The VFW Osmond Kelly Ship #1774 was formed in the City of San Diego and chartered on 14 Jan 1930 by service members who were in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. They voted to name it a Ship in honor of World War I Medal of Honor recipient O.K. Ingram. Presently having members representing all of the armed forces, the Ship title remains along with the original charter. There are two other VFW Posts that are named a “Ship” and they reside in Port Jervis, New York and Ridgecrest, California. It is no longer possible to name a VFW Post a Ship, Squadron, or other such title since a change to the VFW By-Laws was made. (Were we to name the Ship today, its name would be Osmond K. Ingram Post 1774.) We are officially listed as the O.K. Ingram Ship Post 1774. The difference between a VFW Ship and VFW Post is the organization title and the titles of the officers (which follows the officer titles of Ship officers). VFW Posts and Ships follow the same Congressional Charter By-Laws and Manual of Procedure Ritual as established by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

We moved to 7298 University Ave, La Mesa, in 1985 (picture below) after selling its downtown building.

On 27 Jan 2011, the Ship’s Charter was moved to the American Legion building located at 8118 University Ave, La Mesa, because of major damage to the 7298 University Ave facility due to a rockslide on 21 Dec 2010. The facility, now housing the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and The American Veterans organizations, honors the membership cards for members from these organizations in their canteen. We are proud to being a valued member of the City of La Mesa and helping our fellow veterans of foreign wars. We will continue our fund raising, food offerings, and other events at the 8118 University Ave facility.

SOME EARLY HISTORY OF O.K. INGRAM SHIP 1774 AND THE VFW/

Gunner's Mate First Class Osmond K. Ingram, USN, (1887-1917)

The Veterans of Foreign Wars’ O.K. Ingram Ship was named after Gunner's Mate First Class Osmond K. Ingram who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery and extraordinary heroism in World War I. The Medal of Honor citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in the presence of the enemy on the occasion of the torpedoing of the USS CASSIN, on 15 Oct 1917. While the CASSIN was searching for the submarine, INGRAM sighted the torpedo coming, and realizing that it might strike the ship aft in the vicinity of the depth charges, he ran aft with the intention of releasing the depth charges before the torpedo could reach the CASSIN. The torpedo struck the ship before he could accomplish his purpose and INGRAM was killed by the explosion. The depth charges exploded immediately afterward. His life was sacrificed in an attempt to save the ship and his shipmates, as the damage to the ship would have been much less if he had been able to release the depth charges.” His other awards were the Italian War Cross with diploma and the Portuguese Cruz de Guerra with diploma

The USS Cassin (DD-43) arrived at Queenstown, Ireland on 17 May 1917 and began operations which called for her to rendezvous with American troop convoys at sea and escort them to ports in England and France. On 15 October, she sighted the German Submarine U-61 about 20 nautical miles (23 mi; 37 km) south of Mind Head, Ireland, and pursued her. Osmond K. Ingram was cleaning the muzzle of Number 4 gun when he saw the torpedo coming. At 1330, USS Cassin was struck on her port stern by a torpedo. He was the only person killed.

Osmond Kelly Ingram was born on 4 August 1887 in Pratt City, Alabama. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy from that state as an Apprentice Seaman on 24 Nov 1903 and began his last enlistment as a Gunner’s Mate Second Class. According to the report issued by the Secretary of the Navy, the torpedo would have missed the Cassin entirely except it breached the surface of the water on two occasions and turned to the left each time. The torpedo struck above the water line, and ignited several depth charges. Osmond K. Ingram was the first U.S. Navy’s first Medal of Honor recipient for World War I. He is listed on the Wall of the Missing at the American Battle Monuments Commission Cemetery, Brookwood, Surrey, England. There was a Plaza named for him at the San Diego Naval Training Center.

USS Osmond Ingram (DD-255/AVD-9/APD-35) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was laid down 15 Oct 1918 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Quincy, Massachusetts; launched 23 Feb 1919; sponsored by Mrs. N. E. Ingram, mother of Osmond Ingram. USS Osmond Ingram was designated AVD–9 from 2 August 1940 until 4 November 1943; reverted to DD–255 until 22 June 1944; and completed her service as APD–35.

Tribute to Osmond K. Ingram
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O.K. Ingram Ship Past Captains and Auxiliary Presidents
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