Jessie Glenn Brasher - WWII Veteran (Member of 5307th Composite Provisional Merrill's Marauders)

Paul Schumacher - WWII Veteran

Bruce Skidmore - WWII Veteran

Major General (ret.) Jackie D. Wood - Vietnam Veteran and former Adjutant of Tennessee National Guard

History of American Legion Post 243

Any history regarding American Legion Post 243 would be remiss if a little history about our community were not included. So, let’s begin there. 

In the fall of 1825 Charles Austin and a few of his N Carolina neighbors settled near what is today called Scotts Hill, TN.  It had not been too many years prior that the state of Tennessee had been a part of the N Carolina territory, so it was not a stretch that Austin and friends made the move west.

The family names of the early settlers were; Scott, Maness, Jones, Mooney, Pierce, Duck, Presley, Dixon, Medlin, Brigance, Chumney, Clenney, and Taylor just to name a few.  Many descendants of the early settlers still reside in the Scotts Hill area and are past or current members of our Post.

 The name Scotts Hill was suggested by a traveling grocery salesman from Paducah, Kentucky who had lost $20 on a trip through the community and on a return trip, Micajah Scott the first merchant in the area returned his money which he had found after the salesman had left.

 The first postmaster was Dr. William H. Brigance in 1850.  Scotts Hill was incorporated in April of 1917 with Isaac Wesley Patterson as mayor.  In May of 1917 the town was devastated by a tornado that destroyed the east end of town.  If that were not enough in October of the same year a disastrous fire burned all 12 businesses and 5 homes.

 Our town is pretty much split down the middle by the county lines of Henderson an Decatur counties.  Those were also the boundaries when the Civil War broke out as residents of Decatur County predominantly went with the South and residents of Henderson County went with the North.

 Service to God, Country, and Community are exemplified by the men and women of this area.  It is only necessary to visit one of the many historic cemeteries in our community. As you look at the headstones you will see the names of our heroes who fought during the civil war and every war since that time.  Many of these cemeteries date back to pre-Civil War.

 That brings us back to Post 243.  Rumor has it that the legionnaires in our community were tired of traveling to Lexington and American Legion Post 77 which was 20 miles away. They decided to start their own post, so on 9 July 1948 American Legion Post 243 came into existence with a temporary charter and on 5 September 1952 received its permanent charter.

 Our first officers were; E.G. (Grady) Woody-Commander, Graper Woody Adjutant a father and son duo.  Jessie Glenn Brasher was Vice-Commander and Earl Buck was Sergeant at Arms.

PFC Jessie Glenn Brasher was a member of "Merrill's Marauders".  For their accomplishments in Burma the Marauders were awarded the "Distinguished Unit Citation" in July 1944, which in 1966 became known as the "Presidential Unit Citation".  The Marauders also have the extremely rare distinction of having every member of the unit receive the "Bronze Star"

During the early days of our post history we had several unique family memberships starting with the Pierce family and the Medlin family. 

Father Hubert Pierce was a WWI veteran, son Raymond Pierce was a WWII veteran, and son Joel Pierce was a Korean War veteran.  Joel Pierce is still an active member today.  

 Our current adjutant Joel Pipkin is related to many past and current members including one of our charter members Cleo Medlin a WWI veteran (grandfather), Raymond Medlin (uncle) a WWII veteran, K.D. Medlin (uncle) a Korean War veteran, J.B. Duck (uncle), Raymond Duck (uncle), Tom C. Kennedy (uncle), Thomas Western (uncle), Jimmy Medlin (uncle), Jason Pipkin (brother), Kenneth Colbert (step-brother), Paul Colbert (step-father).  As you can see, these families served in all three major conflicts.

 In the early years the post met once a year at Scotts Hill School in the Home Economics classroom.  There would always be a meal (usually stew) followed by the meeting.  Bill Snyder was Post Commander for 26 years, many of which were very lean years.  It was Bill's tenacity through those years that kept the post going.  These once a year meetings continued thru twenty (20) Commanders and Adjutants from 1949 to 2009 When Jerry Taylor was elected Commander and Joel Pipkin Adjutant.

 Mr. Taylor being elected Commander came with a stipulation that the post would begin monthly meetings and so history was changed.  Shortly after that time Reagan Café was adopted as the new post home.  Mr. Taylor continued as Commander until 2015 when Ronnie Butler became the new Commander.  Joel Pipkin continues as Adjutant.

 In May of 2011 the Color Guard was formed and in May of 2014 we became a full functioning Color Guard/Honor Guard providing Military Honors for local veterans, teaching flag etiquette at local schools, presenting the “13 Folds” program at schools, churches, and businesses, marching in parades, and assisting in many other community events when called upon.

 In 2012 the post started our “Field of Flags” program honoring all Veterans who have served both living and deceased.  Flags are placed in Scotts Hill City Park adjacent to the Veterans Memorial.  In 2017 we honored over 110 veterans with flags. 

The post currently meets every third Tuesday of the month at Regan Café 5000 Hwy 100 Reagan, TN.  We come early (around 5:30p.m. for a meal), then our monthly meeting starts promptly at 7:00p.m.

