U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs history

1931 Veterans Administration formed combining Veterans Bureau, Pension Bureau, and National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers.

In the early 1940’s, the Veterans Administration began its cooperation with certain schools of social work through agreements which provided for the placement of students for field work at various Veterans Administration facilities.

Eric K. Shinseki, in full Eric Ken Shinseki, (born November 28, 1942, Lihue, Hawaii [United States]), United States Army officer who was the first Asian American to achieve the rank of four-star general.

Brigadier General Frank T. Hines, who directed the Veterans Bureau for seven years, was named as the first Administrator of Veterans Affairs, a job he held until 1945.

1946 Public Law 293 reorganized Veterans Administration and established Special Medical Advisory Group.

Shinseki was inspired by his uncles’ service, and he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he earned a B.A. in engineering and a second lieutenant’s commission in 1965.

He spent almost a year recovering from his wounds, but he returned to active duty in 1971.

Shinseki earned an M.A. in English from Duke University (1976) before taking a position as an instructor at West Point.

He continued to advance along the officer career track, with extended postings at the Pentagon and with the 3rd Infantry Division in West Germany, and in 1991 he was promoted to brigadier general.

He received his first division command when he was named commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division in 1994, and he earned his second star later that year.

Shinseki added a third star in 1996, and he was named commander in chief of United States Army forces in Europe the following year.