I am a new member of The American Legion, and as I read The American Legion Magazine, I realize that I hold an amazing part of lost Legion history that needs sharing.

On April 20, 1938, my grandfather, Cecil Schubert, led 60 members of his American Legion post in protest against 3,000 Nazi Bund members celebrating Hitler's birthday. All the Legion members were Jewish WWI vets. It was 60 vs 3,000, and the results were predictable in the ensuing riot. All the Legion members were injured; my grandfather got the worst with a fractured skull.

The battle made local (New York Times) and national news (May 2, 1938, edition of LIFE Magazine, page 18. You can Google it and read it online) and then was recreated in the 1939 Edward J. Robinson movie "Confessions of a Nazi Spy." The movie is often shown on Turner Classic Movies, and the fight occurs at about the 17-minute mark with a young actor named Ward Bond portraying my grandfather. Bond later became part of the regular John Wayne troupe, playing parts in most of his major Western movies.

While my grandfather was recovering in the hospital, he received congratulatory telegrams (no email or text messages in 1938!) from Mayor La Guardia, private citizens and other American Legion posts offering to join him next time he took on the Nazis. Copies of the telegrams and newspaper articles are attached. Hopefully the Legion membership will find this historical event worth reading about.

Jeff Howards
Sgt, USMC, 1973-1977
Captain, USAR (retired), 1977-1993