Department of South Carolina
United Spanish American War Veterans
Following the Conclustion of the War between the United States and Spain in 1899 the discharged veterans from the various Regiments and Vessel's came together to form fraternal societies. Among these were the "Spanish War Veterans," the "Spanish-American War Veterans," the "Servicemen of the Spanish War," "American Veterans of Foreign Service," the "Army of the Philippines," the "Veteran Army of the Philippines," the "Legion of Spanish War Veterans" and many other smaller organizations. At the turn of the century, many of these groups had began to merge, until in 1904 the three largest groups, the Spanish War Veterans, the Spanish American War Veterans and the Servicemen of the Spanish War joined together and organized themselves into the "United Spanish War Veterans." They would become the largest and most influential of the Spanish-American War societies. In 1906 the Legion of Spanish War Veterans would merge into the United Spanish War Veterans, the Legion had only existed in the states of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. In 1908 the Veteran Army of the Philippines also merged with the United Spanish War Veterans. The Veteran Army was made up of soldiers and sailors serving in the US Military in the Philippine Islands. The United Spanish War Veterans consisted of veterans of three distinct wars: The Spanish American War, the Philippine Insurrection, and the China Relief Expedition.
The United Spanish War Veterans existed from 1904 to 1992 when the last member of the Group, Mr. Nathan E. Cook, died at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Mr. Cook was a month shy of his 107th birthday. He is almost always characterized, incorrectly, as the last surviving veteran of the Spanish-American War. Nathan was a naval veteran of the Philippine Insurrection of 1899-1902. He lied about his age to join the US Navy in 1901 at the age of sixteen.
The Department of South Carolina, U.S.W.V.
The Department of South Carolina, United Spanish War Veterans, was Instituted on December 19th, 1922. The Department was disbanded per Speical Order No. 5, Headquarters, United Spanish War Veterans, on August 8th, 1984, following the death of the last member of the Department, Comrade James W. Mahaffey of the William J. Neely Camp No. 19.
Colonel Wylie Jones |
Lieutenant O.B. Rosenger |
Captain Charles A. Millford |
Department Commanders
1922-1923: Wylie Jones, Columbia (Died April 2nd, 1936) | 1953-1954: T. Danielson, Sullivans Island (Died on December 1st, 1953) |
Camps of the Department of South Carolina
Johnson Rifles Camp No. 1. Organized on August 6th, 1927, in Union, Union County. The Camp was disbanded on December 31st, 1929. Theodore Roosevelt Camp No. 2. Organized in Charleston, Charleston County. Epton Roper Camp No. 3. Organized in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County. The Camp was disbanded on August 12th, 1955. David DuBose Gaillard Camp No. 4. Organized in Columbia, Richland County. The Camp was disbanded on January 16th, 1977. A. Allen Camp No. 5. Organized in Abbeville, Abbeville County. The Camp was disbanded on December 13th, 1945. Victor Blue Camp No. 6. Organized in Charleston, Charleston County. Joseph K. Alston Camp No. 7. Organized in Greenville, Greenville County. The Camp was disbanded on April 21st, 1927, but was reorganized on January 28th, 1932. Dwight H. Dick Camp No. 8. Organized on November 15th, 1923, in Sumter, Sumter County. Joe Wheeler Camp No. 9. Organized on June 10th, 1924, as the Joe Wheeler Camp, but was reorganized as the Captain W.S. Langford Camp. The Camp was disbanded on November 8th, 1941. Havelock Eaves Camp No. 10. Organized on February 26th, 1926, in Orangeburg, Orangeburg County. | Colonel Wylie Jones Camp No. 11. Organized on December 15th, 1926, in Florence, Florence County. Howard S. Townsend Camp No. 12. Organized on February 15th, 1927, in Beaufort, Beaufort County. The Camp was disbanded on December 31st, 1929. Oconee Camp No. 13. Organized on August 18th, 1927, in Walhalla, Oconee County. The Camp was disbanded on April 14th, 1952. Charles M. Long Camp No. 14. Organized on June 16th, 1928, in Conway, Horry County. The Camp was disbanded on May 10th, 1951. Laurens County Camp No. 15. Organized on October 18th, 1928, in Clinton, Laurens County. The Camp was disbanded on December 31st, 1929. Wyatt Aiken Camp No. 16. Organized on December 18th, 1931, in Greenwood, Greenwood County. H.H. Watkins Camp No. 17. Organized on June 2nd, 1932, in Anderson, Anderson County. Henry T. Thompson Camp No. 18. Organized in Kingstree, Williamsburg County. The Camp was disbanded on March 20th, 1935. William J. Neely Camp No. 19. Organized in Rock Hill, York County. The Camp was disbanded on August 8th, 1984, upon the death of its last member, James W. Mahaffey (See Obituary below). J.J. McSwain Camp No. 20. Organized in Clinton, Laurens County. The Camp was disbanded on November 24th, 1977. |
South Carolina's Last Spanish American War Veteran
'Mr. Jim,' Oldest Vet Dead At 108.
Taken from the August 12th, 1983, edition of the "Lancaster News" of Lancaster, South Carolina, by Lester Robinson
James W. "Jim" Mahaffey of Lancaster, South Carolina, South Carolina's last Veteran of the Spanish-American War, died Wednesday at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Columbia. He was 108.
Mr. Mahaffey had been active until about seven years ago when he was admitted to the W.J. Bryan Dorn Veterans Administration nursing home after suffering a mild stroke, one of the few times that he had ever been ill.
The VA determined Mahaffey was the second oldest veteran in the county. The oldest, Harry J. Chaloner of the VA's Bay Pines, Fla., nursing home, is a few months older.
Mahaffey worked in a hospital in Florida during the War with Spain after Army officials learned that he was immune to yellow fever and certain strains of influenza which plagued American soldiers in the tropics.
"He seldom has a common cold or even a headache," said a family member. Mahaffey once told the Lancaster News that he attributed his long life to "going to bed early, arising early, and eating a hearty breakfast."
His family honored him with a reception at his home on Chesterfield Avenue on the event of his 100th birthday. Mahaffey stood in the receiving line, greeting all guests.
Mahaffey was born January 27, 1875, at Gooch's Landing on the Catawba River, a son of the late George W. and Margaret Elizabeth Barton Mahaffey. He was the oldest of seven children, six boys and a girl.
Mahaffey had said that he once wanted to be a doctor. However, after the war he went to work with Springs Industries Inc. He retired at 72 as a supervisor and then entered a second career, operating the Mahaffey Funeral Home until he was 90.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Jackson Masonic Lodge, American Legion Post 31, and Woodmen of the World.
Surviving are his Wife, Mrs. Dora Roberts Mahaffey; three daughters, Mrs. Paul E. (Sybil) Payne Sr., and Mrs. Olin (Grace) Monts of Columbia and Mrs. David (Libby) Phillips of Florence; a son, Dr. John E. Mahaffey of Charleston; 18 grandchildren; a number of great grandchildren, and several great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Friday at the First Baptist Church by the pastor, Dr. Robert E. Cuttino, and Rev. E.S. Jones, with burial in Westside Cemetery.
Created in July of 2004; Updated on Monday, June 29th, 2009.
Copyright 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009; Micah J. Jenkins Camp No. 164, S.S.A.W.V.; All rights reserved.