important, and in many respects adopt in toto recommendations made by this committee in its report on the Uniform Code of Military Justice submitted at the 38th Annual National Convention of The American Legion at Los Angeles, Calif., and in various reports to annual conventions since that time.

Since it is anticipated that these bills will be filed next year in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, the close attention thereto of The American Legion is compelled by the importance of the proposed legislation and the almost certain opposition by the Department of Defense to portions thereof which accord with the mandates of The American Legion.

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REPORTS OF NATIONAL VICE COMMANDERS

Earl D. Franklin, Jr., Colorado

No honor that I have ever received has been more rewarding than the one that was given to me last September in Miami Beach, Fla., when I was elected National Vice Commander, representing the western area. This highlight of my 20 years in the American Legion will be treasured as one of the greatest in my life, and I shall long remember the many dedicated Legionnaires who I was privileged to meet during this term of office.

As my year in office comes to a close, I can look back over a year of progress in our American Legion. It has been a year filled with satisfaction, as I have witnessed the reaffirming of the integrity of the American Legion. This has been done the hard way-not by words alone, but by the devotion of countless thousands of dedicated Legionnaires who have carried on the fundamental and chosen work of the American Legion across the length and breadth of America and around the world.

During my year as vice commander I visited nearly all of my assigned departments within the continental United States. I took part in 15 district meetings, 3 midyear conferences, The Western Area Child Welfare Conference, 2 Regional Membership meetings and 6 Department Conventions. I also attended the MidWinter Conference in Washington, D.C., and all meetings of the National Executive Committee.

I was given the privilege of representing the National Commander at June Week activities at the Air Force Academy, at Colorado Springs, Colo. The American Legion presented the Gen. Muir S. Fairchild Award to Robert L. Sansom, of Knoxville, Tenn., the outstanding cadet in academic achievement. Another highlight of the year was participation in the military reception held at the White House in Washington, D.C., as guests of the President and Mrs. Johnson.

I was also afforded the privilege of representing the National Commander at the National Membership Workshop, held in Indianapolis on August 24 and 25. As I accepted the trust of the office of National Vice Commander a year ago, I did so believing that it offered an incomparable honor and opportunity for good work. As the year comes to a close, I recognize that the opportunity and the honor are even greater than I imagined a year ago. For the rich tradition of the Legion will continue to serve as a daily inspiration to me and to all Legionnaires.

I would like to express my appreciation to Commander Foley for his tremendous leadership and his outstanding devotion to service for God and country. Working with Commander Dan this year has been a real privilege. I would also like to express my appreciation to the other four National Vice Commanders for the opportunity to serve with them. I would like to thank National Adjutant, E. A. Blackmore, for his valuable assistance.

I shall never forget my year as National Vice Commander. This office has taught me many lessons of humility, courage, simplicity and sincere love and they will be valued by me throughout my life as I continue working for the American Legion in the years to come.

Emilio S. Iglesias, Vermont

This brief report provides me with an opportunity to express my sincere appreciation for the honor and privilege of serving The American Legion as a National Vice Commander during the past Legion year.

In addition to complying with the normal duties associated with the office of Vice Commander, I was most fortunate to be a member of the Legion's aroundthe-world tour. The opportunity to travel and become better acquainted with 76 dedicated Legionnaires from 42 departments was a rich and rewarding experience by itself. As a result of the excellent briefings from Government and mili

tary officials, both American and of the countries visited, all of us gained a much better insight and a greater understanding of the problems now confronting our Nation in the areas of foreign affairs and national security. To be commended for the success of the tour are James C. Watkins, James R. Wilson, and Warren MacDonald, of our Legion staff, whose untiring efforts made the entire trip a most memorable and pleasant experience.

I would like to thank the commanders, officers and adjutants of the departments comprising my area for an outstanding effort this year. While some of the departments are behind in membership as of this writing, the area as a whole is ahead of the national average. Five departments have exceeded the national average and the rest, I am hopeful, will do so by convention time.

I would also like to thank the headquarters staffs, both in Indianapolis and in Washington, for their cooperation and assistance during the year and especially "Blackie" Blackmore and Bill Hauck who render such efficient and dedicated service to our organization.

Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to our National Commander Dan Foley. His enthusiasm, devotion to duty, and steadfastness of purpose have made him inspiring and most pleasant to work with. Due to his dynamic leadership, The American Legion, I believe, has risen to new heights and is concluding one of the most successful years in its history.

G. D. Murphy, Jr., M.D., Arkansas

It is with deep regret that the time has come that I must prepare the Annual Report required of the National Vice Commander. This regret is due to the fact that there are so many ideas, plans and objectives that I haven't had time to carry out. Then, too, the many joys and pleasures that come from association and meeting with Legionnaires in the departments that I have served is soon to come to an end.

The result of my attending the conventions, the meetings, the dedications, and other Legion functions has been a renewed love for the Legion and a firm resolution to dedicate myself to serve The American Legion in whatever capacity that I might to help carry out its programs and objectives.

One of the greatest pleasures I derived from my year as Vice Commander has been the privilege of serving under the leadership of National Commander Dan Foley. The equanimity that he has demonstrated under trying circumstances has been an inspiration.

