United Spanish War Veterans

United Spanish War Veterans

Soon after the Spanish-American War ended in early 1899, discharged veterans rushed to form fraternal societies. Among these were the Spanish War Veterans, the Spanish-American War Veterans, the Servicemen of the Spanish War, American Veterans of Foreign Service, the Army of the Philippines, the Veteran Army of the Philippines, the Legion of Spanish War Veterans and many other smaller organizations. At the turn of the century, many of these groups began to merge. In 1904, the three largest groups, the Spanish War Veterans, the Spanish American War Veterans and the Servicemen of the Spanish War amalgamated into the United Spanish War Veterans. They would become the largest and most influential of the Spanish-American War societies. In 1906, the Legion of Spanish War Veterans would merge with the United Spanish War Veterans. The Legion existed only in the states of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. In 1908 the Veteran Army of the Philippines also merged with the United Spanish War Veterans. The Veteran Army was made up of soldiers and sailors serving in the US Military in the Philippine Islands.The United Spanish War Veterans consisted of veterans of three distinct wars:
*Spanish-American War. April 1898 to February 1899The fighting was pretty much over by July 1898, but the Treaty was not signed until February 6,1899.
*Philippine Insurrection. February 1899 to July 1902This was a war against Filipino rebels who resisted the conquest of the Islands by the Americans. Teddy Roosevelt declared the war over on July 4, 1902. A war against Moro tribesmen continued until 1913.
*Chinese Relief Expedition. 1900 to 1901. Commonly called “The Boxer Rebellion,” veterans of this action were lumped together for benefits with the Span-Am and Philippine Insurrection veterans by the Government pension bills. The “Boxer Rebellion” veterans were granted membership into the USWV in the early 1920s.

The United Spanish War Veterans existed until 1992 when the last member, Nathan E. Cook, died at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Mr. Cook was exactly a month shy of his 107th birthday. He is almost always characterized, incorrectly, as the last surviving veteran of the Spanish-American War. Nathan was a naval veteran of the Philippine Insurrection of 1899-1902. He lied about his age to join the US Navy in 1901 at the age of sixteen.

References: The Amalgamation (merger) Agreements of the five societies that became the USWV are recreated in the front of every National Encampment Journal from 1904-1989. The journals are titled "Proceedings of the Stated Convention of the ___th National Encampment, United Spanish War Veterans, (Location) (Dates).Eligibility to Membership is included in every copy of "Constitution and Rules and Regulations, USWV". These were issued irregularly, usually when major changes were voted into these statutes at National Encampments.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Last surviving United States war veterans — The last surviving veteran of any particular war, upon his or her death, marks the end of a historic era. Exactly who is the last surviving veteran is often an issue of contention, especially with records from long ago wars. The last man standing …   Wikipedia

  • List of last living war veterans — This page lists the last surviving veterans of numerous military conflicts, where known. War of 1812 *USA: Hiram Cronk, died May 13, 1905 American Revolutionary War *Colonies: Daniel F. Bakeman, died April 5, 1869 American Civil War *Union:… …   Wikipedia

  • List of last surviving Canadian war veterans — This is an incomplete list of the last surviving veterans of Canadian wars. The passing of such veterans upon his or her death, mark the end of a historic era. Exactly who is the last surviving veteran is often an issue of contention, especially… …   Wikipedia

  • Spanish–American War — Warbox|conflict=Spanish American War caption= Charge of the Rough Riders at San Juan Hill by Frederic Remington date=April 25 ndash; August 12, 1898 place=Caribbean Sea: Cuba, Puerto Rico; Pacific Ocean: Guam, Philippine Islands casus=Cuban War… …   Wikipedia

  • Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War — (SUVCW) is an American fraternal organization, the legal successor to the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). Founded in late 1881, it was originally one of several competing organizations of descendants of Union veterans. By 1886, others had… …   Wikipedia

  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs — Seal of the Department of Veterans Affairs …   Wikipedia

  • List of veterans' organizations — This is a list of veterans organizations. Australia * Returned and Services League of Australia Canada * Veterens of Canada, Business Supporting Heroes initiative * Royal Canadian Legion (Canada s organization supporting veterans worldwide) *… …   Wikipedia

  • Minnesota Veterans Home — Minnesota Soldiers Home Historic District U.S. National Register of Historic Places U.S. Historic district …   Wikipedia

  • UNITED STATES OF AMERICA — UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, country in N. America. This article is arranged according to the following outline: introduction Colonial Era, 1654–1776 Early National Period, 1776–1820 German Jewish Period, 1820–1880 East European Jewish Period,… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • United States occupation of Cuba (1906–1909) — United States occupation of Cuba Part of the Banana Wars A 1909 cartoon from Puck showing President Theodore Roosevelt, dressed in his Rough Riders …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”