NEWS: Blair County Soldiers, Altoona Tribune, June 3, 1918, Blair County, PA

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KILLED IN MID-AIR

  Toronto, Ont. June 2. - Cadet Hector Strathy Miller was instantly killed in a 
collision in mid-air between two airplanes near the Leaside aerodrome yesterday. 
Cadet Miller lived in Winnipeg.

Altoona Tribune, Monday, June 3, 1918, page 1

AVIATION ADJUTANT FALLS

  Indianapolis, Ind. June 2. - Captain Edwin P. Webb, adjutant of an aviation 
camp here was instantly killed and Major Guy Geahart, commandant of the camp was 
slightly injured, when the machine in which they were making a flight fell here 
this afternoon. No cause was assigned for the accident.

Altoona Tribune, Monday, June 3, 1918, page 1

FIREMAN'S TWO SONS ILL AND OFF SERVICE

William F. Baker, Draftee, and Brother Charles, Sailor, in Hospitals

  Two sons of William H. Baker, engineer at No. 2 fire station, are in hospitals 
but hope to be restored to duty for their country soon. William F. Baker, 1112 
Fifth avenue, a draftee, expected to leave here Saturday and is at Altoona 
hospital.  Charles, his brother, a sailor, is at a Brooklyn institution.
  Admitted to the local hospital Friday, William F. Baker is suffering from 
sciatic rheumatism. He was a boilermaker at Twelfth street shops and was 
furloughed to join the national army. He was to have departed Saturday evening 
for Camp Lee, Virginia, with a contingent of future soldiers, but his illness 
prevented.
  Engineer Baker received word last week that his son in the navy, who is a 
sailor on the "Leviathan," formerly the German liner "Vaterland," sprained his 
ankle and is in Long Island hospital. Brooklyn. He has made three trips to 
France and expects to resume his duties soon.

Altoona Tribune, Monday, June 3, 1918, page 1

ALTOONA BOYS LEAVE FOR ARMY SERVICE

Thirty-Two Join Thousand Others Saturday Night on Ride to Columbus

  Altoona on Saturday night sent away more of her sons to fortify Uncle Sam's 
big army. Thirty-two boys departed for several camps to begin training to go 
overseas to do their bit for liberty and winning world democracy.  The majority 
of the boys went to Columbus barracks for assignment and their hope is that they 
be sent to commands that will soon begin the journey overseas.
  Twenty-seven of the boys were at the station when a special train carrying a 
thousand or more Pennsylvanians from the eastern section of the state rolled 
into the depot at 11:25 o'clock, cheering at the top of their lungs and showing 
the real American spirit that is going to make the United States the winner of 
the great war.  Their cheers were answered by the crowd and in a minute a great 
throng of the new soldiers got off the train and immediately made comrades of 
the Altoonans.  The local boys soon bid farewell to their relatives and friends 
and their parting words were that they were going to do their bit to end the 
great war.  Later in the night or rather Sunday morning the remainder of the 
registrants got away from Fort Myer, Va., and other camps.
  Local board No. 1 sent nine regular registrants to Columbus, two of whom were 
transferred to other boards for entertainment. Six others were entrained for 
other boards. Those sent away were:
John Gerald Fultz, 1107 Thirteenth avenue.
James Loraine Rupert, 1018 Seventeenth avenue.
Nathan Kohler, transferred to Knoxville.
George Arthur Pannebecker, 2901 Broad avenue.
Henry Edward Smeal, 209 Spruce avenue.
Alvin Steele Wambaugh, transferred to Morgantown, W. Va.
Albert Miller Bradley, 220 Maple avenue.
Orville Smith Daugherty, 1219 Ninth street.
Lewis Basil Ensminger, 1311 1/2 Second street.
  The others sent away were boys from other cities and towns of the country, 
who, since registration day, came to the city.  They were Lawrence Marage, 
William D. Wall, Mike Troulin, Antonio Nazzaretta, Simer Nedig and James 
McMullen.
  Local board No. 2 sent away sixteen men with the Columbus contingent. One of 
the selected men, Blaine McKelvey, of 528 First avenue, failed to appear for 
entrainment but reported to the board last evening and will likely be forwarded 
to camp tonight. Those who went away were:
John Carl Young of 809 Seventh avenue, shophand.
Grant Edward Kelly of 2200 Sixth avenue.
Marion C. Lukens of 217 Crawford avenue.
Charles Edward Kensinger of 209 East Sixth avenue.
Charles Raymond Hutchinson of 2012 Fifth avenue.
Carl Odenwalder of 2629 Union avenue.
Gregorio Robertozzi of 403 Eighth avenue.
Reynolds Bossinger of 518 Crawford avenue.
James Richard Rankey of 415 Sixth avenue.
Blaine McKelvey of 528 First avenue.
Michael Joseph Houraney of Brooklyn, N.Y.
Charles Joseph Furrer of 2526 Seventh avenue.
Ira Daniel Parsons of 420 third avenue.
Joseph Conrad Beck of 2320 Third avenue.
Angelo Callislo of 718 Eighth street.
  The board also entrained J. P. Case, of 1302 1/2 Seventh avenue for Madison 
county board, Miss. And Seacco Nazzoreho, for the McKeesport board.

