American Legion: China Post 1

American Legion China Post 1 (formally Generals Ward & Chennault and Lt. Helseth Post No. 1, Shanghai, China; often called China Post 1) is one of the oldest continuously operating posts in the American Legion and the only one operating in exile. It was formed in Shanghai in 1919 by World War I veterans and chartered on April 20, 1920. It has maintained continuous existence despite Japanese occupation in World War II, internment of members, the Chinese Civil War, and expulsion from mainland China in 1948.

Founding (1919–1920)

The post originated among American expatriates in Shanghai shortly after the American Legion’s formation in Paris in March 1919 and its U.S. congressional charter in September 1919. On November 28, 1919, a dinner and smoker for U.S. Army and Navy veterans of the “European War” was held at the American Club in Shanghai. Major Arthur P. Bassett (former Judge Advocate of the Army and Attorney General for the District of China), a prominent local businessman and lawyer, chaired the temporary organization; Don D. Patterson was also involved. Bassett promoted the Legion’s potential beyond U.S. borders.

It was originally named the General Frederick Townsend Ward Post No. 1, China, after the American soldier of fortune Frederick Townsend Ward (1831–1862). Ward commanded forces (including the Ever Victorious Army) that helped defeat the Taiping Rebellion. The post later placed a headstone for him (Memorial Day 1921; some accounts note 1923). It met at the American Club (associated with addresses such as Foochow/Fuzhou Road) and became the first and only American Legion post founded in China. It is a Foreign and Outlying Post of the American Legion (FODPAL), administratively attached to the Department of France.

Interwar Years and Namesakes

In the 1920s–1930s the post served American veterans and expatriates in Shanghai’s international community. Its full formal name evolved to honor three figures:

  • General Frederick Townsend Ward (original namesake).
  • General Claire Lee Chennault (commander of the Flying Tigers / American Volunteer Group and later Civil Air Transport).
  • Lt. C.A.S. “Cash” Helseth (long-serving post commander who preserved it in exile).

Many early members worked in business, government, or infrastructure (e.g., related to the Trans-Siberian Railroad or local industry). The post maintained ties to U.S. military and veteran activities in China.

World War II

Japanese forces occupied Shanghai. After Pearl Harbor (December 1941), post members and officers (including Adjutant Mortimer) were interned in the Pootung (Pudong) Civilian Assembly Camp as Allied civilians/prisoners. Post activities were suspended or severely disrupted under occupation. Some accounts note earlier disruption around the 1937–1938 Japanese advances on Shanghai.

Postwar Reactivation and Exile (1945–1949)

The post was reactivated in Shanghai in September 1945. General Claire Lee Chennault (then a civilian) became chairman of the executive committee and effectively commander (listed as 1945–1949). As the Chinese Civil War intensified and Communist forces advanced, the post prepared for survival. Records were boxed and sent to American Legion National Headquarters in Indianapolis. A November 1948 executive committee meeting planned the transition; the post formally went into exile from Shanghai around November 22, 1948 (some sources cite 1949 as the effective consolidation of exile amid the Communist takeover). The American Club/post home and property were lost.

In August 1949, at a meeting in Hong Kong, C.A.S. “Cash” Helseth was elected commander, adjutant, and historian, with broad authority to keep the post alive. He and his wife Emmy sustained it for decades.

Exile Era and Leadership

China Post 1 is the only American Legion post operating in exile (nominally still headquartered in a communist country). Membership became worldwide (“Soldiers of Fortune Worldwide”), with members scattered globally. Headquarters locations in exile have included places such as Colorado Springs, Colorado; earlier ties or operations involved Arizona (Scottsdale), Texas, Las Vegas, and other U.S. sites. It remains attached to the Department of France.

Post commanders since 1945 (relatively few, reflecting continuity):

  • General Claire Lee Chennault (1945–1949)
  • C.A.S. Helseth (1949–1986; died November 22, 1987)
  • J.C. Bond (1987–2000)
  • Alfred “Fred” Platt (2000–2016)
  • Ronald Burkett (2016–2019)
  • Scott Riebel (2019–2021)
  • Jeff Carson (2021-2026)

Notable members and associates have included Flying Tigers veterans (of the roughly 15 surviving Flying Tigers at one point, about 12 were members; examples include Tex Hill, Robert Smith, and James B. “Earthquake McGoon” McGovern). Author W.E.B. Griffin and others have drawn on the post’s lore. Senator Barry Goldwater was a member after being recruited by Helseth. The post has long emphasized veteran support, historical preservation, and a distinctive “soldier-of-fortune” identity while operating under nondisclosure constraints for some members’ activities.