American Legion Edwin T. Stiles Post #153


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Born: February 21, 1898 in Eureka, Michigan Died: August 4, 1918, Chatean Thierry, France Buried: Fismes, France Body returned and buried in St. Johns, Michigan June 24, 1921 at Mt. Rest Cemetery, Section E147. Enlisted: June 4, 1917 at Lansing, Michigan Rank: Private Unit Served in: 119th Field Artillery, Battery B. Later transferred to Company F. 126th Infantry, 32 Division. Went Overseas: February 19, 1918 Engagements: Alsace; Second Battle Marue; Chateau-Thierry (where killed in action). First Saint Johns Soldier killed in France During World War I Above information taken from : State Archives, Lansing, Michigan and local newspapers.

The Saint Johns’ American Legion Post 153 was established and chartered on the 22^nd of September 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. We are a wartime veteran’s service organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our community, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow service members, veterans and their families.

Our local American Legion programs and activities strengthen the community, promote successful amateur athletic programs, educating young people about the importance of sportsmanship, citizenship and fitness.

The American Legion is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization with great political influence perpetuated by its grass-roots involvement in the legislation process from local districts to Capitol Hill. Legionnaires’ sense of obligation to community, state and nation drives an honest advocacy for veterans in Washington. The Legion stands behind the issues most important to the nation's veteran’s community, backed by resolutions passed by volunteer leadership.

The American Legion’s success depends entirely on active membership, participation and volunteerism. Our organization belongs to the people it serves and the community in which we thrive.

 

• To promote the 4 Pillars (Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation, National Security, Americanism and Children & Youth) of The American Legion.
• To advocate a closer spirit of cooperation among the membership, The American Legion Department, the National Organization Headquarters and other local American Legion Posts.
• To improve and maintain open communications, to keep our members better informed about national and international policy changes germane to the overall service mission of The American Legion.

 

In March 1919 a group of American soldiers of World War 1 met in Paris, France, and organized the American Legion. In the next 36 years, the organization has grown to more than 4,000,000 members. In St. Johns, Michigan, between 1919 to 1920 the American Legion started with the first Commander Harry E. Walsworth. Today 2011, our Post is thriving with 300 plus members and an active Auxiliary and SAL units.

Whether you were drafted or enlisted in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard or the Merchant Marines, you served your country honorably and when called upon. So why join the American Legion? The American Legion provides serves and information for veterans, active or inactive, and the Legion serves the local community with funds and services. It's the serves that is the hard part. If you don't volunteer, then why join the Legion. Our Post, by rough estimate, uses 1,709 volunteer hours per year. With an average active membership of 300, that is just six hours of service per year per member. Not bad, but in a real world, you don't get 300 active volunteers and so the burden falls on the twenty or thirty who do volunteer. How many hours have you volunteered this year?

                                       Department Officers

Department Commander                         District 8 1st Vice Commanders
      Donald J. Smith 1955-56                            William C. Cearl 1926-27 
                                                                      Charles F. White 1930-31
Past Department Commanders                     Charles F. White 1931-32
      Donald J. Smith 1956-57                             St. Clair Pardee 1940-41 
                                                                      Donald J. Smith 1950-51
Department Judge Advocate                         Walter A. Russell 1966-67
      Timothy M. Green 1955-56                         Clarence Witchell 1985-86 
                                                                      Richard Root 2004-05
Department Historian                                   Robert Paksi 2010-11
      Mitch Louth 2013-14                                  Gary R. Gross 2011-12

                                                                     Mitch Louth 2014-2015

Department Assistance Sgt-at-Arms       District 8 2nd Vice Commanders 
     Gary Gross 2013-14                                     Richard Root 2003-04 
                                                                      Robert Paksi 2009-10
Zone 3 Commanders                                         Gary R. Gross 2010-11
     R. V. Gay 1936-37                                       Mitch Louth 2012-13-14
     Richard Root 2007-08                                  

District 8 Commanders                             District 8 Sgt-at-Arms
    R. V. Gay 1933-34                                        Richard Root 2002-03
    St. Clair. Pardee 1941-42                              Robert Paksi 2008-09
    Percy J. Carris 1948-49                                 Gary R. Gross 2009-10
    Donald J. Smith 1951-52                               
    Walter A. Russell 1967-68
    Clarence Witchell 1986-87
    Richard Root 2005-06
    Robert Paksi 2011-12
    Gary R. Gross 2012-13
    Mitch Louth 2015-16

                                     Department Committees

American Legion Billet                            Legislative
    St. Clair Pardee 1951-52                            Donald J. Smith 1961-62 

Americanism & Community Service        Membership
    Keith Mishler 1987-88                                R. V. Gay 1937-38
                                                                    St. Clair Pardee 1943-44

Blood & Eye Bank
    Walter A. Russell 1968-70                       Michigan Soldier Home
                                                                    Herbert Splane 1942-43 

Children & Youth                                      National Defense
    Keith Mishler 1989-90                                 R. V. Gay 1935-36
    Roger Jorae 1990-91

Club Rules & Regulations                        Otter Lake Billet Board
    Keith Mishler 2002-03                                R. V. Gay 1940-41
                                                                   St. Clair Pardee 1945-47
Commanders Advisory
    Donald J. Smith 1962-64                       Post Development
                                                                     Richard Root 2009-10
Finance                                                       Gary R. Gross 2010-11
    Keith Mishler 1985-86
                                                                 Unemployment
                                                                      Herbert C. Splane 1934-35
Higgins Lake
    Timothy M. Green 1956-57                    Welfare
                                                                      R. V. Gay 1942-43
Internal Affairs
    Keith Mishler 1984-85                            Wolverine Boys State
    Keith Mishler 1991-05                                Timothy Green 1957-63

                                                               Veterans Preference
                                                                      R. V. Gay 1938-39