LTJG Robert W. Ginther (1921-1945)

Born and raised in the Fox Lake area, Robert Walter Ginther was the only son of Walter P. & Agnes (Dushek) Ginther.  He had two sisters, Dorothy & Helen.  His father was a veteran of WWI, having served in a Field Artillery Unit in Europe.

Robert entered service on June 11, 1942 with the U.S. Naval Reserve.  He received his pre-flight training in Iowa City, Iowa and Glenview, Illinois.  On June 16, 1943 he was commissioned as an aviation flight officer, and ordered to active duty as a naval aviator.  In 1944, he was promoted to Lieutenant (Junior Grade).  After a short assignment in the Atlantic Ocean, he was transferred to the Pacific Theater.

On December 29, 1944, his father Walter passed suddenly from a heart attack at his home in Fox Lake.

Less than a month later, on January 21, 1945 in the Sea of Japan, LTJG Ginther made an attack on an enemy merchant ship.  After releasing his bomb, his plane exploded and crashed into the sea near his target.  He was never recovered.

 His mother, Agnes, was awarded his posthumous Purple Heart - with two stripes and three stars - in May of 1945.

State Vice-Commander - Leonard Rechek (1993-1994)

State Chaplain - Gayle Dahlke (1997-1999)  *First State Chaplain to hold the office for 2 consecutive years*

Fox Lake has a long, rich history of military service. 

Some of the earlier residents fought in the War of 1812 and later received land patents, which brought them to Wisconsin. 

When the Civil War broke out, Fox Lake set up a muster point at the present-day Congregational Church Museum on S. College Avenue.  In the area where the Catholic church now has a parking lot, the new volunteers gathered and then marched to Camp Randall in Madison.  Per Capita, the Fox Lake area had more volunteers than any other part of the state.  

During the Spanish-American War, several area men signed up and were sent to fight.

During WWI, many of the area's young men were drafted or volunteered.  The community on the whole came together to support each other than the young men (and even a few ladies) who were sent overseas.  Every triumph, every loss, every letter home - was shared by the community.  Many of those fighting wrote letters to the newspaper as well as family, so that the paper could publish their letters and let everyone know how they were doing.

During WWII, many of the WWI veterans found themselves as parents of drafted soldiers and sailors.  Again, the community came together to support "their boys" and rejoice and mourn together.  Following the war, many of the older veterans of the Fox Lake area who had affiliated with the Beaver Dam American Legion Post decided to form their own Post in the later part of 1945.

1946 was year of organization and expansion for this group of men, and in the Fall of the year, they elected their first officers:

Commander - Leonard Cady

Vice Commander - Richard Andrasko

Chaplain - Doug McCarthy

Adjutant - Ray Offerman

Finance Officer - Henry Stamm

Service Officer - Dr. Kreutzmann

Sargeant at Arms - Lester Hollnagel

On October 28, 1946 the newly-formed Post hosted a Welcome Home Dinner.  26 Post members and 64 WWII veterans attended.

By February of 1947 the membership had grown to 113, with more applications still being turned in by veterans of both WWI and WWII.  In September of that year, elections were held.  A new Commander was chosen (Maurice Mace), as well as Vice Commanders (Pat Donovan & Fred Derivan), a new Chaplain (James Schwartz) and the first Historian of the post was George White.

Still growing as a post, on April 29, 1948 the members hosted the quarterly meeting of the Posts of Dodge County, with over 300 Legionnaires in attendance.

In July of 1948, the call went out via the local newspaper for veterans of WWI & WWII to submit information about themselves and their service for the Historical Service Record being compiled by the Post.  The project continued for a couple years and the published books contain many veterans of the area, whether they were members of the American Legion or not.  Some of these books can still be found with families in the area, and even in the Harriet O'Connell Historical Room located at the Fox Lake Public Library.

On November 1, 1949, the Robert W. Ginther Wisconsin American Legion Post 521 of Fox Lake recieved its official charter.

Since that time, the Post and its members have strived to support the community, the veterans, and the youth of the Fox Lake area in many ways.  The current membership is over 155.  Interested veterans area always welcome.  As it was from the beginning, they are very active in supporting and assisting area groups and programs serving the families and veterans of the area.