Bennett and Dennis Herrick. Bennett Herrick was born in 1948 and attended Oak Park High School in Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated in 1966 and felt it was his duty to join the Army and serve in Vietnam before going to college. He enlisted July 27, 1966; attended basic training at FT. Leonardwood MO. and AIT at FT. Ord CA. He volunteered for Airborne Training and after graduating from Fort Benning GA. He was assigned to 3-506, 101st Airborne and arrived in Vietnam on October 25, 1967.

The following is an excerpt and picture from Jerald Berry’s book “MY GIFT TO YOU” (Xlibris Corp, 2010): “On the day of his death, SP4 Herrick was serving as a rifleman in Lt. Joel Noel’s 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company. Early in the day of March 25, 1968, the platoon discovered 9 enemy graves. Soon after continuing their investigation of the area, the Currahees engaged an unknown-size enemy force. Following a brief, intense firefight, the enemy broke contact and fled. As the men of 2nd Platoon were sweeping the area for the enemy, they were not aware that the Viet Cong had left snipers behind as they fled from further contact. Tragically, an enemy sniper singled out SP4 Herrick as his target. The sniper’s bullet killed him almost instantly.”

Dennis Herrick was born 2 years later than his brother, in 1950, but he did go on to college after graduating Oak Park High School in Kansas City, Missouri. Dennis was not subject to the draft because he was the only surviving son after his brother was KIA. But after a year he enlisted in the Army as an MP, “to find out what the war was about” according to his Mother. He served as a 95B in the 284th MP Co, 89th MP Group, 18th MP BDE. Dennis died in an accidental drug overdose on Aug 14, 1970, twelve days after arriving in country.

Bennett is Memorialized on The Wall on panel 46E, line 017, Dennis on panel 08W, line 110. Both are memorialized at Oak Park High School in the main hall in a display case dedicated “In the memory of our former Northmen who have given their lives in the service of our country” along with ten others. The case also holds a Purple Heart. Next to that case is Bennett’s Award Case holding his medals. Both brothers are side by side in the White Chapel Cemetery, Nativity Section E, Lott 177, Block D, Spaces 1 and 2. During a ceremony on the 19th of March, 1988, under Commander Burt Nelson, American Legion Post 626 became the Bennett and Dennis Herrick Memorial American Legion Post 626 of Gladstone Missouri. Loren and Marge Herrick were honored at the Gold Star Mother’s Day Observance in Washington DC as the only parents to have lost their only two sons in the Vietnam War. In 1999 Loren and Marge were honored as special guests at the annual 3-509 Reunion. In December of 2001 Loren posted messages to his sons on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Wall of Faces at http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces Our beloved son Bennie from Mom and Dad You served our country with unending pride. We couldn't have asked for a more wonderful son. Our hearts are always tied to you. We love you son. Mom and Dad Our beloved son Dennis from Mom and Dad Your smile and jokes brought laughter to our hearts. You were a joy and memories of you still bring smiles. Dennis, your mom and I love you and your brother more than life. You will always stand tall in our hearts. Love Dad and Mom

So that we always remember that there is a Gold Star story behind every loss, the following is also an excerpt from Jerry Berry’s book, 1st published in 2006: Through the eyes of a Mother …by Marge Herrick,… “Loren and I had three children—two sons, Benny and Dennis, and a daughter, Lynette. Benny, our eldest son, enlisted in the Army in 1966 and was in Vietnam before the end of 1967. During that time, Loren and I were both working; and we took turns going home to check the mail.” “On the day that we learned of Benny’s death, Loren had gone home about noon and was checking the mailbox when he saw a military vehicle coming up the street. He immediately knew the reason why it was in the neighborhood, and after he had calmed down a bit, he had someone call my office and had someone bring me home. It’s been over thirty years since that terrible experience, but to me it still seems like only yesterday.” “With Benny’s death, Dennis became our sole surviving son, which left him draft exempt. After his first year of college, he told us that he wanted to enlist in the military to find out what the war was all about. We pleaded with him not to enlist, but he followed through anyway, despite our attempts to convince him otherwise.” “Nine days after Dennis arrived in Vietnam, there was another knock at the door on my day to check the mail. I saw the military vehicle drive up and park. When the uniformed man knocked on the door, I refused to let him in. I could not bear to relive that horrible experience again and felt that if I didn’t hear the bad news then it would not be so. The man finally went next door and had our neighbor come and talk to me. I cannot describe the anguish I felt hearing those same words again that seems as though I just heard yesterday. Another son had been lost to the war, and I wondered just how much grief I could withstand.” “The waiting for the bodies of both my sons to arrive home was pure hell. Many nights I would wake up to see both of them standing beside my bed, telling me that they were home and okay. Loren and I were just devastated by the loss of our sons, and now I am left with the horrible memories. Loren passed away in March 2004, and I am sure that the three of them are very happy to be reunited again.”

