Post 39 was named after Graham D. Luhn who died at the Meuse-Argonne during World War 1 on October 8, 1918. He was the first man from Taylor to die in that "war to end all wars".  The French would go on to recognize his services by posthumously awarding him the Croix de Guerre for gallantry and he was also cited by the American Military for meritorious service.

 

Lt. Graham D. Luhn was a 1911 graduate of Texas A&M and had served in the Texas National Guard. It's likely he had spent parts of 1916 serving with General John "Blackjack: Pershing during the Mexican Border Crisis and the hunt for Pancho Villa and other Mexican desperados.

 

Lt. Luhn was in command of Company C of the 141st Regiment of the 71st Brigade. According to an official history of the Texas 36th Division written by Lonnie White, guides from the 2nd Division were supposed to meet the 71st and escort its components into proper places in line at St. Etienne. 

 

According to various histories of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, St. Etienne and the 36th Texas Division, orders went out on Oct. 7 to prepare for an all out attack at 5:15 a.m. the next morning. Tuesday morning, October 8, they received orders to  "go over the top" and that is what they did.

 

The Texas units, under fire for the first time, weary from forced marching, harassed by hunger and thirst, under-strength and under-equipped went forward fighting as all Texans should, in spite of the partial failure and confusion of liaison communications regarding the final orders.

 

During the first day's fighting, the 71st Brigade captured 600 prisoners and 75 machine guns. But the day's casualties amounted to 66 officers and 1227 men.

 

Lt. Graham D. Luhn was one of those officers.  

 

The 36th suffered horrible casualties but fought hard and was part of the push that ended the war a month later.

 

Lt. Luhn was the son of Dr. and Mrs. R. E. Luhn and left a widow, Edith.

 

The Legionnaires chose to name the post after Luhn in 1919. Four of Luhn's brothers, Edward, Harrison, Russel and George were charter members of the post.

 

 

 

 

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Anniversary Edition - The Taylor Press, November 12, 2017