West Virginia Veterans Posts

About Veterans Organizations in West Virginia

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

History of Veterans Organizations in West Virginia

West Virginia possesses one of the most service-oriented populations in the United States on a per-capita basis, with mountain communities producing volunteers for every American conflict from the state's 1863 founding through the present day. The state was literally born of war, having seceded from Virginia during the Civil War to remain in the Union, and that founding circumstance shaped a culture that views military service as both civic duty and an extension of the rugged self-reliance characteristic of Appalachian life. West Virginians served in remarkable numbers during the Spanish-American War and World War I, with the West Virginia National Guard's units mobilizing for both conflicts. By the time the American Legion was chartered by Congress in September 1919, West Virginia mountain communities had already established Grand Army of the Republic posts and Spanish-American War veteran groups, creating a foundation upon which the new American Legion organization built rapidly.

The West Virginia Department of the American Legion organized in 1919 and 1920, with charter posts in Charleston, Wheeling, Huntington, Parkersburg, Morgantown, and other communities. The state's coal mining industry sent thousands of veterans back to the mines after World War I, and Legion posts in coal communities across southern West Virginia became central to working-class veteran life. World War II expanded the West Virginia Legion substantially, with returning veterans from both the European and Pacific theaters establishing new posts in towns that had not previously had organized veterans presence. The 28th Infantry Division, which though formally a Pennsylvania National Guard division drew significant West Virginia membership, fought through Normandy and the Hurtgen Forest with considerable West Virginia presence.

The Korean War and Vietnam eras saw West Virginia continue to send disproportionate numbers of young men to military service, and the post-9/11 generation has maintained this tradition with the West Virginia Army National Guard deploying multiple units to Iraq and Afghanistan. West Virginia lacks a major active duty military installation, distinguishing it from neighboring states, but the state hosts the West Virginia Air National Guard 130th Airlift Wing at Yeager Airport in Charleston and the 167th Airlift Wing at Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport in Martinsburg. Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren maintains operations at the Sugar Grove site in Pendleton County. The Mountaineer post tradition is particularly strong in West Virginia, where many small communities maintain Legion posts that serve as the central social institution for entire townships.

Oldest and Most Historic Posts in West Virginia

Several West Virginia American Legion posts trace their charters to the founding period of 1919 and 1920. Charleston Post 20, located in the state capital, was among the earliest chartered posts and has continuously operated since the immediate post-World War I period. Wheeling Post 1 served the historic Ohio River city in the Northern Panhandle and drew membership from steel workers, glass workers, and other industrial veterans. Huntington Post 16 served the Cabell County region and the Marshall University community.

Parkersburg Post organized substantial membership from the Wood County industrial area. Morgantown Post served the West Virginia University community and Monongalia County. Beckley Post in Raleigh County, Bluefield Post in Mercer County, and Welch Post in McDowell County all developed strong membership from southern West Virginia coal communities. Fairmont Post in Marion County, Clarksburg Post in Harrison County, and Weirton Post in the Northern Panhandle all trace their origins to the founding period.

Many smaller West Virginia communities, including Buckhannon, Elkins, Petersburg, Romney, Moorefield, Keyser, Princeton, Logan, and Williamson, established posts during the early 1920s and continue operating today. The Mountaineer Post tradition emphasizes community service and small-town character, with West Virginia posts often maintaining modest but well-loved post homes that host weddings, funerals, town meetings, and patriotic events. Several West Virginia posts have served continuously through floods, fires, and economic downturns that affected their host communities, with members rebuilding facilities multiple times over the past century.

VFW Posts in West Virginia: A Closer Look

The West Virginia VFW Department traces its origins to the immediate post-World War I period and has maintained a steady network of posts throughout the state's mountain communities. Charleston, Wheeling, Huntington, and Parkersburg host the largest VFW concentrations, with smaller posts scattered throughout the state's fifty-five counties. The West Virginia VFW Department coordinates scholarship programs through Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen youth competitions, supports the West Virginia Veterans Home in Barboursville, and conducts legislative advocacy at the West Virginia Legislature in Charleston. The Korean War and Vietnam generations contributed substantial membership to West Virginia VFW posts, and the post-9/11 generation has revitalized several smaller posts.

