enter name and hit return
THE BOYS OF A BROOKLYN CHURCH IN THE GREAT WAR
By Edmund G. Gress and Evelyn M. Gress
of the
Committee for Patriotic Work
of the
Bushwick Avenue Congregational Church
Cornelia Street and Bushwick Avenue
Brooklyn, N. Y.
Rev. John Lewis Clark, D. D., Pastor
1919
Published by the Committee
William Harrison BYRNES
November 7, 1918
In Flanders' fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place, and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly,
Scarce heard amidst the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders' fields."
OUR BOYS IN THE WAR
THERE were almost two hundred names on the honor roll of the Bushwick Avenue
Congregational Church at the close of hostilities.
Dr. and Mrs. Clark, he Chaplain in the New York State Guard, and she President
of the Red Cross Auxiliary, had three sons in service.
The Sunday School was almost depleted of its young men. An entire class,
Victor E. BERGSTROM, teacher, previously taught by Walter L. MacDONALD, entered the
service early. The Men's Club gave its president and several of its members.
President Edward V. CLARK, Jr., of the Philemon Bible Class, was one of eleven of
its members who served in tHe army or navy.
Tears were plentiful in the eyes of the mothers when the boys left for camp,
but the lads kept stout hearts and bravely set their faces toward the stem task ahead.
One young man, William Harrison BYRNES, gave his life; some of the boys came back
wounded and gassed, but in the main the intrepid fellows returned in better health
than when they went away.
The list of names that follows and the records that accompany some of them, afford
an interesting study of the varied experiences of soldiers, sailors and marines, each
doing well the work that his country required of him.
Where dates of enlistment antedate tbe period of this country's entry into the
Great War the boys served in the Mexican conflict just before they took up the new fight.
The authors could not verify spelling of all French names and give them as furnished by
the boys.
HONOR ROLL
ALLEN, WALTER HOWARD
Sergeant, Army. Battery D, 70th Art.
Ft. Hamilton, N. Y.;
Bush Terminal;
Port Newark;
Ft. Wadsworth;
France.
Mustered in July 16, 1917;
discharged March 8, 1919.
ALTMAN, ELLIS
Private, Army. Field Remount Squadron 301.
Camp Ft. Slocum, N. Y.;
Camp Joseph Johnston, Fla.,
Camp Merritt, N. J.;
Coblenz, Germany.
Mustered in November 17, 1917.
ARNOLD, RICHARD
Sergeant, First Lieutenant, Army. Co. C, 305th Inf.; Co. I, 111th Inf.
Camp Upton, N. Y.;
Overseas.
Gassed.
ATTARIAN, SARKIS
BADGER, HERBERT ANGUS
Chief Yeoman, Navy.
Receiving ship at New York and naval hospital;
principally U. S. Naval Intelligence Bureau.
Mustered in May 7, 1917;
discharged, April 30, 1919.
BANTA, FRANK D.
Sergeant, Army. Co. E, 106th Inf.
Camp Wadsworth, S. C.;
Overseas.
BANTA, LESTER M.
Private, Army. Co. E, 106th Inf.
Camp Wadsworth, S. C.;
Overseas.
BARTELS, LOUIS
Private, (First Class), Army. Co. K, 22nd Inf.
Ft. Slocum, N. Y.;
Ft. Jay, N. Y.
BARTH, ANDREW LOUIS
Private, Army. Motor Transport.
Camp Upton, N. Y.;
Camp Johnston, Jacksonville, Fla.;
Camp Stuart, Va.;
Camp Devens, Boston, Mass.
St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne.
Mustered in May 28, 1918;
discharged. July 3, 1919.
BECHT, PETER JR.
Private, Sergeant, Army.
3rd Co. Prov. Bn.; Co.C., 116th Field Bn.; Co.A, 107th Field Signal Bn.,32nd Div.
Camp Upton;
Camp Devens, Mass;
Selles; Mons;
St. Romaine;
Alsace Lorraine;
Chateau Thierry;
La Chemell Cregy.
Aisne-Marne;
Oise-Aisne;
Meuse-Argonne.
Mustered in January 5, 1918;
discharged May 23, 1919.
BEERS, LeROY
Private, Army. Co. M, 106th Inf.
Camp Wadsworth, S. C.;
Overseas.
BEIER, CONRAD A.
Private, Corporal, Sergeant, Army. 306th M. G. Battalion., Co. A, 77th Div.;
Headquarters, Camp Pontanezen, Brest.
Camp Upton, N. Y.;
British Sector in Flanders. Baccarat Sector;
Vesles River;
Oise-Aisne Offensive;
Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
Mustered in December 9, 1917;
discharged August 19, 1919.
BERGSTROM, ALBERT R.
Sergeant, Army. 65th Eng., Co. B.; Tank Corps, 326th Bn.
Camp Upton;
Gettysburg, Pa.;
Tobyhanna, Pa.
BERNHARD, FREDERICK S.
Second Lieutenant, R. M. A., Army. Air Service.
Hazelhurst Field, L. I.;
Eberts Field, Lonoke, Ark.;
Rockwell Field, San Diego, Cal.
Mustered in December 22, 1917;
discharged Jan. 4, 1919.
BERNHARD, JOHN ALBERT
Private, Army. Headquarter's detachment, 2nd Engineers, 2nd Division.
Camp Dix;
Camp Merritt; Liverpool;
Winchester; Southampton;
Havre;
Angers. Toulon-Tryon Sector;
Aisne Defensive;
Chateau-Thierry;
Aisne-Marne Offensive;
Marbache Sector;
St. Mihiel Offensive;
Meuse-Argonne Offensive;
Army of Occupation.
Mustered in Novemher 17,1917;
discharged August 13,1919.
BETHEL, EDWIN R.
Private, Army. Q. M. C.
Camp Mac Arthur, Waco, Tex.
BETHEL, KINGSLEY
Army of Occupation, Germany.
BETZ, ROBERT
Private, Private (First Class), Corporal, Sergeant, Army.
U. S. Base Hospital 57;
Field Hospital 121;
Evacuation Hospitals 3 and 5. Camp Upton, N. Y.;
Camp Greenleaf, Ga.;
England, France, Belgium and Germany.
Oise-Aisne Offensive--Field Hospita1 121;
Meuse-Argonne Offensive-Champagne Sector-Evacuation Hospital 3 and 5.
Mustered in April 7, 1918;
discharged September 2, 1919.
BOUGHTON, WALTER M.
Private, Sergeant, Electrician Sergeant (First Class), Army.
Coast Artillery School Detachment.
Mustered in August 5, 1917;
discharged January 10, 1919.
BROADLEY, HARVEY H.
Seaman, Navy.
U. S. S. Emeline,
U. S. S. Laub.
Thirteen months on French Coast and English Channel;
six months Boston Navy Yard. J.
Mustered in June 2, 1917;
discharged December 20, 1918.
BRAIDWOOD, CHARLES R.
BROWN, WILLIAM J.
Private, Corporal, Army. 828th Aero Squardon.
Camps:
-Kelly Field,
-San Antonio, Tex.;
-Selfridge Field, Mt.
