American Legion History
Post 14
Coeur d’Alene, ID
(As of August 21, 2024)
Post 14 was established on August 5, 1919 as Kootenai Post of Idaho.
Herbert L. Glindeman, a WWI veteran who served as a Battery Sergeant in Company B, 2nd Idaho Infantry, was elected first Post 14 Commander and served between August 15, 1919 and July 4, 1920.
Membership averaged 48 veterans per year during those early years (1919-1929), with a high of 120 in 1920 and a low of 26 in 1925.
Historic Trivia: WWI ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.
Horace G. Rice became the Post Commander of Post 14 in 1930, overseeing a membership of 60 Veterans/Legionnaires. Membership averaged 124 veterans/legionnaires per year during the period of 1930-1939.
In 1934, American Legion Post 14 presented the Gray Memorial Award (Portrait), honoring Captain Hawthorne C. Gray, graduate of the Class of 1908, to Coeur d’Alene High School. Captain Gray was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism while participating in aerial flights trying to establish a world record for altitude in a man operated flight (a free balloon). He attained a record altitude of 42,470 feet before perishing during the balloon’s descent due to lack of oxygen.
September 26, 1935, marked the date of the first meeting of Kootenai Post 14 in its very own building, the old Lakeview School house, which they purchased for $350.00 from the Coeur d’Alene School District.
Albert L. DePuy became the first Post Commander to be elected for multiple terms, serving between 1933 – 1935.
1940 saw the election of Ennis W. Thomas, a World War I veteran who served with the 2nd Idaho Infantry in France, as the 23rd Commander of Post 14. Due to a strong membership drive, Post 14 grew to 201 members during 1940.
Members of Post 14 developed the “Children’s Playground” on four lots of Post property between 14th and 15th streets, on Young avenue in 1941.
With the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, the Idaho Department of the American Legion, in support of the establishment of the Idaho State Guard, developed a framework for a National Defense Militia to have state American Legion “feet on the ground” to help support national defense efforts.
Historic Trivia: On October 24, 1941, the day before the American Legion’s first district convention held in Coeur d’Alene, a twin engine flying boat of the Royal Canadian Air Corps landed on Lake Coeur d’Alene. The plane had become lost in heavy fog and, low on fuel, had to make an emergency landing. It marked the first time a military plane from any foreign country had touched down on the lake. Invited to attend the convention banquet as honored guests of Post 14, the Canadian commanding officer, J. Francine, presented Post 14 commander Krider with a Canadian Flag, with his appreciation.
In the 1950s, Post 14 raised over $2,000 for Polio, supported efforts: 1. to protect the Veterans’ Welfare Commission, 2. to declare Washington’s Birthday a national holiday, 3. to better aid the Idaho Soldiers Home in Boise, and, 4. to change the name of Armistice Day to Veteran’s Day (which was subsequently passed by the Idaho Legislature).
Historic Trivia: On June 1, 1954, at the urging of Veterans’ Organizations such as the American Legion, the VFW, etc., Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day by act of the 83rd Congress of the United States. It was renamed to honor not only World War I veterans, but also WWII and Korean War veterans, as well as veterans of future wars.
In January, 1965, a payment of $4,000 was made to purchase the new American Legion Hall at 754 N. 4th street, with a balance of $5,000 to be paid in installments. Also in 1965, the post initiated a drive to fund lights for McEuen Memorial Field for night baseball with a $1,000 donation.
As a result of approval by the student senate of Idaho State University to permit the organization of a Communist Party club/group on the ISU campus, Post 14 resolved to oppose said organization as well as all other subversive groups from organizing on any campus of a tax-supported institution of learning in the state of Idaho, as of December 15, 1966.
In 1967, Post 14 joined the local VFW, World War I Veterans, and Disabled American Veterans organizations to establish a local Veterans’ Council. One of the council’s first acts was to erect a veterans’ memorial monument at Restlawn Cemetery, which was dedicated on Memorial Day, 1967.
Historical Trivia: America’s involvement in the Vietnam War started in earnest when the Kennedy Administration sent 16,000 military personnel to South Vietnam in 1963 to help them defend against the incursion of thousands NVA troops.
September 18, 1981, H.R. 4034 – a bill to provide an additional $330 million for VA medical funding – supported by the President, was adopted narrowly by the United States Congress.
In March, 1983, the post raised money to help send disabled athlete Isabell Link to represent the U.S.A. in swimming, at the Special Olympics in Bordeaux, France. It represented the first time that anyone from North Idaho had competed in the Special Olympics.
At the Executive Committee Meeting of August 5, 1990, it was agreed that the post would support new post member, Sonny Kinsey, with his project to travel via wheelchair across country to draw attention to bill, HR3004. That bill outlined veterans’ rights and medical support for all veterans who suffered symptoms from exposure to Agent Orange while on military duty.
