Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 812

 

This year, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 812 had their 100th anniversary. The first temporary commander in 1921 was John R. Donoghue. The post, located in McKelligon Canyon, was named after two soldiers who died during World War I, Thomas Hart Davis and Rives Seamon.

Lieutenant Thomas Hart Davis was killed in action on July 21, 1918 in Germany. He was the son of retired General Thomas F. Davis. He was an El Paso native and his body was brought back to El Paso for burial in 1921. Davis was part of Battery F 12th Field Artillery. His death occurred "when the Americans were checking the Germans' final drive on Paris."

Lieutenant Rives Seamon was killed in the battle of Chaudron farm on September 29, 1918. Seamon was leader of a platoon in the 138th infantry. During the battle, they were to bush the combat patrol to the front of the objective. The platoon faced heavy artillery fire. While attacking a machine-gun nest, he was "killed by a high explosive shell." His body was not recovered. 

The image above is from the El Paso Herald on February 25, 1922.

Sources:

"Foreign War Veteran Name Post 'Davis -Seamon.'" (August 9, 1921) El Paso Herald. 

"Lieut. Thomas H. Davis." (May 21, 1921) El Paso Herald.

"Tribute to Lieut. Seamon." (July 1, 1919) El Paso Herald.