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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)