-Clemens, Mich.;
-Field No.2., Garden City, L. I.;
-Hazelhurst Field, Mineola, L. I.;
-Winchester, England;
-Cherbourg, France;
-St. Maxient, France;
-Latrecey, Zone of Advance and Romorantin, France.
Musteled in January 5, 1918;
discharged April 25, 1919.
BUTLER, MILTON STANLEY
Boatswain (First Class), Navy. U. S. N. R. F.
Trips back and forth with ammunition.
BYRNES, WILLIAM HARRISON
Private, Army. Company K, 116th Inf., 29th Division.
Camp McClellan, Anniston, Ala.
Sailed for overseas June 15, 1918.
Center Defense of Alsace Sector,(July 25 to September 8, 1918);
Meuse-Argonne Sector (October 8, 1918);
Battle of Moolebrouck Hill (October 11);
Battle of Molleville Farm (October 15);
Battle of Bois de aumonte (October 22);
Capture of Etray Ridge.
Division released October 29, 1918,
after 21 days constant advancing against well trained Prussian guards.
Mustered in May 3, 1918;
died of pneumonia November 7, 1918.
CALVERT, LEROY
Private, Army.
Camp Dodge, Des Moines, Iowa.
Ordnance Department;
Motor Transport Det., 2nd Battalion, Howitzer Regt., 30th Art Brigade.
CAMIER, RAYMOND
Private, Army.
U. S. Army Hospital 8.
CARLEY, EDWARD ALBERT
Acting Sergeant, Army. Sanitary Corps,
Amherst College Student Training Corps.
Mustered in October 1, 1918,
discharged December 14, 1918.
CARSON, RUSSELL
Quartermaster, Seaman, Naval Instructor, Navy.
U. S. S. Freelance. Sea service;
Naval Base, Hampton Roads, Va.
Mustered in April 25, 1917;
discharged January. 29, 1919.
CHAMBERLAIN,ELIAS
Naval Reserve.
CHRISTIE, ARTHUR D.
Corporal, Army. Co. A, 304th Machine Gun Bn.,
Camp Upton,
Oil Mill, Dover, England;
Calais, France;
Mercheghem, France;
Camp Pontanezen, Brest, France;
Camp Karp, France. Baccarat Sector;
Vesle Sector;
Oise;
Meuse.
Mustered in October 11, 1917;
discharged May 19, 1919.
CHURCH, GEORGE R.
Private, Army. Co. L., 7th Inf.
CHURCH, HAROLD CLAY
Private, Army. Co. K, 106th Inf.
CLARK, ALFRED S.
Private, Army. 16th Co. Special Service.
Ft. Slocum, N. Y.;
Camp Mills, N. Y.
CLARK, EDWARD V., JR.
Private, Army. M. G. Co., 116th Inf., 29th Div., 5th Army Corps, 1st Army.
Ft. Slocum;
Camp McClellan, Ala.;
Camp Merritt, N. J.;
St. Nazaire, France;
Obigomy;
Eloy;
Newport News, Va.;
Camp Lee, Va. St. Fray;
Alsace Front;
Argonne Forest.
Mustered in May 4, 1918;
discharged May 28, 1919.
CLARK, JOHN DODGE
Private and Second Lieutenant, Army. Battery C, 15th Field Artil1ery, 2nd Division.
Stationed in Chaumont, France, for four months in fall of 1917.
Attended artillery school at Le Valdahon, France, November 1917 - March 1918.
Attached to French Aviation Squadron 59 and flew with them for about ten days in March 1918.
Started march to Germany, November 17, 1918, crossed Rhine December 13, 1918,
and remained with Army of Occupation until July 19, 1919.
Arrived in U. S. August 4, 1919.
Battles:
-Troyon sector (near Verdun) March 20 - May 4, 1918;
-Rupt sector (near Verdun) May 4 - May 12, 1918.
Both of these were comparatively quiet sectors.
-Aisne Defensive (Chateau Thierry) June 4 - 5, 1918.
The famous defense where the second division stopped the German rush on Paris.
Chateau Thierry sector continuation of the previous after the Boches had
been halted. June 6 - July 14, 1918.
-Aisne-Mame offensive July 18-July 26, 1918. The attack near Soiesons made by
the first and second divisions and the first Moroccan division on July 18 which
started the great German retreat.
-Marbache sector (near Toul) August 7 - 15, 1918. Quiet sector when the division recuperated.
-Saint Mihiel Offensive. Sept. 12 - 17, 1918. Second division attacked and went thru Thiaucourt,
most advanced point reached by American attack.
-Blanc Mont Offensive (Champagne) Officially included in Meuse-Argonne operations.
Second division fought here with General Gourand's Fourth French Army and was credited
in orders from Marshal Foch with having caused the evacuation of Rheims-October 1 - 28, 1918.
-Meuse-Argonne Offensive November 1 - 11, 1918. Delivered successful attack on November first
and followed up until armistice.
Ear-drum broken by gun-fire at Chateau Thierry.
Mustered in June 4, 1917;
discharged August 25, 1919.
CLARK, LEE
S. A. T. C.
Amherst, Mass.
Mustered in October 1, 1918;
discharged January 1, 1919.
CLARK, NORMAN A.
Printer (First Class), Navy.
Federal Rendezvous;
Naval Training Station, Pelham Bay Park, N. Y.;
Supply Depot Pier 72 East River, N. Y.
Mustered in April 30, 1917;
discharged February 12, 1919.
CLARK, PAUL MILTON
Private, Army. Battery F, 59th Artillery, C. A. C.
Fort Hamilton, N. Y.;
Aix-sur-Vienne, France;
Verdun Sector.
Battles:
-St. Mihiel,
-Argonne Forest.
Wounded.
Mustered in April 1917;
discharged January 30, 1919.
COLE, FRANK R.
Corporal, Army. 32nd Art. C. A. C.
Camp Eustis, Va.
COLEMAN, HOWARD J.
Private, Army. 16th Service Co.,
Signal Corps. Ft. Wood, N. Y.;
Fort Slocum, N. Y.
COYLE, RAYMOND S.
Private (First Class), Sergeant, Army. Co. A, 30th Inf., 3rd Division.
Camps:
-Greene N. C.;
-Upton, N. Y.;
-Mills, N. Y.;
-Merritt, N. J.;
-Southampton, England;
-Boudeville, France;
-Stainville, France;
-Marseilles, France;
-Mayen,
-Germany,
-Monreal,
-Germany.
Battles:
-Champagne-Marne;
-Aisne-Marne;
-St. Mihiel;
-Meuse-Argonne.
Mustered in December 9, 1917;
discharged June 21, 1919.
DASSAU, JOHN H.
Private, Army. Battery E, 59th Art.
C. A. C.
Overseas.
DENNISTON, MINOT R.
Sergeant, Army. Headquarters, 51st Inf.
Chicamauga Park, Ga.
Overseas.
DICKIESON, RAYMOND C.
Private, Army. Headquarters Co., 11th F. A., 6th Div.
Ft. Slocum, N. Y.;
Douglas, Ariz.;
Camp Doniphan, Okla.;
Camp Mills, N. Y.;
Camp Lee Valdahon, France.
