ABOUT US

POST HISTORY

The Post was officially charted on 27 January 1957 and named Kearny Mesa Post 3788.
Comrade Sid Smith, the founder, was then an active member of O.K. Ingram Post 1774
but he believed there was a need for a new Post the in Kearny Mesa area since it and
nearby communities such as Clairemont and Linda Vista were expanding (he might have
lived in the area but those records no longer exist). At the time, as is now, there
resided many active personnel and veterans who qualified for membership (consider
World War I, World War II, Korea, and the thriving business of the Convair Corporation
that was building airplanes and employed many veterans).

Every Saturday, Sid walked the streets of Linda Vista (the main housing area at the
time) knocking on doors recruiting eligible personnel. During the month of October
1956, Sid was instrumental in signing sufficient qualified personnel to meet the required
number for the founding of a VFW Post (15). The first three meetings were held in
Sid’s garage. The final meeting consisted of 16 members and they voted to formally
establish a Post and elected the officers. Those first officers of the Post were:

Commander: Sid Smith
Sr. Vice Commander: Ray Morales
Jr. Vice Commander: Dale Jones
Quartermaster: Jim Keough
Adjutant: Rick Richard

The members voted to leave the charter open in hopes of recruiting several more
members. Subsequently, VFW National established this organization as Kearny Mesa
Post 3788 and issued the initial Charter with 88 names listed. As a matter of note, just
five days earlier, on 22 January 1957, Mission Valley Post 3777 was chartered (some
affectionately refer to us as "Sister Posts”). Since our founding, we have the honor of
having two of our Past Commanders and two Past Auxiliary Presidents elevated to the
higher positions within the District, Department and National levels.

From 1957 thru 1961, the Post conducted its monthly meetings by renting space in
American Legion Post 731, located then and now on the corner of Genesee Ave and
Linda Vista Road. Sometime in 1961, the City of San Diego offered to rent the Post a
vacant Maintenance Building (40' x 80') located on Levant St. The rent was $1.00 per
year. At the same time, the City also gave us the option to purchase this same building
for the grand sum of $1.00 but with the condition that we had to move the facility from
city land and relocate to another property that we were required to purchase. Unable
to locate any affordable land, the sale option was dropped but the growth of the Post
continued.

In 1964, our present facility that was an auto repair service garage, was found, and the
move was made. Over the next several years the facility was repurposed to fit our

needs and our home began to take shape. Thanks to the many hours of work
volunteered by the members, the facility improved and the membership grew to
approximately 200. We have since purchased the entire property that consists of our
facility and two auto repair shops that we lease to them. To this day, we are involved
with maintenance, repair and modernization issues.

On December 28, 2002, Kearny Mesa Post 3788 was renamed LCDR Arnold E. Betcher
Kearny Mesa Post 3788, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. This was done
to honor him since, from his first day of becoming a member he spent numerous hours
working to better the post. He was instrumental in setting up and maintaining many
programs that helped the post progress to its current status. Due to his efforts and
which continues to this day, we are known as "The Friendliest Post in the 1
st District.

On 18 December 2023, name change again occurred for the sole reason to shorten the
title due to legal ramifications of no longer being able to use the abbreviation LCDR. (it
had to be listed as Lieutenant Commander Arnold E. Betcher Kearny Mesa Post 3788,
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.) Accordingly, the name was changed to
Arnold Betcher Post 3788, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

Our membership growth continues. Our Auxiliary, consisting of both men and women,
is a resounding success in the furtherance of our mission.


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