The Service Club of Indianapolis is a private social club whose members have been in the armed forces and who reside in Marion County, Indiana, and contiguous counties. Membership is through sponsorship by a current member. This web site is for Service Club members only.  Inquiries: serviceclubi@aol.com

Mission Statement of The Service Club of Indianapolis

            The purposes of the organization are: To sustain in times of peace the high standards of patriotism and self-sacrifice which inspired and actuated the American people in times of war; to foster and perpetuate the principles of Americanism; to continue our service to our Country, our State, and our Community; to furnish an opportunity for social intercourse; and to promote the collective and individual interests of former service men.

History of The Service Club of Indianapolis

            In the spring of 1920, while the associations and comradeships, the tragedies and humor, and the grimness and clamor of the World War are still fresh in memory, seven Indianapolis men who had served in the War give heed to the tremendous appeal of that experience.  They decide that here is something which should be perpetuated in civil life.  It seems wrong to them that men who had been so vitally associated in a common cause should go their way unmindful of each other or of the service each had been privileged to perform.  To keep alive the comradeship in a close-knit and highly-personalized way, they conceived the idea of a club, yes, another luncheon club, with the distinctive and basic requirement that every member must have seen service in the Army, Navy or Marine Corps during the period of April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918.  To John Paul Ragsdale goes credit for the idea.

            There is very little difference of opinion as to the name of the Club.  Some concern is expressed on the score of “service club” being a classification term for luncheon clubs in general, but it is agreed the The Service Club of Indianapolis establishes adequate identity, and that no more logical or natural name can be chosen for this organization of ex-service men. --By Phillip C. Lewis, Charter Member

            As the US entered into World War II, 58 members of the Club returned to active service in all theatres of action, including the famed Hoosier aviator H. Weir Cook who was killed while serving in the South Pacific.  Other Service Clubbers served on various Selective Service Boards while others and their wives manned the Wabash U.S.O.  156 sons and daughters of our members served in World War II and Korea, five of whom were killed in action, including the two sons of our founder John Paul Ragsdale who was himself back on active duty in World War II.

            Following World War II, our members hotly debated opening membership to the new veterans and it wasn’t till 1963 that the first son of a World War I member was admitted to membership.

            Today our membership includes veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Operation Desert Storm, and Iraq and membership is open to the veterans of any of the military services in any future conflicts.

            The original purpose of the Club remains the same as in the entire history of the Club, to foster that comradeship we all experienced during out time in uniform, regardless, of the uniform or when or where we served.   --By Tom Jones, member since 1993.