Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-25

1915 and has served in various grades
In the Engineer Corps since his grad
uation.
During the World War he served
overseas for 18 months with the Rail-
way Engineers OF the British front and
later had charge of the Engineer Can
didatss' School, at which selected en-
listed men were trained for commits
stoned officers. He came to the National
Capital from the Louisville, KY, engi-
neer Office. where he was engaged in
the construction of locks and dams in
the Ohio River.
On arriving in this city he became an
active worker in Vincent B. Costello
Post. No. Is. of the American Legion,
and was elected senior vice commander
OF that post in 1927 and in 1928 was
elected commander, which office he
held at the time of his election to the
office OF department commander. Dur
ing the past year under his leadership,
Costello Post has grown from ABS mem
berS to $40 members and has the dis
ttnction OF being the largest post in the
department.. The post has taken an
active part. together with its drum and
bugle corps. in all of the memorial and
patriotic events of the year.
Department Comdr. Atkins has
served on various committees of the
American Legion and was especially
active on the committee in charge Of
arrangements for the Armistice day
celebration when President Calvin
Coolidge. Gen. Pershing and National
Comdr. Paul V. McNutt of the Ameri-
can Legion spoke on national defense
over a Nationwide hookup.
One of the first acts of Department
Comdr. Atkins after being. installed was
to announce the reappointment of
Howard S. Fisk as department adju-
a and the appointment of Madison
l.. Hill as department finance officer. In
making these appointments he has Sc
lected two men who have been identi-
ned with the American Legion since
the date Of its organization, and are
probably more thoroughly acquainted
with the inner workings and activities
OF the Legion and the local department
in particular than any other Legion
na1res IN the District organization.
Both a%ppointees are old Navy men with
long years of service.
Department Adjutant Fisk is a char
ter member and one of the organizers
OF the first post in the entire American
Legion, being n of the Is veterans of
the World War who signed the applica-
ton for a charter for Gen. Pershing
Post, No. l, which was later changed to
George washington Post, No. l He was
the hrSt adjutant of that post and when
the Department of the District of Co.
lunbia was organized May 10, 1919, he
was appointed the first adjutant. He
later served as a vice commander of
George Washington Post and in 1921
was elected commander. In 1924 he
served AS department finance officer
and during the period from 1919 up to
the present time he has served in Is
department offices n under practi-
cally every commander in the history
OF the department. Last year he was
appointed department adjutant by De-
partment Comdr. Harlan Wood and his
re-appointment to that Office was an
nounced by Department Comdr. At
kinS less than five minutes after being
installed in Office.
AS one OF the organizers of the Dis
trict Naval Militia in 1898 he served as
pay clerk on the old U. S. S. Fern,
which was the first American vessel to
enter Havana Harbor after the U. S. S..
Maine was blown up on February Is,
1898. He was later commissioned IN
assistant paymaster with the rank of
ensign and detailed on the u. S. S.
Oneida, serving for several years. When
the World War caused the United
States TO enter the activities he en-
rolled in the United States Naval Re-
serve Force and was commissioned an
assistant paymaster with the rank of
ensign. Three days after his enroll
ment or April 3, 1917. war was declared,
and after serving at the local navy yard
he was tranferred to the Bureau of
Supplies and Accounts by direction of
Admiral Samuel MCGOWAN. paymaster
general. U. S. N. Later, in 1918, he
was promoted to an assistant paymaster
with the rank of lieutenant Ounior
grade), and in 1918 he was commission
ed a passed assistant paymaster with
the rank of lieutenant, continuing with
this rank until placed on inactive duty
in 1920. In March, 1927, when the
war cloud was lowering over China he
again took an examination and was re-
commissioned a passed assistant pay
master in the Supply Corps, u. S.
Naval Reserve, with the rank of lieu
tenant, which commission he still holds
at the present time. At the election
last week he received the highest num-
Der of votes cast for a delegate to the
convention to be held in Louisville,
for the third consecutive year. He has
the distinction of being the only
L%egionnaire in the District of Columbia
who attended the American Legion cau-
Gus at st. Louis, in May, 1919, and has
attended every annual national con-
vention of the American Legion to
date. In addition to being department
adjutant he has been nominated for
historian of George Washington Post
and is chairman of the Louisville con-
vention travel committee.
Department Finance officer Madison
L. Hill served as chief electrician,
United States Navy, on board the U:
S. S. Mississippi, u. S. S. America and
the U. S. s.. Kentucky. He enlisted
in the Navy in June. 1917, and was
honorably discharged March 8, 1920.
He was one of the charter members and
organizers of Robley D. Evans Post,
No. 4. Department of the District OF
Columbia, the American Legion, In
lime. 1919. and served two terms as
post commander. In the Fall of 1919
he was elected senior vice commander
of the department at the first conven-
ton and served with the late Depart
ment Comdr. E. Lester Jones until 1920.
He was chairman of the first rehabili-
tation committee Of the department,
and in 1922 was. elected chairman OF
the department delegation to New Or
leans. He has served as adjutant. OF
Robley D. Evans Post, and at the time
OF his appointment was. adjutant Of
Victory Post, No. 4. He has taken an
active interest in Legion affairs lnce
the date of its inception. In 1922 ne
served as national executive commit
teeman with credit to the local depart
ment. He Is a member OF Col. James
s.. Petit Camp, United Spanish War
Veterans, and IS at present engaged in
the active practice Of law in this city.
The first department executive COM
mittee meeting with the new oftloerS
will be held in the boardroom. District
Building, September 8 at 8 o'clock,
At the meeting Of victory Post, No.
4. held last Tuesday night in Modern
Woodmen's. Hall, 935 Grant place, the
following were nominated for officers for
the ensuing year: