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Border PostThe Newsletter of the General John J. Pershing Post 1916, American Legion

Winter 2012 Columbus, New Mexico

Remembering John

The late John Schmidbauer at the Legion Hall

John Schmidbauer was a faithful, colorful and wellliked member of Post 1916. John was straightforwardand, at times, outspoken. While you didn’t always agreewith him, his candor and honesty were welcome andrefreshing. John had no patience for mindlessbureaucracy, whether in the government or even in theranks of Legion officialdom. The February 18, 1993edition of the Deming Headlight featured John’s photoand a quote. The reporter asked John “How do you feelabout Clinton’s plan to reduce the federal deficit byraising taxes?” John replied in a front-page quote: “Hellno. The best way to do it is cut the pay of those dummiesin Washington.” That was quintessential John!

John, born in 1923 in post-World War I Germany,emigrated with his family to the US when he was only 2.Raised in Connecticut, John was a World War IIVeteran, serving with the Army Air Force. A Tech-Sergeant, John was a flight engineer on B-24 Liberators.The flight engineer was the leader of and, arguably, themost important member of the B-24’s 6-man enlistedcrew. John flew 34 missions over Nazi-occupied Europe.When over enemy territory, John served as a top turret

gunner. He had many fascinating stories about hisexperiences during the War.

John at Age 22

Some of John’s experiences were recounted in a May 16,1945 article in the New Haven Register. Towards theend of the war, the Germans put into service theMesserschmitt ME 262, the world’s first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft. John commented on those jets:“Those jets traveled about 700 miles an hour…. Well,with those .50 calibers. guns, he couldn’t begin to fireeffectively until he was 600 yards from the bomber hemight be aiming at. Now, how many rounds do you thinkhe fired before he was past the formations? Very few. Hewas too fast against a moving target.”

John and his wife Norma moved to Columbus inDecember 1982, the same year Post 1916 received itscharter. John died in April 2010, leaving behind hisbeloved wife Norma, daughter Nancy, and Nancy’sfamily. We in Post 1916 also miss John. He was a goodman who served, like other wartime veterans, at greatpersonal risk and and in the face of ever present physicaldanger, to preserve our way of life. While he wouldnever say it himself, John was truly a hero.

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Wayne’s 1902 Holsman

Wayne by his 1902 two-cylinder Holsman “High WheelVehicle”

If you asked a thousand people if they heard of aHolsman, it is doubtful that even one person wouldknow what it was. There were only 2,500 of theseearly automobiles, called the “Cadillac” of highwheeled vehicles, produced at the Holsman factoryin Chicago for 8 years between 1902 and 1910.Most of the few remaining Holsman “high wheelvehicles” are in museums. However, as unlikely asit may seem, one of these rare vehicles has its homein Columbus, New Mexico. It is the prizedpossession of Post 1916 member Wayne Shaw.Wayne owns a number of other antique and classiccars, including a 1930 Model A Ford, a 1947Lincoln Continental convertible, a 1953 StudebakerChampion coupe, and a 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air 2door hardtop. His love of cars is understandable.Wayne at one time had owned a Chevroletdealership.

Wayne is a Korean War veteran. He has been anactive, contributing member of the Post for 17years. He served twice as Post Commander. Hisactivities in support of veterans are not confined toColumbus. While Wayne’s fall and winter home is

Wayne at the Post 1916 Hall

in Columbus, he also has a home in Nebo, Illinoiswhere he spends springs and summers. In Nebo,Wayne was responsible for the erection of amonument to all veterans, World War I andforward, who hailed from his local community. Themonument in the center of Nebo, a brass plaqueweighing 500 pounds, contains the names of 426veterans. It took Wayne several years of research,planning, coordination with community members,and raising $15,000 to see the project to fruition.The monument was dedicated in October 2012.

State Offers SpecialDriver Licenses for Vets

Most, if not all States, including New Mexico, offerspecial Veterans License Plates. In addition, NewMexico now offers Drivers Licenses with the word“VETERAN” imprinted in red letters on the license.It doesn’t cost any more than a regular license. Withits official Veteran designation, it can be used toobtain special discounts offered to Veterans atbusinesses like Lowe’s, Home Depot, Specs,O’Reilly Auto Parts and elsewhere. All you need toobtain it is a copy of your DD-214 when you go torenew your license.

