ABOUT
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Ernest Reuter Founding Commander
On July 2, 1921, The Department of Texas American Legion approved a Temporary Charter for American Legion Post 312 in Livingston, Texas. Ernest Reuter Sr., WWI Veteran, proudly served as the Founding/First Post Commander. Mr. Reuter was born to Bernard and Rose Reuter in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on June 8, 1891. According to NARA, his parents were born in Germany and immigrated to America in 1873. As a young boy, the family relocated to Polk County in search of better employment opportunities. As German immigrants, during this crucial time in world history, Ernest’s family was not always treated fairly. There were local residents that would not do business nor associate with their family because of their distrust of and hatred for the Germans. Ernest was so ashamed of his heritage that he would not speak German nor would he allow his family members to speak the language. On September 5, 1917, at the age of 26, Earnest Reuter, husband, soon to be father, musician and business owner was inducted into the Army from Livingston, TX, His wife Jeffie was expecting their first son. Sgt Reuter was immediately assigned to the Headquarters, Company, 344 Field Artillery out of Camp Travis, Texas located in San Antonio, TX. He was assigned to the Band Corps as a Bugler. Even when he was mobilized overseas June 30, 1918, with The American Expeditionary Force, Sgt Reuter continued to serve in the Band as a Bugler. In many of his letters to Jeffie, he spoke of the band playing concerts and how much the men needed to hear music. Amazingly, his wife Jeffie, kept many, if not all, of the letters Reuter sent to her. But what’s even more amazing is that the letters were passed on to their granddaughter Linda Nadalski. Linda, who still resides in Livingston, allowed the use of these letters as material for this article. Reuter often spoke of reading the Polk County Enterprise and how much he enjoyed keeping up with the happenings back home. Because all letters were censored, he many times, wrote about how difficult it was to write because he could only write about the good things. After returning from the war, summer of 1919, that took the lives of over 200 men from Polk County, Mr. Reuter almost immediately petitioned to start the first American Legion Post in Polk County. Posts were not required to have a name, only a number and Post 312 was issued to Livingston. Why Ernest Reuter chose to name the post after Enoch Roth Hale and George Burrel Sellars is not known. It is highly probable that Reuter knew of their deaths prior to his being shipped overseas. He spoke often in his letters to Effie about receiving and reading the Polk County Enterprise. Just knowing how he felt about the war and feeling the pains of those who lost loved ones may have moved him to act. His letters certainly revealed a man of great faith and hope and concern for his fellow man. He always asked about other young men, “have they left for camp yet”? On June 30, 1934, Post 312 was issued its Permanent Charter from the state of Texas. Though there are some gaps in the list of commanders, it is certain that Reuter was a commander in 1935. He could very well have been the commander when the Permanent Charter was receive.
american LEGION POST 312
HALE-SELLERS POST 312 Enoch Roth Hale and
George Burrel Sellars, Post's namesakes. Were the first of 2, from Polk County, to get killed in WWI
Enoch Roth Hale was born in Dodge (Walker County), TX on July 4, 1897 to R. O. (Richard Oliver) and wife, (Eula) Belle Hale of Arkansas. According to the U. S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958, Enoch R. Hale enlisted into the Military on November 14, 1917. On June 6, 1918, Pvt. Hale was killed in action.
George Burrel SellarsAccording to the Texas, World War I Records, 1917-1920, Goerge Burrel Sellars was born on June 13, 1892 in Moscow, Texas to parents George W. Sellars and mother, Emily A. Sellars. According to the U. S. Marine Corps’ Muster Rolls, 1798-1958, Sellars, George B. enlisted into the Marines on 28 April 1917. On June 6, he took part in the attack against the enemy in BOIS de BELLEAU BORESCHES Sector northwest of CHATEAU THIERRY, (in France) where he was wounded in action. Sellars, George B. died on June 7, 1918 of his wounds.
Relatives of Founder Sgt Reuter, Namesakes Hale and Sellers still reside in the East Texas area