California Veterans Posts

About Veterans Organizations in California

A deep look at the history, oldest posts, membership process, and notable veterans connected to California.

History of Veterans Organizations in California

California has the largest veteran population of any state in the country and, correspondingly, the largest American Legion department. The Department of California American Legion has historically counted more members than any other department, and it remains a giant in the national organization. California's veterans-organization story begins with the Civil War: California provided more than 16,000 Union troops, and Grand Army of the Republic posts dotted the state from San Diego to Eureka in the late 19th century. The Spanish-American War sent California units to the Philippines, and Spanish-American War veterans helped seed early veterans organizations in San Francisco, Oakland, and Los Angeles.

When the American Legion was chartered in 1919, California chartered posts at a feverish pace. Department of California was officially organized that year, and within twelve months posts had been founded in dozens of cities and towns up and down the state. The catalytic event for California's veterans community was, of course, World War II. California became the staging area for the entire Pacific theater.

Tens of millions of servicemembers passed through California ports including San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Oakland. After V-J Day, an enormous share of those veterans elected to settle in California, drawn by the climate, the booming aerospace industry, and the GI Bill's generous terms. The state's population doubled between 1940 and 1960, and a meaningful share of that growth was veterans and their families. Korea and Vietnam waves added more, and California's posts continued to grow through the late 20th century.

Notable state-specific events include the founding of the California State Military Museum, the long tradition of Boys State at California State University Sacramento, and California's outsized role in producing American Legion National Commanders.

Oldest and Most Historic Posts in California

Hollywood Post 43 in Los Angeles is one of the most famous American Legion posts in the country, chartered in 1919 and counting among its early members movie stars who served in WWI and WWII, including James Stewart, Clark Gable, Audie Murphy, and Mickey Rooney. The clubhouse on Highland Avenue is a Los Angeles landmark. San Francisco Post 1 (now consolidated into other posts) was among the first chartered in the state. Oakland Post 5 served the East Bay's industrial workforce.

Pasadena Post 13 (Memorial Post) was chartered in 1919 and has continuously served the San Gabriel Valley. Long Beach Post 27 was prominent through the WWII era when the Long Beach Naval Shipyard was a major employer. San Diego's Post 6 has been a fixture for over a century. Sacramento Post 61 has long served the capital region.

Stockton Post 16 and Fresno Post 4 were both chartered in the early 1920s and have anchored Central Valley veterans communities for generations. In the Bay Area, San Jose Post 318 grew with the city. Hollywood Post 43 in particular has hosted high-profile events, retains a remarkable archive of celebrity-veteran memorabilia, and has welcomed presidents, generals, and movie stars over its century-plus history. Many California posts maintain original charters, photographic archives, and rosters of members who fell in each conflict.

VFW Posts in California: A Closer Look

VFW history in California parallels that of the American Legion but with the eligibility distinction that VFW requires foreign-service medals, hostile-fire pay, or qualifying expeditionary service. California's first VFW posts were chartered in the 1920s, and the Department of California is one of the largest VFW departments in the country. After WWII, California saw an enormous expansion of VFW posts, particularly in coastal communities tied to Navy and Marine Corps service: San Diego, San Francisco, Long Beach, Oakland, and the Central Coast. Today the VFW Department of California-Pacific operates roughly 300 to 350 posts and maintains a strong presence across all major regions.

The eligibility difference matters in California more than in some states because so many California veterans served in the Pacific in WWII, in Korea, and in Vietnam, all of which clearly qualify for VFW membership. Cold War-era retirees who never deployed may qualify for the Legion but not the VFW. State-specific concentration is heaviest in San Diego County (with its Navy and Marine Corps populations), Los Angeles County, and the San Francisco Bay Area, but VFW posts also serve the Central Valley, the Inland Empire, the High Desert, and the North Coast.

AMVETS, DAV, and Other Veterans Organizations in California

AMVETS Department of California operates posts throughout the state, with strong presences in Los Angeles, San Diego, the Bay Area, and the Central Valley. AMVETS was founded after WWII for the GI generation, and California chartered AMVETS posts quickly. The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Department of California is one of the most active in the country, with chapters serving every major metropolitan area and providing transportation to VA medical centers including the West Los Angeles VA, Loma Linda VA, San Diego VA, San Francisco VA, Palo Alto VA, Sacramento VA, and Long Beach VA. Other prominent California veterans groups include the Marine Corps League (with detachments in nearly every Marine community), the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Korean War Veterans Association, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA, which has its largest member base in California), and the Special Forces Association.

The Bob Hope Patriotic Hall in Los Angeles is dedicated to veterans organizations.

California Veterans Posts by the Numbers

California has approximately 450 to 550 active American Legion posts, organized under the Department of California, which is the largest department in the American Legion. The VFW Department of California-Pacific maintains an estimated 300 to 350 active posts. AMVETS operates roughly 60 to 80 posts statewide. California's total veteran population is estimated at 1.6 to 1.8 million, the largest of any state.

District structure for the Legion divides California into many districts that mirror the state's complex geography. The Department of California conducts an annual convention, runs Boys State at California State University Sacramento (one of the largest Boys State programs in the nation), and supports a robust youth program calendar.

How to Join a Veterans Post in California

Joining a veterans organization in California is straightforward. American Legion eligibility requires honorable U.S. Armed Forces service during a recognized war era; the LEGION Act of 2019 effectively covers December 7, 1941 to the present. California Legion dues vary widely by post, typically running $40 to $80 annually, with some metropolitan posts charging more for facility upkeep and event costs.

VFW membership requires honorable service plus qualifying foreign service: a campaign medal, expeditionary medal, hostile-fire or imminent-danger pay, or 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days in Korea. California VFW dues commonly run $40 to $70 per year, with life memberships available. AMVETS is open to any honorably discharged veteran or active-duty servicemember. Sponsor requirements at California posts vary; metro posts often have a more formal new-member orientation, while rural posts welcome walk-ins with a DD-214.

The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) accredits service officers who can help file VA claims at no cost. Auxiliary units, Sons of the American Legion units, and Legion Riders chapters are widely available for family members and motorcycle enthusiasts. Online membership and renewal are available through legion.org, vfw.org, and amvets.org.

Notable California Veterans in History

California has produced and adopted countless notable veterans active in legion and VFW circles. Audie Murphy, the most decorated U.S. soldier of WWII, settled in California after the war and was a longtime member of Hollywood Post 43. Jimmy Stewart, who flew B-24s in WWII and rose to brigadier general in the Air Force Reserve, was a prominent member of Hollywood Post 43.

Clark Gable, an Eighth Air Force gunner-officer in WWII, was also a member there. Major League Baseball legend Ted Williams flew Marine Corps jets in WWII and Korea and was an honorary member at posts in San Diego and elsewhere. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, an Air Force fighter pilot in Korea who later walked on the moon, settled in Southern California. Senator Daniel Inouye's California connections through the 442nd RCT veterans community are noted statewide.

Bob Hope, an honorary veteran beloved across the services, was associated with the Bob Hope Patriotic Hall. Pat Tillman, the NFL safety who left a professional career to enlist in the Army Rangers and was killed in Afghanistan, has memorial scholarships and posts named in his honor in California. These veterans, alongside more than a million ordinary Californians who served, sustain the state's veterans community.

Frequently Asked Questions: California Veterans Posts

Sources & Further Reading

• https://www.legion.org/departments/california
• https://www.vfw.org/
• https://www.amvets.org/
• https://www.calvet.ca.gov/
• https://www.dav.org/