New-York tribune., 1921-06-15
New Chief Not Opposed
Lives in Grand Rapids and
Was Active in Promoting
The Compensation Plan

NnIANAPOLTS, June t4-~Members
= the national executive committee
: the American Legion to-day elected
y.t;onal Commander John G..
grIrv. Of Grand Rapids, Mich. az the
ast;onal commander of the veterans
.rc.u;ration, to succeed Frederick w
cslhrsith ir., who was killed last week
= an automobi accident.
Thomas J. Bsnnigan, of Hartford.
EARN. was elected one of the five
ss.ional vice-commanders to succeed
Commander Emery.
cnmmander Emery in his first state
vent as head of the organization, is
.ned here tonight, advocated con-
s;nuance by the Legion of it's program
Il @instilling in the hearts of former
sorvice men and women sense of in
@vidual obligation to community,
ssate and nation With this sense of
.ssnonsibility before them, he said, the
1iehtmare Of destructive radicalism
s1d disintegrating factional strife
~b;ch has assailed so many nations
since the war, has been spared our
country.
Aid to Veterans 10 Continue
Mr. Emery said the Legion would
continue its fight in behalf of dis
.bIaa veterans of the World War until
sach man was generously provided for.
The new national commander paid
. glowing tribute to the later Colonel
Galbraith, his predecessor.
Commander Emery announced he
xould hrl the speaking dates arranged
Nv the late Mr. Galbraith os far as
noss!ble. Mr. Emery te1egraphed his
-es,rnstion as president of the Board
~ Citv Commissioners of Grand Rapids
He will devote his entire time to ad-
rinistration of the office of national
commander.
bsen mentioned for the post of ma
,ional commander, Mr.. Emsry's name
vas unopposed.
Resolutions were adopted by the
committee recording the Legion's rever-
ence for the memory of Colonel GAL
braith and its recognition Of his lead
ership up to the time of his death.
As member of the committee which
drafted the Legion's fourfold plan Of
additional compensation and as one OF
its advocates before Congress Com
nsnder Emery has been exceedingly
active. He is an overseas man, having
served with distinction in France.
Commander Emery was born in
Grand Rapids, July 4, 1881. He is mar
red and has two children. He is en-
gagged in the real estate business in
Grand Rapids, has served as president
Of the Grand Rapids Real Estate
Board, as one of the seven commission
ers who govern the city, and is presi-
dent Of the 1st Division Club of that
city.
Mr.. Emery entered the Second Off
GERS Training Camp at Fort Sheridan
H. August Of, 1917, was commissioned
E captain Of infantry. and was ordered
overseas November 27. He attended
various schools in France and was as-
signed to the 18th Infantry of the 1st
Division. He commanded F Company
Of this regiment in the Montdidier-
Noyon and Aisne-Marne offensives and
received his majority on September l
1918, in the St Mihiel and Argonne of
fensives.
Mr.. Emery is member Of the Stats
Executive Committee of the American
Legion and of the Military Order o,
Foreign Wars. He is q member Of thu
Carl A. johnson Post, No. 2, of the De
partment of Michigan.
vice-Commander Bannigan has served
as adjutant Of the Connecticut Depart
ment of the Legion for three years
During the World War he served as 1
captain in the army. A record-maker il
the formation and organization of Rau
Locke Post of the Legion in Hartford
Mr.. Bannigan was elected as the frs
adjutant Of the Legion's Connection
Department and has occupied tha'
position since that time. He is also {
member of the Legion's national com,
mittee on war risk insurance and com
pensation.