The West Virginia VFW operates buddy poppy distribution campaigns each year that fund veterans charitable activities. The state's mountainous geography means that many West Virginia VFW posts serve veterans across multiple counties, and posts in Beckley, Bluefield, and Welch serve the southern coalfields region while posts in Fairmont, Clarksburg, and Morgantown serve the north-central region.

AMVETS, DAV, and Other Veterans Organizations in West Virginia

AMVETS established a presence in West Virginia during the late 1940s, with World War II veterans organizing posts in the major cities. The West Virginia AMVETS Department maintains posts in Charleston, Huntington, Wheeling, and several smaller communities, focusing on legislative advocacy and direct service to veterans. The Disabled American Veterans organization maintains a strong presence in West Virginia given the state's high per-capita disability rate among veterans, with chapters throughout the state. The West Virginia DAV operates transportation programs that move disabled veterans to VA medical centers in Beckley, Huntington, Clarksburg, and Martinsburg.

DAV service officers throughout West Virginia assist veterans with disability claims, and the organization maintains particular relevance given the high rate of service-connected disabilities common among veterans of the post-9/11 generation and the substantial population of Vietnam-era veterans dealing with Agent Orange-related conditions.

West Virginia Veterans Posts by the Numbers

West Virginia is home to approximately 130,000 veterans according to recent VA estimates, a number that represents a substantial percentage of the state's relatively small population. The West Virginia Department of the American Legion maintains roughly 130 active posts spread across the state's fifty-five counties, with combined membership estimated near 12,000. The West Virginia VFW Department operates approximately 100 active posts with membership around 9,000, while AMVETS maintains roughly 25 posts. The West Virginia DAV maintains over 30 chapters.

Veterans represent approximately 9 percent of West Virginia's adult population, a higher rate than many states reflecting the strong service tradition in mountain communities and the substantial number of Vietnam-era veterans still living in the state.

How to Join a Veterans Post in West Virginia

Joining a West Virginia American Legion, VFW, AMVETS, or DAV organization begins with locating the appropriate post through the respective state department. The West Virginia Department of the American Legion maintains its headquarters in Charleston. American Legion membership requires honorable service during a congressionally designated war era, with current eligibility extending continuously from World War I forward. West Virginia posts welcome DD-214 documentation and process applications during regular meetings.

Annual dues in West Virginia posts typically range from 25 to 45 dollars, often somewhat lower than larger states reflecting the state's modest cost of living. VFW membership requires foreign service or campaign medal qualification. AMVETS welcomes any honorably discharged veteran. Many West Virginia posts maintain auxiliary units, Sons of the American Legion squadrons, and Legion Riders chapters.

The West Virginia Department's annual convention rotates among Charleston, Wheeling, Huntington, and other communities. The Mountaineer post tradition emphasizes hands-on community service, with posts conducting fundraisers, maintaining cemeteries, supporting local schools, and performing military funeral honors with dedicated honor guard teams that travel throughout their counties.

Notable West Virginia Veterans in History

West Virginia has produced numerous distinguished military veterans whose service has earned national recognition. Brigadier General Charles Yeager, the Myra native who became the first pilot to break the sound barrier on October 14, 1947, in the Bell X-1, served as a Mustang fighter ace during World War II and represents perhaps the state's most celebrated military aviator. Senator Robert C. Byrd, while not a combat veteran, championed veterans causes throughout his record-setting Senate career.

Senator Joe Manchin served in the Army National Guard. Medal of Honor recipient Hershel Williams, the Quiet Dell native who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on Iwo Jima during World War II as a Marine demolition specialist, lived as the last surviving World War II Marine Medal of Honor recipient until his death in 2022 and remained active with West Virginia veterans organizations throughout his long life. Medal of Honor recipient Jon Cavaiani, while primarily associated with California, had West Virginia family connections. The 28th Infantry Division produced numerous decorated West Virginia soldiers during World War II.

Brigadier General John Pershing's wife was a West Virginia native, giving the General Pershing connection to the state. Astronaut Anna Lee Fisher, while not a veteran, has West Virginia connections.

Frequently Asked Questions: West Virginia Veterans Posts

Sources & Further Reading

• https://www.legion.org
• https://www.wvlegion.org
• https://www.vfw.org
• https://www.amvets.org
• https://www.va.gov
• https://veterans.wv.gov
• https://www.dav.org