AMVETS

American Veterans
	Official logo
Abbreviation	AMVETS
Established	December 10, 1944
Type	Veterans' organization
Legal status	Federally chartered corporation
Headquarters	4647 Forbes Blvd.,; Lanham, Maryland
Region served	Worldwide
Membership(2016)	250,000
Executive Director	Joseph Chenelly
National Commander	Bill Clark (2023–2024)
Main organ	National Convention
Subsidiaries	AMVETS National Service Foundation; AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary; Sons of AMVETS; Junior AMVETS; AMVETS Riders; "Sad Sacks"; "Sackettes";
Website	amvets.org
Formerly called	American Veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam

American Veterans(AMVETS) is a non-partisan, volunteer-led organization formed byWorld War II veteransof theUnited Statesmilitary. It advocates for its members as well as for causes that its members deem helpful to the nation at large. The group holds aFederal charterunderTitle 36 of the United States Code.It is a501(c)19 organization.

History

In December 1944 twelve small groups of World War II veterans met in Kansas City and formed AMVETS. A year later there were 20,000 memberships and 200 Amvets posts.^[1]

Originally only World War II veterans were eligible to join, and the organization's stated goals were:

1. Full employment for veterans
2. Working for veterans' rights
3. Influencing national issues that benefit the United States
4. Gaining recognition of veterans' needs
5. Maintaining friendships made during military service
6. Keeping alive the ideals veterans fought for^[2]

Change in membership requirements

In 1966 AMVETS requested Congress to amend their charter so that veterans of the Korean War and the Vietnam conflict could join, and President Lyndon Johnson signed the bill changing eligibility dates for AMVETS membership. Then in 1984 President Ronald Reagan signed a public law that amended AMVETS charter to open membership to all honorably discharged veterans.^[3]

Harold Russell's terms as National Commander

Harold Russell,the handless World War II veteran andAcademy Awardwinner forThe Best Years of Our Lives,served three terms as National Commander in the 1950s. As head of AMVETS, Russell wrote to PresidentHarry S. Trumanin 1951 supporting his decision to dismiss GeneralDouglas MacArthurduring theKorean War.

Russell's telegram to Truman cited MacArthur's "repeated insubordination in violation of basic American principles governing civil versus military authority." His telegram said those were "obvious grounds" to relieve MacArthur.Erle Cocke Jr.,commander of theAmerican Legion,said that he was "shocked by the news" that AMVETS and theAmerican Veterans Committeesupported MacArthur's firing.^[4]

Awards

AMVETS presents its annual Silver Helmet Awards to "recognize excellence and achievement in Americanism, defense, rehabilitation, congressional service and other fields."^[6]

Nursing scholarships

In 1945 the AMVETS National Sad Sacks were formed to raise money for the Sad Sacks Nursing Scholarship Fund.^[7]The scholarships, named afterGeorge Baker’sSad Sackcartoon character, are awarded to children of military veterans.^[8]

References

^Royland Evans Jr., 50,000 Veterans Who Stayed Out of Big Organizations Have Own Little Groups,Fort Worth Star-Telegram,December 16, 1945, page 4
^The Future of America Depends on AMVETS (Advertisement),The Ogden Standard-Examiner,September 9, 1945, page 13
^Sidney AMVETS open to all veterans,Sidney Daily News(Sidney, Ohio), November 9, 2000, p. 36
^"AMVETS, AVC Support MacArthur Ouster, Legion Head Shocked".The Gazette and Daily.York, Pennsylvania.Associated Press.12 April 1951. p. 1.Retrieved19 March2021– viaNewspapers.com.
^"Honoring John P. Brown, III".CapitolWords.org.May 13, 2003. Archived fromthe originalon 2014-04-26.Retrieved2014-04-26.
^"Our History".Amvets.Archived fromthe originalon 2007-06-07.RetrievedSeptember 13,2007.
^History of the Sad Sacks
^'Sad Sack',York Daily Record,November 26, 1975, page 18

External links

Official Website
A film clip"Longines Chronoscope with Henry J. Mahady)"is available for viewing at theInternet Archive
"Career Center".AMVETS.

[1] Royland Evans Jr., 50,000 Veterans Who Stayed Out of Big Organizations Have Own Little Groups,Fort Worth Star-Telegram,December 16, 1945, page 4

[2] The Future of America Depends on AMVETS (Advertisement),The Ogden Standard-Examiner,September 9, 1945, page 13

[3] Sidney AMVETS open to all veterans,Sidney Daily News(Sidney, Ohio), November 9, 2000, p. 36

[4] "AMVETS, AVC Support MacArthur Ouster, Legion Head Shocked".The Gazette and Daily.York, Pennsylvania.Associated Press.12 April 1951. p. 1.Retrieved19 March2021– viaNewspapers.com.

[5] "Honoring John P. Brown, III".CapitolWords.org.May 13, 2003. Archived fromthe originalon 2014-04-26.Retrieved2014-04-26.

[6] "Our History".Amvets.Archived fromthe originalon 2007-06-07.RetrievedSeptember 13,2007.

[7] History of the Sad Sacks

[8] 'Sad Sack',York Daily Record,November 26, 1975, page 18

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]