EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS A STORY Legend The American Legion of Legion posts Iowa Legion Department IOWA Headquarters Nearly 600 American Legion posts and some 50,000 members fill nearly every corner of Iowa. The Hawkeye State is home to Legion Baseball legends, war heroes and veterans who chose lives of public service. Future President Ronald Reagan broke into broadcasting here, the same state where he trained to serve in the U.S. Army during World War II. The Iowa American Legion Family, including the American Legion Auxiliary, Sons of The American Legion and Legion Riders, always make a splash at national events and parades, cornstalks in hand. Hundreds of Iowans have been mentored through Hawkeye Boys State, Junior Shooting Sports, Oratoricals and other wholesome, healthy youth programs. The race to be No. 1 Iowa Legionnaires he American Legion Department of Iowa began accepting applications for T post charters on May 12, 1919. As in many Legion departments, it was deter- Hanford MacNider, of Mason City, mined that the post whose charter was submitted and approved first would become n Dalcher Post 632 a combat officer of the American Post 1. Thus was staged the great race between Council Bluffs and Spencer. was the common bond Expeditionary Forces, was fourth At the stroke of midnight on May 12, 15 veterans of each city signed application between two historically national commander of The American forms, had them notarized and got them on their rival towns, Dallas and Legion and led a U.S. victory tour for way. The Spencer group set out in a Ford, hoping to Melcher, which merged France’s Marshal Ferdinand Foch in 1921. beat the train to Des Moines from Council Bluffs; into one in1986. He later served as assistant secretary of the train carried the other application. The Spencer war and as a commanding general in team ran into bad roads, abandoned the car, board- n Robert Morgan Post the Pacific during World War II. ed a train at Carroll, called a taxi at Des Moines and 701 in the Meskwaki Na- rushed to submit the application just five minutes n Albaugh-McGovern Post 42 in Ankney is a top national tion was formed after 46 Sal Giunta, of Hiawatha, was the ahead of the delivery from Council Bluffs. Thus distributor of U.S.-made flags through the Emblem Sales tribal members – includ- fourth member of the U.S. Armed Spencer was Post 1, Council Bluffs Post 2. Flag Rewards Program, selling upwards of 400 a year, in ing eight code talkers – Forces to receive the Medal of Honor return for credits to buy items for the post and community. served in World War II. for actions in Operation Enduring IOWA BACKROADS: See an online gallery of historic Iowa American Legion posts Freedom in Afghanistan. A member www.iowabackroads.com/category/american-legion-posts of American Legion Post 735 in Hiawatha, he received the medal Hawkeye State Attractions after stopping an enemy ambush and Historic Camp Dodge in John- Fort Des Moines Museum and Education killing a high-value Taliban combatant ston – home of the Iowa National Center honors the history of African-American who was trying to drag away one of Guard – is also the location of Amer- and female military service with extensive galleries Giunta’s fellow soldiers. After learning that he ican Legion Hawkeye Boys State and film areas dedicated to both, supported by The would be nominated, Giunta didn’t like being singled out. each summer. The Legion-support- American Legion. In 1917, Fort Des Moines was the “If I’m a hero, every man that stands around me, every woman ed Iowa Gold Star Military Muse- first U.S. military base to train black officers and in in the military, everyone who goes into the unknown is a hero.” um there offers historical displays, 1942, it became the national training center for the He received the Medal of Honor on Nov. 16, 2010. weapons and a research library. Women’s Army Corps (WACs). U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, a member of Stanton American Legion Post 407, The Iowa Veterans Cemetery near Van Meter, was com- The Sidney Iowa Champion- was the first female veteran to be pleted in 2008 with support from The American Legion. It is ship Rodeo was launched by elected to the U.S. Senate. A former the final resting place for more than 2,000 Iowans and others World War I veterans of Wil- lieutenant colonel in the Iowa Army who served in uniform and their families. Monuments and a liams-Jobe-Gibson American National Guard, she has been a In a tradition that dates at least as far back as the 3rd American Legion National visitor center can be found on the picturesque hilltop. Newly Legion Post 128 in 1923 and is frequent speaker at the American Convention in Kansas City in 1921, the Iowa delegation continues to hoist cornstalks rebuilt American Legion Post 403 in Van Meter offers a now a top-level major profes- Legion Auxiliary Iowa Girls State. during annual American Legion National Convention Parades. veterans reception center for families visiting the cemetery. sional event that seats 8,000. 