Loren and Marge Herrick. Both are WWII Veterans, 1988 Charter Members of Post 626 and Loren served as Post CDR in 2000 and also as Chaplain and Historian. The Herrick’s set up a Scholarship at Oak Park High for seniors in the Drama class which was named in honor of their son Bennett who was killed in Vietnam. As part of their close ties to the Students of Oak Park High the Herrick’s were involved in the production of “A Piece of My Heart” in March of 2001 which raised over $3000 for homeless Veterans. The production was dedicated to the Oak Park Graduates that gave their lives for their Country.

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Past Commander Wayne Beer is also a Charter Member (1988) and has served as Post CDR from 2009 to present (2014) and also served many years as the Finance Officer and Service Officer. Early in the Posts history he helped establish the Honor Guard and still serves as one. Commander Beer served on the Gladstone City Counsel from 2002 to 2009 and also as Mayor in 2004. In 2009 Wayne established the Volunteers in Police Service (ViPS) in Gladstone and is the volunteer manager of the Volunteers which serve our community.

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Past Commander Robert Box served as Post CDR from 2004 to 2006 and as the Post Financial Officer from 2007 to present (2014). Commander Box has also served as the American Legion Department of Missouri District 3 Commander, Marine Corps League Commandant (Dept. of MO), Military Order of the Devil Dogs Midwest Division Vice Chief and Pack of Missouri Pack Leader (State CDR). He is also serving the 40 & 8, Navy Club of Missouri (pay master for 5 years), 1st Marine Division Association, 3rd Marine Division Association, Toys for Tots Foundation, Navy Memorial Foundation, Marine Corps Foundation, and Veterans of Foreign Wars and is a Charter Member of American Legion Post 1107, a new all-female Post. He was nominated by Bennett and Dennis Herrick Memorial Post 626 for the Lieutenant Governors Veterans Service Award in 2013 for his outstanding service to his Community and Nation.

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Don Ballard is a Congressional Medal of Honor awardee and also a Charter Member (1988) of Post 626. On May 16, 1968 while serving as an HC2c with CO M, 3rd BN, 4th Marines in Quang Tri Province his unit came under enemy attack. While under fire, Ballard directed aid to other wounded U.S. Marines and when a grenade landed nearby he instantly shouted a warning to the marines and fearlessly threw himself upon the lethal explosive device to protect his comrades from the deadly blast. “When the grenade failed to detonate, he calmly arose from his dangerous position and resolutely continued his determined efforts in treating other marine casualties. HC2c. Ballard's heroic actions and selfless concern for the welfare of his companions served to inspire all who observed him and prevented possible injury or death to his fellow marines” (history.army.mil) and (cmohs.org). For his actions, he received the United States of America's highest award, the Medal of Honor. His citation reads in part “His courage, daring, initiative, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of extreme personal danger sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the Navy”. “Doc” Ballard went on to change his service to the Kansas Army National Guard and retired a Colonel in 2000. Inducted into the National Guard Hall of Fame in November 2001, Ballard is the only living Kansas Guardsman to have received the Medal of Honor. “Doc” Ballard is also retired from the Kansas City Fire Department where his experience and drive were invaluable to the EMT program. In an interview with Bill Althaus of the Examiner.net in 2012 it was noted that Col. Don “Doc” Ballard has been in a uniform since he was 6 years old. “My first uniform was a (Cub) Scout uniform” said Ballard. “I served in the Army, I was a police officer, a fireman and now I wear the uniform of a funeral director – and I take great pride in everything I have done. I’ve been a public servant all my life and believe it is important to be service oriented.” The interview continues that in 2008, Ballard purchased the Swan Lake Memorial Park Cemetery in Grain Valley, which at one time was the final resting place for veterans of the armed service branches. Today, it still holds a special place for veterans, but is also open to the general public. “It’s important to have that special place for our veterans,” said Ballard, “but we have opened 20 some acres for the general public. The first time I visited this place, I fell in love with it. Now, we have expanded the definition of ‘vets’ to include anyone who served the public such as firemen, police officers, doctors, the clergy – they are all very special.”

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Past Commander Douglas Millison was a member of Post 626 from 2013 until 2021. He served as the Post Historian, Internet Administrator, Sr. Vice and Commander, holding several key Committee Chairs along the way. He also served as the 3^rd Districts Vice Commander from 2015 to 2019, and as District Commander from 2019 until 2021. He completed the American Legion Extension Institute in 2014, and Graduated the National American Legion College in 2017.

Commander Millison has been a member of the American Legion since 1995. When he became active in Post 626 in 2014 he immediately set out to expand the Post’s “footprint” by establishing an Internet Administrator position where he started a Facebook page, web site and automated messaging system to use instead of someone’s personal phone. Millison was responsible for a Public Relations Committee (later the Media and Communications Committee) that reached the public via the Gladstone Dispatch, Facebook, Instagram, website and in-person contact through the Gladstone Chamber of Commerce. All of that activity ensured that the Post was awarded the Departments Toot Your Horn Award for PR excellence from 2014 to 2020.

