Harvey Pierre Post 2778 of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States was instituted on February
20, 1933.
Harvey Pierre, for whom our Post is named, was the first soldier from
Appleton who died in World War I. He was born April 11, 1899 in Appleton.
He attended Third Ward Grade School, two years of High School and was a
graduate of Bushey Business College. He was employed as a bookkeeper at
Fox River Knitting Factory until his enlistment on April 11, 1917. Private
Harvey Pierre was in Company “G”, 2nd Wisconsin Infantry National Guard
and served overseas with the 50th Machine Gun Battalion 42nd Rainbow
Division. He was killed in action on July 15, 1918 in Champaign, France.
Harvey was a boy well liked by the soldiers in his company. They wanted
him to go with them wherever they went and always helped him out of
difficulties. When he enlisted, he was under the minimum weight of 110
pounds so the boys made him drink water until it ran out of his ears. They
put weights in his shoes and pegs in his heels so he would stand in
regulation height. This boy was but 18 years old.
As stated by John J. Pershing, Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Army, he
bravely laid down his life for the causes of his country. His name will
ever remain fresh in the hearts of his friends and comrades. The record of
his honorable service will be preserved in the archives of the American
Expeditionary Forces.
Comrades William Reetz, Raymond Voight, Paul Wilke, Louis Jeske, and
Ferdinand Radtke are responsible for the organization of Harvey Pierre
Post 2778 Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. The first
organizational meeting was held on January 9, 1933 at Appleton’s Armory G.
Building with thirteen comrades present.
The next meeting was called to order on January 16, 1933, to nominate
and elect the first officers who were as follows: Armin Scheurle,
Commander; Louis Jeske, Senior Vice Commander; Paul Wilke, Junior Vice
Commander; John Pierre, Quartermaster; J.B. Rasmussen, Adjutant; William
Speel, Chaplain; William Reetz, Officer of the Day; Dewey Hottenstein,
Guard; Joseph Witmer, Service Officer; and Ferdinand, D. Hedberg, and
Chris Guckenberger as Trustees.
Our first Commander, Armin Scheurle went on to become Department
Commander in 1940, also bringing the first Department Convention to
Appleton in 1941.
John Pierre, brother of Harvey Pierre in whose memory the Post is
named, was one of the original charter members and our first
quartermaster. He later became commander in 1942-1943 and was committed to
this organization all his life.
The third meeting was called to order February 20, 1933 by 6th District
Council member, Walter Brown, to install the first officers, obligate
members, and institute the Post.
This group laid a foundation for an organization that has grown into an
outstanding Post in the State of Wisconsin currently consisting of 480
members.