The World War Veterans (WWV) was established in 1919 as a progressive organization of American veterans of the First World War. It officially claimed to have been organized just 9 days after the armistice, on November 20, 1918 in Bois, France, while the group filed formal certificate of incorporation in New York state on February 13, 1919. The purposes of the corporation stated at that time included (1) To band together veterans of World War I who have served in any branch of the United States service; (2) To preserve the ideals for which these veterans served; and (3) To aid such veterans to secure adequate employment and to facilitate their return to civilian life.
The group sought "live wire, red blooded returned servicemen" in its ranks.