Historic Trivia: The first Gulf War started on August 2, 1990, when Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait over a dispute regarding oil pricing. As a result, the UN condemned the action and coalition forces headed by the U.S., were sent to the Persian Gulf. One month after the start of aerial bombardment of Iraq in January of 1991, UN forces drove Iraqi forces out of Kuwait.
In 1992, Jennifer Fleck, of Coeur d’Alene High School, won the District and Area Oratorical Contests. She went on to the state contest where she finished third.
Historic Trivia: The Iraq war began with the invasion of Iraq in 2003 by the U.S. and allied coalition forces to topple Sadam Hussein’s government and destroy reputed weapons of mass-destruction. Saddam was captured, tried and convicted of his crimes, and executed. Democratic elections were subsequently held in Iraq under the supervision of the coalition force.
The World War II Memorial, which Post 14 supported and contributed to, was dedicated May 29-30, 2004 in Washington, D.C.
Post 14 sent 3 boys from Coeur d’Alene to Boys State in 2004, one of which was voted Student Governor of Idaho – 2nd year in a row for that honor of a North Idaho student.
On March 4, 2006, it was reported that the Post 14 Oratorical representative, the District and Area winner, went on to take 2nd place in the State Contest, and she was only a Sophomore.
Paid membership for 2009 was 310, a post record at the time.
Historic Trivia: On April 13, 2021 President Biden announced that the remaining 2,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan would be withdrawn by September 11, 2021.
Past Post 14 Commanders:
Herbert L. Glindeman 1919
James C. Evenden 1920
Henry Dewald 1920
Claude W. Hodge 1921
Harold S. Purdy 1921
T.J. Robertson 1922
W. C. McEachron 1923
Henry C. Schmidtke 1924
Ralph J. Bovkmeyer 1925
Miles H. Robins 1926
Clyde J. Chaffins 1927
Clement Wilkis 1928
Glenn Stowe 1929
Horace G. Rice 1930
Clifford B. Johnson 1931
Elmer E. Belknap 1932
Albert L. DePuy 1933
Albert L. DePuy 1934
Albert L. DePuy 1935
J. Robert Wilcox 1936
George M. Servick 1937
P. Joe Whyte 1938
M.E. Hawk/Euart Johnson 1939
Ennis W. Thomas 1940
Charles E. McMurray 1941
Lanta A. Krider 1942
Edward Rudd 1943
Willis F. Strode 1944
Harold F. May 1945
Robert Spencer 1946
W.E. Starner 1947
Sidney E. Smith 1948
Claude R. Barnes 1949
Elmer E. Belknap 1950
Roy L. Bobb 1951
Fred Petragallo 1952
Roy L. Bobb 1953
Peter B. Wilson 1954
John Vaurusa/ Claude Barnes 1955
Elmer Sonneville 1956
William O. Hall 1957
James C. Nichols 1958
Alva Jenks 1959
Claude R. Barnes 1960
William P. Quarles 1961
George Oakes 1962
Dan La Charity 1963
Charles E. McMurray 1964
Ennis W. Thomas 1965
Marc H. Souther 1966
Arnold “Red” Halpern 1967
Fred Klein 1968
John Bender 1969
Marc H. Souther 1970
Marc H. Souther 1971
H. B. Wright 1972
Conrad Chisholm 1973
Claude E. Barnes 1974
Gail Reitz 1975
Gail Reitz 1976
William Delyca 1977
Vernon E. Barley, Sr. 1978
Vernon E. Barley, Sr. 1979
Dennis Knepper 1980
Clifford Smith 1981
Joe Haugen 1982
Mel L. Lawson 1983
David E. Sheridan 1984
Al Bruninga 1985
Ray J. Robinson 1986
Emmerson A. Duffield 1987
John E. Smith 1988
David E. Sheridan 1989
David E. Sheridan 1990
John Edgerton 1991
William H. Sherwood 1992
Art Stone 1993
Ed Shipman 1994
Ed Phillips 1995
David E. Sheridan 1996
David E. Sheridan 1997
Edward Phillips 1998
Damon Darakjy/Chester Ryen 1999
Chester Ryen 2000
Merle Jones 2001
Earl Crain 2002
Earl Rachels 2003
David E. Sheridan 2004
David E. Sheridan 2005
David L. Sheridan/Mike Adams 2006
David L. Sheridan/Mike Adams 2007
Earl Crain 2008
Earl Crain 2009
Earl Crain 2010
Earl Crain 2011
Cindy Thompson 2011-2012
Patrick Shelly 2012-2018
David L. Mandell 2018-2019
Robert P. Tatum 2019
Robert P. Tatum 2020-2023
Damon Darakjy 2024-2025
Jerry L. Staub
August 21, 2024
American Legion History
Post 14
Coeur d’Alene, ID
(As of August 21, 2024)
Post 14 was established on August 5, 1919 as Kootenai Post of Idaho.