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What’s that Flag FlyingOver the Legion Hall?

We’ve had a few questions about the new flag atLegion Hall flying under the Stars and Stripes. Theofficial name is the Gadsden flag. It’s an historicalAmerican flag with a yellow field on which isdepicted a rattlesnake coiled and ready to strike.Positioned below the snake are the words “DON’TTREAD ON ME.” The flag was designed andnamed by an American general and statesman,Christopher Gadsden. It first flew during theRevolutionary War in 1775.

While the flag issometimes associatedwith a modern-daypolitical faction, itsuse by Legion Post1916 is absolutelynon-political. For

Legion members, the flag symbolizes ourindependence and the need for constant vigilanceand courage to protect our freedom. Bycoincidence, Columbus is located in the GadsdenPurchase, a vast slice of territory from Texas toCalifornia purchased from Mexico in 1854.Moreover, the use and symbolism of the rattlesnakeis very appropriate in our locale as rattlesnakes areall over this desert land!

Charter CommanderVisits Post

Charter Post 1916 members, Jean and Harry Rhizor

Post 1916 was recently honored by a visit from itsvery first Commander, Harry Rhizor, and hislovely wife Jean, also a veteran and chartermember of the Post. As its first Commander,Harry’s name is at the top of the list of the 70founding members on the 1982 Charter. Sadly,Harry and Jean are among the few survivingmembers of those veterans who founded the post in1982. They both are still official members of thePost (and paid up for life members of the Legion)even though they now live far away in Gulfport,Mississippi in a residence for retired members ofthe armed forces. In addition to Commander, Harryserved in almost every position in Post 1916. Healso served as District Commander and StateCommander.

During their visit, Harry recounted how the propertythe upon which the Legion Hall now sits waspurchased in 1982 for $1,500 from the AmericanLegion Post 4 in Deming, New Mexico. As for thebasic structure itself, it was paid for by bonds withindividual members buying windows, light fixturesand other furnishings. The establishment of the Postin this small, remote Border community, includingthe construction and furnishing of the Hall, was inlarge part due to Harry’s tireless personal effortsand leadership skills.

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We Need Your Photo

The Photo Wall at Post 1916

Post 1916’s interior walls feature photos of its currentmembers as well as photos of Post 1916 “Friends,”people from the community who have volunteered at thePost or otherwise supported it by attendance at itsmorning coffee sessions, monthly breakfasts, etc. Inaddition, photos of departed members of the Post aredisplayed next to the Post Charter. Especially for thosemembers who now reside elsewhere, we invite you tosend us a photo which we will display along with othermembers. It can be a current or older photo. Send yourphoto to the Post at PO Box 716, Columbus, NM 88029or you can send it via email to adolfostr@aol.com.

Cemetery Plots Available

Veterans Area at Valley Heights Cemetery

A number of years ago, the Post purchased severalsections of Valley Heights Cemetery in Columbus. ThePost maintains these gravesites and honors them onMemorial and Veterans Days with flags. The Post hasindividual plots available for Post 1916 members andtheir spouses for only $25 a plot. For information, callChuck Forgrave, Post Commander, at 575-545-1987.

Legionnaires Volunteer

Missionary Susan Hutchins setting up tables with LegionPost 1916 Vice-Commander Mark Reshel

Every month Our Lady of Las Palomas, a localnon-profit organization in Columbus, distributesfood to needy families. On December 12th, 89households were given approximately 50 pounds offood items each to help them until next month’sdistribution. Several members of Post 1916 werethere at the food distribution site helping SusanHutchins, a missionary committed to Borderministry. The Legion members and others set uptables, unloaded the truck, sorted and bagged thefood items, helped with the distribution, andcleaned up afterwards. This is only one example ofmany of Post 1916 members volunteering with localcommunity organizations.

Commander’s MessageAll our Legion members, including all Post 1916

members near and far, wishall our fellow veterans andtheir families a very MerryChristmas and Happy NewYear! Our special greetingsand thanks also go out to allour volunteers and patrons ofPost 1916 activities, includingcoffee sessions, breakfasts anddinners. Finally, we send our

Christmas greetings and best wishes to all theresidents of our community of Columbus.

Charles “Chuck” Forgrave