded the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry as

2737-467: A support group, a social club and an extended family for former servicemen. After two planning caucuses held by a committee of officers who had the confidence and respect of their military comrades, they designed a constitution to govern the group and set up headquarters in New York City to begin work on its programs of relief, employment and Americanism. After the formation of The American Legion,

2856-550: A whistle giving the signal to the Legionnaires to charge the IWW headquarters building. A group of marchers rushed the hall, smashing the front plate-glass window and attempting to kick the door in. As the door gave way, shots were fired at the intruders from within. This provided the signal to other armed IWW members, who were stationed across the street, to set up crossfire against potential invaders, and they also began firing on

2975-563: Is active in issue-oriented U.S. politics. Its primary political activity is lobbying on behalf of veterans and service members , including for benefits such as pensions and the Veterans Health Administration . The American Legion was established in Paris, France, on March 15 to 17, 1919, by a thousand commissioned officers and enlisted men, delegates from all the units of the American Expeditionary Forces to an organization caucus meeting, which adopted

3094-502: The AEF was pressing and immediate. With the war at an end, hundreds of thousands of impatient draftees found themselves trapped in France and pining for home, certain only that untold weeks or months lay ahead of them before their return would be logistically possible. Morale plummeted. Cautionary voices were raised about an apparent correlation between disaffected and discharged troops and

3213-713: The Allies ' invasion of North Africa. During 1943, he was the Assistant Division Commander (ADC) of the 1st Infantry Division in the campaign in North Africa under Major General Terry Allen . He was cited for the Croix de Guerre by the military commander of French Africa , General Alphonse Juin : As commander of a Franco-American detachment on the Ousseltia plain in the region of Pichon , in

3332-680: The Bolshevik uprisings in Russia , Finland , Germany , and Hungary . This situation was a particular matter of concern to Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt Jr. , President Theodore Roosevelt 's eldest son. One day in January 1919, he had a discussion at General Headquarters with the mobilized National Guard officer George A. White , a former newspaper editor at the Portland Oregonian . After long discussion, he suggested

3451-539: The Chevalier Légion d'honneur on March 16, 1919. Before the troops came home from France, Ted was one of the founders of the soldiers' organization that developed as The American Legion. The American Legion Post Officers Guide recounts Ted's part in the organization's founding: A group of twenty officers who served in the American Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F.) in France in World War I is credited with planning

3570-490: The First Division , Lieutenant Colonel Franklin D'Olier of the S.O.S., and Lieutenant Colonel Eric Fisher Wood of the 88th Division . All of these officers have since told me that when they left their divisions they were distinctively permeated with the desire to form a veterans' organization of some comprehensive kind. When they got to Paris they immediately went into conference with the other officers. ... A dinner

3689-548: The German Empire , Ted volunteered to be one of the first soldiers to go to the Western Front . There, he was recognized as the best battalion commander in his division, according to the division commander. Roosevelt braved hostile fire and gas and led his battalion in combat. So concerned was he for his men's welfare that he purchased combat boots for the entire battalion with his own money. He eventually commanded

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3808-686: The Normandy landings in June 1944. He died in France of a heart attack the following month at 56 years old. At the time of his death, he had been recommended for the Distinguished Service Cross to recognize his heroism at Normandy. The recommendation was subsequently upgraded, and Roosevelt was a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor. Ted was the eldest son of President Theodore Roosevelt and First Lady Edith Kermit Carow . He

3927-474: The Porcellian Club . After graduating from college, Ted entered the business world. He took positions in the steel and carpet businesses before becoming branch manager of an investment bank. He had a flair for business and amassed a considerable fortune in the years leading up to World War I and on into the 1920s. The income generated by his investments positioned him well for a career in politics after

4046-498: The Puerto Rican Legislative Assembly to speak to a conference of Civil Service Commissioners in New York City. Roosevelt worked to educate Americans about the island and its people, and to promote the image of Puerto Rico in the rest of the U.S. Roosevelt was the first American governor to study Spanish and tried to learn 20 words a day. He was fond of local Puerto Rican culture and assumed many of

4165-477: The Spanish–American War , organized a summer camp at Plattsburgh, New York , to provide military training for business and professional men, at their own expense. This summer training program provided the base of a greatly expanded junior officers' corps when the United States entered World War I . During that summer, many well-heeled young men from some of the finest east coast schools, including three of