Meuse-Argonne Offensive;
Avocourt;
Bois Cheppy;
Romagne;
Remonville;
Barricourt;
Farm de Moucourt;
Pouilly.
Mustered in February 26, 1918;
discharged June 17, 1919.
DICKSON, WILLIAM
Corporal, Army. 7th Co., 307th Inf.
Camp Upton, N. Y.
Overseas.
Wounded.
DIERKING, RUSSELL J.
Private, Army. 29th Co., 3rd Group,
M. G. T. C.
Camp Hancock, Augusta, Ga.
Overseas.
DILG, HERBERT
Seaman, Navy.
Pelham Bay.
U. S. S. Maumee-New York;
Boston;
New Orleans;
Port Arthur;
Guantanamo Bay;
Azores Islands;
Ponta Del Gada;
Brest.
Mustered in June 12, 1918;
discharged April 1919.
DIPPLE, HENRY
Seaman, Navy;
U. S. S. Leviathan;
Mustered in Navy June 14, 1917;
discharged June 28, 1918.
Private, Army.
24th Co., 6th T. B., 157 D. B.;
2nd Provo Det. 146th M. G. Bn.;
M. G. Repl. Co. 4;
Co. B, 315th Eng.
Camp Hancock, Ga.;
Newport, R. I.;
England;
Cuba;
Army of Occupation.
Mustered in Army August 28, 1918;
discharged June 28, 1919.
DOBBS, FRANKLIN MASSINA
Private (First Class), Army. 342d Fire and Guard Co., Detached Service.
Syracuse Recruit Camp:
Army Reserve Depot, Schenectady, N. Y.
Mustered in August 5, 1918;
discharged April 12, 1919.
DOELLE, FRED L.
Sergeant, Army. 327th Inf., Co. K.; Co. B., 2nd Corps School Det.
Camp Gordon, Ga.;
Overseas.
DORBECKER, GEORGE J.
Private, Army. Medical Det. 52 Pioneer Inf., 5th Army Corps.
Camp Wadsworth.
Meuse;
Argonne Operations;
Verdun Sector.
Mustered in June 22, 1917;
discharged April 19, 1919.
EBERHARDT, MATTHEW JR.
Sergeant, Army. 4th Co., 13th Regt.,
Q. M. C. O. and T Center 2;
Q. M. C. Base Section 2;
Attached Suppy Co. 311.
Ft. Hamilton, N. Y.
St. Mihiel;
Argonne;
Convoyer.
Mustered in August 5, 1917;
discharged June 12, 1919.
EMERSON, CHARLES MARRAT
Chief Petty Officer, Navy. Ordnance Department,
U. S. N.
Mustered in June 28, 1917;
discharged March 5, 1919.
ENGELHARDT, WILLIAM L.
Corporal, Army. Headquarters Co., 38th Inf.
Camp Greene, N. C.;
Overseas.
Gassed.
ERNES, FRANK
Private, Army. 30th Inf.,
U. S. Supply Co.
Overseas.
ETTENSPERGER, ARTHUR T.
Field Clerk, Army. Adjutant General's Division.
Port of Embarkation.
Mustered in November 1, 1918;
discharged April 14, 1919.
FOLKARD, AUGUST WM.
Wagoner, Army. Co. D, 106th Inf.
Camp Wadsworth, S. C.;
Belgium.
FRANKE, ROBERT M.
Sergeant, U. S. Marine Corps. Co. H. 2nd Bn., 13th Regt. U. S. Marines.
Parris Island, S. C.;
Quantico, Va.;
Marine training camps;
-Brest,
-St. Nazaire,
-Nantes, France.
Mustered in June 26, 1918;
discharged August 13, 1919.
FRANZ, HARRY
Private, Anny. Battery B, 56th Art.
C. A. C.
Overseas.
FRENCH, STANLEY ANDERSON
Cadet for Pilot. Squadron C. Royal Air Force, British Army.
Jesse Ketchum School of Aeronautics;
Long Branch Training Camp.
Mustered in September 18, 1918;
discharged December 6, 1918.
FRENCH, EDWARD M.
Private (First Class), Army. Battery C, 105th Field Artillery, 27th Division.
Fort Niagara N. Y.;
Camp Stuart;
Camp DeLouge;
Camp Wadsworth;
Camp Mills;
Camp Brest.
St. Mihiel;
Bourne de Cornouiller and Haraumont Ridge;
capture of Hills 378 and 379;
East bank of Meuse, in the Bois de Chaume and Bois du Plat Chene;
operations against Cote de Pomagne, Cote de Morimont and Cote Chateau.
Mustered in Apri1 4, 1917;
discharged March 1919.
FURST, JOHN R.
Corporal, Army. Battery F, 59th Artillery,
C. A. C.
Fort Hamilton, N. Y.;
Brest, France;
Aixesur-Vienne;
La Courtine;
Vignory.
Battles:
-St. Mihiel,
-Woods of La Chalade,
-Woods of Very,
-Woods of Ec1isfontaine,
-American Operations.
Mustered in July 17, 1917;
discharged January 30, 1919.
GAUS, CHARLES E.
Private, Army. Engineering Dept.
Pelham Bay, N. Y.
GAUS, CHRISTOPHER
Second Lieutenant, Army.
Ordnance Dept., Casual.
Camp Raritan Arsenal,
Metuchen, N. J.
Mustered in August 29, 1918;
discharged January 17, 1919.
GIECK, GEORGE
Private, Army. M. G. Co., 4th Inf.
Camp Upton, N. Y.;
Camp Stuart, Va.
Overseas.
Wounded.
GLACEL, ARTHUR J.
Sergeant, Army. Co. A, 304th M. G. Bn.; Co. K. 307th Inf.
Camp Upton, N. Y.
Alsace-Lorraine Sector;
Somme;
Chateau-Thierry;
Vesle.
Wounded.
Mustered in September 30, 1917;
discharged May 9, 1919.
GRAHAM, FRED C.
Naval Reserve.
GRANT, FREDERICK B.
Corporal, Army. Co. D, 1st Battalion, 328 Regt., 82nd Division.
Camp Upton;
Camp Gordon;
overseas.
Toul;
Morbache and St. Mihiel.
Wounded.
Mustered in September 28, 1917;
discharged May 29, 1919.
GROGAN, FRED J.
Private, Army. 152 Depot Brigade; M. G. Co., 67th Inf.
Camp Upton, N. Y.;
Camp Sheridan, Ill.
HADERER, CARL LESLIE
Private (First Class), Army. Battery F, 59th Artillery, C. A. C.
Fort Hamilton, N. Y.
Battles:
St. Mihiel,
Woods of La Chalade,
Woods of Very,
Woods of Eclisfontaine.
Mustered in August 5, 1918;
discharged January 30, 1919.
HADERER, GEORGE F.
Private, First Class, Corporal, Sergeant, Gun Pointer, Gun Commander, Army.
59th Heavy Artillery,
Coast Artillery Co., 32nd Brigade Mobile Artillery.
Fort Hamilton, N. Y.;
eight camps in France;
Camp Upton, N. Y.;
St. Mihiel;
Woods of LaChalade (Argonne Forest);
Woods of Very;
Woods of Edisfontaine;
American Operations.
