American legion Post 263 is named after William B. Haufschild Jr., a 28 year old Army sergeant killed in a tank battle in western Germany in late 1944. An organizational meeting was held by returning WW II veterans and local WW t veterans in November 1945. National Commander John Stelle signed the charter for the new post at Indianapolis, Indiana on March 11, 1946. There were twenty-two charter members. Meetings were held in the Hetland city hall until the fall of 1949 when a permanent post home was purchased. In 1962 the present post home was erected with members providing labor. An open house was held in March 1963. A storage room and entry were added in 1982.
Through the years Post 263 has sponsored basketball and bowling teams, jackrabbit and pheasant hunts, roller skating and ice skating, poultry parties, dances, Christmas programs, Syttende Mai celebrations, student government day for seniors from Arlington and lake Preston, college scholarships, Memorial and Veterans Day programs and county American Legion meetings.

View more history for Post 263 in Hetland, South Dakota