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Grand Forks North Dakota American Legion Post #6 History History of Grand Forks Treumann, Webb, Phelps American Legion Post #6
Grand Forks Post No. 6, of the American Legion was formed on July 4, 1919, in Central Park, during the “Welcome Home Day” celebration staged by the people of Grand Forks in honor of the returning veterans from World War I. This was the same day of the year as the United States of America, 4th of July-Independence Day.
In the meantime, the plan of The American Legion had originated at the historic caucus in Paris and had put into realization of the St. Louis Caucus. It was the same time when many of the Grand Forks veterans had already taken steps looking to the formation of a Legion Post in Grand Forks. It was decided that the service men homecoming celebration would furnish a fitting scene for the birth of the new veterans organization.
The idea met with favor among the citizens and the ex-servicemen and women, so arrangements for the big festival were perfected for July 4, 1919. More than a 1000 ex-service men attended the celebration but there were so many events and the program was so elaborate that only 100 service men could be reached and induced to help in the formation of the new post that day.
The 100 men that could be reached met in a formal meeting to elect and install the original officers of the Grand Forks Post 6. The first officers of the Grand Forks Post were: Dr. Robert D. Campbell, Commander; Phillip Bangs, Adjutant; and Ray Jacobson, Finance Officer. At the time, there was a rather nebulous understanding of the post constitution and by-laws by most of those present. They didn’t want to take any chances on being under-organized, so three vice commanders, one from each branch of services, were elected. The three vice-commanders named at the meeting were: Walter Schlosser, representing the Army; James Malone, the Navy; and Clarence Sullivan, the Marines.
Dues for membership were set at $1 but were increased to $3 by Dec. 9, 1919. Judge Bangs submitted the Charter Application on July 10, 1919 on behalf of the membership to the North Dakota State American Legion chairman, J. R. Baker. The Charter was officially granted at the State Legion meeting at Fargo July 21, 1919. Members listed were: John G. Brundin, Edward O. Trepanier, Julius F. Bacan, John A. Shaw, Lawrence R. Feetham, W. K. Treumann, Burton E. Thompson, H. H. Healy, R. H. Secord, W. J. Malone, and Oscar C. Nygaard. In addition, the officers named at the first meeting were also listed, except Schlosser and Sullivan.
Post membership grew rapidly after the appointment of R. H. Secord as membership chairman. By 1928 the post had grown to a membership of 288 members and had become a extremely active veterans organization. The Legion met regularly, sometimes at the Elks Lodge and Commercial Clubroom, City Hall or City Auditorium. The formal Legion post meeting quarters was in the Veterans Memorial Clubrooms in the Grand Forks County Courthouse basement. The clubrooms were dedicated May 25, 1936 to the remembrance of the men who lost their lives in World War I and as an inspiration for service for the community, state and nation.
In the spring of 1937, Post 6 Commander C. D. Locklin initiated an action to form an International War Veterans Alliance with Canada. He wrote to Col. Ralph Webb of the Canadian Legion suggesting that an international gathering be held in Grand Forks to include a joint memorial ceremony. Col. Webb endorsed the proposal and made plans that led to over 700 Canadians traveling to Grand Forks to attend the First International Assembly held on September 6 & 7, 1937. The Assembly Meeting led to the formation of the International Alliance between the Grand Forks Post 6 and Canada.
At the end of World War II, hundreds of veterans returned home. Post membership increased to 795 in 1946. The younger veterans provided increased vitality to carry out Post programs and activities in the community. In 1960, Post Commander Frank Kosanda presented a New Club proposal for Post 6 membership. A Veterans Fall Roundup was held and attended by the National Vice Commander Willard Brandt, Department Commander William Gust, Department Adjutant Jack Williams and many other Department officers along with 200 Legionnaires.
The Grand Forks Legion Club was incorporated on August 15, 1963. The original board members were Kosanda, president; Clarence Jeffrey, vice president; Edward Sabin, secretary; Robert Griffith, treasurer; and H. G. Ruemmele. In August 1967 a new building was purchased at 10 North 3rd Street. A Grand Opening was held on February 12-17, 1968. After seven years as president of the Legion Club Board, Kosanda stepped down; he was followed by Treumann Lykken, John Lyons, Earl Kiley, and James Mantos, as Club presidents, respectively.
Early Programs and Community Activities
In 1960, a program was begun between Post 6 and Branch 141 of the Canadian Legion in which American Civil Air Patrol Cadets and Canadian Air Cadets were shown Air Base Training Facilities in both countries. The Legion Club’s meeting room was used to house the Legion’s Blood Donor Program. Various scholarships were provided by the Post to participate and assist the Legion’s “Need a Lift Program”. Post 6 participated annually in the ROTC Ceremony at the University of North Dakota.
Post 6 regularly sponsored several delegates to Boys State and Girls State. Because of the income generated by the Legion Club, the Post was able to contribute thousands of dollars to worthy charities including: Blind Children’s Fund, St. Anne’s Guest Home, Listen Center, and the Valley Memorial Home. Post 6 started an American Legion baseball program in 1928.
