Charles H. Lytle of the U.S. Navy was the first African American serviceman from Beeville killed in World War II, dying on January 4, 1945, when the U.S.S. Ommaney Bay sank near the Philippines after being bombed. Listed as "Major Charles Lytle" in the official casualty list, he received a posthumous Purple Heart medal. In 1946, the American Legion granted a temporary charter to Charles Major Lytle Post 274A under sponsorship of local American Legion Post 274, which was run by Anglo veterans. Sixteen charter members of Post 274A met in the Masonic Hall and the Negro U.S.O. Club until their own building was completed in 1953 on lots donated by Judge James R. Dougherty, while his son Dudley T. Dougherty made further contributions and offered support at meetings. The facility hosted the Negro American Legion Convention in 1953, with post commander Lymas Langley, Jr. presiding, and in 1955 the post officially incorporated as Charles Major Lytle American Legion Post 818. During segregation, it served as a community meeting place, including for African American graduates of A.C. Jones High School, who held their own prom there from 1956 to 1963 after being barred from the school's prom, and for graduates of the segregated Lott-Canada School, who used it for proms until 1963. Other post leaders included John Mayberry, Ben Lott, George McCarty, and Eugene Langley. In 1997, because of declining membership, the post donated its building jointly to Jones Chapel United Methodist Church and Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church; Jones Chapel turned its share over to Bethlehem, which after serious consideration gave sole ownership to the Lott-Canada Alumni Association for reunions and other celebrations.