Updated 5/1/2000

 

 The D.A.V.:

Formed in 1920 and chartered by Congress in 1932, the million-member DAV is the official voice of America's service-connected disabled veterans. A strong, insistent voice that represents all of America's 2.1 million disabled veterans, their families and survivors. Its nationwide network of services free of charge to all veterans and members of their families is totally supported by membership dues and contributions from the American public. Not a government agency, the DAV's national organization receives no government funds.

The DAV's History

When the troops came home from World War I, 300,000 carried grim reminders of war: disabling injuries, battle scars, gas-seared lungs, and prolonged illnesses. Following a tumultuous hero's welcome, America wiped the horror of war from its mind almost as quickly as the ticker tape was swept from the streets of New York City. The nation's makeshift response to the needs of its disabled heroes soon broke down. These angry young veterans took matters into their own hands, starting local self-help groups that soon merged to become the DAV.

 After forming a national organization headquartered in Cincinnati in 1920, the DAV began planning a Washington, D.C., office to work toward needed legislation and expedite veterans' claims. During its first six months of operation in 1922, this office handled 7,000 claims for veterans across America. These young disabled vets also worked with other organizations, initiating legislation that led to a centralized government agency to handle all veterans' affairs: the Veterans' Bureau, forerunner of today's Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

 In 1935, the DAV began stationing veterans' benefits experts in Veterans' Bureau claims offices and hospitals across the country. When the specter of World War II raised its head, the DAV upgraded its facilities and training programs to meet the new demand about to be placed on its service programs. As the first disabled vets returned from World War II, a formal program to train DAV National Service Officers (NSOs) was started at American University. There, disabled vets studied the disciplines they'd need to help other returning veterans.

 By Chevalier