Herbert L. Glindeman, a WWI veteran who served as a Battery Sergeant in Company B, 2nd Idaho Infantry, was elected first Post 14 Commander and served between August 15, 1919 and July 4, 1920.
Membership averaged 48 veterans per year during those early years (1919-1929), with a high of 120 in 1920 and a low of 26 in 1925.
Historic Trivia: WWI ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.
Horace G. Rice became the Post Commander of Post 14 in 1930, overseeing a membership of 60 Veterans/Legionnaires. Membership averaged 124 veterans/legionnaires per year during the period of 1930-1939.
In 1934, American Legion Post 14 presented the Gray Memorial Award (Portrait), honoring Captain Hawthorne C. Gray, graduate of the Class of 1908, to Coeur d’Alene High School. Captain Gray was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism while participating in aerial flights trying to establish a world record for altitude in a man operated flight (a free balloon). He attained a record altitude of 42,470 feet before perishing during the balloon’s descent due to lack of oxygen.
September 26, 1935, marked the date of the first meeting of Kootenai Post 14 in its very own building, the old Lakeview School house, which they purchased for $350.00 from the Coeur d’Alene School District.
Albert L. DePuy became the first Post Commander to be elected for multiple terms, serving between 1933 – 1935.
1940 saw the election of Ennis W. Thomas, a World War I veteran who served with the 2nd Idaho Infantry in France, as the 23rd Commander of Post 14. Due to a strong membership drive, Post 14 grew to 201 members during 1940.
Members of Post 14 developed the “Children’s Playground” on four lots of Post property between 14th and 15th streets, on Young avenue in 1941.
With the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, the Idaho Department of the American Legion, in support of the establishment of the Idaho State Guard, developed a framework for a National Defense Militia to have state American Legion “feet on the ground” to help support national defense efforts.
Historic Trivia: On October 24, 1941, the day before the American Legion’s first district convention held in Coeur d’Alene, a twin engine flying boat of the Royal Canadian Air Corps landed on Lake Coeur d’Alene. The plane had become lost in heavy fog and, low on fuel, had to make an emergency landing. It marked the first time a military plane from any foreign country had touched down on the lake. Invited to attend the convention banquet as honored guests of Post 14, the Canadian commanding officer, J. Francine, presented Post 14 commander Krider with a Canadian Flag, with his appreciation.
In the 1950s, Post 14 raised over $2,000 for Polio, supported efforts: 1. to protect the Veterans’ Welfare Commission, 2. to declare Washington’s Birthday a national holiday, 3. to better aid the Idaho Soldiers Home in Boise, and, 4. to change the name of Armistice Day to Veteran’s Day (which was subsequently passed by the Idaho Legislature).
Historic Trivia: On June 1, 1954, at the urging of Veterans’ Organizations such as the American Legion, the VFW, etc., Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day by act of the 83rd Congress of the United States. It was renamed to honor not only World War I veterans, but also WWII and Korean War veterans, as well as veterans of future wars.
In January, 1965, a payment of $4,000 was made to purchase the new American Legion Hall at 754 N. 4th street, with a balance of $5,000 to be paid in installments. Also in 1965, the post initiated a drive to fund lights for McEuen Memorial Field for night baseball with a $1,000 donation.
As a result of approval by the student senate of Idaho State University to permit the organization of a Communist Party club/group on the ISU campus, Post 14 resolved to oppose said organization as well as all other subversive groups from organizing on any campus of a tax-supported institution of learning in the state of Idaho, as of December 15, 1966.
In 1967, Post 14 joined the local VFW, World War I Veterans, and Disabled American Veterans organizations to establish a local Veterans’ Council. One of the council’s first acts was to erect a veterans’ memorial monument at Restlawn Cemetery, which was dedicated on Memorial Day, 1967.
Historical Trivia: America’s involvement in the Vietnam War started in earnest when the Kennedy Administration sent 16,000 military personnel to South Vietnam in 1963 to help them defend against the incursion of thousands NVA troops.
September 18, 1981, H.R. 4034 – a bill to provide an additional $330 million for VA medical funding – supported by the President, was adopted narrowly by the United States Congress.
In March, 1983, the post raised money to help send disabled athlete Isabell Link to represent the U.S.A. in swimming, at the Special Olympics in Bordeaux, France. It represented the first time that anyone from North Idaho had competed in the Special Olympics.
At the Executive Committee Meeting of August 5, 1990, it was agreed that the post would support new post member, Sonny Kinsey, with his project to travel via wheelchair across country to draw attention to bill, HR3004. That bill outlined veterans’ rights and medical support for all veterans who suffered symptoms from exposure to Agent Orange while on military duty.
