A. B. Kapplin, Jewish newspaperman of Duluth, was elected commander of the American Legion of Minnesota at the closing session of the legionnaires’ convention here yesterday. He succeeds Earl Cliff of Ortonville.
Kapplin was elected after Oscar Youngdahl of Minneapolis withdrew from the race for office in his favor. The Duluth newspaperman in 1917 had quite a job getting into the army. He enlisted as a private no less than eight times because the first seven times he was rejected due to an eye defect.
But on the eight attempt he was put into the ranks and finally rose to transport officer on the U. S. S. Northern and made eight round trips, moving soldiers to and from France. He was discharged with the rank of first lieutenant.
Nineteen years ago he began work with the “Duluth Herald” and still is a member of its editorial staff. He is credited with having originated the idea of the pilgrimage of gold star mothers to France, later approved by congress.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
