Military: WWI This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Cay Merryman caym@infowest.com August 2002 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm "THE PRICE OF OUR HERITAGE" W. E. Robb, 1919 American Lithography and Printing Company, Des Moines, Iowa (To view photographs, please visit the Photographs webpage at http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/military/pics.htm) HISTORY OF THE OLD THIRD IOWA Back in 1859 was formed at Council Bluffs, Iowa, a military organization for the purpose of affording protection to the settlers of northwestern Iowa and the portions nearest Iowa of those states which bound the great land of corn. Protection was necessary, for not far to the north were the Sioux Indians, not far to the east and north were the Sac and Foxes, two races of Redmen who were not at all times in those days peacefully inclined. …….Two years after it had been formed, two years which were crowded with war and rumors of war….it became the nucleus of the Iowa Volunteer regiments, which made such a name for themselves in the great war of the Rebellion. …….After the Civil War the Iowa soldiers returned to their homes….skipping a few years, in 1888 it was decided that more compactness was needed in the state military force of Iowa, so a merger of the Third Iowa Regiment and the Fifth Iowa Regiment of Infantry was arranged. The whole became the Third Iowa. ……..In 1898 war again descended upon the country. A call for volunteers was made. The services of Iowa's guardsmen were ready and, without hesitation, offered. …On May 30 of that year they ceased to be state troops and entered into Federal Service as the Fifty-first Iowa Volunteers. ……..On June 5, they moved to San Francisco on their way to the Philippines. On November 2, 1898 they sailed aboard the troopship Pennsylvania, a former Alaskan freighter, on their way to Manila….In the Philippines they fought and won seventeen battles before leaving for home September 22, 1899 and arriving there on November 2, 1899. ……..The Fifty-first Iowa Volunteers became once more the Third Regiment of Infantry. ……...From 1909 until 1916 were years of peace in Iowa. The Third Iowa, as of old, however, gave its playtime to drill. In 1916, two years after the great war had broken loose in Europe, war with Mexico was at hand – acts of war had already been committed. In June came the call for soldiers. Iowa's civilian soldiers gathered at Camp Dodge, late in June. A month was spent in equipping, drilling, policing and patrolling began. Nine months they seerved, giving protection to Uncle Sam's southern boundries….after some rough months they returned to Iowa in 1917. The country was drifting closer towards the maelstrom of the greatest war the world every knew, then raging in France. *** On April 6 when America declared war upon Germany, the officers of the National Guard of Iowa at once began the work of getting their units ready for the part they would be called upon to play. Enlistments were rapid and before the time came that the guard was formally called into service on July 15, every company had its full quota ;of men and were besieged by eager applicants for the privilege of becoming a member of one of the three regiments of infantry that composed the First, Second and Third Iowa Guard Regiments. When the guard was called, every company was full of eager, adventure- loving young men, who were anxious for but one thing; the privilege of crossing the waters and getting a chance to fight the enemy who had so horribly mutilated the Belgian nation and had outraged and trampled under foot the sacred rights of all humanity. There was a great deal of rivalry between the three regiments as to which was the better fitted and equipped and would be the first overseas. Day by day in the different towns in which the companies were stationed and at the camp at the fair grounds, the companies were drilling hard to prepare themselves for the days that lay ahead. In the latter part of July our companies were all assembled at the fair grounds and went into camp under the old amphitheatre and in Machinery Hall, and on August 5, they were examined by federal officers and formally drafted by a proclamation of the President into the federal service. Vaccination for small pox, inoculation for typhoid and para-typhoid in the hot days of August was one of the first of our many disagreeable experiences in the Army. About the middle of August, Colonel Bennett, Major Conkling, Major Brewer and Major Fairchild came into camp with smiles clear across their faces. They were bubbling over with gladness and enthusiasm. We tried all afternoon to find out what made them so joyous, but not a word would they say until the following morning when the announcement was made that the old Third Iowa Infantry had been chosen as one of the four regiments of infantry that was to make up the Forty-second or Rainbow Division, which was then being formed and which was destined to sail immediately for overseas