4284-409: The 1st Division and reassigned, so was Roosevelt. After criticizing Allen in his diary on July 31, 1943, Patton noted that he had asked permission of Eisenhower "to relieve both Allen and Roosevelt on the same terms, on the theory of rotation of command", and added, concerning Roosevelt, "there will be a kick over Teddy, but he has to go, brave but otherwise, no soldier." Later, however, upon hearing of

4403-630: The 26th Infantry. He soon received promotion to brigadier general as assistant division commander of the 1st Infantry Division. After serving in the Operation Torch landings in North Africa and the Tunisia Campaign , followed by participation in the Allied invasion of Sicily , Roosevelt was assigned as assistant division commander of the 4th Infantry Division . In this role, he led the first wave of troops ashore at Utah Beach during

4522-463: The 26th Regiment in the 1st Division as a lieutenant colonel. He fought in several major battles, including America's first victory at the Battle of Cantigny . Ted was gassed and wounded at Soissons during the summer of 1918. In July of that year, his youngest brother Quentin was killed in combat. Ted received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions during the war, which ended on November 11, 1918 at 11:00 am. France conferred upon him

4641-900: The American Legion's National Convention voted to replace the word "wife" with "spouse" in the organization's constitution and bylaws section regarding eligibility to be a member of the American Legion Auxiliary; since then, male and female spouses of U.S. veterans have been eligible. Previously, only female spouses of U.S. veterans were. The American Legion Auxiliary's mission outreach committees are Americanism, Children and Youth, Community Service, Education, ALA Girls Nation, Junior Activities, Legislative, National Security, Poppy, and Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation. ALA members who work these programs help provide scholarships to military children; bring veterans to classrooms; give young women leaders an opportunity to learn how

4760-530: The American Veterans of Foreign Service, known today as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW). With the termination of hostilities in World War I in November 1918, some American officers who had participated in the conflict began to think about creating a similar organization for the two million men who had been on European duty. The need for an organization for former members of

4879-637: The Division were denied, Roosevelt sent a written petition: The force and skill with which the first elements hit the beach and proceed may determine the ultimate success of the operation.... With troops engaged for the first time, the behavior pattern of all is apt to be set by those first engagements. [It is] considered that accurate information of the existing situation should be available for each succeeding element as it lands. You should have when you get to shore an overall picture in which you can place confidence. I believe I can contribute materially on all of

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4998-740: The GAR serving as a mainstay of the Republican Party , which controlled the presidency from the Civil War through William Howard Taft 's administration except during Grover Cleveland 's two terms in office. In Southern politics the UCV maintained an even more dominant position as a bulwark of the Democratic Party , which dominated there. The conclusion of the brief Spanish–American conflict of 1898 ushered in another soldiers' organization,

5117-680: The Italian mainland. He was the chief liaison officer to the French Expeditionary Corps in Italy for General Eisenhower, and repeatedly made requests of Eisenhower for combat command. In February 1944, Roosevelt was assigned to England to help lead the Normandy invasion and appointed Deputy Division Commander of the 4th Infantry Division . After several verbal requests to the division's Commanding General (CG), Major General Raymond "Tubby" Barton , to go ashore on D-Day with

5236-511: The Legion included only four members—two Republicans and two Democrats. After 1920 the National Legislative Committee was expanded to consist of one member from each state, with additional effort made at the state level to exert pressure upon various state legislatures. Chief on the Legion's legislative agenda was a dramatic improvement of the level of compensation for soldiers who suffered permanent disability during

5355-535: The Legion's National Legislative Committee in conjunction with cables National Commander Franklin D'Olier sent to Congressional leaders helped pass this legislation by the end of 1919. The Legion's chief base of support during its first years was among the officers corps of the reserves and the National Guard . The regular army was comparatively small and its representation in the League in its earliest days

5474-599: The Legion, in peace as they had in war. The committee decided to build a new organization from the ground up, so the Auxiliary could then carry forward the phases of Legion activities more suitably performed by women. Edith Irwin Hobart served as the Auxiliary's first president. In less than one year, 1,342 local units of the Women’s Auxiliary to The American Legion had been organized in more than 45 states. In 2019,

5593-487: The Legion. A.E.F. Headquarters asked these officers to suggest ideas on how to improve troop morale. One officer, Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., proposed an organization of veterans. In February 1919, this group formed a temporary committee and selected several hundred officers who had the confidence and respect of the whole army. When the first organization meeting took place in Paris in March 1919, about 1,000 officers and enlisted men attended. The meeting, known as