Go to Fort Myer

  Peter Regas and Alexander Kisielenski, both of Fifth ward, were sent away to 
Fort Myer on a later train by No. 1 board. They were inducted as boilermakers 
and both were eager and anxious to get into the service. Dean Shaw, a former 
Times reporter, also departed for Fort Myers, to be assigned to special duty.

Altoona Tribune, Monday, June 3, 1918, page 2

TWO SONS ON FURLOUGH

  The beautiful home of Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Meek, 1515 Fourth avenue, is a place 
of joy in the presence of two soldier sons home on furlough at the same time.  
Sergeant Edgar Meek was lately transferred from Texas to Garden City, L. I., a 
significant move that won for him a five-day furlough and he arrived home on 
Friday afternoon. Edgar is mess sergeant in the 664th aero squadron. Second 
Lieutenant R. Sherdick Meek, the Seventeenth U. S. Regular infantry, stationed 
at Springfield, Mass., reached home on a two-day furlough on Saturday afternoon 
and yesterday was the occasion of a glad family reunion in which Mr. and Mrs. 
Meek were hosts to a number of guests. High cost of living was forgotten when a 
score of relatives and friends surrounded an amply laden dinner table and pride 
in the soldier boys did not interfere with splendid appetites.  The day in the 
Meek home will be memorable because one or both of the young officers will be in 
France before a similar ingathering can occur again. Mr. Meek is regarded as a 
prosperous merchant and owns to the titles of postmaster and vice president of 
the Juniata First National bank, but pride in the fine family that yesterday 
surrounded the parental board overtops all other emotions of satisfaction. Mr. 
and Mrs. Meek have willingly given two sons to war for democracy, and with them 
as guests of honor yesterday entertained a numerous circle of home folks. Among 
those present were Mr. and Mrs. O. L. Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Taylor and 
daughter, Miss Edna Shank and Clarence Taylor, all of Warriorsmark; Mr. and Mrs. 
O. L. Weaver, of Bellwood; Mr. and Mrs. George Hynick and son, of East End; Mrs. 
Ralph Grazier and son and Mrs. W. R. Cherry, son and daughter, of Altoona. Bank 
President D. E. Parker and Cashier D. G. Meek called to pay their respects.

Altoona Tribune, Monday, June 3, 1918, page 4

ALL OF ONE MIND

  Second Lieutenant Harry Kjellman writes from Columbia, S.C., of the anxiety of 
the boys to get where something is doing.  Lieutenant Kjellman was commissioned 
last August and after a winter spent in artillery training at Little Rock, Ark., 
now awaits his turn in the officers' replacement camp at Columbia. His letters 
to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alex. Kjellman, of 308 Sixth avenue, are full of 
anticipation of getting across, and he says all the boys are in the same frame 
of mind about getting at the Huns.  The young officer is a graduate of Juniata 
high school and of Pennsylvania State college. He left a newly launched and 
prosperous feed and seed business to devote his services to his country.

