October 2019
Lund-Brown Post 132 Commander Christopher Sower and Adjutant Cora Sower congratulate Dawn Anderson on her retirement. Dawn served six years as Director of the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery (NWVMC). She formerly served 22 years in the U.S. Army and was a County Veterans Service Officer in Barron County. The NWVMC is located near Spooner, WI and provides a final resting place for eligible veterans, spouses, and dependents, creating a lasting memorial to their achievement and sacrifices.
OLD HOMETOWN The old hometown looks the same since I got back from the war. Then I took a walk downtown past the grocery store. There was Burt and Betty talking to Mrs. Jones, And my old Buddy Eric picking out his favorite Bones. I walked a little further down to my old hangout called the Whacky Shack. Opened up the door, my Buddies all hollered glad you’re back. Hoisted a couple beers then walked down to veterans park. Old glory she was waving high from sunrise to dark. Looked over at the honor roll names all written in black. A gold star by the ones who won’t be coming back. Wiped a tear from my eye and went along my way Because I knew that somewhere a soldier died today. By Richard Kemmerling Legionnaire, Juneau Post 15
POST UP Posts throughout Wisconsin display patriotism and American pride while being active in their communities. This supplement showcases how The Wisconsin American Legion Family supports the four pillars upon which we were founded. Submit your news to: badger@wilegion.org Find us on Facebook: Wisconsin American Legion
POSTS SERVING THEIR COMMUNITIES Steven DuBois, Commander of American Legion Post 278 in Balsam Lake, helps serve a dinner hosted by The American Legion for the Soldiers and Airmen serving on state active duty in Polk, Barron, and Langlade Counties, August 2. The event, held at The American Legion Post 98 in Cumberland, served as a morale, welfare and recreation function for the Wisconsin National Guard members continuing to assist with debris removal efforts following the severe weather that swept through Northern Wisconsin July 19-20. (112th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment photo by Staff Sgt. Alexandria Hughes)
American Legion Brown-Selvig Post 212 in Barron donated $2,500 to Kiwanis to help build a handicap and an all accessible and inclusive playground in the city of Barron’s Anderson Park. On July 17, 2019 Post 212 Commander Gregory Roth along with several post members presented the check to Mo Tollman, representing the City of Barron and the Barron Kiwanis.
Iron River Post 506 and Musky Tale Resort donated $500 for the Legacy 100 ride to go toward the Family Cabin at Camp American Legion. Left to Right: Dan Stephans-Post Adjutant, Seegar Swanson – Post Chaplain, Don Slattery – 12th District Commander, Rod Abbas – Post Commander, and Tom Sklebar – Post member.
Hortonville Post 55 donates to Veterans Village and Old Glory Honor Flight.
POST CELEBRATIONS
WI Assemblywoman Nancy VanderMeer presented plaques to Post 153 Pittsville Post 360 in Waunakee members who had 71+ years of consecutive hosted a 100th Anniversary membership. L to R: Roger Fairbert (age 92, Party on August 8, 2019. member 73 years), Walter Fredette (age 92, Post Commander Ed Lawson member 72 years), Emil Mundt (age 92, welcomed the approximately member 71 years). Not pictured: Burt Iverson 120 guests. (age 93, member 72 years). Ten members of Post 153 are WWII veterans.
Chetek Post 179 celebrated the Legion & Auxiliary’s 100th Birthday on Memorial Day. The cake was made by an Auxiliary member.
Hammond Schmidt Post 55—Hortonville achieves 100% Membership Goal. Outgoing Commander Chuck Mompier receives a certificate sent by National Commander Brett P. Reistad for 100%. Presenting the award is incoming Post 55 Commander Bob Ziegert on Monday July 8, 2019.
Edwin L Jones Post 91 Oconomowoc Cmdr. Tom Strey & Membership Chairman Rick Wolf made 100% March 27th.
Post 59 (Stoughton) Legionnaire Bob Lloyd’s bike. Photo taken using at special lighting technique at Veteran’s Memorial Park in DeForest.
POST—PATRIOTISM American Legion Post 60 of Kimberly recently secured two locations for the public to dispose of unserviceable American and MIA Flags. Red, White and Blue containers marked for Flag Retirement have been placed at the Darboy Corner Store and Kimberly Municipal Building. Each year A.L. Post 60 conducts a formal Flag Retirement Ceremony at the Village Municipal building. Photo (L to R): Dick Staedt, Post 60 Finance Officer; Patti Rodencal, Darboy Corner Store; Denny Giles, Post 60 Commander
Post 211, Florence, honored the last Civil War Veteran buried in Florence County. Post 211 Commander and Florence County Veterans Service Officer Jeff Hickey spoke at the ceremony.