Mustered in March 8, 1917;
discharged January 30,1919.
HAMMOND, FRANK T.
HAYDEN, WILLIAM MARCUS
Navy. Base 9,
European Waters.
HAYNE, ROBERT C.
Sergeant Army. Co. E, 302d Engineers, 77th Division.
Camp Upton, N. Y.
Baccarat Sector.
Vesle Sector Oise,
Aisne,
Meuse,
Argonne Offensive.
Mustered. in September 30, 1917;
discharged May 10, 1919.
HAYNE, LOUIS
Sergeant, Army.
HENDERSON, JOHN B.
Corporal, Army. 18th Squadron, 2nd Provo Regt., Aviation Section, Waco, Tex.
HOFFRITZ, HERBERT R.
Private, Army. Co. A, 3rd Prov. Regt. San Domingo, D. R.
HOFMANN, GEORGE JOHN
Sergeant, Army. M. G. Co. 11th Inf., 5th (or Meuse) Division.
Camp Forrest, Ga.
Arrived at Brest May 2.
St. Die Sector sixty days.
St. Mihiel drive and Argonne Forest twice, second time crossing Meuse River.
Mustered in July 14, 1917;
discharged July 31, 1919.
HOLDEN, LESTER S,
Corporal, Army. 306th Inf., Co. M.
Camp Upton, N, Y.
Overseas.
HOLDEN, RUSSEL V,
Navy. U. S. S. West Point.
Naval Training Station, Rockland, Me.
HOYNS, GEORGE DEWEY
Private, Army. Co. C, 102d Signal Corps, 1st Battalion, 27th Division.
Camps:
-Van Cortlandt Park;
-Hill, Va.;
-Wadsworth, S. C.;
-Stuart, Va.;
-St. Omer, France;
-Oudizede, France;
-Brest, France.
Battles:
Kemmel Hill,
-Dickeback,
-Somme,
-St. Quentin,
-Le Catelat,
-Cambrai,
-Bohair,
-Chateau Thierry.
Wounded and gassed.
Mustered in September 22, 1917;
discharged March 25, 1919.
JAMES, WILLIAM JOHN
JOHNSON, CYRIL AUGUSTUS
Private, Army. Co. C, 5th Inf.
Camp Taylor, Ky.
Overseas.
JOHNSTON, HERBERT
Seaman (First Class), U. S. Merchant Marine.
Training Station at Boston;
Coastwise on Merchant Vessels.
Mustered in September 3, 1918;
discharged January 10, 1919.
JONES, ROBERT F.
Private, Army. Battery C, 105th F. A.
Ft. Niagara, N. Y.;
Camp Wadsworth, S. C.;
Newport News, Va.;
Overseas.
KANTRO, EDWARD T.
Sergeant, Army. 328 Ambulance Company, 307 Sanitary Train, 82d Division.
Camp Gordon, Ga.
Meuse,
Argonne,
Toul Sector,
Marbache Sector,
St. Mihiel Offensive.
Mustered in September 30, 1917;
discharged May 12, 1919.
KELLNER, LOUIS E.
Private, Army. M. S. T. U. 306, 29th Division;
Overseas.
KIMMEL, HARRY .
Private, Army. U. S. A. R. O.
Chicago, Ill.
KING, STANLEY
Yeoman, (2nd class), Navy.
KLEIST, WILLARD
KORROW, CHARLES THOMAS
Corporal, Army. Co. C. 302d Engineers, 77th Division.
Camp Upton, N. Y.
Flanders,
Lorraine,
Vesle River,
Meuse,
Argonne Offensive.
Wounded.
Mustered in September 30, 1917;
discharged January 6, 1919.
KRAHE, GEORGE W.
Sergeant, Army. 1st Co., Headquarters, S. O. S.
Tours, France.
KREILING, FRED. C.
Private, Army. Co. G, 3rd Engineers;
Co. R, 116 Engineer Corps.
Camp A. A. Humphries, Va.
Overseas.
LANG, PHILIP J.
Naval Reserve.
LAUFFER, WILLIAM
S. A. T. C. Navy Section.
LAW, DONALD
Private, Army. 1st Cavalry, Troop C.
Spartan burg. S. C.
LAW, MILTON
Merchant Marine.
LEWIS, ALVA E.
Bugler, Army. Co. A, 318th M. G. Bn. 8lst Division.
Camp Hancock;
Camp Mills;
England;
Camp Cherbourg, France.
Vosges Front;
Verdun;
Meuse-Argonne.
Mustered in May 26, 1918;
discharged June 27, 1919.
LINDENMEYER, JOSEPH A.
Private, Army: Battery F, 119th Field Artillery.
Ft. Hamilton, N. Y.
LOWEY, ALFRED R.
Private, Army. 2nd Bn., 6th.Co. I. O. T. C.
Camp Pike, Little Rock, Ark.
MacDONALD, HAROLD
Private, Marines. 224 Co. Battery B, 71st Co., 7th Regt.
Edgewood, Md.;
Snipers School, Quantico, Va.;
Canague, Cuba.
MARQUART. WILLIAM F.
Seaman, (Second Class), and Fireman, Third Class,. Navy. N. T. S.,
Great Lakes, Ill.;
N. T. S., Hampton Roads, Va.;
Navy Rifle Range, Virginia Beach, Va.;
U. S. S. Mississippi (Battleship).
Mustered in September 17, 1918;
discharged January 19, 1919.
MARTIN, ALLEN FRANKLIN
Corporal, Army. Battery E, 70th Art. C. A. C.
Ft. Hamilton, N. Y.
Overseas.
Mustered in April 9, 1917;
discharged March 8, 1919.
MARSH, WALTER C.
Private, Corporal, Army. Co. B., 313th Inf., 79th Division.
Camps Upton and Meade.
Verdun Sector.
Mustered in May 26, 1918;
discharged February 25, 1919.
MASCHMAN, JOHN
Sergeat, Army. 70th Art. Battery C.
Overseas.
McCROSSON, ARTHUR G.
Private, Army. Ambulance, Co., 8th U. S. Army.
Ft. Slocum, N. Y.;
Corozal, Panama.
McNARY, CLARENCE W.
Private (First Class), Army. 14th Inf.;
Headquarters 106th Inf.
Camp Wadsworth, S. C.;
Overseas.
Mustered in April 23, 1917;
discharged April 2, 1919.
MEAD, WILLIAM F.
Private, Army. 333rd Fire and Guard Co.
Camp Mills, N. Y.
METZER, JOHN J., JR.
Private, Corporal, Sergeant, Army. Bakery Co. 101.
Mexican border;
Camp Wadsworth, S. C.;
two months recruiting;
toured the A. E. F. with soldier show troupe.
Mustered in July 1, 1916;
discharged June 24, 1919.
MILLER, EDWARD G., JR.
Private, Chemical Warfare Service, Army. Co. L, 3rd Battalion.
Ft. Slocum;
Edgewood Arsenal, Edgewood, Md.
Slightly gassed.
Mustered in May 11, 1918;
discharged December 12, 1918.
MILLER, HARRY
Private, Army. 302d Field Artillery,
Ordnance Department, 151 Field Artillery Brigade.