Altoona Tribune, Monday, June 3, 1918, page 4

LIMITED SERVICE MEN CALLED

  The young men of draft age who were rejected for general military puposes on 
account of only slight physical defects, but held for limited service by the 
medical advisory boards, will be given their first chance to enter the army, but 
they must take advantage of the opportunity at once, as this chance is open only 
until Tuesday, June 4th.
  Blair County Board No. 1, on Saturday sent out from Hollidaysburg notices to 
thirty-eight limited military service men to report immediately at the office of 
the board and choose their war occupations. The chief occupations open to these 
men are locomotive engineers, firemen, railroad grade foremen, railroad track 
foremen, telephone linemen, draughtsmen, railroad contractors, electricians, 
auto-mechanics, steam fitters, railroad brakemen and clerks. These men have 
until Tuesday at 6 p. m., to make their choice.  After that time they are liable 
to compulsory induction calls by the government. The list is as follows:
      Wilson Reese Wertz, Duncansville.
      Paul Ellwood Henderson, Williamsburg.
      Charles L. Berkhimer, Roaring Spring.
      John E. Herron, Roaring Spring.
      Jesse L. Butler, Hollidaysburg.
      Michael David Doyle, Gaysport.
      Elvin Jay Shoenfelt, Roaring Spring.
      Charles Rufus Lindsay, Gaysport.
      Earl V. Robison, Hollidaysburg.
      Albert Mathias Quarry, Canoe Creek.
      Krider Reed Bice, Frankstown.
      John H. Robertson, Duncansville.
      William Martin Lantz, Hollidaysburg.
      Charles Kemberling Jones, Hollidaysburg.
      Lloyd Holland, Hollidaysburg, R. D.
      Carl William Hancuff, Williamsburg.
      Howard Chester Allender, Williamsburg.
      Arthur Hartzell Mundorf, Hollidaysburg.
      James Peck, Newry.
      Frank Wilbur Royer, Williamsburg.
      Clarence Edward Eckard, Duncansville.
      Harvey Ray Rhodes, Royer
      Hugh Edgar Ernest, Hollidaysburg.
      Lee Alva Laufer, Duncansville.
      Irvin Krider Brua, Hollidaysburg.
      Edward Edwin Frank, Gaysport.
      Christopher Joseph Frank, Gaysport.
      John Hays Hartsock, Hollidaysburg.
      William Diehl, Blue Knob.
      Jacob Roy Creamer, Gaysport.
      Thomas Earl Bailey, Hollidaysburg.
      Francis Cleveland McIntosh, Hollidaysburg.
      John Ellsworth Kephart, McKee.
      Jesse Leroy Ferguson, Gaysport.
      Thomas Ferdinand Hellmeier, Hollidaysburg.
      Roy McCoy, Cleveland, O.

Altoona Tribune, Monday, June 3, 1918, page 7

DRAFTEE IS UNFORTUNATE

  Calvin Hays Noel, of Tyrone, one of the young men of Draft District No. 1, of 
the county, who left Hollidaysburg with the contingent on Saturday evening for 
Columbus barracks, was so unfortunate as to lose his pocketbook before starting, 
which contained a sum of money and his registration card. It is believed it was 
lost either on a Logan Valley street car, while the young man was on the way to 
Hollidaysburg from Tyrone, or at the ceremonies at the court house. The finder 
will confer a great favor by returning the lost articles to the office of 
Attorney B. F. Warfel, 422 Allegheny street.