I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation and thanks to National Adjutant E. A. Blackmore and all Headquarters Staff. Also public relations occupies a warm place in my heart and I will forever be grateful for their help. I wish to thank all department commanders, adjutants and members of the departments that I served for their efforts in carrying out the programs, their encouragement, and wonderful hospitality.

The enthusiasm, the dedication of all Legionnaires in departments that I have visited, leaves me with the firm conviction that The American Legion still wields a tremendous power for good, composed as it is of a cross section of American people, three generations from two wars and a conflict. Businessmen, laborers, professional people, clerks, and farmers join together for one purposeto promote 100 percent Americanism. The American Legion's history from its inception in Paris until now shows clearly this central intent. Again and again, it has been The American Legion who has been in the forefront in the fight against communism, the 20th-century danger born of materialism and lust for power, the proven enemy of our way of life, even as were nazism and fascism. The American Legion has spoken out and continues to speak for preparedness and for vigilance against this present day menace.

The American Legion members have engaged and are engaged effectively in countless enterprises designed to strengthen the young people for tomorrow's duties oratorical contests, Girls and Boys State, junior baseball, and others. For these many citizens (veterans and nonveterans) tell me time and time again, America is grateful indeed.

I say this about our great organization, dedicated to a 100 percent Americanism, our past actions and service have been only skirmishes so to speak. The real battles lie ahead, and to win we members can serve best by acting and speaking out in our hometowns, in the legislative halls, and on the national

scene.

We members must make The American Legion a force not only for vigilance and preparedness against the well-defined present enemy called communism but against any and all enemies of Americanism. The struggle must continue against selfishness, smugness, moral indifference, human laziness, materialism, self-satisfaction, dogma, and plain meanness. All must join in this fight and not leave it to a few to speak out for Americanism—the heart and soul of the United States. We must join hands in resisting the smog of totalitarianism in whatever form it may descend upon our communities. For if we do this, the land that we love will be free and there will be no force or fear to keep a man from speaking his mind or joining hands with his fellows on what is true and just and right. The American Legion guarantees this.

George Emory Sipple, Wisconsin

To serve The American Legion as a National Vice Commander for the year 1963-64 has been a pleasant and rewarding experience. Canada, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin were assigned to my area and led in the membership reports almost from the beginning of the year. I have said that I would like to take credit for this fine performance but know that it was the result of the efforts of the leaders and individual members in each of these departments.

The Department of Canada, with posts in Ireland and Australia assigned to it was a surprise. My visits to each of the other departments, with the exception of Ohio, which I did not have the good fortune to visit, were thrilling experiences as I heard their reports, shared some of their problems and rejoiced in their accomplishments. My congratulations to the Legionnaires of these departments for the great work being done in so many of the programs of The American Legion with the purpose of serving our God and our country.

Our great organization has some real problems and challenges that must be met. Our National Commander Dan Foley has called attention to many of them. It has been a privilege to serve with him and observe his dedication, his great attention to detail, and his tremendous energy to keep things going.

We will need to keep saying that we are for all veterans old and young, that we believe in our preamble and intend to keep trying to do something about meeting its objectives.

As I see it our greatest need is that of improving our communications. Communications within the organization, individual members with their post officers, and all of them with the department and national officers, committees and commissions, so that all will work together. We must ever remember that it is at the individual post that we are most effective. Then too, communications between our organization and the public, by way of other organizations, institutions, newspaper, radio, television, public officials and national leaders.

If all could know the real purposes of The American Legion and know of its unselfish service, given in a most intelligent and responsible manner, we should be able to enroll many other eligible veterans to help in this unique and unequaled service.

Thanks to Adjutant Blackmore and his staff who have at all times been ready and willing to help, and my regards go to the other National Vice Commanders who served in their respective areas.

I am confident that The American Legion can and will meet the challenges that will confront it in this service to the community, State, and Nation.

Harry Wright, Mexico

Twelve months and 52 thousand miles after receiving the honor of being elected National Vice Commander of The American Legion I can say that it has been one of the great experiences of my life.

I found myself accredited to the 10 Departments of Mexico, France, Puerto Rico, Panama, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri. I visited seven of these, omitting France, Puerto Rico, and Panama only. The overwhelming reception given me at these places was not only most heartwarming, but indicative of the strength of the Legion there and of the high regard the Legionnaires feel for their national organization.

I was also privileged to make the round of eight Boys States and Girls States in June, climaxing my year of service as a participant in the Legion's finest of all programs.

I am convinced from my activities of this past year that not sufficient advantage is taken of the vice commanders as public relations vehicles. The departments vary widely in the ways in which they take advantage, or fail to take advantage of the presence of a Red Hat in their midst.

It is to be recommended that future vice commanders have a serious "workshop" get-together with the top White Hats of their departments at the Fall Commanders and Adjutants Meeting in Indianapolis in order to work out a visitation program which will take fullest advantage of the potential offered.

Any vice commander should be only too happy to have a full and carefully worked-out program of activities prepared for him which will lead to wide newspaper, TV, and radio coverage for The American Legion.

The strong leadership of Commander Foley has been evident everywhere in the Legion this year and I am grateful to have been able to serve under such a In addition I want to thank the department officers and the national staff for their many unfailing courtesies.

man.