Evening star., 1947-07-27
District Legion Elects
HoIIeran Commander,
Closes 3-Day Session

Closes 3-Day Session
Owen c. Holleran, IS, of 47O1
Connecticut avenue NV, was
elected commander of the District
Department of the American Legion
in a closely contested race as the
Legionaires closed a three-day con-
vention last night at the Hotel
Statler.
He defeated Guy C. Nadeau, who
was running for second term as
commander, by a vote of $50 to
234. Boos and cheers rang through
the hotel as each of the ST post
commanders stood to announce their
delegates votes.
Mr.. Holleran, prominent in Legion
affairs for many years, is consult
ant at the Bureau of Federal Supply
He directed the first Washington
Soap Box Derby, in 1888, which was
sponsored by the Legion and The
Star
Lost Leg in World War I.
In World War I he lost his leg
when his plane was shot down over
France. He was then a captain in
the British Royal Flying Corps, a
commission he accepted after re-
signing from the Georgia National
Guard. He received the British
Mons Star. Mr. Holleran served as
colonel on the Army Air Staff
and later on the General Staff Corps
during World War II, assigned under
Kenneth c. Royal, Under Secretary
of War. He received the Legion of
Merit and an Air Force Commenda-
ton.
His wife, Mrs. Adeline Holleran,
and a son, Owen Holleran, jr., 18.
are in Washington with him. A
daughter, Mrs. Nancy Miarotta,
lives in New York.
Five Vice Commanders Chosen.
Five vice commanders elected by
the convention delegates, all on the
Holleran ticket, we're:
Charles L. Schuettler, $500 Sew
enth street NV, George Washing
ton Post; Harvey L. Bean, 1906 Ver-
mont avenue NV, James Reese
Europe Post; Godfrey Creyke, jr,
5000 Forty-fourth street, Chevy
Chase, Md, Thad Dulin Post; Will
liam De Prez, 1886 Kenyon street
NV, Sergt Jasper Post, and l..
Guy Jackson, 5517 Illinois avenue
NV, Capital Transit Post.
twenty-five delegates, also from
the Holleran ticket, were elected to
attend the national convention in
New York, August % to 81.
Nearly 1000 in Parade.
Earlier the convention indorsed
the Taft Ellender Wagner long
range housing bill after a parade
along Constitution avenue in which
nearly 1000 persons participated.
Some At resolutions we're adopted
after a 21a hour debate in the final
session of the convention.
Fifty veterans of the Fifth Ma
rine Reserve Battalion-member
when it was modified here in 1910
for five years of war service that
ranged from Iceland to Tokyo Bay
were presented with World War II
Victory Medals in a ceremony at
Sylvan Theater before the parade.
Gen. Cox Leads Parade.
Brig. Gen. William T. Clement,
director of the Marine Corps Re
serve, pinned the Victory Medal on
Col. Harvey L. Miller, former COM
manoer of the battalion. Col. Miller
then made the presentation to 1t
Col. w. F. Thyson, jr., present
battalion commander of the reserve
unit.
Brig. Gen. Albert L. Cox, COM
mander of the District National
Guard, Was grand marshal Of the
parade.
Other resolutions adopted at the
final session:
Urged a special session of the 80th
Congress to reconvene in November
to enact the Veterans Economic
Development Corporation Act pro-
posed by Senator Bridges, Republi-
can, of New Hampshire.
Opposed immigration of displaced
persons.
Suggested establishment of De-
partment of Veterans Affairs with
in the District as proposed in bill
by Senator Buck, Republican, of
Delaware.
Seek Official Counsel.
Asked that the United States at
torney or comparable official counsel
and represent veterans.
Requested maintenance of the
Veterans Employment Service as
Federal operation.
Urge that the District Depart
ment of the American Legion be
allowed to appear before Congress
sional committees and present their
views on District legislation.
Suggested that Federal personnel
officers be placed under the juris-
diction of the Budget Bureau and
Civil Service Commission.
Asked exemption of American Le-
gion property in the District from
taxes.
Approved continuance of the Dis
trict Veterans Service Center as an
independent agency.
Law aSdAISt LyiShhhS AShCu.
Called for law to curb lynching
and mob violence.
Asked that "a appointments of
Capitol pages be set aside for
orphans of veterans killed in serv-
ice.
Requested control of the District
National Guard armories be turned
over to National Guard command
instead of the District Commits
Sioners.
Asked that the Washington press
refrain from identifications as wet
Grams and Negroes" in the news
coverage of crime stories.
Called for a campaign to combat
Communism. Fascism and Nazism.
Reafdrmed previous stand in
favor of fair employment practice
commission.