service. When the news was announced to the regiment, a happier group or a prouder lot of men would have been hard to have found anywhere. We were to be known no longer as the Third Iowa Infantry but as the One Hundred Sixty-eighth Infantry. The regiment was to be enlarged to three thousand seven hundred and five men, which would make it larger than a brigade had formerly been. Further joy was given that day when the announcement was made that the men to bring us to our new strength were to be drawn from the other two guard units, the First and Second, seventy-six men being drawn from each company of each of these splendid organizations. The boys of the First and Second, as well as the Third had made a reputation for themselves on the border and we were proud indeed to have them with us to enter into the formation of the 168th Infantry. A few days later these fellows escorted by their band came swinging up through the gates of the fair grounds, playing their regimental march and marching proudly. Our band played a welcoming piece and with deafening cheers they were received and became a part of the Rainbow Division. This brought the strength of each individual company to two hundred and fifty men, and our battalions to one thousand men. A splendid lot of young fellows there were, as in the morning at reveille or in the evening at retreat, they lined up for the military ceremony. Earnest work was done in the few days they remained at the fair grounds before we were to commence on that long journey to France. On September 9 with thousands of our friends gathered about us, our first companies with the colonel's staff loaded on the train at the fair grounds at 5 o'clock and started eastward, where most of the rest of the division were already assembled in Camp Mills. With something gripping our throats, which we could not swallow, struggling to hold back the teardrops from our eyes, we stood upon the back of the train and watched the crowd of folks who came to see us off, became a blur and then indistinct in the distance. Our journey had begun. Four days later we landed at Camp Mills, where we stayed until October 18, when we were loaded on the President Grant and with fifty-five hundred men on board, just as the sun was setting on the New York skyline. We slipped out of the harbor at 11 o'clock that night. For five days we journeyed with the rest of the convoy; then the boilers of the boat gave out and we were forced to return. We went back to Camp Mills and on November 14 again started across, this time on the S. S. Celtic, the Baltic and the Aurania. Seventeen days later after being chased by a submarine into Belfast Harbor, we landed at Liverpool, and were loaded on the little trains and moved to Winchester, England. Here we spent seven days in camp, then moved down to the harbor at Southhampton and slipped across the channel during the night, the search lights across the English shore illuminating the sky as they searched for those who almost nightly came to bomb London. At 4 o'clock the next morning we landed at LeHavre, France, where we stayed for thirty-six hours. Then began our journey for two days and three nights in French cars, when we came to the Haute Marne country near Chaumont. We were assigned to the little illage of Rimaucourt, where we stayed until January 27, our Second Battalion under Major Stanley being assigned to duty with the school of Langres. In the cold, heatless attics or in the stoveless barracks our boys suffered much from the cold, wading in the mud or snow out in the wet fields to drill, coming in with wet feet and no place to dry them. A great number sickened and died. An epidemic of scarlet fever, spinal meningitis and measles broke out among our troops and we went into quarantine for many days. In the latter part of January we moved to Ormancey from which place we started toward the line early in February. After a few days journey we reached Gerberviller and marched from there to Baccarat, twenty-six kilometers, where we stayed for two days. We were reviewed by General Segonne. From there we moved to Pexonne, where we established our regimental headquarters. On the morning of February 23, we were ready for our first hitch in the trenches. Looking back over those days when we moved from Des Moines to France, going through all the hardships and exposures which the regiment endured, I am surprised that there were not more of these young boys, who made up our regiment, who did not sicken and die before we arrived. The history and pictures of the men who died before they reached the battle line are herein described. They are as truly our heroes as the men who fought and distinguished themselves at the front. They enlisted for the same purpose and tried as much as any of us to enter into the conflict and to play their part in the battle but fate had willed it otherwise, theirs was not to be a glorious death on the battle field, but to lie in the hospitals and succumb to the power of disease. From the