March 15, 1919:

A group of 20 officers who served in the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in France during World War I is credited with founding the Legion. AEF Headquarters asked the officers to suggest ideas for improving troop morale. One officer, Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt Jr., proposed an organization of veterans. In February 1919, the group formed a temporary committee and selected several hundred officers who had the confidence and respect of the whole army.

About 1,000 officers and enlisted men attended the Paris Caucus in March 1919. They adopted a temporary Constitution and the name The American Legion. Their objectives were to discuss veterans transitioning to civilian life and the overall rights of American veterans. Among the founding members were Wild Bill Donovan and Alvin C. York.

 

Brandus, Paul. This Day in U.S. Military History (p. 74). Bernan Press. Kindle Edition.

The American Legion. “Capsule History | The American Legion.” Accessed March 13, 2024. https://www.legion.org/nadhal/capsulehistory.