5712-453: The Legionnaires' death toll to four. Everest was taken alive, kicked and beaten, with a belt wrapped around his neck as he was dragged back to town to be lynched . But local police intervened, and Everest was taken to jail, where he was thrown down on the concrete floor. At 7:30 pm, on cue, all city lights in town went out for 15 minutes and Legionnaires stopped cars and forced them to turn out their headlights. The Elks Hall gathering entered

5831-489: The Legionnaires. In less than a minute the firing was over, with three AL members left dead or dying and others wounded. Taken by surprise by the armed defense of IWW headquarters, many Legionnaires rushed home to arm themselves, while others broke into local hardware stores to steal guns and ammunition. Now armed, a furious mob reassembled and charged the IWW Hall again, capturing six IWW members inside. The mob destroyed

5950-949: The Navy during the oil scandals. In return, Ted said of FDR: "He's a maverick! He does not wear the brand of our family." Eleanor Roosevelt , more closely related to Ted by blood but married to FDR, had been infuriated by these remarks. She dogged Ted on the New York State campaign trail in a car fitted with a papier-mâché bonnet shaped like a giant teapot that was made to emit simulated steam, and countered his speeches with those of her own, calling him immature. She would later decry these methods, admitting that they were below her dignity but saying that they had been contrived by Democratic Party "dirty tricksters." Ted's opponent, incumbent governor Alfred E. Smith , defeated him by 105,000 votes. Ted never forgave Eleanor for her stunt, though his elder half-sister Alice did, and resumed their formerly close friendship. These conflicts served to widen

6069-662: The Navy's petroleum reserves by President Taft, the properties consisted of three oil fields: Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 3, Teapot Dome Field , Natrona County, Wyoming; and Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 1 at Elk Hills Oil Field and Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 2 Buena Vista Oil Field , both in Kern County, California . In 1922, Albert B. Fall , U.S. Secretary of the Interior, leased the Teapot Dome Field to Harry F. Sinclair of Sinclair Consolidated Oil Company , and

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6188-563: The Paris Caucus, adopted a temporary constitution and the name The American Legion. It also elected an executive committee to complete the organization's work. It considered each soldier of the A.E.F. a member of the Legion. The executive committee named a subcommittee to organize veterans at home in the U.S. The Legion held a second organizing caucus in St. Louis, Missouri , in May 1919. It completed

6307-587: The U.S. was established in 1919. Branstetter was a Van Tassell resident who died in World War I. The structure housing the post has since been demolished. The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. In 1969, it was hoped that an interpretative sign would be put up, and also possibly that a restored post building would be constructed. The first post of the Legion, General John Joseph Pershing Post Number 1 in Washington, DC,

6426-410: The U.S., which had been the target of multiple arrests, large trials, and various incidents of mob violence during the months of American participation in World War I. But the plans for this violence had reached union members (commonly called Wobblies), and 30 or 40 IWW members had been seen coming and going at their hall on the day of the march, some of them carrying guns. At 2 p.m. the march began at

6545-728: The War. All the Roosevelt sons, except Kermit, had some military training prior to World War I. With the outbreak of World War I in Europe in August 1914, American leaders had heightened concern about their nation's readiness for military engagement. Only the month before, Congress had authorized the creation of an Aviation Section in the Signal Corps . In 1915, Major General Leonard Wood , President Roosevelt's former commanding officer during

6664-414: The above by going in with the assault companies. Furthermore I personally know both officers and men of these advance units and believe that it will steady them to know that I am with them. Barton approved Roosevelt's written request with much misgiving, stating that he did not expect Roosevelt to return alive. Roosevelt was the only general on D-Day to land by sea with the first wave of troops. At 56, he

6783-399: The administration of such a policy should be removed from the complete control of any exclusively military organization or caste. 3. That we are strongly opposed to compulsory military service in time of peace. Additional resolutions the founding convention passed emphasized the need for military preparedness, albeit through a citizens' army of reservists and National Guardsmen rather than

6902-539: The beach. One GI later reported that seeing the general walking around, apparently unaffected by the enemy fire, even when clods of earth fell down on him, gave him the courage to get on with the job, saying if the general is like that it cannot be that bad. American Legion The American Legion , commonly known as the Legion , is an organization of U.S. war veterans headquartered in Indianapolis , Indiana. It comprises state , U.S. territory , and overseas departments, in turn made up of local posts. It

