Major Axel Rasmussen, for whom the post is named, was a brother of R. William Rasmussen, of Sherwood. Born in Denmark then immigrating to Oregon he first enlisted as a trumpeter in Troop G, 4th U. S. Calvary, in the Spanish-American War, when still a boy in his teens in 1898. He served first in the Philippine Islands during the Spanish American War and in the Philippine insurrection and when the world war started he enlisted as a private in the Princess Pats, Canadian Light Infantry. He participated with them in all of their engagements until the fall of 1917. He was transferred to the United States Army as a major and served with the 28th Infantry Regiment, First U. S. Infantry Division, A. E. F. in all their engagements until he was killed in the Amines Sector, Rocouencourt, France on May 4, 1918. During his activity in France, Major Rasmussen received more than 30 citations, among them the Distinguished Service Cross from the United States government and the Croix de Guerre from France. He was a much-publicized soldier in foreign, as well as American, newspapers. Irvin S. Cobb devoted an entire page of his writings in the Saturday Evening Post to detail the major’s life and his death on the battlefield. Major Axel Rasmussen VFW Post No. 3452 was officially chartered on October 25, 1940, at the Tualatin Grange Hall, and the officers were installed by Past Department Commander, John H. Schum, wi the uniformed degree team of Peninsula Post 1453. Department Commander, Ira D. Canfield, drove all the way from Medford to see the post instituted, and his entire department staff were present. Chief of Staff Jack Mantor was Master of Ceremonies, with Oregon City Post V.F.W. as sponsors. All visiting officers of Department and District spoke at the banquet served by the Post ladies, following the ceremonial. Comrade R. W. Rasmussen presented the post with a beautiful National Flag in honor of his brother, the distinguished soldier who paid the supreme sacrifice in France in 1918 whom the Post was named.
Major Axel Rasmussen is buried at Lincoln Memorial Park and Funeral Home on Mount Scott.