In 2016 Millison started the Post 626 Volunteer Team which put Legionnaires to work in community events raising our profile and supplying many hours of service to the community. He also committed a few years to serving on the Posts Honor Guard, serving from 2014 until 2019. From 2014 to 2016 he served as the Fundraising Committee Chair which brought in over $9,700 to the Post through an Air Show activity, button donations and merchandise sales. As the VA&R Committee Chairperson from 2014 To 2019 he oversaw 6 Poppy Donation drives and other fundraising activities which brought in over $10,400, most of which went back out as donations to the Kansas City VA, Cameron Veterans Home, St. Michaels Veterans Center and individual Veterans in need of assistance.

The Commander started his tour of offices as the Historian, serving in that position from 2014 to 2018.  During that time, he put together the Posts history into several Scrapbooks, entering the National Yearbook competition where he won a Department Historian Award for the one-year scrapbook 2014-2015, and runner up for 2016-2017. Millison served as the SR Vice Commander and Membership Committee Chairperson for the 2016 - 2017 membership year where he established procedures to recognize Post members for their service and achievements, thank members for renewing with Post 626, and reach out to Post 1000 members and others to get them to join the Post. Commander Millison took membership to heart, recruiting 26 new members into the American Legion over 6 years.

Legionnaire Millison was elected Post Commander in 2017 and served for four terms, ending his tour with us in 2021. For part of that time, he continued to serve as Historian and VA&R Chair, and for all of that time he was the Internet Administrator, Media and Communications Chair, Newsletter Editor and leader. Commander Millison spent many hours involved in Post activities such as the Honor Guard, Boys State Committee, School Awards, Oratorical competitions, bringing in an American Legion Baseball Team, organizing Memorial Day ceremonies at the Clay County Veterans Memorial, Veterans Day at Antioch Middle School and Wreaths Across America at White Chapel where the Post pays its respects to our namesakes Bennett & Dennis Herrick as well as their parents and Charter Members Loren and Marjorie. Through all of that his emphasis was on representing the Legion in conducting quality activities to benefit the Veteran, community, and youth of Missouri, as well as supporting the activities of other Posts in the area. For his efforts centered around School Awards, Veterans in the Classroom and Veterans Day ceremonies at Antioch Middle School, Commander Millison received the Volunteer in Support of Education Award from that school in 2020.

Commander Millison also served 4 years as the 3^rd Districts Vice Commander, and from 2019 to 2021 as the 3^rd District Commander, bringing the Districts membership up to second place in the Department for 2020. During that time, he organized and led the Centennial Memorial Brick drive at the National WWI Museum and Memorial (Liberty Memorial) where Posts from around the State purchased Memorial Bricks and had them all placed in one area in recognition of The American Legion’s Centennial. National Commander Bill Oxford was the guest of Honor for the ceremony and the Memorial Bricks raised over $7,000 for the Museum and Memorial and raised the profile on The American Legion in the area as well. District Commander Millison also organized and led the National Commanders tour of the District visiting five Posts, culminating in a banquet in his honor hosted by Post 626 and attended by members and dignitaries from the City, Elks and VFW. Unfortunately, the pandemic of 2020 – 2021 curtailed most activities in the District for his last year in office. He had planned to do more in the District to bring Posts out in support of each other and to show the area that The American Legion was still strong in Missouri.

On the Department level Millison served on the add-hoc Centennial Committee, the Leadership Training Committee and the DEC Sub-Committee as well as on the Department Executive Committee as District Commander. He was also appointed by the National VA&R Commission as a Certified VAVS Representative at the KC VA Medical Center for the Department of Missouri.

Off duty Commander Millison found time to donate 1,034 Hours to the KCVA from June of 2014 to May 2021 and 1,182 Hours to the National WWI Museum and Memorial from February 2014 to May 2021. He was also a member of DAV Post #2 in Independence, and Elks Lodge 2376 in Gladstone.

At his last Initiation & Induction Ceremony Cdr. Millison was awarded a Past Commander plaque by the Post and also received an Honorary Resolution of the Clay County Commission from the Presiding Commissioner Jerry Nolte. Jerry noted that at every patriotic event Cdr. Millison was there to represent the American Legion and to support whatever program was at hand. The Resolution recognizes and honors Cdr. Millison for his many years of service to the country in the Army, The Legion, and in the Community.

Commander Millison moved out of State in 2021 in order to be closer to more of his family which was spread from Oklahoma to Washington to New Mexico. He is married to Michelle, and has two children from a previous marriage, James and Sierra who live in New Mexico and Oklahoma respectively. Michelle’s son Jesse is married with two children and is in the KC area.

Post 626 does not stand alone in Gladstone. We work with other civic minded organizations as well as with the City of Gladstone to get things done. We support fundraising drives done by other local Posts, the Elks, Rotary International, the Chamber of Commerce and more. But at heart we are an American Legion Post and invest heavily in our programs like Veteran Support, Boys and Girls State, Highschool Oratorical Contests, Military Funeral Honors and more.

Post 626 meets every third Thursday at 1900 Hrs at the Gladstone Elks Lodge. See our webiste for up to date info and a link to our Facebook page. https://al626mo.com/. Come join us, you won't be sorry!!