Wallace "Wally" Johnson
15 April 1933-21 July 2025
Wally Johnson (Saratoga, CA) the founder of Post 642 passed away recently. Wally was originally from North Dakota and served in the US Army and was stationed in Korea during the Korean War. After the War he used his GI Bill and earned his college degree. He remained in the area and worked for and retired from Hewlett Packard.
Wally founded Post 642 in 1959 and thanks to his leadership and recruitment abilities, the Post grew to over 200 members in the early 1970's and purchased what was previously our meeting location on Imperial Drive in Cupertino. Wally was very active as a Legionnaire, specifically helping hospitalized Veterans at the Palo Alto and Menlo Park VA Hospitals. He ran the monthly bingo at the Menlo Park VA, started the VA BBQ's for the shut in patients at the Palo Alto VA mental health ward and the annual VA Carnival. Wally was a 72 year member of the American Legion and an Honorable Life Member because of all his accomplishments in the Legion. He held every Post position, was the District 13 (Santa Clara County) Commander for a couple of terms and held several positions at Area and Department Levels.
Post 642 Who We Are
Welcome to the American Legion Post 642 (Stevens Creek) website. Stevens Creek Post 642 in Cupertino has been a post for 60 years in the city of Cupertino, serving the Cupertino and nearby communities of West San Jose, Saratoga, Sunnyvale and the western part of Unincorporated Santa Clara County. As a Veterans service organization our principal goal is taking care of Veterans., their families, the youth and the overall community. We currently have 70 members and are actively recruiting to expand our membership, so that we can continue to support Veterans and the community like we have for the past 60 years.
Post 642 sponsors the Annual Wreaths Across America Ceremony at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery each December. Additionally the Post is involved in the Cupertino Veterans Day Ceremony, the Memorial Day Ceremony and other Veteran related events. Our Post supports the hospitalized Veterans at the Palo Alto VA with BBQ’s during the summer months for the shut in patients. Provide supplies and other items that the hospitalized patients need, conduct hospital visits and financial assistance to the Fisher House (I & II) and the Defenders Lodge.
We have a close relationship with the Veterans Students of America Chapter at De Anza College, providing the Veteran students with financial support such as supplies and scholarships. We are involved in our community schools participating in the Monta Vista High School Breakfast with Veterans project and with Miller Middle School Veterans Day Ceremony and in classroom discussions. Additionally we provide scholarships to High School Seniors for their first year of college or trade schools.
Our Post meetings are held on the first Monday of each month unless it falls on an observed Federal holiday (then it gets moved to the second Monday). We have a social hour beginning at 1800 hrs. where we serve food and refreshments for the members and guest at no charge, this is a great chance to meet up with fellow members in a laid back atmoshere. Following the social hour, our business meeting starts at 1900 hrs. We encourage you to stop by and check out our Post and meet our members.
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