7021-400: The ceiling. When Ted was a child, his father initially expected more of him than of his siblings. The burden almost caused him to suffer a nervous breakdown. In one article, Ted recalled his first time in Washington, "...when father was civil service commissioner I often walked to the office with him. On the way down he would talk history to me—not the dry history of dates and charters, but

7140-501: The city park, led by a marching band playing "Over There". Marchers included Boy Scouts , members of the local Elks Lodge , active-duty sailors, and marines, with about 80 members of the newly established Centralia and Chehalis posts bringing up the rear. As the parade turned onto Tower Avenue and crossed Second Street, it passed IWW Hall. The parade stopped and Legionnaires surrounded the hall. Parade Marshal Adrian Cormier rode up on horseback and, according to some witnesses, blew

7259-434: The close personal and business relationships among the players, led to the deal being called the Teapot Dome scandal . The connection between the Roosevelt brothers could not be ignored. After Sinclair sailed for Europe to avoid testifying in Congressional hearings, G. D. Wahlberg, Sinclair's private secretary, advised Archibald Roosevelt to resign to save his reputation. The Senate Committee on Public Lands held hearings over

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7378-519: The conclusion that you should not leave your duties for the purpose of participating in the campaign.... He believes it to be your duty to remain at your post." Roosevelt resigned as Governor-General after the election of FDR as president, as the new administration would appoint their own people. He thought that the potential for war in Europe meant another kind of opportunity for him. Using his father's language, he wrote to his wife as he sailed for North Africa , saying that he had done his best and his fate

7497-503: The constitution and made plans for a permanent organization. It set up temporary headquarters in New York City , and began its relief, employment, and Americanism programs. Congress granted the Legion a national charter in September 1919. When the American Legion met in New York City, Roosevelt was nominated as its first national commander, but he declined, not wanting to be thought of as simply using it for political gain. In his view, acceptance under such circumstances could have discredited

7616-428: The constitution and the organization's publications done by committee at night. The preamble of the constitution adopted in St. Louis became one of the seminal statements of the Legion's orientation and objectives: For God and Country we associate ourselves together for the following purposes: To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate

7735-418: The costly and undemocratic structure of a vast standing army led by a professional military caste. This nationalist isolationism remained in place until the eve of American entry into World War II . November 11, 1919, the first anniversary of Armistice Day and the occasion of the Legion's formal launch at its Minneapolis Founding Convention, was also a historic moment of violence and controversy. On that day

7854-444: The death of Roosevelt, Patton wrote in his diary that Roosevelt was "one of the bravest men I've ever known", and a few days later served as a pallbearer at his funeral. Roosevelt was also criticized by Lieutenant General Omar Bradley , the II Corps commander, who ultimately relieved both Roosevelt and Allen. In both of his autobiographies – A Soldier's Story (1951) and A General's Life  – Bradley claimed that relieving

7973-413: The dissemination of partisan principles or for the promotion of the candidacy of any person seeking public office or preferment; and no candidate for or incumbent of a salaried elective public office shall hold any office in The American Legion or in any branch or post thereof. One semi-official historian of the organization has noted the way that this explicit refusal to affiliate with a political party had

8092-400: The duty and obligation of the citizen to the State; to preserve the history and incidents of our participation in the war; and to cement the ties of comradeship formed in service, do propose to found and establish an Association for the furtherance of the foregoing purposes. The majority report of the Committee on Convention recommended that 11 am on November 11, 1919—one year to the hour after

8211-414: The end of the first day, the officers retired to the Inter-Allied Officers Club, a converted home across the street from the YMCA building. There, Roosevelt told them of his proposal for a new veterans' society. Most of those present were rapidly won to Roosevelt's plan. The officers decided to make all their actions provisional until an elected convention of delegates could convene and did not predetermine

8330-411: The face of a very aggressive enemy, he showed the finest qualities of decision and determination in the defense of his sector. Showing complete contempt for personal danger, he never ceased during the period of Jan 28 – Feb 21, visiting troops in the front lines, making vital decisions on the spot, winning the esteem and admiration of the units under his command and developing throughout his detachment

8449-555: The federal government works; allow girls to develop leadership skills through volunteer experiences and other activities; advocate for veterans by supporting legislative priorities that benefit them; promote the poppy to raise awareness and respect for veterans who have died; and host stand downs and other events to improve the lives of veterans in the community. Theodore Roosevelt Jr. Theodore Roosevelt III ( / ˈ r oʊ z ə v ɛ l t / ROH -zə-velt ; September 13, 1887 – July 12, 1944), often known as Theodore Jr. ,

