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Pacific Beach Post 5985
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Regular Post VFW business meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of each month, starting 7:00 PM. All members are invited regardless of the Post in which membership is held. Any visiting member or guest may attend a Post/Committee meeting. Such visiting member shall have no voice unless recognized by the Post Commander/Committee Chairman, and shall have no voting privileges.
A member whose current dues are paid to December 31 is in good standing and is entitled to all membership rights, unless suspended or terminated, in accordance with the National By-Laws. A Former Member is one whose dues are unpaid on January 1 and, as such, ceases to be a member in good standing and loses all rights and privileges of membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars. A former member may reinstate their membership. Transfers from one Post to another or from Member-At-Large status to a Post can be accommodated with no charge to the member.
Pacific Beach Post 5985 is one of 31 Posts within District 1, San Diego, and is a non-profit 501c(19) organization and donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law. As a non-profit organization, we are always seeking money to help improve our facility; help the needs of active duty military, veterans and their families; and otherwise help active duty and veteran-related community activities. Donations may be earmarked for a specific event or purpose.
Twice each year (May and Nov) the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 5985, distributes Buddy Poppies within the community. The donations we receive as a result of Buddy Poppy distribution goes into a dedicated, restricted fund specific and specific category called the Relief Fund. Expenditures from this fund is as specified by the Congressional Charter By-Laws.
We welcome donations of any size to help us achieve our goals.
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History
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Consolidation dates with Post 5985:
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5 Aug 1971: Lt. Bert A. Allen Post 2415, Point Loma, which was constituted with 92 members (date unknown).
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29 August 1973: Ramon F. Moreno Post 1780, La Jolla, which was constituted with 37 members on 12 March 1930.
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26 Jan 1976. Clairemont Post 4089 consolidated with Post 5985 (date of constitution and membership not known).
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17 Sep 2009. Mission Bay Post 11044 mustered 17 Sep 1990 with 72 members. Post 11044, during its last year of existence (2008-2009), achieved the highest Post level award possible: All American, for which only four Posts within District 1 achieved the honor. For several years in its existence, it earned the prestigious honor of All State. At the time of merger, the Post had 131 members. The Commanders of the Post were, in order: James A. “Jim” McKeon (1990-1993), Ralph D. “Mac” McClain (1993-1995; 2001-2003), Johnnie B. Miller (1995-1997; 1999-2001; 2005-2006), Charles F. “Chuck” Leighton (1997-1999), Robert Marma (2003-2005), and John R. “Jack” Porath (2006-2010). The primary reason for consolidation was the lack of volunteers to fill all officer positions coupled with the age and declining health of several officers. Post 11044 met at the Mission Bay Boat and Ski Club (2606 North Mission Bay Drive, pacific Beach) for its entire period of existence and the Post is forever grateful for their support. In its first year of existence, the Post earned the most prestigious John F. Kennedy Award due to its work and accomplishments associated with the Buddy Poppy Program (the award is no longer being awarded). This rarely happens to a first-year Post.
Post consolidations consider dates of Charter, location, name of the Post, and health (resources and membership) of the Posts. At the time of consolidation with La Jolla, Post 5985 owned its own home. Post 5985 is now the fourth oldest Post in the First District. The oldest is Encanto Post 1512, followed by John R. Simpson Post 1513 (Escondido), and finally O.K. Ingram Ship 1774 (La Mesa).
The Post home’s building was formerly the galley at the Bird Rock Army Firing Range and moved to its current site in the early 1950s. After it was moved, it was rented by a company making signs and the owners lived in the rear of the building. Business changed in mid 1950s. The front became the Gordon Smith Surf Board Shop, the rear the sign shop, with the middle being used to construct surf boards. When the VFW purchased the building in 1958, using as collateral the strip of land (now the parking lot) originally purchased for a VFW Post, volunteer members scraped resin off the walls and floors (it was said that resin was two to three inches thick on the floors), and after the day’s work went to the Coral Inn for drinks until the bar closed. Work on the building continued into the 1960s. Today, volunteers continue to maintain and renovate as needed.
Prior to the VFW having a building, it appears the Post met at the Shriner’s Club (next to the Silver Fox Bar in Pacific Beach); then Post Commander Langer’s house located at 5034 Windsor Drive, Pacific Beach; and possibly other locations. When the building was purchased, the Post Commander was Otto Langer (Langer Insurance, located on Grand Ave) who was also a partner in the original land purchase.
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District Commanders of Post 5985
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Commander Name |
Post Number |
Served |
Lee Akers |
Post 1780 |
1939-1941 |
John Gamble |
Post 4089 |
1957-1958 |
Buford Maples |
Post 1780 |
1963-1964 |
Ralph Trueb |
Post 5985 |
1975-1976 |
Donald Ashby |
Post 5985 |
1980-1981 |
Historical Information
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If you have historical information to add to this page please send it to or contact the webmaster.
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