Post 243 Past Commanders

PO Box 151 Scotts Hill, TN 38374-0151

Year      Officers               Position         Membership
1949   E G Woody          Commander           128
          Graper Woody      Adjutant

1950   Homer Duck        Commander           134
          Glynn Brasher      Adjutant

1951   Glynn Brasher                  Commander           110

          Graper Woody                  Adjutant

 1952   Henry Reed                     Commander           136

            Glynn Brasher                  Adjutant

 1953   A C Tarlton                      Commander           139

           Glynn Brasher                   Adjutant

 1954  Carmon A Montgomery      Commander           119

           Glenn Brasher                    Adjutant

 1955                                         Commander             76

                                                  Adjutant

 1956   E G Woody                      Commander            108

            A C Tarlton                      Adjutant

 1957   Goldie Montgomery          Commander            129

            E W Miller                         Adjutant

1958   John Creasy                    Commander             121
           E W Miller                        Adjutant

 1959   John C Creasy                 Commander             131

            W E Crosser                    Adjutant

 1960   Galie Montgomery           Commander             125

            W E Crosser                   Adjutant

 1961   Homer Duck                   Commander             119

            W E Crosser                   Adjutant

 1962   Fred M Jones                 Commander                95

            Raymond Pierce            Adjutant

 1963   Edward Adams              Commander               104

            Raymond Pierce            Adjutant

 1964   A Clayton Tarlton          Commander                114

            H Joel Pierce                Adjutant

 1965   A C Tarlton                  Commander                   91

            H Joel Pierce              Adjutant

 1966   E G Woody                  Commander                 104

            Jesse G Brasher          Adjutant

 1967   E G Woody                  Commander                   94

            Jesse G Brasher          Adjutant

 1968   E G Woody                 Commander                    98

            Jesse G Brasher         Adjutant

 1969   Hollis W Hefner          Commander                     99

            Jesse G Brasher         Adjutant

 1970   Hollis W Hefner          Commander                   103

            Jesse G Brasher        Adjutant

 1971   E G Woody                Commander                     90

           Jesse G Brasher         Adjutant

 1972   E G Woody               Commander                      86

           Jesse G Brasher        Adjutant

 1973   E G Woody              Commander                       77

            Jesse G Brasher      Adjutant

 1974   E G Woody             Commander                        67

            Jesse G Brasher     Adjutant

 1975   E G Woody             Commander                         64

            James C Brasher    Adjutant

 1976   Charles H Woody    Commander                          71

            Jesse G Brasher      Adjutant

 1977   Charles H Woody    Commander                          70

            Jesse G Brasher      Adjutant

 1978   Charles H Woody    Commander                          59

            Jesse G Brasher      Adjutant

 1979   Charles H Woody    Commander                          58

            Jesse G Brasher      Adjutant

 1980   James A Carr         Commander                           52

            Jesse G Brasher     Adjutant

 1981   James A Carr         Commander                            49

            Jesse G Brasher     Adjutant

 1982   Billy J Snider        Commander                              51

            Wilson Miller        Adjutant

 1983   Billy J Snider       Commander                               46

            Wilson Miller       Adjutant

 1984   Billy J Snider      Commander                                41

            Wilson Miller      Adjutant

1985   Billy J Snider      Commander                                41

           Wilson Miller      Adjutant

1986   Billy J Snider     Commander                                 43

           Wilson Miller     Adjutant

1987   Billy J Snider     Commander                                 46

           Wilson Miller     Adjutant

 1988   Billy J Snider    Commander                                  44

            Wilson Miller    Adjutant

1989   Billy J Snider    Commander                                  45

           Wilson Miller    Adjutant

1990   Billy J Snider    Commander                                   48

           Wilson Miller    Adjutant

1991   Billy J Snider    Commander                                   48

           Wilson Miller    Adjutant

1992   Billy J Snider    Commander                                   47

           Wilson Miller    Adjutant

1993   Billy J Snider    Commander                                   44

           Wilson Miller    Adjutant

1994   Billy J Snider    Commander                                   45

           Joel Pierce       Adjutant

1995   Billy J Snider    Commander                                   39

           Joel Pierce       Adjutant

1996   Billy J Snider    Commander                                   35

           Joel Pierce       Adjutant

1997   Billy J Snider    Commander                                   35

           Joel Pierce       Adjutant

1998   Billy J Snider    Commander                                   36

          Joel Pierce        Adjutant

1999   Billy J Snider    Commander                                   34

           Joel Pierce       Adjutant

2000  Billy J Snider     Commander                                   34

          Joel Pierce        Adjutant

2001   Billy J Snider    Commander                                    33

           Joel Pierce       Adjutant

2002   Billy J Snider    Commander                                    32

           Joel Pierce       Adjutant

2003   Billy J Snider    Commander                                    32

           William Hulley  Adjutant

2004   Billy J Snider    Commander                                    34

           William Hulley  Adjutant

2005  Billy J Snider    Commander                                     33

          William Hulley  Adjutant

2006  Billy J Snider    Commander                                     30

          William Hulley  Adjutant

2007  Billy J Snider    Commander                                     30

          William Hulley  Adjutant

2008  Billy J Snider    Commander                                     34

          William Hulley  Adjutant

2009 Jerry Taylor      Commander                                      43

         Joel Pipkin jr.    Adjutant

2010  Jerry Taylor      Commander                                     38

          Joel Pipkin jr.    Adjutant

2011  Jerry Taylor      Commander                                     53

          Joel Pipkin jr.    Adjutant

2012  Jerry Taylor      Commander                                     53

          Joel Pipkin jr.    Adjutant

2013  Jerry Taylor      Commander                                     70

          Joel Pipkin jr.    Adjutant

2014  Jerry Taylor      Commander                                     83

          Joel Pipkin jr.    Adjutant

2015  Ronnie Butler    Commander                                    101

          Joel Pipkin jr.     Adjutant

2016  Ronnie Butler     Commander                                   104

          Joel Pipkin jr.      Adjutant

2017  Ronnie Butler     Commander                                    115

          Joel Pipkin jr.      Adjutant

2018  Jerry Graham     Commander                                    121

          Joel Pipkin jr.      Adjutant

2019  Jerry Graham     Commander

          Joel Pipkin         Adjutant                                         141