In Touch With The American Legion

By Betty Miller Buttram
FWIS Contributing Writer

The American Legion is a patriotic organization of U.S war veterans and is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It comprises state, U.S. territory, overseas departments, and

includes local posts. Indiana has 11 districts within the American Legion organization. These districts serve as regional units each associated with local American Legion posts.

The American Legion Post 148 in Fort Wayne, Indiana has hosted a variety of activities such as veteran support, community projects, social gatherings, patriotic observances, fundraisers, and youth programs. Jesse Booker served as the Commander of American Legion Post 148 from 2005 to 2015. He has also served as Fourth Vice District Commander and on Saturday, July 13, 2024, he will be installed as the Fourth District Commander in a ceremony in Indianapolis, Indiana. There will be 30 Posts under his leadership in this position which will requires a year of service. He did not compete for this position but was appointed by the hierarchy of the American Legion organization.

Booker was born in Huntsville, Alabama to Robert and Dorothy Booker who moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana when Booker was about two years old. He is one of seven siblings, five sons and two daughters. Jesse’s father worked in several factories and his mother for the state hospital. He attended Central High School when competitive ball was played between Central High and South Side High. After high school, he attended Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. He played a couple of years of football and was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam era. He had a two-year tour of duty in Germany as a military policeman. While he was in U.S. Army, he attended classes offered by the University of Maryland. After he was discharged, there were offers of policemen jobs, but he did not want to be a police officer. He pursued his education in business and accounting, obtaining a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in those respective fields through the G.I. Bill.

Booker was employed as an accountant for 25 years for a steel plant located in Fort Wayne. He married and had two children. After the reorganization of that plant, Booker worked 30 years at Dana and retired from that organization in 2023.

Booker did not join the American Legion right after his discharge from military service because he was preoccupied in getting his degrees. He has been a member of the American Legion Post 148 in Fort Wayne for 36 years. During those years, Booker participated in various positions throughout that period, and the American Legion hierarchy deemed that he was ready to take on the responsibility of a district commander.

District Commanders are among the most important individuals in the American Legion organization. They are the liaisons between posts and departments, responsible for relaying information and facilitating communication. The 30 American Legion posts under Commander Booker’s supervision will receive guidance and encouragement to ensure the proper execution of Legion programs or initiatives.

The position of Fourth District Commander requires traveling and meeting with each 30 American Legion posts once a month here in Fort Wayne. Booker’s focus will be on growing the membership, helping the veterans with their medical disabilities, national security legislation, border patrol, and collaborating with high school students in educating them about the organization structure of the Federal government.

Congratulations to Commander Booker and thank you for your service.