8568-583: The field at Elk Hills, California, to Edward L. Doheny of Pan American Petroleum & Transport Company , both without competitive bidding. During the transfers, while Roosevelt was Assistant Secretary of the Navy, his brother Archie was vice president of the Union Petroleum Company, the export auxiliary subsidiary of the Sinclair Consolidated Oil. The leasing of government reserves without competitive bidding, plus

8687-558: The field. Patton thought them both un-soldierly for it and wasted no opportunity to send derogatory reports on Allen to General Dwight D. Eisenhower , the Supreme Allied Commander in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO). Roosevelt was also treated by Patton as "guilty by association" for his friendship and collaboration with the highly unorthodox Allen. When Allen was relieved of command of

8806-486: The final day calling on Congress to "pass a bill or immediately deporting every one of those Bolsheviks or Industrial Workers of the World ." Minneapolis, Minnesota , was chosen for the site of the organization's founding convention in November over the more centrally located Chicago after much acrimonious debate about the Chicago city administration's perceived political transgressions. The formal founding convention

8925-746: The finest fraternity of arms. Roosevelt collaborated with and was a friend of his commander, the hard-fighting, hard-drinking Major General Terry de la Mesa Allen Sr. Their unorthodox approach to warfare did not escape the attention of Lieutenant General George S. Patton , the Seventh Army commander in Sicily, and formerly the II Corps commander. Patton disapproved of such officers who "dressed down" and were seldom seen in regulation field uniforms, and who placed little value in Patton's spit-shined ways in

9044-548: The fledgling organization's provisional Executive Committee decided to allow each state delegation twice as many votes as that state had in the United States House of Representatives and left it to each to determine how to apportion those votes. Participants at the St. Louis Caucus were enthusiastic, but the session was not productive. Fully two days were invested choosing ceremonial officers and selecting Minneapolis as

9163-406: The four Roosevelt sons, attended the military camp. When the United States entered the war , in April 1917, the armed forces offered commissions to the graduates of these schools based on their performance. The National Defense Act of 1916 continued the student military training and the businessmen's summer camps. It placed them on a firmer legal basis by authorizing an Officers' Reserve Corps and

9282-401: The fundamental decisions made by the earlier Paris Caucus. Its agenda was in addition carefully prepared by a 49-member "Advance Committee", which included at least one delegate from each fledgling state organization and drew up a draft program for the organization in advance of the convention's opening. As time before the scheduled start of the convention was short, delegation to the assembly

9401-422: The hall's front porch and a large bonfire was built, upon which were torched the local Wobblies' official records, books, newspapers and mattresses. One local Wobbly, Wesley Everest , escaped through a back door when he saw the mob approaching the hall. He fled into nearby woods, exchanging gunshots with his pursuers. One of those chasing him was hit in the chest several times with bullets and killed, increasing

9520-824: The history where you yourself in your imagination could assume the role of the principal actors, as every well-constructed boy wishes to do when interested. During every battle we would stop and father would draw out the full plan in the dust in the gutter with the tip of his umbrella. Long before the European war had broken over the world father would discuss with us military training and the necessity for every man being able to take his part." The Roosevelt boys attended private schools; Ted went to The Albany Academy , and then Groton School . Before he went to college, he thought about going to military school. Although not naturally called to academics, he persisted and graduated from Harvard College in 1909, where, like his father, he joined

9639-436: The idea of the new veterans' organization among demobilized troops there; White, who was to travel to France touring the AEF camps and explaining the idea; veteran wartime administrator Eric Fisher Wood, who was to establish a central office and maintain contact with the various combat divisions and headquarters staffs, as well as publicize activities to the press; and former Ohio Congressman Ralph D. Cole . Preparations for

9758-479: The immediate establishment of a new servicemen's organization including all AEF members as well as those soldiers who remained stateside as members of the Army , Navy , and Marine Corps during the war without having been shipped abroad. Roosevelt and White advocated ceaselessly for this proposal until they found sufficient support at headquarters to move forward with the plan. General John J. Pershing issued orders to

9877-617: The island's traditions. He became known as El Jíbaro de La Fortaleza ("The Hillbilly of the Governor's Mansion") by locals. In 1931 he appointed Carlos E. Chardón , a mycologist , as the first Puerto Rican to be Chancellor of the University of Puerto Rico . Impressed with his work in Puerto Rico, President Hoover appointed Roosevelt as Governor-General of the Philippines in 1932. During his time in office, Roosevelt acquired

