
MAY 30, 2020
Department of Georgia hosted its first ever Digital Convention
MAY 30, 2020
Department of Georgia hosted its first ever Digital Convention


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
Department Charter Members
M.W. Hank Adcock
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Olyn F. Burleson
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Christian F. Dusta
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Glen Haller
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Raco J. Proto
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Walter P. Spivey
L.A. Adkins Sr.
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John W.Bowens Jr.
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Jack Furman
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Lewis B. Jones
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James L. Reed
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Clinton E. Sikes
Billy H. Allison
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Edward W. Chastain
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Albert F. Fuqua
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John M. King Jr.
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John H. Scharnitzky
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Allen D. Baldwin
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Luther V. Clemons
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George P. Gardiner
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James R. Lide Jr.
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Bobby N. Scott
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Number
425
465
492
520*
525
531
576
596*
694*
8888*
1000
826*
834*
N/A
N/A
Department Chapter Charter History
Chartered
APR. o6, 1977
AUG. 29, 1982
OCT. 26, 1983
OCT. 18, 1985
JUL. 23, 1986
JAN. 06, 1987
MAY 29, 1991
DEC. 16, 1991
AUG. 09, 1997
MAY 31, 2008
OCT. 10, 2013
NOV. 19, 2015
FEB. 24, 2018
Never Chartered
Never Chartered
Location
Augusta
Atlanta
Columbus
Waycross
Rome
Athens
Alpharetta
Savannah
Tifton
St. Mary
Fitzgerald
Ellijay
Macon
Covington
Dublin
Name
James A. Dyess
GEN. Wm. Cunningham
Donald R. Johnston
Shelton W. Monroe
Rome
N. E. Georgia
CPT. Hillard A. Willbanks
MAJ. Henry Talmage Elrod
D.E. Dickons & H.E. Key Jr.
Steven “Old Sarge” Mare
South Georgia
North Georgia
Rodney Maxwell Davis
Covington
Dublin