The Veterans of Foreign Wars was established by United States law in 1899 as a fraternal organization to help veterans and their families, and its influence helped lead Congress in 1917 to establish veterans benefits including disability compensation, vocational rehabilitation, and insurance. The VFW post in Aransas Pass was first chartered on January 29, 1934, by World War I veterans W.M. Womack, Worth B. Howard, C.R. Roberts, Olin Newberry, Normal D. Sanford, Albert Tate, and Rivas S. Olivares. In 1945, donations were raised to construct a veterans memorial home, and the veterans memorial building later withstood hurricanes and served as a relief shelter, a disaster center, FEMA headquarters, and a Red Cross distribution center. Its membership has included veterans from World War I and World War II, and current membership includes veterans of Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Members are decorated with the Cross of Malta, the order's official insignia. District Six Command oversees the organization, while VFW national headquarters and the Department of Texas VFW also provide guidance. The VFW ladies auxiliary has helped veterans with community activities and aided in conducting meetings. The John Wiebel VFW Post has served veterans and the surrounding community and has influenced the history of San Patricio County.