first boy who died before we left Des Moines to the last one who was killed on our way to the front, we honor their memory as much as we do any of the others, whose heroic deaths fill the pages of this book. PRITCHARD, Charles, page 26, photograph Private Company B Killed September 6, 1917. Buried at Van Meter, Iowa. Private Pritchard was killed in an automobile accident near Des Moines, Iowa. The car struck a dog and overturned, pinning him and his brother underneath the car about 9:00 PM. The boys were found in the morning, Charles was dead, and his brother slightly injured. BARBER, Clyde, page 26, photograph Private, Company L Died of spinal meningitis, October 2, 1917, at Camp Mills, New York City. Buried at Council Bluffs, Iowa Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Barber, Council Bluffs, Iowa. Private Barber was a good soldier with bright prospects. While in Camp Mills he contracted spinal meningitis and died within six days, saying before he died, "Oh, for one more day back in the old home town with the folks before I go." WOOTEN, Harry, page 27, photograph Private Company F Died December 10, 1917, two days before we landed. Buried at a French port. Private Wooten was taken ill with the flu and contracted pneumonia, from which disease he succumbed while at sea. His body was carried to shore with them and buried at the French port of Le Havre. Harry was an earnest fellow, very devoted to his work. His whole thought and wish was to live and to play his part with the regiment in the war, but fate had willed otherwise. ARKLESE, Thomas, page 27, photograph Private Company H Died at Hoboken, New Jersey of acute peritonitis on October 20, 1917. Son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Arklese, Albia, Iowa. Took sick just before the regiment sailed for France and died two days after we had departed. JOHNSON, William C. N., page 28, photograph Private Company K Died at Camp Mills, New York, November 19, 1917. Son of Mr. and Mrs. T. M. Johnson, Prescott, Iowa. William Johnson took sick with the measles, which was quickly followed by pneumonia, of which he died five days after the second time the regiment embarked for France. MATTINGLY, James, page 28, photograph Private Company I Died at Camp Mills, November 19, 1917. Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Mattingly, Ames, Iowa Private Mattingly enlisted at the home station of the Second Iowa Infantry, and later was transferred to the 168th Infantry. He went with us to Camp Mills, where he took sick and died, the first man from Company I. COONS, Earl, page 29, photograph Private Company K Died at sea. December 1, 1917. Buried at Liverpool, England. Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Coons, Prescott, Iowa. Earl took sick about three days off the English coast while aboard the S. S. Celtic;, and died just one hour before the boat landed. MILLER, Ralph M., page 29, no photograph Private Company K Died December 13, 1917, at Liverpool, England. Buried at Liverpool, England. Son of Mr. and Mrs. M. Miller, Orient, Iowa. Pvt. Miller was sick of scarlet fever when he landed and was placed in a hospital at Liverpool, where he died on the above mentioned date, after the regiment had departed for France. TRUAX, George E., page 30, photograph Pvt. First Class, Sanitary Detach. Died in the hospital at Neufchateau, France, December 23, 1917, of scarlet fever and pneumonia. Buried in Neufchateau Cemetery, Grave No. 23. Son of Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Truax, Des M:oines, Iowa. He was a graduate of Des Moines High School, Keosauqua and Capital City Commercial Colleges. Pvt. Truax was ill when we arrived in England of la grippe. He stayed with the regiment when we left for France and becazme worse on the trip from Le Havre to Rimaucourt. His last words were, "Tell Mother I died as a soldier." WILLCOX, St. Clair, page 30, photograph Private Sanitary Detachment Died in hospital at Liverpool, England, December 23, 1917. Buried at Liverpool, England. Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Willcox, Winterset, Iowa. When the Second Battalion sailed for France, Willcox though ill, persuaded the Medical Officer to let him sail with them. He took sick on board the ship and was sent to the hospital at Liverpool, where he died. SCHROEDER, Herbert, page 31, photograph Private Company A Died in the hospital at Winchester, England, of pneumonia, December 25, 1917. Buried at Winchester, England. Born May 10, 1896. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Schroeder, Dubuque, Iowa. Schroeder was a member of the First Iowa Infantry and was transferred to the One Hundred Sixty-eighth Infantry. He was left in the hospital at Winchester when the regiment sailed for France. ROOSE, Herman A., page 31, photograph Private Company B Died December 31, 1917, at Chaumont, France, of pneumonia. Buried at Chaumont. Son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Roose, Odebolt, Iowa. Private Roose was the first man that Company B lost after we arrived in France. While the regiment was at Rimaucourt, he was taken ill with pneumonia and died at Base Hospital No. 15 WILSON, Norbert, page 32, photograph Private Company M Died January 5, 1918 at Base Hospital No. 15, Chaumont, France of scarlet fever. Buried at Chaumont. Son of Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Wilson, Elliot, Iowa. Born May 5, 1899. Enlisted in Company M. June 4th at Red Oak. Wilson was the first original Co. M. man to lose his life in France. He was a good soldier and liked by all his comrades. McCORMICK, Scott, page 32, photograph Second Lieutenant Company L Killed January 17th at Gondrecourt, France. Buried at Gondrecourt. Son of Mrs. Mabel F. Garreissen, New York City. Lieutenant McCormick was accidentally killed by the explosion of a sack of hand grenades, which he was carrying during a maneuver of the grenade class of the First Corps School. He was the first man of our regiment to be killed in France. His unselfish devotion to, and the love for his men during the hard winter months of 1917 and 1918 proved his true worth as an officer. WASMER, John W., page 33, photograph Private Headquarters Company Died January 20, 1918 at Chaumont, France. Hospital No. 16. Son of Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Wasmer, Le Mars, Iowa. During the severe winter at Rimaucourt our boys were exposed to severe wet, cold weather. Unused to the climate many sickened and died. Wasmer was the first man of headquarters company to die. McSORLEY, George D., page 33, photograph 101930 Private Company I Died January 24, 1918 at Base Hospital No. 15 at Chaumont, France. Son of Mr. and Mrs. E. McSorley, Council Bluffs, Iowa. Private McSorley enlisted in Company I at the home station and journeyed with the regiment to Francer. He was taken ill while we were at Rimaucourt and died at the hospital. FORTSCH, Adolph, page 34, photograph 100253 Private Company B Died February 1, 1918 at Army Hospital No. 3, Hoffman Island, New York. Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Fortsch, Fairbanks, Iowa. Private Fortsch enlisted June 22nd and took sick at Camp Mills. He was sent to the hospital where he died after his regiment had reached France. BULLARD, George R., page 34, photograph Private Machine Gun Company Died February 15, 1918 at Blois, France. Son of Mr. and Mrs. R. G. Bullard, Ft. Dodge, Iowa. Facts of his death unknown. Was sent to the hospital after we arrived at Ormancy, France. REYMER, Andrew M., page 35, photograph Private Headquarters Company Died February 17, 1918. Buried at Neufchateau, Base Hospital No. 66. Son of Mrs. Anna Reymer, McKeesport, Pennsylvania. While going for the first time to the front the troops were moved in the usual manner in box cars. Reymer and a number of others got off the cars and ran up and down to warm themselves; in attempting to reboard the moving cars he fell under the wheels and both legs were cut off. He died the next day. WORTH, Edward, page 35, photograph 100095 Private Company A Died March 1st in Base Hospital No. 24 at Langres, France. Buried at Langres, France. Son of Thomas Johnson, Lorimor, Iowa. Private Worth developed an abscess in the left ear just before his company went into the trenches; this resulted in blood poisoning which caused his death. Edward Worth was one of our good soldiers, whose unfortunate death deprived him of the part he hoped to play in the battle. CALHOUN, Harry L, page 36, photograph Private Company I Died March 23rd, 1918. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Calhoun, Allendale, Missouri. Private Calhoun was injured while his company were loading their ship. He was sent to Camp Merritt, Hoboken, New Jersey, in which hospital he died on March 23rd. At the time of his death he was a Sergeant of Company I. He was very anxious to join his company in France and do his part for humanity, but this was not his privilege, but his memory is honored as much as those who gave their lives in France. Born July 29, 1895. SMITH, Bert L., page 36, photograph 102425 Private Company K Died March 30, 1918 of mastoditis at Base Hospital No. 15, Chaumont. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Simon Smith, Elk Point, South Dakota. Private Smith went to France with the Company but never had a chance to go to the trenches. He went to the hospital during the fierce winter months while the company were at Rimaucourt. He died in the hospital at Chaumont several weeks later. PARKER, Harlan F., page 37, photograph Private Company C. Died January 8, 1918. Relative's address, W. W. Parker, 704 North Division Street, Creston. Iowa. Private Parker was taken sick shortly after our arrival in France, sent to the Base Hospital No. 15 at Chaumont, where he died of pneumonia after a short illness. Parker enlisted in the National Guards at Creston, Iowa, and was one of the first men to answer the call. He was a great friend to all who knew him and his sudden death came as a severe blow to his comrades.