About Post 96

Smith Wynn VFW Post 96 was mustered in on March 15th, 1921 with forty-two members. After World War II, in 1949, there were 1040 members. It is the oldest Post in Alabama.

In 2017 the members of Post 96 approved the consolidation of the Post with another Montgomery VFW Post, Arthur W. Ansley Post 4176.

In March 2021, the Post received the VFW Century Award from VFW National for its 100 years of service.

In 2021, Post 96 was selected by VFW National as an All-American Post for 2020-2021.

In 2023, Post 96 was again selected by VFW National as an All-American Post for 2022-2023.

The Smith Wynn VFW Post 96 in Montgomery, Alabama is named after two World War I soldiers who were killed in action in the Chateau-Thierry region of France on July 26th and July 28th, 1918.  (WWI burial cards show that, as a result of  wounds received on July 26th, PFC John F. Smith died on July 28th, 1918). 

The two soldiers were Private First Class John Ferrell Smith (Born Jan 16, 1900), of then, 1311 S. Court St. in Montgomery and Corporal Rush P. Wynn (Enlisted: 8/6/1917), of then, 1208 Madison Avenue in Montgomery. 

In the listing of those buried, John Smith is found under S. Ferrell, MIA, but is actually listed correctly further down under his legal name, John Ferrell Smith. He was believed to have been killed July 26, 1918, with his marker reflecting the date his body was recovered.  However WWI burial cards show that, as a result of wounds received on July 26th, PFC  (DOR eff. Dec. 7,1916) John F. Smith died on July 28th, 1918) and indicates DWRIA (Died of Wounds Received in Action). He had enlisted April 1, 1916 in the Alabama NG in Montgomery and transferred to the Machine Gun Company Oct. 16, 1916. He served overseas starting Nov. 3rd, 1917.

Corp. Rush Wynn may have been born Pierson Rush Wynn in 1889. (later listed as Rush Pearson Wynn). He enlisted in the Alabama NG on Aug. 6, 1917. He served overseas starting Nov. 3rd, 1917.

Both were in the 167th Infantry Regiment, assigned to the Machine Gun Company, and became part of the 42nd "Rainbow” Division and then the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in France.

Supreme Allied Commander General Ferdinand Foch immediately put the Allied Army on the offensive. Four days after winning in the Champagne region, he ordered a Franco-American drive northeast from the town of Château-Thierry. The 167th (Alabama), with its sister regiment in the 84th Brigade, the 168th (Iowa) on its right flank, led the "Rainbow” Division push into a great battle at Croix Rouge Farm on July 26, 1918. There the Alabama regiment lost 162 killed, including 3 Lieutenants and 2 Captains (company commanders). More than 1,000 soldiers from the 167th (Alabama) were wounded but their victory forced the Germans to retreat to positions on the east of the Ourcq River, about six miles from the Croix Rouge Farm.

For his service, now Corporal, Rush P. Wynn was awarded the French Croix de Guerre (French War Cross). He was one of the 13 from Alabama so awarded. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Montgomery. 

PFC John F. Smith is buried in the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in Belleau, France. He was cited for gallantry and recommended for the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC). A cenotaph for him is located in the family plot at the Oakwood Cemetery (St. Margaret's Cemetery) in Montgomery, AL.

More about the Battle of Croix Ridge Farm:

https://croixrougefarm.org/history-battle/

Recent Post 96 Commanders: 

Dr. James Larose * 

Richard Erickson *

Mark Hilton

Samuel "Brian" Petters

Robert Carr (Current)

Card notes middle initial as 'W' instead of 'F' but home address and initial wounding and date of death match.