La Société des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux (40 & 8)
The 40 & 8 is an independent, invitation-only honor society of American veterans and service members. It was founded in 1920 by veterans returning from France, and its name comes from the French boxcars marked “40/8” that carried forty men or eight horses during World War I. Membership today is by invitation to honorably discharged veterans and honorably serving members of the U.S. Armed Forces; wartime service is not required. Local groups are called Voitures Locale, state groups are Grandes Voitures, and the annual national gathering is the Promenade Nationale. Officers use traditional titles such as Chef de Gare (local commander), Correspondant (secretary) and Commissaire Intendant (treasurer).
What we do
- Nurses Training Scholarships – A signature program since the 1950s, with more than 32,000 scholarships awarded nationally. Our Voiture may participate locally and can leverage the George B. Boland Nurses Training Trust for additional support.
- Americanism, Child Welfare, POW/MIA – Education and remembrance programs that promote citizenship, support families, and honor those still missing.
- Destroyer and heritage support, parades and ceremonies – Many Voitures partner with Posts on memorial observances, color guards, and history outreach.
- Box Car and Merci Train history – The 40 & 8 helps preserve the story of the 1949 “Merci Train,” when France sent 49 gift-laden 40/8 boxcars to the United States, one for each state and a shared car for DC and Hawaii.
Who can join
Membership is by invitation. If you are an honorably discharged veteran or are currently serving, you can ask a Post 166 Voyageur about sponsorship and next steps.
Get involved
Connect with the Post office and ask to be put in touch with the local 40 & 8 Voiture for meeting times, projects, and ways to serve. Bring any questions about eligibility, sponsorship, and scholarships and a Voyageur will help you get started.