Camp Upton, N. Y.;
Camp Hill, Va.;
Camp De Souge.
St. Mihiel Sector,
Vesle Front.
Mustered in October 11, 1917;
discharged May 7, 1919.
MILLIKEN, HOWARD
Private, Army. Co. M, 33rd Inf.
Camp Upton;
Camp Shelby, Miss;
Ft. Slocum;
Camp Nicholls, La.;
Panama Canal Zone;
Camp Gaillard.
Guard duty along the Canal and on the Locks and Piers.
Mustered in July 16, 1918;
discharged June 17, 1919.
MONTGOMERY, HOWARD GREGG
Corporal, Sergeant Army. Co. D., 23rd Regt., 27th Division;
transferred to 165th Inf., Co. R., 42nd Division;
transferred to Headquarters Co. 165th Inf. Pharr, Tex.;
Camp Millwood, N: Y.;
Camp Mills,
several in France, Belgium, Luxemburg and Germany.
Luneville Defense Sector;
Baccarat Defense Sector;
Champagne Sector;
Aisne-Marne Offensive;
St. Mihiel Offensive;
The Woevre;
Argonne-Meuse Offensive;
Argonne-Meuse-Last Phase;
Heights of Sedan;
Army of Occupation
(St. Mairie, Belgium; Useldingen, Luxemburg; Bollendorf, Germany; Remagen-am-Rhein.)
Mustered in February 28, 1916;
discharged May 7, 1919.
MOORE, FRANK
MUELLER, LOUIS C.
Chief Electrician (Radio), Navy.
Inspecting & wiring diagrams of all radio & radio compass stations in the third naval district.
Mustered in September 7, 1918;
discharged June 24, 1919.
MUNSKE, CHARLES
Sergeant, Army. Battery C, 70th Art., C. A. C.
Ft. Hamilton, N. Y.;
Iona Islands.
MYTINGER, LEESTAYLEY
Private, Sergeant, Marines. 95th Co., 1st Bn., 6th Regt., 2nd Division.
Parris Island, S. C.
Arrived at Brest November 3, 1918.
Started Immediately for front; was delayed and joined 2nd Division November 17.
Hiked into Germany and was stationed at Honnigan-am-Rhein until return.
Mustered in June 22, 1918;
discharged August 13, 1919.
NAGEL, WILLIAM F.
Motor Squadron.
NANTZ, CHESTER
Private (First Class), Army. Headquarters Troop (Cavalry).
Camp Mills;
Camp Upton;
overseas.
Operated as dispatch rider with 27th and 30th Divisions; 2nd Army corps;
British 4th Army.
Belgium;
Busigny;
St. Souplet;
Selle River;
Mizingham;
Hindenburg Line;
Bellicourt;
Mauroy;
Brancourt;
Premont.
Slightly gassed.
Mustered in February 27, 1918;
discharged March 4, 1919.
NEAL, WARREN K.
Sergeant, Army. Co. K., 311th Inf.;
264th Aero Squadron;
1107th Aero Squadron;
1102 Aero Squadron;
1106 Replacement Squadron;
649th Aero Squadron;
Camp Dix;
Hazelhurst Field;
Romsey;
Hounslow Heath;
Wyton;
Codford;
Salisbury Plains;
Le Havre;
St. Maxins;
Romorantin.
In several air raids.
Mustered in December 15, 1917;
discharged July 9, 1919.
NEILSEN, ALBERT
NELSON, EDWARD E.
Second Lieutenant, Captain, Army. 306th F. A.
Plattsburg Training Camp;
Camp Upton, N. Y.;
A. E. F. Baccaret Sector;
Vesle Sector;
Oise-Aisne Offensive;
Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
Mustered in May 14, 1917;
discharged May 12, 1919.
NORRIS, ALFRED T.
Navy.
U. S. S. Liberator.
OHLIGER, ROBERT
Sergeant, Army. Quartermaster corps.
Fort Slocum;
Camp Johnson;
Camp Greene.
Mustered in November 20, 1917;
discharged March 13, 1919.
PASCAL, ALBERT
U. S. Naval Aviation Force.
Camp Hingham, Mass.;
Ile Tudy, Finistetre, France.
PATERSON, JOHN
Private,
Canadian Army.
Co. 3, 15th Canadian Battalion, 48th Highlanders, 1st Division, B. E. F. Toronto, Canada;
Witley Camp, Surrey England;
France;
Belgium and Germany.
Cambrai;
Sensie Canal;
Somain, Hasnon, Foret de Vicoigne;
march to the Rhine from Masny, through Cologne;
outpost duty at Loope, Engelskitchen and Hardt.
Mustered in April 8, 1918;
discharged May 10 , 1919.
PFEFFER, BERNARD
Navy. U. S. S.
Florida.
European Waters.
POLLOCK, DONALD
POMEROY, CLARENCE H.
Field Clerk, Army. Headquarters Base Section 2,
Bordeaux, France.
Mustered in February 10, 1918;
discharged August 13, 1919.
PREISS, ARTHUR PAUL
Ship's Cook, Navy.
Eighteen months overseas.
Mustered in July 18, 1917;
discharged September 8, 1919.
PRESLER, MATTHEW G.
Sergeant Chauffeur, Air Service. 677th Aero Squadron.
Ft. Slocum, N. Y.;
Kelly Field, Texas;
Morrison, Va.
Mustered in December 11, 1917;
discharged March 20, 1919.
PRIDDY, BENJAMIN EMMETT
Chief Machinist Mate, Navy.
Philadelphia,
Pelham Bay, N. Y.
Mustered in.May 3, 1918;
discharged December 21, 1918.
REED, CHARLES
RITTER, HENRY G.
Private, Army. 5th Training Bn.; 157th Depot Brigade, 20th. Co.; 11th Co.; M. G. T. C.
Camp Gordon, Ga.;
Camp Dix, N. J.
Mustered in August 28, 1918;
discharged January 2, 1919.
ROBINSON, JOHN EMERSON
Corporal, Sergeant, (First Class), Master Hospital Sergeant, Army. Medical Department.
Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind.;
General Hospital 6, Ashville, N.C.
Base Hospital,
Camp Stuart, Va.
Mustered in September 15, 1917;
discharged December 19, 1918.
ROGERS, PERCY A. S.
Corporal (Mail Staff), Army. Headquarters Co., 48th Inf.; 20th Division.
Ft. Slocum;
Camp Stuart, Va.;
Camp Hill, Va.;
Camp Sevier, S. C.;
Camp Jackson, S. C.
Mustered in May 21, 1918;
discharged January 23, 1919.
SCHAEFER, FREDERICK
Corporal, Army. 362nd Ambulance Co., 91st Division.
Camp Lewis, Washington.
St. Mihiel;
Meuse-Argonne;
Lys;
Scheidt.
Mustered in March 30, 1918;
discharged May 3, 1919.
SCHALLER, STANLEY
Private, Army. Co. C., 68th Inf.
Camp Sheridan, III.
SCHMITZ, ARTHUR E.
Private, Army. Troop C, 1st Cavalry; 104th M. G. Bn., Co. A, 27th Div.