Young Patriot Max Delf, 5 1/2 year old son of Jonathon & Angela Delf, is shown onboard the Rice Lake Veteran's Memorial replica float. On the right is Legion & Veteran Memorial Committee member Larry Anderson. Pictured also is Max's Lego replica of the float. Great Job Max!
This eight-foot tall black granite obelisk was placed in Veterans Memorial Park by Olson-Grinde Post 348 in DeForest, and was dedicated after the Memorial Day service on May 27. It is dedicated to The American Legion’s centennial, the post’s namesakes, the charter members of the post, and the centennial year members of the post and auxiliary.
POST—NAMESAKES Johnson-Nicoles-Kuhlman-Olson Post 53 (Eau Claire)
Private Ralph Kline Post 262 (Luxemburg)
In the summer of 1919, 15 World War I veterans applied for a charter to establish an American Legion post in Eau Claire, and a temporary charter, dated August 20, 1919, was granted to Wm. C. Johnson Post 53.
Private Ralph Kline Post 262 was granted a temporary charter on May 1, 1920.
William C. Johnson: Second lieutenant killed in action of June 6, 1918, during World War I. Johnson was a stockholder and officer with the Northwestern Motor Company until he entered officers’ training camp at Fort Sheridan on August 27, 1917. He sailed for France on January 15, 1918, and entered active service, fighting first with the Marines and then the Army. After a platoon leader was killed by enemy fire on June 6, 1918, Johnson took command. He was killed by machine gun fire at the age of 28. Frank E. Nicoles: Served on the USS Oklahoma with his younger brother, John. He was killed at the age of 25 on December 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and the Oklahoma was sunk. Name added to post charter on October 28, 1947.
In November 1917, Ralph F. Kline left Luxemburg for military training camps at Camp Custer and Camp Merritt. He left for France on January 14, 1918, and arrived on January 22. After several months training back of the lines he entered active duty on the front lines on May 15. On July 14 he was wounded in the battle of Chateau Thierry and was sent to a hospital where he later recovered from his wounds and again entered the active fighting. Kline made the supreme sacrifice on October 17, 1918, in the battle of the Argonne Forest. He was a member of the 168th Regiment of the 42nd Division, known as the Rainbow Division. Private Ralph Kline was laid to rest beneath the poppies in Flanders, until his remains were returned home on October 28, 1921.
Roger R. Kuhlman: Graduated from West Point Military Academy in 1949, and fought in the Korean War. 23 year-old Kuhlman was killed by enemy mortar fire during the Battle of the Pusan Perimeter– a battle that lasted from August 4 to September 18, 1950. Name added to post charter on March 24, 1965.
Luxemburg laid aside its business duties for several hours to pay homage. The village was deserted as hundreds of people followed the flag draped casket of Luxemburg’s only soldier (at that time) who died fighting for his country on foreign soil.
Rodney J. Olson: Enlisted in the Army in 1965—three days after graduating from Eau Claire North High School. On January 31, 1966, he was the first soldier from Eau Claire to be killed in combat in Vietnam. Name added to post charter on June 19, 1972.
*Excerpts from Luxemburg News, October 28, 1921.
*Information referenced from Leader-Telegram article by Christena T. O’Brien
MILITARY WORKING DOG TRIBUTE The Highground Veterans Memorial Park in Neillsville, WI, includes a tribute to military dogs and their handlers. Many lives were touched/saved by the work of dogs and dog handlers during conflicts. Be it the work of a scout dog, sentry dog, or tracker dog —the efforts of these animals and their trainers made a profound impact on our military. The dream of the military dog tribute originated with the story of a young Vietnam Veteran. He was a Scout Dog Handler, married just prior to his service and killed in action just 90 days into his tour of duty. In Spring 2010, The Highground Board of Directors selected this as a priority project. With the leadership of Vol General Manager Kirk Rodman, a committee of Vietnam Veterans (including dog handlers) began a search for a unique design of a life-size bronze sculpture of a Vietnam Era courageous handler and hero dog. Designer and sculptor, Michael Martino, La Crosse, WI, was selected to bring this tribute to fruition. In June 2018, the Military Working Dog Tribute was dedicated, honoring all military personnel and their dogs who have served in conflicts past, present, and continuing. To learn more about this tribute and The Highground Veterans Memorial Park, visit www.thehighground.us.
The American Legion, Department of Wisconsin; PO Box 388; Portage, WI 53901 608-745-1090 www.wilegion.org