JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The American Legion has a lot to celebrate. The organization, which initiated the G.I. Bill for returning World War II veterans in 1944 and advocates for combat veterans, turns 100 years old in March 2019. American Legion Post 197 in Jacksonville also has an impressive 72-year history.
But not all of the Legion’s history has been proud.
“Initially, we didn’t even have a roof on the building,” explained post commander Michael Clark on a recent evening when the post was hosting out-of-town dignitaries ahead of Pearl Harbor Day.
Post 197, now about 400 members strong, was once all black because even though they all fought to defend the same United States Constitution, African-American veterans were not allowed to co-participate with their white counterparts in American Legion activities.
Still, an active member at 100 years old, World War Two veteran Sollie Mitchell remembers the early days of Post 197. He was diverted there from a post in Orlando after serving four years in the US Army. His memories and his recounting them are sharp.
“At first I was the only black,” he says, appointed to work in the office of legendary five-star general Douglas MacArthur. “I don’t know why but [MacArthur] talked to me just like you and I are talking now,” Mitchell said, describing typical greetings and conversations he had with the famous corncob pipe-smoking war hero.
Although Post 197 has long-since become racially integrated, the Florida department (the American Legion’s name for each state division) has trailed many other states in advancing women. Newly-appointed Florida Department Commander Dianne Boland visited the post the evening of Wednesday, December 5th.
“I keep telling them it took them 100 years to get it right,” Boland quipped about being the first woman named to head Florida’s American Legion, “but I don’t say that out loud so I shouldn’t be saying it on TV!” she laughed. “When you do the job and they see it, sooner or later, whether they like you or not, they vote you in because they know you’re doing the job.”
If anyone dislikes Commander Boland, there was no sign of it at the Wednesday festivities.
“I think it’s a great idea that that person should be accepted by their merit and not by their gender or race,” said Post 197 commander Michael Clark. “We can send [women] off to combat and ask them to bear arms; they should be able to excel just as any other man should be.”
Also in attendance was Eunice Butts, the Florida department’s first African-American to serve as Third Vice Commander.
“No one looks at color. We all jump in and we get to work. This is what the American Legion is about,” Butts said. “I believe in progress.”
However, in addition to being a veteran and US Air Force retiree, Butts is no stranger to racially-charged ignorance.
“I pretend I don’t hear it so it doesn’t upset me because I don’t think they’re talking about me, which reflects on them,” Butts added. “But the average African-American cannot do that,” she admonished. “After all, we are human.”
In addition to gearing up for Pearl Harbor Day commemorations, American Legion Post 197 members and visitors are working to raise funds that will help upgrade and repair the building it occupies at 2179 Benedict Road in Jacksonville.
“Our bathrooms are not ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act)-compliant,” post member and Air Force veteran Vermelle Smith.
“We’re trying to make them handicap-accessible,” Clark detailed.
“A lot of our stuff doesn’t even work,” Smith said while guiding First Coast News through the kitchen.
Despite those shortcomings along with torn chairs, uneven dining tables, marred floors and damaged ceiling tiles, Clark said the post welcomes veterans and civilians for a social event every Friday night.
“We open it up to the public and a deejay plays music,” Clark began. “And it’s one of the safest places, actually, to be. We have a couple of JSO officers.”
Post 197, which along with its American Legion brethren raises so much money to help veterans with medical benefits and other matters, appears to often put itself last in line for the fruits of its labor.
“We have to raise the funds because the money that we accumulate on Fridays is basically it … us being a 501(c)(19) [non-profit] organization, so we’re often trying to reach out for additional funds.”
Post 197 hopes to raise $30,000 by mid-January. To help, you can attend a Friday night event and/or contribute here.