Spartanburg, S. C.;
Camp Hill, Va.;
Overseas.
SCHOLTZ, HERBERT WILLIAM
Private (First Class), 27th Co. Military Police, 27th Division.
Spartanburg, S. C.;
Capture of Mt. Kemmell;
Cambrai;
Hindenburg Line;
La Selle River;
Joni de Mar Ridge;
Vaistaat Ridge;
The Knoll;
Guellmont Farms;
Queenmont Farm;
St. Maurice River;
East Poperinge Line;
Dickebush Sector.
Slightly wounded by shrapnel.
Mustered in April 4, 1918;
discharged April 1, 1919.
SCHROEDER, FREDERICK
Private, Army. Co. G, 305th Inf.;
Post Eng. Det.
Camp Upton, N. Y.;
Overseas.
SCHROETER, AUGUST C.
Private, Army. Battery B, 59th Art. C. A. C.
Fort Wadsworth, N. Y.
Overseas.
SCHUSTER, JOHN
Private, Army. Co. H, 2nd Bn., 310th Reg. Inf.; 303 Engineers., Co. A.
Camp .Dix, N. J.;
University of Marseilles.
SEEKAMP, ROBERT J.
Private, Corporal, Sergeant, Army. Detachment No. 2.,
Aircraft Service-Aircraft Production.
Camp Syracuse; Det. No.4, A. S. A. P.-Buffalo, N. Y.; Det. No.2, A. S. A. P.-New York City.
Mustered in September 5, 1918;
discharged January 24, 1919.
SIEGEL, HENRY M.
Private, Army. 3rd Co., 152nd Depot Brigade, Medical Dept.
Camp Upton;
Camp A. A. Humphries.
SPANGEHL, CHARLES
Private, Army. Battery C, 105th F. A.
Spartanburg, S. C.;
Newport News, Va.
SPEED, WILLIAM H.
Corporal, Army. Battery E, 306th Field Artillery.
Overseas.
SPRENGER, WILLIAM
Private, Army. Battery F, 59th Artillery.
Fort Hamilton, N. Y.;
Overseas.
SPRIGGS, MYRON W.
Private, Army. Co. K., 14th Reg.; 13th U. S. Cavalry, Troop D.
Spartanburg, S. C.;
Sam Fordyce, Tex.;
Ft. Clark, Tex.
STEINER, A. J.
Private, Army. 306th Inf., Co. L,
Overseas.
STRAUB, EDWARD
Private, Corporal, Sergeant (Gun Commander), Army. 1st Co.
New York Coast Artillery;
Battery B. 59th Artillery, C. A. C.
Fort Wadsworth, N. Y.;
Fort Hamilton, N. Y.;
France;
Camp Upton, N. Y.
St. Mihiel Offensive;
Argonne-Meuse Offensive.
Mustered in July 25, 1917;
discharged January 30, 1919.
STRAUB, LOUIS
Assistant Band Leader, Army.
13th Band New York Coast Artillery,
Headquarters Company. 59th Artillery Co.
Fort Wadsworth, N. Y.;
Fort Hamilton, N. Y.;
France;
Camp Upton, N. Y.
St. Mihiel Offensive;
Argonne-Meuse Offensive.
Mustered in July 16, 1917;
discharged January 30, 1919..
TAYLOR, BYRON C.
Sergeant (First Class), Medical Department, Army. Headquarters Unit.
Camp Crane, Allentown, Pa.
Mustered in May 12, 1917;
discharged January 17. 1919.
TEMPLETON, WILLIAM C.
Corporal, Army. Headquarters 30th Regt.
Camp Eustis, Va.
THATCHER, HARRY MORSE
Captain, Army. Special service in Army Transport Service,
Instructor Q. M. Schools,
Motor Transport Corps.
Staff Officer on Staff of the Commanding General,
Ports of Embarkation. Hoboken, N. J. and Newport News, Va.
Also in Motor Convoy Service under Chief Motor Transport Corps. Headquarters.
Port of Embarkation, Hoboken, N. J.;
Newport News, Va.;
Camp Johnston, Fla.;
Camp Crane, Pa.;
Headquarters Motor Convoy Service, Buffalo, N. Y.;
Kearney, N. J.;
Brest, St. Nazaire;
Paris, Nante, Pauillac and Bordeaux, France.
Mustered in July 3, 1917.
THOMAS, GEORGE WILLIAM
Corporal Instructor, Infantry, Canadian Army.
Company 1, No.4 Platoon, Commander 207th Battalion, Princess Pat Division.
Camp Rockcliff, Ottawa;
Halifax Camp, N. S.;
Amherst Camp, N. S.
In Hospital seven months through accident incurred while instructing bayonet fighting.
Mustered in June 6, 1916;
discharged September 30, 1917.
TRIBUTE, LEON OLIVER
Private, Army. Co. B, 307th Tank Corps.
Camp Polk, Raleigh, N. C.
TWACHTMAN, AUGUST R.
Private, (FirstClass),Army. Motor Truck Co. 384.
Ft. Sam Houston, Tex.
VANDERHOOF, BENJAMIN F.
Private, Mechanic, Corporal, Sergeant,
Supply Sergeant, Army. Co. G, 5th Inf.; Co. D, 33rd Inf.; Co. D., 5th Inf.;
Headquarters Co. 84th Inf.;
Headquarters Co. 29th Inf.
Panama Canal Zone;
Camp Beauregard, La.;
Camp Shelly, Miss.
Mustered in December 16. 1914;
discharged July 22, 1919.
VERMLING, GEORGE
Corporal, Army. 22nd Eng.; Co. L, 22nd Inf.; Co. T, 2nd Inf., Rep. Bn.; 27th Co., G. S. I.
Ft. Hamilton;
Frankford Arsenal, Philadelphia, Pa.;
Camp Lee. Va.;
Jefferson Barracks, Mo.
VERSFELT, WILLIAM HOLLY
Private (First Class), Corporal, Army. Battery B, 59th Artillery, C. A. C.
Fort Hamilton, N. Y.;
Fort Wadsworth, N. Y.;
Fort Wright, N. Y.
St. Mihiel Offensive,
Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
Mustered in July 15, 1917;
discharged January 30, 1919.
VON DER LIETH, GEORGE
Sergeant. Army. Troop L, 1st Cavalry.
Spartanburg, S. C.
VON DER LIETH, HARRY
Second Lieutenant, Army. Co. B., 106th M. G. Battalion. McAllen, Tex.;
Bay Ridge, N. Y.;
Spartanburg, S. C.
All battles and engagements of the 27th Division.
Mustered in March 8, 1915;
discharged April 2, 1919.
VOUGHT, FREDERICK D.
Corporal, Army. Post Q. M.,
Quartermaster's Detachment, Fort Jay, N. Y.
Mustered in June 25, 1918;
discharged February 25, 1919.
VREELAND, CHESTER
Private, Army. 30th Co., 8th Bn.
Camp Upton, N. Y.
WASCHE, ARNOLD
Corporal, Army. Co. I, 307th Regt.
Camp Upton;
Overseas.
WAY, WILLIAM P.
Sergeant, Army. Co. A, 302nd Engineers.
Overseas.
