On March 5, 1918 at noon, the 151st Field Artillery took on a barrage of gas bombs and Theodor Petersen,
a combat medic, was critically injured. He continued to instruct others on how to care for the wounded. He was
the first to remove his mask to test gas exposure. He died that night.
The
151st Field Artillery Unit stuck together after the Great War and formed an American Legion Post at the St Louis caucus by
151st Private (Judge) Levi Hall. Minnesota Post 1 was issued a Temporary Charter on 6/24/1919, then a Permanent Charter
was issued on 8/25/1921. 151sst Lieutenant John Soper, Theodor's commanding officer and first Commander of Minnesota
Post 1, carried their 151st Red Unit Guidon to all American Legion functions, and named their Post – Theodor Petersen
Post One.
In June 1925, at the NEC meeting, a motion was passed that allows Post 1 to
retain the RED color for their Post banner. It is the only red Post banner in the American Legion.
In 1988 5 Posts surrendered their Charters to the Department of Minnesota and the resulting merger created
Minneapolis Post One electing Delbert Rose as the first Commander.
Theodor Petersen
1 (governing charter)
William Laidlaw 208
Lawrence Wenell 233
Mill City 459
Navy-Marine 472
Paul Revere
624
Minneapolis Post One still has the only RED Post banner.
