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 Ship Post 1774, then located in San Diego,
but he believed there was a need for a new Post the in Kearny Mesa area. The area was then expanding such as the founding of nearby communities of Clairemont and Linda Vista. At the time, as it 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 of the local 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 with 15 members. The first three meetings were held in Sid’s garage. The final meeting, consisting of 16 members, then voted to formally establish the Post followed by the election of officers. The 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 had two of our Post Commanders and three Post 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 then 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 continued to improve and the membership grew to approximately 200.
The Post has since purchased the entire property that consists of our facility and the 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 Arnold Betcher 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 elevated the Post to its current status. Due to his efforts and which continues to this day, we are known as "The Friendliest Post in the 1st 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 as do our Programs for active duty, veterans, families, and the community. Our latest community partner is Ross Elementary School where we have helped to improve their campus with gardening, tree planting, and other efforts. Our Post Auxiliary, consisting of both men and women, assists with the furtherance of both the Post and their mission.
We are always looking for new members and assistance with our facility needs (it is an old building),
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