Ludwig N. Ladd

Ludwig Nitter Ladd was born November 10, 1903. His life would include a long association with the United States military, service during two major conflicts, a career in Stoughton business and civic affairs, and many years of leadership in the American Legion.

Ladd first entered military service in 1927. During World War II, he was commissioned as a lieutenant in 1942 and spent 27 months serving in the Pacific. Contemporary newspaper accounts later reported that his overseas assignments included Guam and Japan. By the postwar period he had attained the rank of captain and was assigned to the Air Training Command at Connally Air Force Base in Waco, Texas.

While stationed in Texas, Ladd became engaged to Rae Elizabeth Skibrek, a former Stoughton teacher. Rae had earned a bachelor's degree in education from Whitewater State Teachers College and completed graduate work at the University of Wisconsin. The couple married, and while living in Waco welcomed their first child, a daughter, Louise Elizabeth.

Ladd's military career continued into the era of the Korean War. He eventually attained the rank of Major in the United States Air Force before retiring from military service. His government headstone application identifies his highest rank as Major and records his service during both World War II and the Korean War.

After returning to Stoughton, Ladd established himself as a real estate broker and became active in veterans and community affairs. The American Legion became an especially important part of that service.

In June 1955, Ladd was elected Commander of Otis Sampson Post 59. Serving with him were Edward Welter as First Vice Commander, Charles Drotning as Second Vice Commander, John King as Adjutant, Clarence Seils as Finance Officer, Palmer Henderson as Service Officer, Vernon Owen as Historian and Obert Klefstad as Chaplain. Ladd was also selected as one of Post 59's delegates to the Wisconsin American Legion state convention in Milwaukee.

His Legion involvement soon extended beyond Stoughton. In 1957, Ladd was elected Commander of the Dane County Council of the American Legion, an organization then representing 22 American Legion posts throughout Dane County. Fellow Post 59 member Vernon Owen was appointed County Adjutant.

Ladd also became active in the Military Order of the World Wars, an organization of commissioned military officers who had served during wartime. He served on the executive committee of its Madison chapter and participated in veterans and patriotic activities throughout the area. In 1965, the organization honored him with a national citation for his patriotic activities.

His civic involvement extended beyond veterans organizations. Ladd was a familiar Stoughton businessman and, in 1959, sought the Republican nomination in a special election for a vacant seat in the Wisconsin State Assembly.

But Ladd's leadership at Post 59 was far from finished.

More than 15 years after his first term as Commander, he returned to lead the Post again. Ladd served as Post 59 Commander from 1971 through 1975, giving him two distinct periods of leadership — first in 1955–1956 and again during the early 1970s. His return to the position decades after becoming involved with the Post reflected the lasting role the American Legion played in his life.

Major Ludwig N. Ladd died October 14, 1975, at the age of 71. He was buried at Eastside Lutheran Cemetery in Stoughton. His military marker summarizes a career spanning decades of service: Major, U.S. Air Force, World War II and Korea.

From entering military service in 1927 and spending 27 months in the Pacific during World War II to becoming a retired Air Force Major, Dane County Legion Commander and multiple-term Commander of Post 59, Ludwig Ladd devoted a remarkable portion of his life to military and veterans service.