Post Commanders and Adjutants for the Treumann-Webb-Phelps American Legion Post #6, Grand Forks North Dakota
Year Name of Commander Name of Adjutant 1919 Dr. R. D. Campbell, President Philip R. Bangs, Sec. 1919-20 L. L. Eckman Philip R. Bangs 1920-21 H. J. Lowe Joe Rabinovich 1921-22 Walter Schlosser Joe Rabinovich 1922-23 C. D. Page Ray Jacobson 1923-24 O Tudor Owen Alan M. Nash 1924-25 Grover Bogenrief Harold Barnes 1925-26 W. K. Truemann H. L. Barnes 1926-27 Frank Webb Allen Nash 1927-28 W. B. Arnold Howard George Howard George-resigned 1928-29 Joe E. Rabinovich Dewey Bundlie-completed term 1929-30 Dr. J. G. Vrundin Dewey Bundlie 1930-31 Ernest C. Schoults Ralph F. Larsen 1931-32 A. C. Lawrence Henry Kennedy 1932-33 Oscar Lunseth M. K. Lander 1933-34 Rev. Homer R. Harrington M. K. Lander 1934-35 Floyd L. Castle Emmet L. Neff 1935-36 Oscar Nygaard Emmet L. Neff 1936-37 C. D. Locklin Jos. B. Bridston 1937-38 C. C. Lillie J. S. Mayer 1938-39 Gordon Moore Dr. L. W. Mills 1939-40 David Jones Dr. L. W. Mills 1940-41 George Phelps W. K. Treumann 1941-42 John Iverson (part-term) W. K. Treumann 1941-42 Wm. B. Allen (part-term) 1942-43 Dean O. H. Thormodsgard W. K. Treumann 1943-44 Frank C. Cheatham W. K. Treumann 1944-45 J. S. Mayer O. P. Cushman 1945-46 Henry Kennedy J. S. Mayer--resigned O. P. Cushman—completed term 1946-47 Milton L. Wick David H. Jones 1947-48 Lewis O. Ugland Henry G. Ruemmele 1948-49 Edgar A. Berg Henry G. Ruemmele 1949-50 Ronald R. Davies Bert Miller 1950-51 Henry G. Ruemmele E. E. Simmons 1951-52 Axel Knutson James E. Leo 1952-53 James E. Leo Kenneth Plunket 1953-54 John H. Vold Elton Skarperud 1954-55 Kenneth H. Plunkett Elton Skarperud 1955-56 Lawrence Bue Merland W. Berg 1956-57 Norbert Auer Merland W. Berg 1957-58 Don Knutson Merland W. Berg 1958-59 Edward M. Peterson Merland W. Berg 1959-60 Arnold L. Braaten Donald Knutson 1960-61 Frank Kosanda Donald Knutson 1961-62 Merland W. Berg Curtis G. Hanson 1962-63 Edward Sabin Curtis G. Hanson 1963-64 Clarence J. Jeffrey Edward Sabin
1964-65Curtis Hanson Edward Sabin
1965-66 Treumann Lykken Herb Corkill 1966-67 Robert Capes Herb Corkill 1967-68 Alf Enger Herb Corkill 1968-69 John H. Lyons Herb Corkill 1969-70 Leo Swenson Herb Corkill 1970-71 Donald J. Jenson Herb Corkill 1971-72 E. J. Hanson Fred MacGregor 1972-73 Harris Anderson Lawrence Walstad 1973-74 Herb Corkill Henry J. Fortin 1974-75 Earl S. Kiley Henry J. Fortin 1975-76 Kenneth A. Smith Henry J. Fortin 1976-77 Lawrence Walstad Dave Kaufman – resigned Herb Corkill – completed term 1977-78 Orvil P. O’Neill Susan Wood 1978-79 Rudy Kraemer Bobby Noblin 1979-80 Robert W. Nelson *Bobby G. Noblin 1980-81 Robert Feidler Lawrence Walstad 1981-82 Stanely Gilbertson Matthew Dordal 1982-83 Thomas Rainsberry Matthew Dordal 1983-84 James Mantos Matthew Dordal 1984-85 Jerry Hruby Tom Rainsberry 1985-86 Suzanne Kime Tom Rainsberry 1986-87 Foy Cox Barb Tellman 1987-88 A. H. Kilgore Kevin Spivey 1988-89 Hal Link Kevin Spivey 1989-90 Kirk Smith Kevin Spivey 1990-91 David Kaufman Kevin Spivey 1991-92 James Pedersen Kevin Spivey 1992-93 Lyle Moe Suzanne Kime 1993-94 Herman Larson David Kiefel 1994-95 Jeffery D. Kavadas David A. Kaufman 1995-96 Stanley Gilbertson David A. Kaufman 1996-97 Philip Srur David A. Kaufman 1997-98 Tom P. Leeman Barbara A. Tellman 1998-99 Tom. P. Leeman Barbara A. Tellman 1999-00 Tom P. Leeman Barbara A. Tellman 2000-01 John E. Stiles Suzanne Kime 2001-02 John E. Stiles Suzanne Kime 2002-03 John E. Stiles Suzanne Kime 2003-04 John E. Stiles Suzanne Kime 2004-05 John E. Stiles James P. Pederson 2005-06 Norman T. Byers James P. Pederson 2006-07 Norman T. Byers James P. Pederson 2007-08 Norman T. Byers James P. Pederson 2008-09 Norman T. Byers James P. Pederson 2009-10 James P. Pederson (acting) Suzanne Kime 2010-11 Robert E. Greene Suzanne Kime 2011-12 Robert E. Greene Suzanne Kime 2012-13 Robert E. Greene Suzanne Kime
The Grand Forks Post #6 has had and continues to have dedicated legionnaires who served not only at the local level but also at the North Dakota Department level. The first Post #6 member elected North Dakota Department Commander was Philip R. Bangs in 1921. Post #6 members who also served as N. D. Department Commanders included:
1921-22 Philip R Banks 1931-32 Joe E.Rabinovich 1936-37 Frank J. Webb 1945-46 Abe Abrahamsen 1966-67 Frank J. Kosanda 1975-76 Treumann J. Lykken 1995-96 Suzanne “Sue” Kime (1st and only ND Female Commander)