7532 Conifer Ct. Unit G 18 | De Forest, Wisconsin 53532
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bob Cobb-GNUTS
(608) 852-1983
leads111@proton.me
American Legion Post 279 of Marshall, Wis., feuds with brothers and their Ralph Vivier tribute advocacy
[GNUTS Historian Timestamp: The Wisconsin Dept. of the American Legion Judge Advocate’s press response.]
Madison, Wis., Nov.11, 2024—Legionnaires in Marshall, Wisconsin, are trying to speak up about the mutiny happening over their deceased post member and his legacy through a “Stolen Valor Medal of Honor POW MIA” tribute. Two brothers in the community seek places for tabling in his name.
The tribute planning started on Memorial Day after the fourth pillar nominee’s death. The post nominee died in October 2021, and the following November meeting the brothers announced his death. A special meeting was called, and a vote was stalled with the bylaws while the new sheriff at Post 279 asserted dominance while disrupting county business.
The brothers, Caleb and Valar Rogers, and their tribute, advocate in favor of adding a fourth name to the Marshall Post they’ve been kicked out of during and ruffed up during a public Bingo session. Post 279 Commander Scott Relitz asserted dominance instructing Valar to leave and charged him with trespassing. District 3 Commander Jerry Hook responded with an email containing a letter from the Wisconsin American Legion State Adjutant Nicholas P. Lange regarding the matter.
“You have no basis in reality to hold yourself out as officers of Post 279. You were removed from office,” Lange’s Dec. 21, 2022, letter to the brothers states. “You have no authority to take any actions or publish notices of any kind on behalf of Post 279.”
Aside from receiving letters from the dept. judge advocate, the brothers are also on a Divine mission to restore the American Legion to order through Gen. George Washington’s Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior. Their mission speaks through the American Legion’s “GNUTS” reporting style at Outpost 422 about their mistreatment through their #279 affiliation. Through their tribute, the brothers hope to receive a salute from the National Commander acknowledging their efforts and be blessed with an anchor and chain at their Post by the Dept. of the Navy through Caleb’s Sea duty service.
The fourth pillar nominee’s name is Ralph Vivier. Like Mount Rushmore, the four names, which are referred to as “pillars,” fully exercise Americanism in the community. The Post is recognized by three names, “Luther-Hamshire-Pearsall Post 279.”
“Ralph was someone I grew up with playing around in the trailer park,” Caleb said. “Now reflectively as an adult, I would describe him through his native heritage. He was a well-respected Legionnaire along with being recognized by the Lakota as an honorary POW amongst the Sioux Nation. I especially loved the mason jars at his shed.”
According to the Rogers brothers, their #279 publication efforts with their Vivier tribute would make them a “four pillared” Post, which means four deceased members of Post Everlasting, and their names recognized as the guests of honor at each meeting and Post event. Deliberate barriers and physical confrontations are the backlash the brothers receive. Oftentimes, those who are deemed “loose cannons” at the Post are referred to as “GNUTS” and end up in the holding Post for misbehaving, which is the case with both Caleb and Valar.
“You usually want someone who has fallen in battle,” Caleb Rogers explained. “Or a special forces exemplary member with honorable service who has passed is eligible to have a Post in their name.”
Vivier was a prisoner of war during the Korean War and received a Purple for his prisoner service. He was an owner of the State Street Army Surplus Store. Vivier was remembered most for his passion for Children and Youth, which is one of the four American Legion pillars.
According to Caleb, the term is said to be originated by a general at Bastogne who phrased the term as “Not Under These Stars.” After going through the rites of passage of initiation at the American Legion Wisconsin 101st Dept. Convention in Madison, Wis., Bob Cobb became a GNUTS member and began publishing reports through the Wisconsin American Legion Press Association.
Vivier influenced the brothers at a young age, which led to serving in the military. His time down range and service during the Korean War brought honor to the Marshall community. Relitz stepped in and the GNUTS got out of hand and Vivier’s name gets dragged through in the press.
“I was reminded of Ralph Vivier’s captivity of service, as a POW during the Korean Way,” Caleb explained. “While I stood watch in the tomb of the Four Mighty Chaplains.”
When the brothers tried to discuss their Vivier tribute at County meetings, Commander Jerri Scallisi blew his cool like a locomotive whose veins bulged in his neck and ordered their removal. The dept. judge advocate is not in any position to be turning a blind eye to bias like Scallisi’s Madison Post did during the pandemic. Is getting rough with Legionnaires proper inculcation of carrying out the orders of the American Legion Constitution?
“I wanted to nominate Ralph for the Hall of Honor at the Madison VA main hospital where I work,” Valar explained who served with the Coast Guard. “During the pandemic, while serving as the #279 commander, Caleb and I kept Ralph’s name alive at County meetings and we were physically accosted by the county commander.”
The OUTPOST 422 GNUTS HISTORIAN REPORT—While serving under Scallisi, during the Dane County meetings, his frustration turned to rage who kept insisting Post #279 and the tribute were GNUTS in nature. Valar Rogers, tried to give his report along with building manager and brother, Caleb, were subjected by their command orchestrated the mutiny through the “Good Ol’ Boys Club,” which is a reference made by Past State Commander and Judge Advocate Bud Mautz. Scallisi was a member of American Legion Post 501’s two-pillared executive committee of a lesser jurisdiction in District 3. After witnessing one of the executive committee members, Jerry Scalisi, called out for his poor publication editing by one of Post 501’s members in an email and his squirrely conduct the GNUTS began with the flexing of trolling and intimidation like a bar at the VFW.
The Capitol Capstone Journal 
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