HISTORY OF THE JACKSON AMERICAN LEGION POST

With the arrival of Veterans Day, first known as Armistice Day, it is appropriate that we recall the beginning of the American Legion -- nationally and locally.

During the final days of the Great War of 1914 to 1918, thousands of American servicemen talked of forming a veterans' organization and once the fighting stopped that morning, November 11, 1918 at 11 o'clock, the idea was discussed again.

When Col. Theodore Roosevelt, son of President "Teddy" Roosevelt, returned to this country, the movement was started among the men who did not go overseas. On May 8, 1919, 1,100 veteran delegates assembled in St. Louis, Mo., and adopted the name American Legion. There, the proposed to hold a national convention. It was at that convention that the American Legion was officially formed, with President Woodrow Wilson and General John "Black Jack" Pershing declared members.

Locally on September 13, 1919, a large number of people, including a strong delegation of veterans, met at Pocahontas for the purpose of organizing an American Legion post. The organization was completed after a prolonged and exciting meeting that continued even into the following week. The veterans who had returned from service were acquainted with some of the conditions that had prevailed in the area during the war and felt that some explanations and promises were due from some of the local citizens.

The meeting was held in the town hall at Pocahontas, packed with close to 500 attending. Several people whose names were called were not present, so a committee of veterans was appointed to go and extend a "special invitation" to those persons.

A number of persons were questioned as to their loyalty and patriotism. People were also asked to discontinue the use of the German language in their businesses.

The officers elected at that first for the Pocahontas Caldwell-Snider American Legion Post 115 were: Paul Kaiser, commander; Claud Davenport, assistant commander; Paul McNeely, secretary; and Linus Morton, treasurer. The post was short-lived and the members sold their meeting hall to Fred Lichtenegger in 1923. At the same time in the early 1920's, Oak Ridge attempted to organize a post.

A week after the organization of the Pocahontas American Legion Post, a meeting was held in the courthouse in Jackson on September 18, 1919, with the purpose of organizing an American Legion Post. Here, too, a large group attended with a delegation of the Pocahontas group in attendance to show the Jackson veterans how to conduct a "quizzing bee."

The meeting was called to order by J. Frank Caldwell. C.W. Knox was elected as chairman and Maj. Warren Mabrey presented the address. He stated that cardinal principles of the Legion were (1) "There must be but one flag - The Stars and Stripes;" (2) "There must be one language and that language must be the one the Constitution were written in;" and (3) "There must be but one loyalty and that to America."

A number of people were also questioned at the Jackson meeting as to their patriotism and the use of another language.

The Jackson post was named in honor of two men from the area who made the supreme sacrifice: Clarence G.W. Altenthal and Clark Adams Joerns. The Altenthal-Joerns Post 158 elected officers C.W. Knox, commander; Harry Williams, vice commander; Lawrence Morton, adjutant; Ryland Short, finance; Leemon Gladish, historian; and Ed Slack, chaplain.

The Jackson Post 158 continued in 1919 and 1920. However, due to a general lack of interest, the Post did not meet again until 1924. At that time, the Post reorganized under the leadership of Knox, Roscoe Pierce and C.W. Medley. It has continued on to today with over 700 members.

Information for this story was gathered by Jim Nelson and Linda Hutson. References include the Missouri Cash Book, Sept. 25, 1919; Missouri Cash Book, Sept. 18, 1919; The American Legion Story by Raymond Moley, 1966; and Quincy Herald Whig, Nov. 9, 1997.