BIRCH-MILLER POST 9 MILBANK, SOUTH DAKOTA Ernest T. Birch was the first World War I casualty in Grant County. He was the son of John Birch, state representative from Grant County, and was killed at Soissons, France, July 21, 1918. The post was organized in September 1919, with only six members present. At the end of World War II the post decided to honor one of the World War II dead, the name of Charles R. Miller, the son of Ray H. Miller, a World War I veteran of Milbank. Charles Miller was killed in action on the Tunisian Front, in Africa, on April 8, 1943. Before entering service Charles had won a Legion scholarship and was attending State College at Brookings studying engineering. The Post then became the Birch-Miller Post No. 9. It originally did not own its own home. The city gave it free room in the city auditorium for twenty three years, but when the high school burned in 1943, the auditorium had to be used as a school and the post had to find quarters in the K.C. Hall. The post then bought a large lot on Main Street, where they eventually built a 50X150 foot building, which is still the Post Home today. A Legion Building Association was formed to raise the building fund stock, bearing 3% interest and was sold to finance the post building. During the war, a standing committee delivered personally all death messages to the next of kin. The City of Milbank gave the post a memorial plot in the cemetery and each Memorial Day the crosses were displayed. The crosses are displayed today at the new Grant County Veterans Park near the city cemetery. One Post 9 member, Lloyd W. Manley, was a soldier in both wars. For twenty five years, an active Boy Scout was conducted by J. J. Esenmenger, Efner Miller, Hoe Holden, Dr. Kirchner, and E. H. Henry. For many years, the post sponsored a Junior Legion Baseball team. It also supervised all the bond drives during the war. It was host to the department convention in 1925. On July 17, 1925, a resolution was adopted to sponsor youth baseball and thus the birth of American Legion Baseball. Post 9, Milbank and South Dakota are very proud to be recognized as the Birthplace of American Legion Baseball. Over the years, Post 9 has hosted several Regional, State, All-Star and Division II Regional Baseball Tournaments at Legion Field. Teams from different states have come to play ball at Legion field because it is the birthplace of American Legion Baseball. During 1934-1938, the post gave cash prizes to the outstanding high school boy or girl in Milbank High School. Today the Post gives out a $500 scholarship to a Milbank High School boy or girl based in part on a written essay on “What It Means To Be A Good Citizen. On Milbank High School Awards Day, along with awarding the scholarship, the post recognizes the Legion Baseball Team, the American Legion Oratory Contestants, Boys Staters and the American Legion outstanding Boy and Girl students. Today’s membership stands at 159. The post continues to provide Honor Guards for Veterans funerals and various community events when called upon. The post still sponsors an American Legion Baseball Team, participates in the American Legion Boys State and Oratory Contest. Current member Francis Van Sambeek, a Korean War Army Veteran was Legionnaire of the Year for the Department of South Dakota in 2007. Tim Jurgens a Vietnam Era Veteran was elected Department Commander 2014-2015.

Curtis Hallberg is a World War II Veteran and 70 continuous year member of the American Legion.

Birch-Miller Post 9 is the Birth Place of American Legion Baseball. July 17, 1925. C