AMERICAN LEGION
AMERICAN LEGION
CURRY - RICHARDSON - SPARKS - WALDEIER POST 528
PARNELL, MISSOURI 64475
The American Legion, the nation's largest congressionally chartered veterans organization, dates to 1919 when those being discharged following World War I held organizational meetings in Paris, France, and later in St. Louis, Missouri. Today the American Legion has some 18,000 local Posts in all states of the union and several overseas locations. .
The Department of Missouri also dates to 1919 as a state organization within The American Legion. The Legion's national headquarters is in Indianapolis, Indiana, with another headquarters located in Washington, D.C.
History
of Curry, Richardson, Sparks, Waldeier Post 528 of the American Legion, Parnell,
Missouri
World War II being over and almost all veterans being discharged and back into civilian life again, it was decided to form a Legion Post in our city of Parnell. Several veterans already belonged to the post at Ravenwood but readily consented to help one hundred percent in organizing a post at home.
In February, 1947, a letter was written to State Headquarters in Kansas City to secure help in organizing the post. Our letter was transferred to 4th District Commander, Mr. O.A. Loomis, of Rock Port, Missouri, who gave his help to our problem.
Commander Loomis made a trip to Parnell the last of February and applications for charter members were filled out.
In March, Commander Loomis returned with a temporary charter. At that time our post was established as the Curry, Richardson, Sparks, Waldeier Post 528.
Post officers elected to serve the first year were as follows:
Orlo Hawk ..Commander
Gerald Geisken First vice-commander
James Mann . Second vice-commander
Donald McKown .Adjutant
Paul Herndon Finance Officer
Walter R. Miller Sergeant at Arms
Bernard Cowden Historian
Kenneth Crawford .Chaplain
The Post was very proud to have Mrs. Mary G. Hawk as a charter member. Mrs. Hawk was an army nurse who serve in the European Theatre of Operations during World War II. Also we are proud to have two World War I veterans as charter members. Those being Jesse D. Bullock and Adolphus Cox.
Charter Members of the Post
Harold Richardson William O. Downing John R. DeFreece
Orlo Beatty Orlo Hawk Jesse Bullock
Gerald Giesken Clinton Scadden Mary G. Hawk
John W. Midyett James Spire Francis Auffert
James Mann Charles Partridge Merril E. Harris
Delbert Echterling Paul G. Lantz Leonard Farnan
Bernard Cowden Walter R. Miller Donald McKown
Paul Herndon Adolphus Cox Earl Warner
Francis Welch James Midyett
Names of members not included on charter
H. D. Collins Grant Duncan Edward Davis
Harry V. Newby James F. Cole Charles Mercer
Edward Hooker Roy E. Curry Martin Boedeker
John J. Kelsay Paul E. Long Sylvester Welch
William Berg K. D. Hastings Ernest Nigh
Edward Auffert
American Legion Post 528 is one of the few posts in the state which has accomplished one hundred percent membership for 1948 and also has secured new members.
Information obtained from Service Record, World War I and World War II, Parnell Community and Parnell Community Centennial.
