Which military personnel formed the American Legion, a nonprofit organization of U.S. war veterans?

On March 15, 1919, in Paris, France, a thousand officers and men of the American Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F.) from WWI, formed the American Legion. It is more commonly known as the Legion, a nonprofit organization of U.S. war veterans headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was subsequently chartered on September 16, 1919 by the United States Congress.

One of the founding members was Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt III (1897-1944), known as Theodore Roosevelt Jr., the eldest son of President Theodore Roosevelt and First Lady Edith Roosevelt. He went on to serve in WWII directing troops at Utah Beach during the Normandy landings in France, for which he received the Medal of Honor. At the age of 56, he died of a heart attack on July 12, 1944 in Meautis, France.

One of the accomplishments of the Legion was its leading role in drafting and helping pass the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly known as the “G.I. Bill”, a law that provides a range of benefits for returning WWII veterans.

Additionally, the Legion organizes commemorative events and is active in advocacy on behalf of the interests of veterans and service members, including support for benefits such as pensions and the Veterans Health Administration.

The Legion has historically promoted the virtue of anindividual’s obligation to the community, state and nation as well as peace and good will. Currant membership as of 2018 was approximately 1,800,000.