The Seventh Texas Infantry, a unit composed of men mostly from the Panhandle and North Texas areas, was organized along with other Texas National Guard units into the 36th Infantry Division at Camp Bowie, Fort Worth, Texas, under the command of Spanish-American War veteran Col. Alfred W. Bloor of Austin. The 36th Infantry Division reached France in August 1918, and after a brief training period at the 13th Training Area at Bar-sur-Aube, was inserted into battle against the German Army in the Meuse-Argonne front. The Division engaged the German Army in battle from October 8, 1918 through October 27, 1918 as part of the Meuse-Argonne offensive. Although they were victorious, victory came at a heavy cost: The Division suffered 2,513 casualties in its brief time on the front. Among those lives lost was Arthur O. McNitzky, the first and only Denton citizen to be killed in World War I. He was killed in action at St. Etienne on October 9, 1918. In all, 5,897 Texans lost their lives in the Great War.
After the Armistice was signed and as the wartime Army demobilized, veterans returning to Denton decided to organize an American Legion Post. On May 19, 1919, a preliminary organization was declared under the leadership of Elbert O. Hooper. On August 2, 1919, American Legion Post 71 was officially organized in Denton, Texas. The first Post Commander was Alvin M. Owsley. Owsley served as Post Commander for almost three months before resigning to become Assistant Attorney General for the State of Texas. He later served as National Commander of the American Legion. He was succeeded as Post Commander by O.L. Fowler. Post 71 was named the Arthur O. McNitzky Post in honor of the service and sacrifice of Arthur O. McNitzky and all the veterans of the Great War. A Woman’s Auxiliary for the Arthur O. McNitzky Post was organized in January and February 1921. The Arthur O. McNitzky Post dedicated its American Legion Hall in May 1928.
Pat N. McLeod, Historian The Arthur O. McNitzky American Legion Post Number 71, Denton, Texas