WEAVER, THEODORE W.
Corporal, Army. Co. L, 306th Inf.; 310 Aero Squadron; 4th Armourers Draft.
Camp Upton, N. Y.;
Kelly Field Number I, London.
WEIDNER, FREDERICK, JR.
Private, (First Class), Corporal, Second Lieutenant, Army.
Charge of transportation of the Coast Defenses of Southern New York;
training Camp at Washington, D. C.
Mustered in December 3, 1917.
WEIDNER, WALTER
Sergeant, Army. Q. M. Corps.
Fort Hamilton, N. Y.
Mustered in August 2, 1917;
discharged February 21, 1919.
WELFORD, HARRY W.
Sergeant (First Class), Army. Medical Training Company No.1.
Camp Joseph E. Johnston, Fla.
Mustered in December 8, 1917;
discharged January 8, 1919.
WELLER, CHARLES F.
Private, Corporal, Cadet, Army. 106th Inf., 27th Division. 1st Army;
Headquarters-219 M. P. Co.; 110th M. P. Bn.
Camp Wadsworth;
Camp Green;
Camp Merritt;
Camp Dix;
Gieones, France.
Mustered in April 23, 1917;
discharged June 26, 1919.
WELSH, ROBERT EDGAR
Chief Electrician. U. S. Coast Guard. Virginia Beach, Va.
WERNER, AUGUST A.
Private, Army. Co. G., 306th Inf.
Overseas.
Captured by enemy.
WHITE, CLAUDE E.
Sergeant, Army. 5th Co., 13th Regt.; Battery C, 38th Art.
Ft. Hamilton, N. Y.;
Camp Eustis, Va.
WILLE, ROBERT S.
Corporal, Army. 306th Inf. Headquarters Co.
Camp Upton, N. Y.
Overseas.
WITTMAN, WILLIAM J.
Private, Army. Co. S, 107th Inf.; Headquarters, 27th Division.
Spartanburg, S. C.;
Over seas.
WOOLSEY, THOMAS
Private, Private (First Class), Sergeant, Army. Medical Department, 58th Pioneer Inf.
Yale Field, New Haven, Conn.;
Camp Greene, N. C.;
Camp Wadsworth, S. C.;
Camp Dix, N. J.
Mustered in November 16, 1917;
discharged JaJ)uary 18, 1919.
WURZ, J. CHARLES
Farrier, Army. Co. B, Veterinary Corps.
Overseas.
ZIMMERMAN, MAXWELL E.
Private, Army. Headquarters Co., M. G. T. C.
Camp Hancock, Ga.
Mustered in 26 May 29, 1918;
discharged January 10, 1919.
ZWEIBRECKER, LEONARD
Seaman, Navy. U. S. S. Albany.
Training received at Key West, Fla.
Shipped to Brooklyn and transferred aboard U. S. S. Albany, a cruiser doing
convoy duty on the high seas, taking troops and cargo transports over there.
Mustered in May 1918;
discharged March 1919.
New York State Guard
REV. JOHN LEWIS CLARK
(Chaplain, 13th Regiment);
J. Albert Beers;
William Bingle;
Arthur Bond;
Wallace Boughton;
Harold Davidson;
James Henry Devoe;
Wilfred D. R. Ellsworth;
Alfred E. Hartland;
Clifford R. Hartley;
Gustave Kannofsky;
Frank Lefferts;
Alfred J. Orphal;
Charles Priddy
Harry Priddy;
V. Schmous;
William Stegman.
It would be of historic interest, had we room in this book, to have each boy tell his own
personal adventures. One of the young soldiers, Sergeant George F. HADERER, prepared a
lengthy account of the experiences of a large group of members of the 59th regiment, C. A. C.,
American Expeditionary Forces.
Excerpts from his story follow:
Personal Experiences in the War.
"I enlisted in the 13th Regiment National Guard, State of N ew York on March 8th 1917.
In April of the same year war was declared with Gennany. On July 16, 1917, our regiment
was called into Federal Service.
"December 31, 1917 the 59th Artillery was organized and I, together with a lot of my pals,
was transferred to this regiment.
"On March 27,1918 we left Fort Hamilton for good, sneaking away in the early hours of
the morning, as if we were afraid somebody would see us. We embarked on the S. S. Olympic.
After seven days of water and submarine scares we finally landed at Brest, France.
"The barracks in which we were located were supposedly built by Napoleon, but I am inclined
to think that they were built a few days after Noah's Ark. The next morning we hiked to the
railroad station at Brest and at seven that evening we started by train to the town of Limoges.
The cars assigned to our Battery were old 3rd class passenger cars, eight men to a compartment.
This trip lasted four days during which time we lived on 'iron rations' consisting of corn beef,
canned hash, canned roast beef, motzahs, hardtack and one can of jam for eight men.
"We arrived at Limoges on the 10th of April. The barracks assigned to us consisted of stables,
over which was a sort of storeroom, and on the floor of this, we slept, together with the rats
and a few other animals.
"We arrived in Vignory just after a rain storm and, behold there was another rainbow to greet us.
"The town of Vignory was heaven compared to the other towns which we had been in. The people
were of a better class. the place was cleaner, and the people neat, polite and not so ignorant)
and they were always trying to do something to please us.
"One Sunday evening we were all sitting in front of the Town Hall, listening to a band concert,
by our own band, when suddenly the buglers came running up the street blowing officers' caU.
Tbe officers immediately went to headquarters and there they received orders to prepare to go
to the front immediately. Oh Boy; weren't we happy.
"It was Sunday, August 25th, when we finally started for the front. It was pouring rain and we
were all drenched to the skin within five minutes, but we did not mind that at all.
"We finally arrived at S. Jacques, St. Mihiel Sector. Here we enjoyed a few hours of real
sleep. We put the guns into position and that night at 9 o'clock I was awakened to go out
on the guns and take up my post as gun pointer. Oh, what a night. It was raining, cold, and
we were chilled to the bone and wet clean through, but the German shells falling all around
us made us forget all this for a little while. We all stood around our guns, swearing because
we were not allowed to answer the German's fire. Every once in a while somebody would yell
'Why the hell don't we fire back'.
Suddenly a whistle blew, Lieutenant HOWARD, our battery commander, yelled through his megaphone
'Battery F, prepare for action.'
The gun commander yelled back 'All ready, sir'. We were all on our toes. The German shells,
the rain, the cold, everything was forgotten. It seemed a year before the command was given
'No.1, fire'. Right on the minute of one A. M., September 12th, every gun on the whole front
opened up at about the same time. We sure were in our glory then. We made those old guns talk
like they never ta1ked before. The doughboys went over the top at 5 A. M. and went through the
German lines like a dose of salts, nothing could stop them. At twelve noon our battery was
ordered to 'Cease fire,' and move up forward because the Germans had retreated out of our range.
"The Argonne Forest drive started the night of September 25th or to be exact 2.25 A. M.
September 26, 1918. They fired the guns from this position for two days and nights, and it sure
was some racket. Orders were supposedly received to move on ahead, so we packed up our duds
and went up to the tractors. The orders to move turned out to be a fake, given by some
German spy for the purpose of getting us into a trap. Luckily it was found out in time. The spy
was caught and according to rumors, executed.
