William E. Galbraith
| William E. Galbraith | |
|---|---|
| National Commander, American Legion | |
| In office 31 August 1967 – 12 September 1968 | |
| Preceded by | John E. Davis |
| Succeeded by | William C. Doyle |
| National Vice-Commander, American Legion | |
| In office 1 September 1966 – 31 August 1967 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 22, 1926 Beemer, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Died | March 4, 2012 (aged 86) Sun Lakes, Arizona, U.S. |
| Spouse(s) | Gwen Galbraith |
| Awards | [TBA] |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/branch |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1944-1946 |
| Rank |  TBA |
| Commands | TBA |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
William Eugene Galbraith (January 22, 1926 - March 4, 2012) is a native American of rural Beemer, in the U.S. state of Nebraska. A veteran of World War II, he served in several prominent positions within the American Legion, the state of Nebraska, and the United States Government. He served as National Vice-Commander of the American Legion before being elected National Commander of the American Legion on 31 August 1967. Mr. Galbraith is the only National Commander originating from Nebraska.[1][2]
Life
In 1944, William "Bill" Galbraith enlisted in the United States Navy and served during World War II as a radarman and an armed guard on Liberty Ships in the North Atlantic.[3]
After the war, Mr. Galbraith attended the University of Nebraska earning a Bachelors of Science Degree in agriculture. He then returned to Beemer where he farmed and taught fellow veterans about agriculture.[3]
A prominent member of American Legion Post 159, Beemer Nebraska, he was elected post commander in 1953. He continued to serve the American Legion and became the American Legion, Department of Nebraska Commander from 1962-1963 and continued his assent with the American Legion organization, serving as Nebraska's representative on the National Committee from 1964-1965, and National Vice-Commander of the American Legion 1965-1966 before being elected National Commander of the American Legion on 31 August 1967. Mr. Galbraith is the only National Commander originating from Nebraska.[1][3]
During his tenure as National Commander, Galbraith gained recognition as a witty speaker who delivered vital speeches to include "Freedom is Not Free", "Law and Order", and "Have We Lost Faith in America?" His dedication to the American Legion and memory of sacrifices by the armed services were expressed in the motto he used during his term as National Commander: "Freedom is Not Free".[3]
Accomplishments during his term in office include planning the Legion's 50th anniversary, a visit to South Vietnam and launching the Stitch-in-Time program which sent sewing machines to that country, creation of the American Legion Task Force for the Future, testimony to the House Committee on Veteran's Affairs, and a 36,000 person climb in the numbers of Legionnaires during his term of office.[3]
Mr Galbraith continued to serve his state and nation. He was the chairman of the Nebraska Centennial Commission, Chairman of the Nebraska Governor's Conference on Education, and the Director of Nebraska Cornhusker Boys State. In 1969, Mr. Galbraith began work with the US Department of Agriculture as the Deputy Under Secretary of Congressional Relations in Washington DC and then as the Secretary of Agriculture's Representative to the mid-West region.[3]
He also served as the Executive Vice President for the North American Equipment Dealers Association in St. Louis, Missouri. Retiring in 1991, he moved to Sun Lakes, Arizona.