Iowa official register

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IOWA OFFICIAL REGISTER 

 

The first Iowa state convention was held in Des Moines on September 4, 1919. The Iowa de-

partment stresses a national program of Americanism, national security, child welfare, and reha-

bilitation, in addition to many youth programs to develop good citizenship. The Iowa headquar-

ters are located at 720 Lyon Street, Des Moines. There are nine districts in Iowa with 643 local 

posts and an approximate annual membership of 79,000. 

Iowa has contributed leadership to the national organization with four national commanders:  

Gen. Hanford McNider of Mason City, J. Ray Murphy, formerly of Ida Grove, Donald E. Johnson 

of West Branch, Dale Renaud of Bondurant, and David Rehbein of Ames. The American Legion 

Auxiliary, comprised of mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, and granddaughters of Legionnaires, 

was organized in 1921. 

 

American Veterans of World War II 

American Veterans of World War II, commonly known as AMVETS, was granted a national 

charter by an Act of Congress, and President Harry S. Truman signed the measure on July 28, 

1947. AMVETS is the only nationally chartered World War II veterans organization. 

The AMVETS principles are to promote world peace, to perpetuate the American way of life, 

and to help veterans help themselves. Any person who served actively and honorably in the armed 

forces for any length of time after September 16, 1940, is eligible to become a member. AM-

VETS has a national and state auxiliary comprised of wives, mothers, sisters, and daughters of 

World War II, Korea, and Vietnam veterans. 

China-Burma-India Veterans Association 

The China-Burma-India Veterans Association (CBIVA) is a nonprofit organization, formed in 

1948 for World War II veterans who served in the China-Burma-India Theater. National offices 

are located in the War Memorial Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Chapters (known as bashas, 

which is an Eastern Indian name for house or hut) are scattered throughout the United States, and 

national reunions are held annually. 

The Carl F. Moershel Basha of Iowa was organized in Des Moines in November 1952. It is 

named after the late Col. Moershel of the Amana Colonies, who was a charter member. Meetings 

of the group are held twice a year in different cities. In addition, Iowa has been host to the na-

tional reunion three times — Cedar Rapids in 1960 and 1981 and Des Moines in 1968. 

Two Iowans, Ray Alderson of Dubuque and Dr. Victor Tamashunas of Ames, have served as 

national commander. A number of other Iowans have held national offices in the CBIVA. Neil 

Maurer of Laurens and Alderson are two of the 24 recipients of the CBIVA Award of Merit, 

given at the national reunion each year. 

The Disabled American Veterans in Iowa 

The Disabled American Veterans, commonly known as the DAV, was organized nationally in 

1920 by groups of disabled veterans then undergoing vocational training courses and was char-

tered by Congress in 1932 to render service to, for, and by disabled war veterans. Since its incep-

tion, the DAV has been the mouthpiece for the disabled war veterans of America in Congress and 

before its various committees as well as before the Veterans Administration and its regional of-

fices and facilities. 

During 1920 and 1921, the first three chapters of the Iowa department were organized in the 

vocational training centers at Des Moines, Iowa City, and Ames. The Department of Iowa DAV 

held its first state convention in 1922 in Iowa City. The DAV in Iowa has grown to 24 chapters 

and over 10,000 members. The National Service Office is located at 1033B Federal Building, 210 

Walnut Street, Des Moines. The supervisor is Robert Peterson. 

The Marine Corps League in Iowa 

The League is a veterans organization incorporated by an Act of Congress in 1937. It is com-

posed of marines and former marines with honorable service. It aims to perpetuate the traditions 

and spirit of the U.S. Marine Corps through the continuous association of marines who served 

under the Globe and Anchor at any time, in war or peace. 

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IOWA PROFILE 

 

League detachments are located all across the country. Regular meetings are conducted under a 

unified ritual, with the Marine Corps spirit and atmosphere predominating. The one and only 

membership qualification is honorable service in excess of 90 days in the U.S. Marine Corps. 

This means that, regardless of rank served, regardless of when or where a marine served, regard-

less of the division or wing of service, the marine, male or female, is welcome in the Marine 

Corps League. 

A common trait of league members is the spirit of Semper Fidelis, the spirit of being “always 

faithful” to the country, the Corps, and their fellow marines, in service and out. So deep is this 

ingrained in the members that long after most have hung up the uniform for the last time, they still 

dare to call each other “Marine.” Each seems to hold the league slogan as a personal truth, that of 

“Once a Marine — always a Marine.” 

Iowa Veterans of Foreign Wars 

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Department of Iowa, was granted its charter by the na-

tional organization on May 26, 1921. Its objectives, fraternal, patriotic, historical, and educa-

tional, are to preserve and strengthen comradeship among its members and to assist comrades; to 

perpetuate the memory and history of its dead and to assist their widows and orphans; to maintain 

allegiance to the government of the United States and fidelity to its Constitution and laws; to fos-

ter patriotism; to maintain and extend institutions of American freedom; and to preserve and de-

fend the United States from its enemies. The VFW is comprised of American men and women 

who served honorably in the armed forces of the United States in hostile waters or on foreign soil 

during any foreign war, insurrection, or expedition. 

The Iowa department headquarters are located at 3601 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines. 

Paralyzed Veterans of America 

The Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) is a nonprofit organization chartered by the United 

States Congress and dedicated to serving the many needs of its members. The PVA is at the fore-

front of improving the access to and quality of appropriate health care, identifying and securing 

benefits to veterans, promoting medical research, educating society about attitudinal and physical 

barriers, and providing information and opportunities for better health, recreation, employment, 

sports, service, and camaraderie for spinal cord-impaired veterans and others as appropriate. 

Membership is open to any veteran of military service who has a spinal cord injury or disease. 

Military Order of the Purple Heart 

The Military Order of the Purple Heart is the only congressionally chartered veterans organiza-

tion exclusively for combat-wounded veterans who have been awarded the Purple Heart by the 

government of the United States. 

Vietnam Veterans of America 

The Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) was founded in 1979 as the only national Vietnam 

veteran organization congressionally chartered and exclusively dedicated to Vietnam-era veterans 

and their families. 

The goal of this organization is to promote and support the full range of issues faced by Viet-

nam veterans, to create a new identity for this generation of veterans, and to change the public 

perception of Vietnam veterans. 

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