DEPARTMENT OF GEORGIA

Out of the dust comes the jewel. With the induction of its first officers on June 22, 1985, the Department of Georgia came into being on the heels of a number of ironies. As early as 1978, there were four (4) Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) Chapters in the state of Georgia; namely in Augusta (#425), Atlanta (#465), Columbus (#492) and Waycross (#520). Each of these Chapters were organized by formidable Patriots with a desire to generate interest in and to create a MOPH Department of Georgia. The organizers recognized at start-up were Edward Chastain (#425), Milton C. Johnson (#465), Allen D. Baldwin (#492) and John M. King (#520), the latter being the most prolific and the former the most dynamic. Both Patriots King and Chastain would achieve their destiny and wish to become higher level Commanders. Through his resume' of helping veterans as a service-officer, local community service, institutional voluntarism, organizing Chapter starts throughout the State, Patriot King was elected as the first Department Commander at the first Department Convention in 1985. At the MOPH National Convention, during the same year (1985) Edward Chastain was elected as the 54th National Commander. While health issues affected the terms of both, their legacy is cherished and lives on in the accomplishments of elected officers emanating from the Department