At the February 2, 2016 meeting of James O. Hall Post 19 of the American Legion, Department of Louisiana, Allen J. Medus, Jr. received a 70-year membership Award from American Legion headquarters. He has spent most of that time as a member of Post 19. He is a United States Marine Corps veteran of the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II who participated in 3 major campaigns: Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Saipan. He was awarded two Bronze Star Medals and the Good Conduct Medal for his service during the war.
Upon returning home to Jennings, Louisiana he attended college, and then worked as a Certified Public Accountant for 23 years. He and a partner owned and operated Farm Supply in Jennings for 20 years. He was on the Board of Directors for Jeff Davis Bank in Jennings for 22 years, serving as the Bank’s Board Chairman for 12 years until his retirement in 2014.
He was involved with the Jennings American Legion Hospital Board of Directors for 64 years and served as Secretary of the Board for over 43 years. He retired from the Hospital’s Board of Directors on March 1, 2016. In our post history's timeline article dated April 5, 1952, there is a photo of Allen standing in front of the Jennings American Legion Hospital campus.
Allen is a past winner of the American Legion Department-level M.C. “Mike” Gehr Blue Cap Award as the outstanding Legionnaire in the state of Louisiana among members who have never served as an officer above Post-level. He is a past Commander of Post 19.
The photo above shows Post Commander Carl Benoit (right) presenting the American Legion 70-year Membership Award to Allen (left).
