OCR Text |
Show T3fie (Copy for This Deptnm-nt 9upplled by the American Legion Newa Service.) EMERY THE NEW COMMANDER Grand Rapids (Mich.) Official Is Elevated Ele-vated to Succeed the Late F. W. Galbraith, Jr. Maj. John Garfield Emery of Grand Rapids, Mich., was unanimously elected elec-ted national commander of the American Ameri-can Legion at a meeting of the national nation-al executive committee held In Indianapolis. In-dianapolis. He succeeds the late Frederick W. Galbraith, Jr., who was recently fatally Injured In an automobile accident acci-dent at Indianapolis. Major Emery was one of tbe five vice commanders of the Legion, having hav-ing been elected to that position at the Cleveland meeting of the organization. organ-ization. Thomas J. Bannlgan, of Hartford, Conn., was elected vice-commander, succeeding Mr. Emery in that position. Major Emery saw much fighting during dur-ing the World war. He entered the second officers' training camp at Fort Sheridan August 27, 1017. After finishing the course he was commissioned a captain of infantry i ) Fit; . tv m 1 - t V I I JOHN G. EMERY. and sent to France with the first group of Americans. He at first was assigned to the railwny transportation office at Blols, France, and remained there until February 20, 1018. Later he attended the First corps school at Gondrecourt until March 24, when he took charge of company F, Eighteenth Infantry, First brigade, First division. Major Emery participated In all the major actions with his regiment in 1918, at Cantlgny In April, May and June ; at St. Mihlel In September, and in the Meuse-Argonne offensive In September and October. He was commissioned com-missioned a major of Infantry August 30, 1918. On October 9, 1918, during the Meuse-Argonne Meuse-Argonne drive, Major Emery was wounded in the left arm and was invalided in-valided home, being discharged at Camp Custer. Soon after his return to Grand Rapids, he was elected a member of the Grand Rapids city commission, com-mission, a position he has held since that time. Before entering the service he was a real estate and insurance broker. Major Emery was born July 4. 1881, In Grand Rapids. As vice-commander of the American Legion Major Emery was a close friend and confidant of Commander Galbraith. |