Historic Trivia: The first Gulf War started on August 2, 1990, when Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait over a dispute regarding oil pricing. As a result, the UN condemned the action and coalition forces headed by the U.S., were sent to the Persian Gulf. One month after the start of aerial bombardment of Iraq in January of 1991, UN forces drove Iraqi forces out of Kuwait.
In 1992, Jennifer Fleck, of Coeur d’Alene High School, won the District and Area Oratorical Contests. She went on to the state contest where she finished third.
Historic Trivia: The Iraq war began with the invasion of Iraq in 2003 by the U.S. and allied coalition forces to topple Sadam Hussein’s government and destroy reputed weapons of mass-destruction. Saddam was captured, tried and convicted of his crimes, and executed. Democratic elections were subsequently held in Iraq under the supervision of the coalition force.
The World War II Memorial, which Post 14 supported and contributed to, was dedicated May 29-30, 2004 in Washington, D.C.
Post 14 sent 3 boys from Coeur d’Alene to Boys State in 2004, one of which was voted Student Governor of Idaho – 2nd year in a row for that honor of a North Idaho student.
On March 4, 2006, it was reported that the Post 14 Oratorical representative, the District and Area winner, went on to take 2nd place in the State Contest, and she was only a Sophomore.
Paid membership for 2009 was 310, a post record at the time.
Historic Trivia: On April 13, 2021 President Biden announced that the remaining 2,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan would be withdrawn by September 11, 2021.
Past Post 14 Commanders:
Herbert L. Glindeman 1919
James C. Evenden 1920
Henry Dewald 1920
Claude W. Hodge 1921
Harold S. Purdy 1921
T.J. Robertson 1922
W. C. McEachron 1923
Henry C. Schmidtke 1924
Ralph J. Bovkmeyer 1925
Miles H. Robins 1926
Clyde J. Chaffins 1927
Clement Wilkis 1928
Glenn Stowe 1929
Horace G. Rice 1930
Clifford B. Johnson 1931
Elmer E. Belknap 1932
Albert L. DePuy 1933
Albert L. DePuy 1934
Albert L. DePuy 1935
J. Robert Wilcox 1936
George M. Servick 1937
P. Joe Whyte 1938
M.E. Hawk/Euart Johnson 1939
Ennis W. Thomas 1940
Charles E. McMurray 1941
Lanta A. Krider 1942
Edward Rudd 1943
Willis F. Strode 1944
Harold F. May 1945
Robert Spencer 1946
W.E. Starner 1947
Sidney E. Smith 1948
Claude R. Barnes 1949
Elmer E. Belknap 1950
Roy L. Bobb 1951
Fred Petragallo 1952
Roy L. Bobb 1953
Peter B. Wilson 1954
John Vaurusa/ Claude Barnes 1955
Elmer Sonneville 1956
William O. Hall 1957
James C. Nichols 1958
Alva Jenks 1959
Claude R. Barnes 1960
William P. Quarles 1961
George Oakes 1962
Dan La Charity 1963
Charles E. McMurray 1964
Ennis W. Thomas 1965
Marc H. Souther 1966
Arnold “Red” Halpern 1967
Fred Klein 1968
John Bender 1969
Marc H. Souther 1970
Marc H. Souther 1971
H. B. Wright 1972
Conrad Chisholm 1973
Claude E. Barnes 1974
Gail Reitz 1975
Gail Reitz 1976
William Delyca 1977
Vernon E. Barley, Sr. 1978
Vernon E. Barley, Sr. 1979
Dennis Knepper 1980
Clifford Smith 1981
Joe Haugen 1982
Mel L. Lawson 1983
David E. Sheridan 1984
Al Bruninga 1985
Ray J. Robinson 1986
Emmerson A. Duffield 1987
John E. Smith 1988
David E. Sheridan 1989
David E. Sheridan 1990
John Edgerton 1991
William H. Sherwood 1992
Art Stone 1993
Ed Shipman 1994
Ed Phillips 1995
David E. Sheridan 1996
David E. Sheridan 1997
Edward Phillips 1998
Damon Darakjy/Chester Ryen 1999
Chester Ryen 2000
Merle Jones 2001
Earl Crain 2002
Earl Rachels 2003
David E. Sheridan 2004
David E. Sheridan 2005
David L. Sheridan/Mike Adams 2006
David L. Sheridan/Mike Adams 2007
Earl Crain 2008
Earl Crain 2009
Earl Crain 2010
Earl Crain 2011
Cindy Thompson 2011-2012
Patrick Shelly 2012-2018
David L. Mandell 2018-2019
Robert P. Tatum 2019
Robert P. Tatum 2020-2023
Damon Darakjy 2024-2025
Jerry L. Staub
August 21, 2024