#americanlegion

[kittyvonvelvetx]

the cutest chick you aren't hanging out with tonight #birthdayparty at the #mortongroveamericanlegion134 and looking way to good 💋🌬💸🇺🇸🎂🎁🥳🖤 #cutechick #nightout #simpletimes #newfit #ootd #feelingmyself #lookinggood #americanlegion #kittyvv https://www.instagram.com/p/CpG9YaMrOeM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[yatescountyhistorycenter]

Who were Johnson and Costello?

By Jonathan Monfiletto

In the tradition of both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, local posts are named for a deceased veteran, or deceased veterans, whether that person died during a conflict involving the American military or died later on after their service to our country had ended. In Penn Yan, the local American Legion organization is known as Johnson-Costello Post 355.

It is easy to overlook these two names and think of them as just the name of an organization or just the name on a building. Then again, maybe you are like me – you saw the names, you know the tradition of post naming, and you wondered: who were Johnson and Costello?

The answer is quite simple: Pfc. Harold H. Johnson and Pvt. Charles E. Costello were first two soldiers from Yates County to die during World War I. Costello died of meningitis on April 9, 1918, less than two weeks after arriving in France for overseas service. Johnson was killed in action near Cantigny, France on May 28, 1918, nearly a year after he first went overseas.

The answer becomes more detailed when one takes a few moments to consider these men did not just give their names to an organization and to a building but gave their lives in the name of freedom and security for people around the world. One must consider these men are not just their names; these men had lives and families and stories. It is my aim to pay tribute to these men and their service and sacrifice by shedding some light in this article on who they were and what they did.

Charles E. Costello was born on July 29, 1891 in Penn Yan; in E.D. Harrison’s book “Yates County in the World War,” a compilation of county residents who served during the conflict, Costello’s address is listed as 129 Elm St. in the village.  He was the second son and fourth of five children for Patrick and Mary Costello; brother John and sisters Annabel, Nellie, and Jane were left behind to grieve as well.

Costello was one of the first Yates County men to leave for wartime service, being inducted in Penn Yan on September 9, 1917. According to Harrison’s book, he served with Battery E of the 307th Field Artillery from his induction until March 21, 1918. Then, he served with the 35th Engineers Camp Dix Replacement Draft until his death. With his rank of private, he worked as a horseshoer. Perhaps not coincidentally, his father had a horseshoeing business in Penn Yan behind the family home at which Costello worked prior to entering the Army.

He left for overseas service on March 29, 1918, and a day or two before his family received the notice of his death, his family received a card – signed by Costello – announcing the safe arrival of the transport ship in France. Apparently, the cards were signed by the soldiers in advance and then sent from Washington, D.C. upon the transport’s arrival. His family also received a letter from Costello, dated April 5, 1918, in which he describes life aboard the ship and reports he expects to arrive in France soon. Costello died on April 9, 1918 at age 26, the first Yates County man to die in service during the war.

A public memorial service was held at St. Michael’s Church, though his body was buried in France with full military honors as was the custom of the War Department during the war. After the war, however, “one of the largest funerals that was ever held in this village” took place in Penn Yan in May 1920, according to a Geneva Daily Times article, when Costello’s body was repatriated to his hometown and buried in St. Michael’s Cemetery – where his parents, brother, and one sister are also buried.

According to the article, when Costello’s body reached Penn Yan from France, an escort from the American Legion post bearing his name met the remains at the Northern Central train depot and followed a procession to Corcoran’s undertaking establishment on Main Street and then to the family home on Elm Street. The newspaper reported the funeral was “largely attended, every available seat in the large building (St. Michael’s Church) being taken and there were many present who were unable to secure seats and stood up during the services.” The St. Michael’s rector spoke “feelingly of the young man’s standing and character in the community prior to his leaving for war service, of the public gathering that was held on the Sunday evening that he left town and also of his war record.”

One hundred ten members of the newly formed American Legion post attended the funeral, including a firing squad, a bugler, active pall bearers, and honorary pall bearers. Several thousand people witnessed the interment, the newspaper stated.

Harold H. Johnson was born June 21, 1898 to Frederick and Almeda Johnson; whether Harold was their only child or he had siblings is unclear. Though Harrison’s book lists Johnson’s hometown as Penn Yan, it is possible the man was actually from Bellona. His cenotaph – and his parents’ burial place – is located in the Bellona Cemetery, and his parents’ address in Harrison’s book is listed as R.D. 1, Penn Yan, which could lead to the Bellona area.

Though Costello is described as one of the first Yates County men to leave for service during the World War, Johnson actually joined the military before the man with whom he shares namesake honors of the American Legion post. According to Harrison, Johnson enlisted at Fort Scriven, Georgia on March 2, 1917. He served with Co. D, 26th Infantry until January 2, 1918 and then with Co. C, 2nd Brigade Machine Gun Battalion until his death. He served overseas from June 14, 1917 until his death.

Johnson was killed in action on May 28, 1918, less than a month before his 20th birthday, as the first man from Yates County to die in combat during the war. The notice sent to his family cites Johnson for “gallantry in action and especially meritorious service” and states he “died with honor in service of his country.”

