Hamilton Fish, Sr. Elected National Commander
August 23, 1973
Hamilton Fish, Sr., the elder statesman served as an Army Captain in France in World War I, and actively participated in the forming of The American Legion as a member of the delegation from New York at the St. Louis Caucus. He was appointed Chairman of the sub-committee of the three men who wrote the Preamble of the American Legion Constitution, which President Truman and General Pershing said ranked among the greatest American Documents.
Hamilton Fish was born December 7, 1888, in Garrison, Putnam County, New York. His family can trace their linage back to the 1600’s and have always been active in government service. His education include attending , a Swiss school near Geneva, boarding school at the Fay School and St. Mark’s, both in Massachusetts. Attended Harvard, class of 1910. Graduated early in 1909, cum laude degree in history and government.
Served as Army Captain, with the 369th Infantry, an all-black unit, Known as “The Harlem Hell-Fighters”, commanded with white Officers. Placed under French control by Gen. Pershing, they served 191 days on the front lines. The longest time of any US regiment, in the World War. The unit was the first to reach the Rhine River. Fish and his sister Janet, a nurse serving in France, were both awarded with and were inducted into the French Legion of Honor for wartime service. Promoted to Major, March 13, 1919. Returned to the US on April 25, discharged May 18, 1919.
After the War, Mr. Fish ran for Congress in 1920, and was elected to represent his home 26th district of Putnam, Dutchess and Orange Counties in New York’s Hudson Valley. As a New York Congressman and senior WWI veteran, he initiated legislation to create the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, to make “The Star Spangled Banner” the national anthem and to call upon the US Military Academy at West Point and the US Naval Academy at Annapolis to play an annual football game. Introduced numerous bills which were passed that provided for veterans rights and assistance, including health care, seeing eye dogs and additional points on civil service exams.
Hamilton Fish was an extraordinary man - a stanch defender of patriotism, peace, and constitutional government. During his distinguished life he was a two-time All American for Harvard’s greatest football team, a member of Walter Camp’s All-Time All-American football team, and inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954.
Congressman for more than a quarter of a century. He was a political ally to Theodore Roosevelt and became a crucial opponent of his former friend Franklin D. Roosevelt because of Roosevelt’s desire to force the United States into an unnecessary war the American people did not want.
In January 1987 Mr. Fish was honored at the Castle Point Veterans Administration Hospital in Beacon, New York, his former district, where a new hospital wing was dedicated in his name. Congress appropriated 7.7 million for the wing in December 1986, releasing the news on his 98th birthday.
“It was the greatest birthday present I ever received in my entire life”, states Mr. Fish. He was responsible for the Veterans Hospital location at Castle Point in 1924.
Member of Kingston Post, No. 150, Kingston, New York for 71 years. He was the First District Commander of the Ninth District, Department of New York. Member of the National Commission on World Peace & Foreign Relations 1926-1929. Consultant, National Spirit of `76 Committee 1970-76. Elected as National Commander of The American Legion, August 23, 1973. Elected New York Department Commander at the 61st Annual Department Convention at The War Memorial, Rochester, July 21, 1979.
Hamilton Fish, Sr., died at his home, Cold Springs, New York, January 18, 1991 at 102 years.
