About Us - Organization
In 2017, the VBMA has joined our efforts with the United States World War One Centennial Commission.
"The U.S. World War I Centennial Commission was created by an Act of Congress in 2013. Members of the 12-member Commission were appointed by the President and the leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the National World War I Museum. All four living former Presidents have agreed to serve the commission as honorary chairmen. The Commission’s mission is to plan, develop, and execute programs, projects and activities to commemorate the Centennial of World War I (WWI)."
Meetings
Our meetings are open to anyone. Visitors are welcome anytime.
This VBMA's monthly business meetings were held on the 3rd Tuesday of the month . Please check our calendar in the Current Events section of this website for the location. If you have any questions about meeting dates/times and cannot find answers on this website, please email president@vbma.us.
Membership
To apply to be a member of the VBMA, download the following document and follow the directions on it.
VBMA Member Form
The U.S. Army established The Vancouver Barracks in 1849, and left in 2011. In those 162 or so years, there was a continuous military presence; making the Vancouver Barracks one of the oldest (if not the oldest) U.S. Army post west of the Mississippi River.
In the mid-1800s, the U.S. Army staged several campaigns against various Native American tribes from the Barracks. Service members from the Barracks also helped protect the United States regional claims from other potential enemies, such as the Confederate States of America, Great Britain, and Japan. In the late 1800s, forces from the Vancouver Barracks fought in the South Pacific during the Spanish American War and Philippines Insurrection. In the early 1900s, they fought Pancho Villa’s forces along the Mexican Border and brought relief to U.S. Citizens suffering from the devastation of the San Francisco earthquake.
In World War I and World War II, The Vancouver Barracks became a strategic post, rather than a tactical combat arms center. In World War I, most of the spruce wood used by the Allies to make airplanes was milled at the Vancouver Barracks. In World War II, the Barracks became a training center, and port of embarkation for troops and supplies to fight the Axis Forces.
At the end of World War II, the U.S. War Department declared most of the Barracks land surplus and gave or sold it to other entities. They retained only the southern portion of the Barracks and the Post Cemetery at the Northwest corner of the Barracks. From 1946 to 2011, the Vancouver Barracks became a regional center for U.S. Army Reserves and National Guard soldiers to train for military missions, ranging from the Cold War to Korea, to Vietnam, and the Global War on Terrorism. After September 11th 2001, many different units and soldiers deployed out of the Vancouver Barracks.
In the years since the Barracks were founded, many of its soldiers went on to earn awards and fame, or sometimes shame. Like Ulysses S. Grant and Marcus Reno. Other famous alumni of the Barracks include Philip Sheridan, George Pickett, and George C. Marshall.
In the 60 or so years from 1945 to 2011, one unit became the oldest tenant unit at the Vancouver Barracks, the Headquarters for the 104th Division. The 104th Division was foundedin 1924, from Organized Reserve units in the Western United States. In World War II, it activated and trained at Camp Adair, Oregon before fighting in Europe in 1944 and 1945. In the war, it fought for over 180 days, in continuous contact with the enemy, until VE-Day in May 1945.
Although the 104th Division was inactivated in 1945, it was reactivated in December 1946, and remained at the Vancouver Barracks until it moved to Joint Base Lewis – McChord in 2011. In those years, the 104th Division was at first a Reserve Infantry Division, waiting for combat missions in the early days of the Cold War. Later, it became a unit of trainers, helping other units and their soldiers become ready for any wartime mission. They continue this mission today, across the United States, with Timberwolf Drill Sergeants training entry level soldiers, veteran soldiers as well as ROTC Cadets.