9996-479: The jail without meeting resistance and took Everest, dragging him away to a waiting car but leaving other incarcerated Wobblies untouched. A procession of six cars drove west to a railroad bridge across the Chehalis River . A rope was attached to Everest's neck and he was pushed off the bridge, but the lynching attempt was bungled and Everest's neck was not snapped by the fall. Everest was hauled up again,

10115-546: The nascent organization and himself and harmed his chances for a future in politics. Ted resumed his reserve service between the wars. He attended the annual summer camps at Pine Camp and completed both the Infantry Officer's Basic and Advanced Courses, and the Command and General Staff College. By the beginning of World War II, in September 1939, he was eligible for senior commissioned service. In 1919 he became

10234-513: The nickname "One Shot Teddy" among the Filipino population, in reference to his marksmanship during a hunt for tamaraw (wild pygmy water buffalo). In the 1932 United States presidential election , when Franklin D. Roosevelt challenged Hoover for the presidency, Alice begged Ted to return from the Philippines to aid the campaign. Roosevelt announced to the press on August 22, 1932, that "Circumstances have made it necessary for me to return for

10353-457: The paradoxical effect of rapidly building great political power for the organization, as politicians from both of the "old parties" competed for the favor of the Legion's massive and active membership. One of the gathering's primary accomplishments was the establishment of a permanent National Legislative Committee to advance the Legion's political objectives as its lobbying arm. The first iteration of this official Washington, D.C.-based lobby for

10472-463: The personal invitations distributed, the published announcement indicated that "any officer or enlisted man not invited who is in Paris at the time of the meeting is invited to be present and to have a voice in the meeting." The conclave was slated to begin on March 15. The site of Ferdinand Branstetter Post No. 1 is a vacant lot in Van Tassell, Wyoming , where the first American Legion post in

10591-575: The publishing house Doubleday , Doran & Company. He next served as an executive with American Express . He also served on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations. He was invited by Irving Berlin to help oversee the disbursement of royalties for Berlin's popular song, " God Bless America ," to charity. While living again in New York, the Roosevelts renewed old friendships with playwright Alexander Woollcott and comedian Harpo Marx . He

10710-400: The ranks of enlisted men. The Paris Caucus in March was by its nature limited to AEF soldiers who remained in Europe; a parallel organizational meeting for those who had returned to the American preparatory to a formal organizational convention was deemed necessary. This was a conclave dominated by the presence of Roosevelt, who called the convention to order amid mass chanting akin to that of

10829-414: The site for the organization's formal Founding Convention in the fall. Over 1,100 participants competed to gain the floor to speechify, leading one historian to call the scene a "melee" in which "disorder reigned supreme". Consequently, the gathering's passage of the program was largely a pro forma exercise, rushed through during the session's last day, with the actual decision-making about such matters as

10948-519: The so-called Paris Caucus that they do three things: first, set up an apparatus to conduct a formal founding conference in the U.S. sometime in the winter; second, draft a tentative name for the organization; and finally, compose a provisional constitution to be submitted to the founding convention for acceptance or rejection. William G. Price Jr. was selected to preside. Convention rules were decided upon and four 15-member committees were chosen. The Committee on Name reported back that it had considered

11067-473: The split between the Oyster Bay (TR) and Hyde Park (FDR) wings of the Roosevelt family. Along with his brother, Kermit, Roosevelt spent most of 1929 on a zoological expedition and was the first Westerner known to have shot a panda. In September 1929, President Herbert Hoover appointed Roosevelt as Governor of Puerto Rico , and he served until 1932. (Until 1947, when it became an electoral office, this

11186-460: The termination of hostilities in World War I—be selected as the date and time for the convocation of a national convention. No location was specified. The Committee on Permanent Organization recommended an organization based upon territorial units rather than those based upon military organizations, governed by an Executive Committee of 50, with half of these from the officer corps and half from

11305-452: The two battalions, Lieutenant Colonels Conrad C. Simmons and Carlton O. MacNeely, and coordinated the attack on the enemy positions confronting them. Opting to fight from where they had landed rather than trying to move to their assigned positions, Roosevelt's famous words were, "We'll start the war from right here!" These impromptu plans worked with complete success and little confusion. With artillery landing close by, each follow-on regiment

