History
The American Legion
The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization. Focusing on service to veterans, servicemembers and communities, the Legion evolved from a group of war-weary veterans of World War I into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States. Membership swiftly grew to over 1 million, and local posts sprang up across the country. Today, membership stands at nearly 2 million in more than 13,000 posts worldwide. The posts are organized into 55 departments: one each for the 50 states, along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico and the Philippines.
Over the years, the Legion has influenced considerable social change in America, won hundreds of benefits for veterans and produced many important programs for children and youth.
Andrew Van Ells, Jr.
Born in Port Washington, Wisconsin, March 18, 1896, son of Andrew M. and Alberdine (Driessen) Van Ells; lived at 514 Main street, Port Washington; entered service at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, July 16, 1917.
Andrew Van Ells, Jr., was a member of the Supply company, 127th Infantry, Thirty-second division, and went to France with this organization which made such a splendid record. He was a wagoner in rank, and after going through the battles in the Alsace Sector, was wounded in action, near Chateau Thierry, in the Fismes engagement, on August 8, 1918.
He died in Evacuation Hospital No. 5, near the front line, two days later. An incident connected with his death shows again how well Ozaukee County was represented in fighting contingents. When he was brought into the hospital the nurse who was assigned to his case was Miss Martha Schumacher of Port Washington, who had been his school-mate not many years before.
Van Ells was but twenty-one years old when he enlisted and had lived all his life in Port Washington. He was the first KIA for Wisconsin during WWI. He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery and Mausoleum in Milwaukee.
Robert L. Schanen
Born in Port Washington, WI on September 16, 1917, Second Lieutenant Robert Leffingwell Schanen was a member of the 571st Bombardment Squadron of the Army Air Force.
While at the university, Second Lieutenant Schanen was a member and served as president of Delta Tau Delta. He received a B.A. in 1939 and an L.L.B in 1941. The family has many generations with proud UW-Madison graduates. Before enlisting, he had a brief career as a lawyer and was interested in air law.
He was initially trained to be a pilot but was later transferred to the study of navigation. He received his wings April 1, 1943. For the next two months, he was involved in training flights over the United States of America.
Second Lt. Schanen was killed in action on his 26th birthday, September 16, 1943. At the time, he was stationed in England, and was a navigator on the Flying Fortress "Ascend Charley."
Had his life not been taken while serving, he would have practiced law with his father, William F. Schanen. William grandfather was an attorney of in Ozaukee County, Wis., whom a court proclaimed to be one of the finest attorneys to ever practice law in Wisconsin. He practiced law for 50 years in the building he purchased before the war, called the Schanen Building. It is still there today. It was meant to house the law firm of Schanen and Schanen, Attorneys at Law. After Second Lieutenant Schanen’s death, his father's dream of a law practice with his beloved son was dashed.
Historical Gallery
