Oscar Peterson

Leonard Koessel - Past Department Commander of Iowa Jim Peterson - Past Department Commander of Iowa

History of The American Legion Peterson Post 431 of Gowrie, Iowa The January 1, 1920, Gowrie News stated that all veterans of the “World War” are invited, by Milton Hicks, to a meeting to band together and form an American Legion Post in Gowrie. According to records at the National Headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana, a temporary charter was granted on February 10th, 1920 and a permanent charter was granted and signed on September 8th, 1920. The post’s name was chartered as Peterson Post 431 with 40 or so charter members. The post is named after Oscar Peterson, who was killed in action, July 26th, 1918, fighting with the famous 186th Regiment, 42nd Division at Chateau Thiery, France. Three other men from Gowrie died while in the service of our country during World War I. Two brothers, William and Albin Youngquist died within eight days of each other, from influenza. William was on a ship, close to France and was not buried at sea, but in France. His parents requested that he be brought back home for burial and that request was granted. Albin died at Camp Dodge and was buried here in Gowrie. Henry Palm was also stricken with influenza, while at Camp Dodge and died there. He is also buried in Gowrie. I will gather all the dates and put them in this article at a later time.