11424-556: The two generals was one of his most unpleasant duties of the war. Bradley felt that Allen and Roosevelt were guilty of "loving their division too much" and that their relationship with their soldiers was having a generally bad effect on the discipline of both the commanders and the men of the division. Roosevelt was assistant commander of the 1st Infantry Division at Gela during the Allied invasion of Sicily , codenamed Operation Husky, commanded Allied Forces in Sardinia , and fought on

11543-480: The war. At the time of the end of World War I, American law stated that soldiers who suffered total disability were to receive only the base pay of a private —$ 30 per month. The Legion concentrated its lobbying effort in 1919 on passage of legislation increasing payment for total disability suffered in the war to $ 80 a month—a sum roughly sufficient to provide a living wage . Those partially disabled by their wounds would receive lesser payments. A flurry of lobbying by

11662-562: Was Chairman of the Board of American Express Company, and vice-president of Doubleday Books . Roosevelt also remained active as an Army reservist, attending annual training periods at Pine Camp , and completing the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Command and General Staff College, and refresher training for senior officers. He returned to active duty for World War II with the rank of colonel , and commanded

11781-462: Was a descendant of the Schuyler family . Like all the Roosevelt children, Ted was tremendously influenced by his father. In later life, Ted recorded some of these childhood recollections in a series of newspaper articles written around the time of World War I . One day when he was about nine, his father gave him a rifle. When Ted asked if it were real, his father loaded it and shot a bullet into

11900-706: Was a political appointee position.) Roosevelt worked to ease the poverty of the people during the Great Depression . He attracted money to build secondary schools, raised money from American philanthropists, marketed Puerto Rico as a location for manufacturing, and made other efforts to improve the Puerto Rican economy . He worked to create more ties to U.S. institutions for mutual benefit. For instance, he arranged for Cayetano Coll y Cuchi to be invited to Harvard Law School to lecture about Puerto Rico's legal system . He arranged for Antonio Reyes Delgado of

12019-486: Was also mentioned as a candidate for Governor of New York in 1936 , but made no effort to become an active candidate. In 1940, during World War II (although the United States had not yet entered the war and remained neutral) Roosevelt attended a military refresher course offered to many businessmen as an advanced student, and was promoted to colonel in the Army of the United States . Roosevelt's wife personally asked Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall to return him to

12138-508: Was also mentioned as a potential candidate for the 1936 Republican presidential nomination , but did not mount a campaign. Had he received the 1936 Republican presidential nomination, he would have faced off against his cousin Franklin in the general election . After Alf Landon received the Republican presidential nomination, Roosevelt was also mentioned as a candidate for vice president, but that nomination went to Frank Knox . Roosevelt

12257-499: Was an American government, business, and military leader . He was the eldest son of President Theodore Roosevelt and First Lady Edith Roosevelt . Roosevelt is known for his World War II service, including the directing of troops at Utah Beach during the Normandy landings , for which he received the Medal of Honor . Roosevelt was educated at private academies and Harvard University ; after his 1909 graduation from college, he began

12376-541: Was born at the family estate in Cove Neck on September 13, 1887, Oyster Bay, New York , when his father was just starting his political career. As a son of President Theodore Roosevelt, he has been referred to as "Jr", but he was actually Theodore III and one of his own sons was Theodore IV. His siblings were brothers Kermit , Archie , and Quentin ; sister Ethel ; and half-sister Alice . As an Oyster Bay Roosevelt, and through his ancestor Cornelius Van Schaack Jr., Ted

12495-415: Was delayed by various logistical problems, with a beginning finally made shortly after 2:45 pm. As "Temporary Chairman" Teddy Roosevelt Jr. had already departed for America, the session was gaveled to order by Wood, who briefly recounted Roosevelt's idea and the story of the 20 AEF officers who had jointly helped to give the new organization form. In his opening remarks, Wood recommended to the delegates of

12614-586: Was established in March 1919 in Paris , France, by officers and men of the American Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F.). It was subsequently chartered by the 66th U.S. Congress on September 16, 1919. The Legion played the leading role in drafting and passing the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly known as the " G.I. Bill ". In addition to organizing commemorative events, members assist at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals and clinics . It

12733-561: Was even more limited. Consequently, for nearly two decades The Legion maintained a largely isolationist perspective, best expressed in three resolutions passed by the Minneapolis founding convention: 1. That a large standing army is uneconomic and un-American. National safety with freedom from militarism is best assured by a national citizen army and navy based on the democratic principles of equality of obligation and opportunity for all. 2. That we favor universal military training and

