The American GI Forum was founded in 1948 in Corpus Christi, Texas as a resource for Mexican American veterans returning from service in WWII and their families. The repressive socio-economic and political climate of Texas prior to WWII and the lack of social mobility and limited opportunities afforded to servicemen and women despite their service in the nation's armed forces, functioned as an impetus to create an organization that could represent and fight for veterans' rights. Although this organization was originally created to meet the needs of those veterans living in South Texas, several victories related to veterans' benefits and access to health care motivated Mexican Americans in other parts of the nation to create their own local American GI Forum chapters. Key to this growth was the denial of funeral services in 1949 to a Mexican American soldier – Private Felix Longoria, whose remains were returned home four years after being killed in combat in the Philippines. After organizing several protests and receiving a great deal of media attention, Senator Lyndon B. Johnson intervened and arranged for PVT Longoria to be buried with honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C.

Nearly ten years later, the American GI Forum of California was founded in 1958. Much like its parent organization in Corpus Christi, Texas, it has been dedicated to serving the Latino community by centering their efforts on the Latino veteran population residing in California along with their families. Approximately 40 chapters have been chartered in California, and currently there are 27 active chapters throughout the state. The state chapter has been involved in numerous activities including but not limited to: fighting deficiencies within the educational system, biased hiring practices on the part of the U.S. government, demanding apologies from former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone in 1986 for discriminatory remarks against the Mexican and Puerto Rican communities, and advocating for the need for greater mental health services for Latinos, especially those returning from combat.