Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
POST 727 HISTORY
Chartered: February 13
, 1970 - consolidated with Post 9957 August 13, 2017.Continuous Location: Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China
Commander-in-Chief: Ray Gallagher when chartered.
The full name of The Post is "Taichung Post 727", which was always located in Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China. Shortly after The Post was founded, membership rose to a high of 150 members in 1972. Membership declined significantly in the mid-1980s due primarily to the closure of the U.S. Embassy and withdrawal of all U.S. Military troops in 1979 from the country (ROC). Since then, membership has increased to the 2010 end of year membership of 86, 82 of which are life members, and 4 annual members. However, the majority of the membership are living outside of Taiwan. In 2017 post had 74 members and little chance of reviving! Post 727 voted to consolidate with Post 9957 in Taipei. Thus ended Post 727.
Taiwan has had four VFW posts established here, of which only Post 9957 in Taipei survives. The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Taiwan led to the demise of two posts, and declining post participation of post 727 to having less than a quorum for meetings led to consolidation with 9957. Post 9957 suffers from lack of active participation, and is striving to revitalize itself.
In 1971, Post 727 established a Post Home with canteen, which ceased operations in the late eighties coinciding with the decline in active members. Post 727 in 1983 voted to accept the transfer of Pup Tent 15 from Post 89 (Tainan) to Taichung - due to the closing of Post 89. The Cooties from former Pup Tent 15 transferred to Pup Tent 11 in the Philippines. Post 727 has never changed location, nor disestablished and later re-established, but was forced to consolidate or close - and chose to consolidate with 9957.
Two members of Post 727 have served as Department Commanders; All American Department Commander Harry A. Bowser (1979-1980) and All American Department Commander Bill Wichmann (2001-2002). The Post has had one National officer; Bill Wichmann the Chairman of the National Military Assistance Program (2002-2003). Post members holding higher offices in Department are Bill Wichmann who was the Department Judge Advocate. Orville Humfleet served as the District IV (Taiwan) Commander and Post Commander for several years. Bill Wichmann is also Past All Star Grand Commander (2000-2001) and Orville Humfleet was an All Star Grand Commander (2009-2011). Commander Ted Steppe was the Post commander that facilitated consolidation with Post 9957.
Post 727 was active in the local community doing projects at schools and provided other assistance in the communities of Taichung and Kaohsiung. It annually conducted the Voice of Democracy. Patriots Pen, and Teacher's Award Programs in which Morrison Academy of Taichung participated. Post 9957 has continued these programs. Over the past twenty years Post 727 entrants at Department level have won seven times the VOD and four times the Patriots Pen contests. The Posts last winner Department level that won first place in the Patriots Pen contest was Jacob Van Singel from Taichung who placed twenty-ninth at National.
SUMMARY OF MEMBERS & POST COMMANDERS
June 2018
YEAR |
MEMBERS |
COMMANDER |
YEAR |
MEMBERS |
COMMANDER |
1970 |
82 |
UNKNOWN |
1996 |
79 |
Bill Wichmann |
1971 |
136 |
UNKNOWN |
1997 |
84 |
Orville D. Humfleet |
1972 |
150 |
UNKNOWN |
1998 |
84 |
Orville D. Humfleet |
1973 |
110 |
Harry Bowser |
1999 |
85 |
B. Allen Cox |
1974 |
134 |
Harry Bowser |
2000 |
90 |
Orville D. Humfleet |
1975 |
92 |
Harry Bowser |
2001 |
89 |
Orville D. Humfleet |
1976 |
72 |
John Talas |
2002 |
89 |
Orville D. Humfleet |
1977 |
89 |
Jesse Goodman |
2003 |
89 |
Orville D. Humfleet |
1978 |
131 |
Harry Bowser |
2004 |
89 |
Orville D. Humfleet |
1979 |
139 |
Harry Bowser |
2005 |
91 |
Orville D. Humfleet |
1980 |
63 |
John Whittington |
2006 |
93 |
Orville D. Humfleet |
1981 |
55 |
Larry Braley* |
2007 |
93 |
Orville D. Humfleet |
1982 |
42 |
Hank Knight* |
2008 |
93 |
Orville D. Humfleet |
1983 |
45 |
Harry Bowser |
2009 |
86 |
Orville D. Humfleet |
1984 |
51 |
Harry Bowser |
2010 |
86 |
Orville D. Humfleet |
1985 |
48 |
Harry Bowser |
2011 |
87 |
Orville D. Humfleet |
1986 |
50 |
Harry Bowser |
2012 |
|
O. Humfleet |
1987 |
56 |
Harry Bowser |
2013 |
81 |
O. Humfleet |
1988 |
59 |
Harry Bowser |
2014 | O. Humfleet | |
1989 |
64 |
Harry Bowser* |
2015 | O. Humfleet | |
1990 |
66 |
Bob Roth |
2016 |
76 |
T. Steppe |
1991 |
63 |
Bob Roth* |
2017 |
76 |
T. Steppe |
1991 |
63 |
Bill Wichmann |
consolidated | with 9957 | |
1992 |
64 |
Bill Wichmann |
|||
1993 |
68 |
Bill Wichmann |
|||
1994 |
71 |
Orville D. Humfleet |
|||
1995 |
73 |
Bill Wichmann |
Note: *Deceased Comrade.