12852-487: Was held in Minneapolis , Minnesota , from November 10 to 12, 1919. 684 delegates from across the nation attended. From the outset, The American Legion maintained a strictly nonpartisan orientation toward electoral politics. The group wrote a specific prohibition of the endorsement of political candidates into its constitution, declaring: this organization shall be absolutely non-political and shall not be used for

12971-497: Was highly irregular. On April 10, 1919, Temporary Secretary Eric Fisher Wood mailed a letter to the governors of every state, informing them of the forthcoming gathering and making note of the League's nonpartisan and patriotic nature. Follow-up cables by Roosevelt and Wood encouraged the organization of state conventions to select delegates. This was largely a failed formality, as states lacked sufficient time to organize themselves and properly elect delegates to St. Louis. In practice,

13090-461: Was now "at the knees of the gods". During the 1932 presidential campaign of his cousin FDR, Roosevelt said, "Franklin is such poor stuff it seems improbable that he should be elected President." When Franklin won the election and Ted was asked just how he was related to FDR, Ted quipped "fifth cousin, about to be removed." In 1935, he returned to the United States and first became a vice president of

13209-529: Was offered a commission with rank of second lieutenant, while Ted was offered a commission and the rank of major. Quentin had already been accepted into the Army Air Service . Kermit volunteered with the British in the area of present-day Iraq . With a reserve commission in the army (like Quentin and Archibald), soon after World War I started, Ted was called up. When the United States declared war on

13328-564: Was one of the few legislators who opposed the expulsion of five Socialist assemblymen in 1920. Anxiety about Socialists was high at the time. On March 10, 1921, Roosevelt was appointed by President Warren G. Harding as Assistant Secretary of the Navy . He oversaw the transferring of oil leases for federal lands in Wyoming and California from the Navy to the Department of Interior , and ultimately, to private corporations. Established as

13447-520: Was organized on March 7, 1919, and obtained the first charter issued to any Legion post on May 19, 1919. The St. Louis caucus that year decided that Legion posts should not be named after living persons, and the first post changed its name to George Washington Post 1. The post completed the constitution and made plans for a permanent organization. It set up temporary headquarters in New York City and began its relief, employment, and Americanism programs. On May 20, 1919, Colonel Ernest Lester Jones received

13566-418: Was personally welcomed on the beach by a cool, calm, and collected Roosevelt, who inspired all with humor and confidence, reciting poetry and telling anecdotes of his father to steady the nerves of his men. Roosevelt pointed almost every regiment to its changed objective. Sometimes he worked under fire as a self-appointed traffic cop, untangling traffic jams of trucks and tanks all struggling to get inland and off

13685-477: Was promoted to brigadier general. Upon his arrival in North Africa , Roosevelt became known as a general who often visited the front lines. He had always preferred the heat of the battle to the comfort of the command post, and this attitude would culminate in his actions in France on D-Day . Roosevelt led the 26th Infantry in an attack on Oran , Algeria , on November 8, 1942, as part of Operation Torch ,

13804-403: Was soon informed that the landing craft had drifted south of their objective, and the first wave of men was a mile off course. Walking with the aid of a cane and carrying a pistol, he personally made a reconnaissance of the area immediately to the rear of the beach to locate the causeways that were to be used for the advance inland. He returned to the point of landing and contacted the commanders of

13923-613: Was spread in the Allied Officers' Club , Rue Faubourg St. Honore , on the night of February 16th... At that dinner the American Legion was born. — The Story of The American Legion (1919) The session of reserve and regular officers was instructed to provide a set of laws to curb the problem of declining morale. After three days, the officers presented a series of proposals, including eliminating restrictive regulations, organizing additional athletic and recreational events, and expanding leave time and entertainment programs. At

14042-609: Was the first overseas post to be chartered and has been in continuous existence since then. China Post One, formed in 1919, one year after the "great war" and chartered by The American Legion on April 20, 1920, was originally named the General Frederick Townsend Ward Post No. 1, China. It is the only post nominally headquartered in a Communist country, and has been operating in exile since 1948—presently in Fate, Texas . Having immediately received

14161-529: Was the oldest man in the invasion, and the only one whose son also landed that day; Captain Quentin Roosevelt II was among the first wave of soldiers at Omaha Beach . Brigadier General Roosevelt was one of the first soldiers, along with Captain Leonard T. Schroeder Jr. , off his landing craft as he led the 8th Infantry Regiment and 70th Tank Battalion landing at Utah Beach . Roosevelt

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