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| Military Order of the World Wars | |
|---|---|
| Name | Military Order of the World Wars |
| Formation | 1919 |
| Type | Patriotic veterans' society |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
| Leader title | Commander General |
Military Order of the World Wars
The Military Order of the World Wars is a hereditary patriotic society founded by United States Army and naval officers after World War I to promote national security, military preparedness, and patriotic education. Conceived in the aftermath of the Armistice of 11 November 1918, the organization drew officers who had served in the American Expeditionary Forces, the United States Navy, and Marine Corps into a fraternal order that paralleled societies such as the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and the Sons of the American Revolution.
The organization emerged from meetings of officers who had served at events including the Meuse–Argonne Offensive, the Battle of Cantigny, and the occupation of the Rhineland (Occupation of Germany), and who shared service in formations such as the American Expeditionary Forces, the U.S. Navy, and the United States Marine Corps. Founders included veterans linked to figures like John J. Pershing, participants in conferences such as the Paris Peace Conference, 1919, and contemporaries who later engaged with institutions like the War Department (United States) and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. During the interwar period the Order interacted with organizations such as the American Legion and the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, and members debated proposals related to the National Defense Act of 1920 and the Washington Naval Conference. In World War II many members served in theaters from the Pacific War to the European Theater of Operations, maintaining ties to units ranging from the 1st Marine Division to the 101st Airborne Division (United States). Post-1945, the Order engaged with developments including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Department of Defense (United States), and civil defense programs during the Cold War. During conflicts such as the Korean War and the Vietnam War the Order expanded membership eligibility to those associated with later campaigns and theaters including the Inchon Landing and the Tet Offensive. Into the late 20th and early 21st centuries the organization maintained relationships with institutions including the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, and veterans’ groups like the American Veterans (AMVETS).
The Order is structured into a national command with subordinate state and local chapters known as commanderies, reflecting models like the Sons of the Revolution and the Society of the Cincinnati. Leadership posts include a Commander General and staff whose counterparts can be found in bodies such as the American Legion National Executive Committee and the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Council. Membership eligibility historically prioritized officers and warrant officers who served in conflicts including World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, later extending to those commissioned in branches including the United States Coast Guard and the United States Space Force. Associate and hereditary provisions connect descendants to lineages similar to those used by Daughters of the American Revolution and the Sons of Confederate Veterans. The Order maintains prerequisites comparable to those of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States for documentation of service, and it operates in coordination with organizations such as the Reserve Officers' Association and the National Guard Association of the United States.
Programs emphasize patriotic education, support for officer development, and commemoration of campaigns such as the Battle of Belleau Wood and the Normandy landings. The Order sponsors essay contests for students in partnership with schools in districts tied to institutions like the Department of Defense Education Activity and awards scholarships to nominees associated with the Reserve Officers' Training Corps and service academies including United States Military Academy at West Point and United States Naval Academy. Civic activities include wreath-laying ceremonies at memorials like the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and partnerships with museums such as the National World War I Museum and Memorial, the National Museum of the United States Army, and the National Museum of the United States Navy. The Order organizes seminars and panels featuring speakers from entities such as the Institute of Land Warfare (Association of the United States Army), the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the Brookings Institution, and participates in observances coordinated with the American Battlefield Trust and the National Park Service at sites like Gettysburg National Military Park and Arlington National Cemetery.
The Order issues medals, ribbons, and certificates to recognize service and achievement, following traditions akin to awards from the Department of Defense (United States) and the American Legion. Decorations honor meritorious conduct in civic service, scholarship, and patriotic activity, and recipients have included officers associated with the Medal of Honor community and recipients of decorations such as the Distinguished Service Cross (United States), the Navy Cross, and the Silver Star. The Order’s awards are presented at ceremonies comparable to those held by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and the Military Officers Association of America, and sometimes complement official decorations conferred by the Pentagon or service secretaries.
The national headquarters has been situated in the Washington metropolitan area and maintains meeting spaces and archives similar to those housed by the American Legion National Headquarters and the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Headquarters. Facilities support liaison with federal institutions including the National Archives and Records Administration and the Library of Congress for preservation of unit histories and personal papers related to campaigns like the Meuse–Argonne Offensive and the Pacific campaign of World War II. Local commanderies meet at veteran centers, municipal halls, and military installations such as Fort Myer, Fort Belvoir, and other posts administered by the United States Army Installation Management Command.
Prominent members and affiliates have included officers who served in major engagements tied to leaders and formations like John J. Pershing, George S. Patton, Douglas MacArthur, Chesty Puller, Omar Bradley, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Chester W. Nimitz, H. H. Arnold, William Halsey Jr., Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., Colin Powell, Robert E. Lee (in comparative lineage contexts), and other figures connected to institutions such as the United States Congress or the Supreme Court of the United States by postservice involvement. Membership lists have included officers from services including the United States Army Air Forces, the U.S. Marine Corps, the United States Coast Guard, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation where veterans pursued civilian careers.
The Order produces newsletters, bulletins, and commemorative programs similar to periodicals published by the American Legion Magazine and the VFW Magazine, and issues historical monographs about campaigns such as the Battle of the Somme (U.S. involvement contexts) and the Liberty Loan drives. Communications channels include national convention proceedings, social-media outreach paralleling accounts from the Department of Defense (United States) and electronic newsletters distributed to commanderies and partners including the United Service Organizations and the National Military Family Association.