The History of VFW Bell Post 1820 

Temple, Texas had its first "1820" Post instituted on 23 November, 1937, in the library of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp #1829 with 43 men listed as charter members. Known as "Frank Curtis Post 1820."Its charter commander was Clemmie E. Ambler, was noted on the charter application as "bugler" in the US Army with foreign service in France and discharged on 19 November 1919.

​This Post apparently had rough times, being declared defunct on 5 December, 1942. Besides Ambler, other Post commanders of record were J. M. Barron (1938-1941) and William L. Leatherwood who was the Post Commander at the time of the closing in December 1942.

​A new Post was mustered/instituted on 14 December, 1943 by Department Commander Dr. D.S. Myers with 24 members present. The first Post meeting was held at the municipal building in Temple. The Post name of "Bell" was adopted in March 1944.

On17 January, 1957 Veterans of Foreign Wars National Commander-in -Chief, Cooper T. Holt, visited Bell Post 1820 and held a press conference on KCEN-TV and toured the McCloskey VA Hospital. 

 

About the VFW 

 

The VFW traces its roots back to 1899 when veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service: Many arrived home wounded or sick. There was no medical care or veterans' pension for them,and they were left to care for themselves.

 

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In their misery, some of these veterans banded together and formed organizations with what would become known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. After chapters were formed in Ohio, Colorado and Pennsylvania, the movement quickly gained momentum. By 1915, membership grew to 5,000; by 1936, membership was almost 200,000. 

Since then, the VFW's voice had been instrumental in establishing the Veterans Administration, creating a GI bill for the 20th century, the development of the national cemetery system and the fight for compensation for Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange and for veterans diagnosed with Gulf War Syndrome. In 2008, VFW won a long-fought victory with the passing of a GI Bill for the 21st Century, giving expanded educational benefits to America's active-duty service members, and members of the Guard and Reserves, fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

The VFW also has fought for improving VA medical centers services for women veterans.

Besides helping fund the creation of the Vietnam, Korean War, World War II and Women in Military Service memorials, the VFW in 2005 became the first veterans' organization to contribute to building the new Disabled Veterans for Life Memorial, which opened in November 2010.

Annually, the nearly 2 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliaries contribute more than 8.6 million hours of volunteerism in the community, including participation in Make A Difference Day and National Volunteer Week. 

From providing over $3 million in college scholarships and savings bonds to students every year, to encouraging elevation of the Department of Veterans Affairs to the president's cabinet, the VFW is there.