After Johnson’s mother submitted a letter to the Paris Edition of the New York Herald – printed in the March 5, 1919 edition of the Yates County Chronicle – asking for details about her son’s death and burial, the family and the public learned Johnson died instantly after being hit in the head with either a machine gun bullet or a shell fragment. Johnson’s company had been ordered to take the town of Cantigny from German forces on the morning of May 28; the troops took the town in 25 minutes. The company then withstood six counterattacks, and Johnson was killed while operating his machine gun during this sixth attack. Like all of the fallen that day, Johnson was buried on the battlefield and his mother was assured her son received a decent burial with a marked grave.

“As a friend of his I will pay tribute to his memory and say that he was a fine fellow, clean and straight and always trying to help his comrades,” Pvt. Lloyd Williams wrote to Johnson’s mother.

According to a March 1989 article in The Chronicle-Express, the American Legion post in Penn Yan formed in August 1919 – less than a year after the World War ended and about five months after the American Legion itself formed – as the first such post in Yates County. Newspaper articles of the time period indicate it may have been during a dinner held in October 1919 – with 75 out of the post’s 100 members attending – that the post would be named after Johnson and Costello.

[dutchmn007]

Diver Down!: Under the South Pacific; CDR John B. Lipinski, US Navy, Ret.

[sharpenrightstuff]

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[sellingcolorado]

Just picked up a wheel cheer and delivered it for a local Veteran in need. Thank you American Legion Post 1, for the assist. #veteran #americanlegion #castlerock #castlerockcolorado #hero #heroes (at Castle Rock, Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmkjlWLOU63/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[victoriatheodoremusic]

@dearsantamovie starts a treaming on Hulu Monday, Dec. 19th! Dave Tweedie (the composer) and I performed at the cast party and got to meet Pat, one of the featured elves (episode 5) at #farleyschristmaswonderland! Spread the cheer! #dearsanta #santa #letterstosanta #uspsoperationsanta #farleyschristmaswonderland #moldawresidences #haywardfirefighters #haydenorellana #americanlegion #makeswishfoundation (at Christmas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmVTA-prJFc/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[consuephotographyanddesign]

#arcofbellcounty #christmasparty #elf #reindeer #festive #connie #connieWheeler #temple #texas #americanlegion (at American Legion) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmILUt7phoS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[rockieag]

Veterans Art Exhibit Reception this Saturday, November 12th. 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Jaycee Park for The Arts. 1975 Puritan Dr. Irving Texas 75061 Families Welcome. Refreshments, Networking, Art. #veteransday #veterans #veteranshelpingveterans #americanlegion #americanlegionriders #vfw (at Irving, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck16BJWuUOl/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[justicepelton]

#americanlegion with @intimidater and @broadcastmike and @vet_tv (at Wisconsin Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch3iUkoM4DK/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[scottwellsmagic]

Late night, impromptu magical fun at the #americanlegion in #colonmichigan during #abbottsgettogether2022 (at Colon American Legion) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg_z0XSuRZJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hammerbandofficial]

JULY 15th is coming up quick!! We’re excited to be playing again with our friends @we_are_wasted @official_fleef @kill.cody!!! Don’t miss this one!! . . . #hammer #metal #scv #california #losangeles #losangelesmetalshows #death #thrash #blackmetal #heavymetal #americanlegion #bcrich #rickenbackerbass #ddrums #zildjian #mesaboogie #peavy #freeshow (at American Legion Post 507) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfFad_iv-37/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hklisaann]

#HelloKitty does #AmericanLegion306 Friday, 6/3/22 2Lb party to support USA Legion #Post306 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 #MiddlesexNj #USALegion ❤️🤍💙 #2LbParty 🏋️‍♀️🏋️ #AmericanLegion @pkerwin3 @sexyouijaqueen Also on: #NationalDonutDay2022 🍩🍩🍩 A VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO @gourmandepicerie FOR FINDING ALMOST EXACTLY A (1) 2LB RAFFEL!! #TYDANNY 👏🏻👏🏻🫒🫒🫒 @paolosgourmetproducts 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹@paolos_gourmet_products 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹 (at American Legion John W. Lupu Memorial Post 306 Middlesex NJ) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeXd4yVOg5F/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[dutchmn007]

Navy Commander Relives Epic Dogfight and Reveals Life-Threatening Avocad...

[annacrabtreerealtor]

JUNE’S💓 #HeartOfFairhope #Newsletter goes out TOMORROW!📣Who wants a hardcopy or added to the email list, dm me💓😊❓ #annacrabtreerealestateteam #yourlocalagent #whattodoinfairhope #whatshappeninginfairhope #getinvolved #getoutthere @baybreezecafefairhope #tamaras @fairhopejuiceco #americanlegion #fairhope @exitgal @exit_realty_lyon @annacrabtreerealtor https://www.instagram.com/p/CePe3n7DkAx/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[goldstarride]

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[noahawatersiii]

This past Sunday was a special night for a worthy cause. Premiere of “MERITxZOE” film, in partnership with @gotyour6 / @bwforg / @themissioncontinues / @everytown, at the Hollywood #AmericanLegion #Post43 Starring @haskiri @hellomorgandixon and #TuckerSmallwood. Written/directed by fellow veteran and @vmeconnect member @kylehausmannstokes. Thanks for the invite @assialauren See the MxZ trailer: @meritxzoe.film Follow @meritxzoe.film for updates and screenings. (at American Legion Post 43 - Hollywood, CA) https://www.instagram.com/p/CddqZi-r1U1/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=