McLean American Legion Post Welcomes New Commander

Glenn Yarborough was born to lead. Just as his terms as president of McLean Rotary ends, Yarborough became  Commander/President of the American Legion post in McLean.

Surrounded by 40 veterans and the auxiliary, Yarborough take his oath of office last week at Post 270 headquarters on Balls Hill Road. The post has 360 members, Yarborough said.

 A Vietnam veteran, Yarborough said he served three years in Vietnam as a captain and a major in the First Squad, 4th Cavalry, of the First Infantry, the Big Red One.

"The soldiers were wonderful," he recalled. "They did everything you asked them to do."

He commanded 150 of which 26 were killed, he said. "We lost too many."

His men ranged in age from 18-20, he said. He served in different places in Vietnam, but his combat duty was primarily with an artillery unit outside of Saigon, he said.

He has long been active in the American Legion. "It's an organization that really loves the community and feels obligated to give back to the community and to make a difference, he said.

Kenneth T. Johnson,  a World War II veteran, and McLean Post member, said the American Legion "preserves and reminds the generations of the great wars and makes us conscious of the sacrifices."

The McLean Post is also about "The comradeship of people who have gone through the same thing. It's a very high class Post," he said.