American Legion Post 178 - History
American Legion Post 178 in South Carolina, now the largest post in the state, was chartered on November 11, 1985 at the Landmark Hotel in Myrtle Beach by Dewey Cudd, Zone Commander of the Legion in South Carolina.
The first official meeting of the new post was held in a wooded area of Murrrells Inlet near Highway 17 on November 17, 1985. The meeting began with an invocation by Chaplin Mike Terrell.
The first officers were then named:
Commander - Harold Graves
1st Vice Commander - Howard Mason
2nd Vice Commander - Cliff Hoselder
3rd Vice Commander - Dick Helms
Chaplin - Mike Terrell
Adjutant & Finance - Leo Garner
Sargent-at-Arms - Frank Prox
Historian - Harry Sears
Post 178 has been honored by having following members designated Commander of the Department of South Carolina:
Bud Hennis - 2009, 2010
Mickey Taylor - 2011, 2012
Post 178 has had the following members as Post Commander:
Harold Graves - 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989
Ebert Wilson - 1988
Nelson Reinhart - 1990, 1991
Jim Helwagen – 1992, 1993
Jim Britton – 1994
Pat Patterson – 1995
Ron Kinney – 1996
Harvey Struder – 1997, 1998
Mike Blanco – 1999, 2000, 2001
James Marnell – 2002, 2003
Ron Dreyfus – 2004, 2005, 2008
Bud Hennis – 2006, 2007
Brent Davidson – 2008, 2009
Evans Kaiser – 2010, 2011
Don Brown – 2012, 2013
Rich Sullivan – 2014, 2015, 2016
At the March 9, 2019 general meeting, Commander Sullivan presented 50 Year Legion Membership Pins & Plaques to the following members:
Gordon Ray
Ron Szydlowski
Robert Crimboli
Edward Stefanovich JR
Thomas Feddon JR
Joseph Zometsky SR
Terry Slocum
Robert Peterson