Post evolves from a time of discrimination

American Legion Cathay Post 384’s history dates back to 1931, when it was formed exclusively as a Chinese-American post.

“It was mainly formed for the fact that the Chinese were excluded from most part of our society, and even those who served, weren’t exactly welcomed by most of the American Legion posts that were in existence at that time,” Post Commander Nelson Lum said. “Therefore, those Chinese-American veterans who were involved in World War I decided that they should form a post that was exclusively for Chinese-American veterans.”

Today, the Cathay post remains the oldest of the predominately Chinese-American veterans posts in the United States. In time, they have also welcomed members of all races.

“We are very proud of the fact that we are very, very diverse,” said Lum, who served with the 101st Airborne in Vietnam. “Within our board of directors, we have four Caucasians, one African-American; we have female members, including the first vice commander. We are very, very proud of the fact that we are diverse.”

Lum understands the post’s history and works to ensure that all members are treated fairly.

“The post was formed due to the fact that members were being discriminated against,” he said. “We certainly do not want to perpetuate that form of discrimination by saying that we are going to be Chinese-American only. This is an American Legion post, and we are open to all members who qualify as Legionnaires.”

Given the post’s location in North Beach — the Little Italy section of San Francisco, less than two blocks from Chinatown — it’s no surprise that members are active in the Italian Heritage Day Parade, otherwise known as Columbus Day.

“We are one of the most cherished participants of this event, and we’ve participated for at least the last 15 years,” Lum said. “We also participate in the Chinese New Year’s Parade.”

Post 384 is active in its community: giving out scholarships to ROTC and JROTC cadets, promoting the prevention of Hepatitis B, sponsoring students for Boys State and supporting the Boy Scouts. “In fact, Boy Scout Troop 3 meets in this building and has been with us since 1944,” he said. “They are the oldest Boy Scout troop in San Francisco and at that time, the first all-Chinese Boy Scout troop in the United States. We support them as part of the pillars to support the youth.”

In the late 1950s, the post had founded an all-girls color guard team and a Drum & Bugle Corps. At the 43rd American Legion Department convention in 1960, the girls’ color guard took first place after placing third the previous two years. Lum said that actress Nancy Kwan knew of the team and got the team involved in the 1961 movie, “The Flower Drum Song.” Among the post’s memorabilia are helmets the girls wore in the film.

The post’s current headquarters building dates back to 1907 when it was the Italian-American club. Right now, post members are planning to renovate the first floor after a tenant left. The plan is to move the post to the first floor and rent out the upstairs of the building, which the post has owned since it moved from Chinatown to its current location in 1948.

Even with its unique history, Cathay Post 384 may be best known for its newsletter, a color-rich, 28-page publication edited and produced by Clara Pon.“The newsletter has really put us on the map,” Lum said. “Anywhere we go throughout the country now, people actually are shocked when we go into an American Legion post, ‘Oh, you’re that one with the newsletter.’

“The newsletter spells out all the different activities that we are involved with. Both civic and veteran focused. It just kind of gives everybody a flavor of how a post such as ours functions. And not only that, I think it really enhances the image of The American Legion as a whole because our newsletter goes out to the general public also.”

The post’s community service activities, modern newsletter and family atmosphere help attract the youngest generation of veterans.

“We don’t have a bar, and so when they first come visit the post, they see this is what we have,” Lum said. “So when they decide to join, that’s what they’re joining. It really hasn’t been an issue per se.”

Lum and other post officers recruit at San Francisco State University.

“We do put forth a lot of emphasis in recruiting younger people,” he said. “We have some Iraq-Afghanistan veterans. We actively go to San Francisco State University and support the veterans groups that are out there. We support their activities and through those efforts, get connections. Eventually we can convince them that they should join the Legion.

“It does cost us some funds, but we’re talking about the future of the Legion. And to me, that’s well worth it.”