Cathay Post #384 was officially chartered by the national office of the American Legion on August 24, 1931. However, Chinese American veterans during the early 1900's were not treated as equals in the United States Arm Forces. Their needs for fair representation and recognition in defense of America became their goal in the 1930s. With the coming of WWII, thousands of Chinese Americans and immigrants answered the call to serve in defense of America against the European and Asian countries. During the war hundreds of Chinese soldiers were killed in action for their service.

 

After WWII, because of the Chinese American soldiers? service they were allowed to become naturalized as American citizens. They also were given the chance to take advantage of the G.I. Bill which promoted higher education and opportunities to bring their wives and children from China to America. In pursuing these rights, the Cathay Post #384 played a major role in the Chinese community. They recognized that family unification was important in preserving their cultural family values for their children and community. To preserve cultural values and exercise their rights, Cathay Post #384 and other veteran organizations came lobbied to the United States Congress, the need of equal treatment of Chinese Americans as citizens. Recognizing the need to preserve their history, during the early 1950s, Cathay Post #384 veteran members donated their money to Post to purchase a two story headquarters building on Powell Street. Today, Cathay Post #384 is the only veteran organization that owns their building in the city.

 

Currently, the Cathay Post #384 is focused on community organizations who serve our Chinese American community, along with honoring Chinese American veteran?s service to America. The recognition and assistance of community organizations have been through honoring local police officers, helping senior citizens, providing a community forum for public education, assisting young Asian Americans improve their social and leadership abilities, participating in the San Francisco Homeless Council, and the on-going project to establish the first Chinese American Veterans Memorial Museum to honor our Chinese soldiers who have served in American and World Wars.

 

The call for affordable housing in San Francisco was received and acted upon by the Cathay Post #384. Their vote to allow for the construction of additional floors to building to provide permanent low-income housing for the veterans and their families (if the government is willing) is one community effort of the Post. The noble effort comes from their want to support their veteran comrades.

 

Today, Cathay Post #384 is one of the most active American Legion posts in San Francisco. They will continue focus on community development and voter registration in order to have Chinese American exercise their rights as equal partners in the American society.