Lauren Gilbert “Duby” Reid

Duby Reid, the name sake of the American Legion Post 30.

The Sparks American Legion Post was named for Lauren “Duby” Gilbert Reid who was killed in action on October 8, 1918. Lauren Gilbert Reid was born in Gold Hill, Storey County, Nevada on March 28th 1896. Although reared on the Comstock, he was well known in other western Nevada counties where he had a legion of friends. 

When the call to the colors came Reid entered military service on June 24, 1918. After training he was sent to France to serve with Company G, 308th Infantry of the 77th Division. The unit entered the fight of the Argonne forest on the extreme left end of the line in September 1918. It was the fate of this young soldier to be one of the men in the famous “Lost Battalion”. He was wounded by shrapnel and died the next day of his wounds on October 8, 1918.

On the gateway of a little cemetery in France is written these words: “We gave our today that you might have your tomorrow.”

The construction of the current Post 30 building located on 730 4th Street was completed in 1980.

Notable Members

Valdo Renucci was born on September 25, 1921 and was raised in Sparks Nevada. He was a WWII veteran serving in Europe from the landing in Normandy to the end of the war. Valdo served two terms on the Sparks City Council, from 1975-1983 and is responsible for negotiating the acquisition of the Post Hall in Sparks in the 1970s. Valdo was the longest living member of the post and has served in many capacities to include Post Commander. He passed away in 2020 at the age of 98.

David Parsons was a long time member of Post 30 and a member in several other veterans organizations. David was a WWII veteran, he initially entered the military on December 11, 1941 and served in France and much of Germany during the war. After the War, most of his peace time duty was spent in Europe where he met his lovely wife, Denise. In 1957, they moved from France to Stead AFB. They both liked the area they decided to make Northern Nevada their home. After David retired from the military in 1962 he went into the candy business as a distributor for 23 years. David and Denise were responsible for revitalizing the Northern Nevada Veterans Cemetery in Fernley, Nevada. They were also responsible for the rehab of the 40 and 8 railway car donated to the State of Nevada from the Nation of France. The railway car now rests at the State Railroad Museum in Carson City. David passed away at the age of 84 in November of 2007.