"One night we pitched our tents in a hurry and when we woke up in the morning we found we were
right over some dead horses. When the sun came up it was a little unpleasant, but we became used
to it and ate our meals there as if we were in a New York hotel (bread fried in bacon grease).
We fired a few shots here at Very and then had to move again in order to catch up to the Germans.
We moved to Eclisfontain, otherwise known as dead horse valley or 'Death Valley.' There were
hundreds of dead horses, dead men and dead everything lying all around, and the smell was
something terrible. The mud here was over our knees and after moving our tractors and guns
through it all, it was worse still. Luckily we all had rubber hip boots so the mud did not
bother us much. There were hundreds of dead American and German soldiers, arms, legs and
heads scattered everywhere. There was some terrible fighting here due to the fact that it
was the beginning of the open plain outside of the Argonne Forest. In this position the
tractors and tractor men had to work day and night, keeping the roads clear, and pulling
trucks out of ditches. We opened fire here on October 11th and fired ceaselessly until
October 26th. The fighting here was terrific, division after division being thrown in but
making little headway. Shells were falling around us by the thousands but none of our men
were killed, although quite a few were badly wounded.
"Our men were all in by this time, due to overwork, exhaustion, exposure, sickness, etc. Out
of 233 men in the battery we had to send nearly 150 back to our rest billet and hospital about
eight miles in the rear,of our position. At this position we broke all American, French and
English records for firing 8 inch Howitzers, firing 400 shots in 5½ hours. Here we received
another citation for our good work in the Argonne Forest and also one for breaking the
artillery record.
"We left the Woods of Eclisfontain around October 28th and proceeded to a place called
Fleeville. The drive from this position was known as the 'American Operations' from November
1st to November 4th. The drive started at 3:25 A. M. November first. I was promoted to
Gun Commander and given charge of No.3 gun and crew. Here again we broke all records,
including the one which we made ourselves at Eclisfontain. We fired 597 shots in 5½ hours.
Here our battalion (the 3rd) was cited again, making the fourth citation that we had received.
Everybody knows how this drive ended so I cannot say much about it. I remember the first
batch of prisoners which were brought in, old men, young men and men who were not men at all.
They were about the worst looking bunch of soldiers that I ever laid eyes on. Then, too,
I remember the first stream of wounded coming back. One fellow especially I will always recall,
he was walking with an improvised crutch and on looking at him closely I noticed that his foot
was shot off, yet he was walking back to the dressing station, and when he passed our gun
he grinned and yelled 'Give 'em hell, boys. We'll finish them this time'.
"On November 11th the Armistice was signed and we moved back off the front on the 15th of
November. We had 80 men left out of the original 233, the rest of them being back
in the rest billet or hospital.
"We arrived back in Brest on December 10th, expecting to board a ship for home immediately.
"The conditions there at that time were terrible. For two weeks we lived in tents with small
rivers running through them.
"On January 8th we sailed for home with a beautiful rainbow in the sky. Then one might say we
felt a little bit happy.
"My impressions of the Statue of Liberty? I did not have any, because I was down stairs eating
mess. Mess always came first in my opinion. We finally landed at Pier 4, Hoboken, and the first
man who greeted me was Doc CLARK. my old minister, and it sure felt good when he came around
and shook hands with us all and told the Red Cross girls and the Salvation Army girls to give
us plenty of doughnuts and coffee, because, he said 'They are my boys'.
At Camp Upton we were put through the cootie bath, and we sure needed it. We were examined
by about 150 doctors and passed as physically fit for anything.
Bushwick Church and the War
INTEREST in the European war was shown by members of Bushwick Avenue Congregational Church,
Brooklyn, early in the conflict. In 1915 a public debate was held in the church auditorium,
in which the claims of the belligerents to American sympathy were argued eloquently; Rev.
Thomas C. HALL, D.D., of Union Theological Seminary, presented the case of the Central
Powers and Claude Handburry Cook, of Paris University and Princeton University, that of
the Entente Allies.
A great preparedness dinner of the men of the church was held March 7, 1916. The war had
been in progress for a year and a half; American citizens had been murdered by Germany and
it was evident that our country would eventually be drawn into the conflict. The patriotic
people of the United States were becoming concerned over the helpless condition of our nation,
and over the disinclination to prepare that was evident in official circles. The country
was divided between patriotism and pacifism. For a time the song,
"I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier", was more popular than the "Star Spangled Banner.
German propaganda helped the pacifistic end of the argument and many sincere people were
misled. The preparedness dinner was addressed by
Hudson Maxim, author and inventor,
Henry A. Wise Wood,
Rev. John Lewis Clark, D.D., and others.
The meeting unanimously and with cheers passed a resolution calling on our government to
prepare.
About a month previous (February 9) the men had heard Police Inspector James E. DILLON
tell of the preparations Mayor MITCHELL, through the Police Department, was making to
handle the emergency should the war come to New York. The Men's Club April 29, 1916, was
addressed by Frederick C. Hild, who had served as an aviator with the French army during
the early days of the war. The future of aviation was discussed.
On April 9, 1917, three days after war was declared, the annual men's dinner was held.
The president of the Men's Club, Harry M. THATCHER, who two months later was commissioned
a Captain in the United States Army, presided. Stirring patriotic addresses were made by
U. S. Senator Wm. M. Calder,
Pastor Clark,
Rev. Dr. Thomas Chalmers Easton,
Augustus Post (of the Aero Club),
Borough President Lewis H. Pounds and
Commissioner Charles N. Chadwick.
Greetings passed by this meeting were sent to President Wilson, congratulating him on
his war message and asking him to use his great influence in "firmly putting through
plans that will enable the war to be fought efficiently and successfully."
Following America's declaration of war, the members of the church became even more active
in a patriotic way than before. A committee, composed of
Mrs. Benjamin Burnell,
James W. Heathwood
Edmund G. Gress and Harry M. Thatcher,
started a movement to erect a flag pole on the church grounds. With contributions from the
Sunday School, Christian Endeavor Society, Men's Club, and other sources, the pole was
erected and inscribed in honor of the men from the church who would take part in the great war.
A large and handsome flag was donated by the family of Andrew MILLS.
Dedication of the flag and pole took place June 3, 1917, two days before the young men
of the nation registered for selective service. The flag was raised by one of the pastor's
sons, John Dodge CLARK, who had then enlisted and who in August, 1919, came home from France
a lieutenant, with four gold service chevrons. Judge Norman S. Dike, presided and an
address was made by Henry A. Wise Wood.
Committee for Patriotic Work
Responding to a call issued by Edmund G. Gress through Pastor Clark and Superintendent Morrison,
a Committee for Patriotic Work was organized September 30, 1917. Mr. Gress was elected chairman,
James W. Heathwood, secretary, and Emmett A. Smith, treasurer.
Mrs. John Lewis Clark was later made co-chairnan. The first of a series of church patriotic
meetings was arranged for November 14. At this meeting a service flag was presented by the
Ladies Aid Society through its president, Mrs. D. J. Morrison, and accepted by Pastor Clark.
Transcribed by Nancy E. Lutz
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