1919 1930 1932 1935 1943 The Department On July 21, Herbert Hoover, The American Legion Future U.S. President and American Ray Murphy, of Leo McNamara The USS Iowa, which became known as “the world’s greatest of Iowa accepts the only U.S. president from of Iowa leads the effort Legion member Ronald Reagan, Post 61 in Ida Grove, is elected as naval ship” due to her big guns and speed, is first commissioned, the charters of 352 Iowa, signs the American to raise funds to 22, breaks into the broadcasting the 18th American Legion national beginning more than 50 years of service that includes 14 American Legion Legion-supported executive construct what would field by announcing University of commander. World War I veteran battle ribbons around the planet. Known as the battleship of posts across the state order consolidating three become the first VA Iowa football games for WOC Radio Murphy had been a star football presidents, she ferried President Franklin D. Roosevelt to Tehran in the first year of the federal bureaus into one medical center in the in Davenport and, soon after, WHO and basketball player at the for a secret meeting in late 1943 with Allied leaders Winston organization’s existence. Veterans Administration. state, in Des Moines. Radio in Des Moines. University of Iowa. Churchill of Great Britain and Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union. THE HEATER Vets of Post-9/11 Valor IA LEGION A 12-hour Vets of Valor radio- from Van Meter thon on 93.3 KIOA in 2016 The American Legion has a lot better Bob Feller proudly dis- raised more than $112,000, customer service, better understanding, played in his office a trophy doubling the previous year’s and is more open-minded than most people engraved with the following: donations, to help The American “ Presented to Bob Feller Legion of Iowa provide veteran know. The Legion really takes pride in going The First American Legion and community services. the extra mile for veterans, family Baseball Graduate Enshrined in Baseball’s members, widows, everyone. Hall of Fame Because we do such a good job – all of our Cooperstown, N.Y., The Iowa Idea: Serve in peace as we served in war July 23, 1962. ommunity support is often considered the fifth pillar of community buildings, city planning and all forms of better staff, as service officers – word is slowly With a wiggling fastball C The American Legion, and the so-called “Iowa Legion citizenship.” getting out about what is available. What “ of 100 mph or more, Feller Idea” of the early 1920s planted seeds of local service that spread Inspired by the original Iowa Idea, The American Legion of Iowa better way to reach out and help the people who served next to you, and was known as the “Heater nationwide and continues today. The idea was simply that Foundation was incorporated on Nov. 29, 1978, reinvigorating the from Van Meter.” He started Legionnaires can and should volunteer their time, raise funds and concept by raising funds and disbursing grants to deserving local behind you, and in front of you – than to get them a little compensation playing American Legion substantially support other values-driven civic organizations and programs and organizations. Now with more than $2 million in Baseball at 12. Five years lat- for what they may be suffering? efforts in their communities. the corpus – and having awarded over $2.3 million over the years – er, he made his Major League Heather Dillwood, a member of Des Moines Post 274, Hanford MacNider, who was elected national commander of The The American Legion of Iowa Foundation supports programs and debut, at 17, for the Cleve- a former U.S. Army medic who deployed to Afghanistan, land Indians and struck out American Legion in 1921, was a leading proponent of the original activities ranging from Junior ROTC at high schools to medical and now helps veterans with their benefits claims 15 batters. Two weeks later, Iowa Idea. “We must continue to serve the country in the same equipment for clinics that help the needy to museum exhibits that he struck out 17. The next season, the teen phenomenon was on spirit we had in war, and we can do that only if we have every post honor POWs and MIAs. the cover of Time magazine. doing something for its community,” MacNider said in the early In 2016 alone, over $100,000 in grants were awarded from the In 1941, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Feller enlisted years of the organization.