Part 21 (1/2)

(a) Yes, those who were regularly enlisted or commissioned in the army, navy or marine corps.

(4) _When was the Legion started_?

(a) It was first organized in Paris, March 15 to 17, 1919, by a thousand officers and men, delegates from all the units of the American Expeditionary Force to an organization caucus meeting, which adopted a tentative const.i.tution and selected the name ”American Legion.”

(5) _What has been done in America regarding it_?

(a) The action of the Paris meeting was confirmed and endorsed by a similar meeting held in St. Louis, May 8 to 10, 1919, when the Legion was formally recognized by the troops who served in the United States.

(6) _Are the organizations in France and America separate_?

(a) No. 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 Executive Committees have amalgamated and are now the governing body of the Legion.

(7) _Who are the officers of this national governing body_?

(a) Henry D. Lindsley, Texas, Chairman; Bennett C. Clark, Missouri, Vice-Chairman; Eric Fisher Wood, Pennsylvania, Secretary; Gaspar G. Bacon, Ma.s.sachusetts, Treasurer.

(8) _Where are the temporary National Headquarters of the Legion_?

(a) At 19 West 44th Street, New York City.

(9) _When will the final step in the organization of the Legion take place_?

(a) November 10, 11 and 12, at Minneapolis, Minn., when a great National Convention will be held.

(10) _Why were those dates selected_?

(a) Because by that time practically all of the men of the A.E.F. will be at home and will have been able to partic.i.p.ate in the election of their delegates to the Convention.

(11) _Who were some of the men who initiated the formation of the Legion_?

(a) Lt. Col. Theodore Roosevelt, of the First Division; Col.

Henry D. Lindsley, formerly Mayor of Dallas, Texas; Sgt. ”Jack”

Sullivan, of Seattle; Lt. Col. Franklin D'Olier, of Philadelphia; Ex-Senator Luke Lea, of Tennessee; Lt. Col.

Frederick Huedekoper, of Was.h.i.+ngton, 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; Sgt. Alvin C.

York, of Tennessee; Colonel John Price Jackson, of the S.O.S.; Lt. Col. ”Jack” Greenway, of Arizona; Sgt. Roy C. Haines, of Maine; George Edward Buxton, 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 J. Davis, of the 35th Division; Corporal Charles S. Pew, of Montana; General William G. Price, of the 28th Division; Bishop Charles S. Brent, Senior Chaplain of the A.E.F.; General O'Ryan, of the 27th Division; Stewart Edward White, of California; Private Jesus M. Baca, of New Mexico; General Charles H. Cole, of the 26th Division; Sgt. E.L. Malsbary, of Nevada; Lt. Samuel Gompers, Jr., of New York; Col. Henry L.

Stimpson, Ex-Secretary of War; Lt. Col. Charles W. Whittlesey, Commander of the ”Lost Battalion”; Leroy Hoffman, of Oklahoma; Lt. Col. A. Piatt Andrew, of the American Ambulance in France; General Harvey J. Moss, of the State of Was.h.i.+ngton; 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.

(12) _What did the Legion, do at its St. Louis caucus_?