Altoona Tribune, Monday, June 3, 1918, page 7

TWENTY-NINE HONOR MEN GO TO COLUMBUS

Large Audience Assembled at Court House to Give Boys Farewell

  County draft district No. 1 continues to send a steady stream of new soldiers 
to army camps, twenty-nine honor men of the district having taken their 
departure from Hollidaysburg on Saturday evening, this being the second 
contingent to leave last week. The men reported at the office of Robert W. 
Smith, secretary of the board, at 2:30 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, where they 
were equipped with badges, given instructions and other important matters 
concerning their departure given attention.
  At 6 o'clock a fitting farewell program of exercises was held at the court 
house in court room No. 1, where a large audience assembled composed of the 
friends and relatives of the departing young men and the townspeople in general. 
The rostrum was decorated with a large American banner and the gathering was 
presided over by W. Lovell Baldrige, president of the local draft board.
  President Baldrige and Hon. J. Lee Plummer gave short talks. Secretary R. W. 
Smith called the roll and inducted the men into the service.
  The exercises came to a close with prayer by Rev. Kunkel, of Holy trinity 
Episcopal church. A line of parade was then formed in front of the court house 
and the contingent escorted to the depot at Gaysport.  The parade was headed by 
Chief of Police Bowman, Lieutenant Colonel H. A. Miller, company G, Home Defense 
Police, Liberty band, playing stirring music, Burgess J. C. Lang, members of the 
draft board, followed by the twenty-nine men carrying light equipment. The 
captain of the contingent was Albert Raymond Wyerman, of Duncansville, and the 
lieutenants were Blair Lewis McKillip, of Hollidaysburg, and Elmer Lee Burket, 
of Roaring Spring. While waiting for the 7:10 train at the depot, the band 
played several selections in a most creditable manner.  A large crowd followed 
the parade to the station and remaining until the train pulled out, giving the 
departing boys a fitting farewell.
  The following is a list of the men and the camps to which they were sent:
  Columbus Barracks, Columbus, O.
  George Grant Forney, Hollidaysurg, R. D.
  Lloyd Franklin Davis, Duncansville.
  George Glenn Zeilinger, Williamsburg.
  James Edward Johnson, Duncansville.
  Elmer Lee Burket, Roaring Spring.
  Calvin Wesley Clapper, Hollidaysburg, R. D.
  Orville Sparr, Williamsburg.
  Albert Raymond Wyerman (captain) Duncansville.
  Raymond Aloysius Beach, Hollidaysburg.
  Lawrence William Frank, Gaysport.
  Blair Lewis McKillip, Hollidaysburg.
  Ivan Edison Hayes, Roaring Spring.
  William A. Mountz, Cove Forge.
  Calvin Hayes Noel, Tyrone.
  Paul Reedy Curran, Hollidaysburg.
  Roy George Merritts, Hollidaysburg.
  Guiseppe Mondo, Williamsburg.
  John Irwin Ickes, Hollidaysburg.
  Levi Oder Burket, Roaring Spring.
  Andrew Schell, Williamsburg. 
Alternates.
  William Henry Burket, jr., Duncansville.
  Clarence Tipton, Claysburg.
  Wilfred Steward Ritchey, Blue Knob.
Air Brake Inspectors, Camp Dix, Wrightstown, N. J.
  George Steinbrunner, Hollidaysburg.
  Cloyd Stanley Croft, Hollidaysburg.
Car Inspectors, Fort Myer, Va.
  Dean Bancroft Shaw, Hollidaysburg.
  James Herbert Michaels, Hollidaysburg.
  Herman Adolph Neugebauer, Duncansville, R. D.
Signal Corps, Aviation Mobilization Camp (Colored) Fort Wayne, Mich.
  Levi Holmes, Saxton, P. A. R. D. One.

Altoona Tribune, Monday, June 3, 1918, page 7

DRAFT BOARD NO. 2 SENDS SIXTEEN MEN

Sixteen men, fourteen of whom constituted the East Side draft board No. 2's 
regular quota to the Columbus barracks, departed from this city shortly before 
midnight Saturday. The two additional men to go were men leaving with the 
Altoona members as part of the quota from other boards.  They were J. P. Case, 
of 1302 1/2 Seventh avenue, from the Madison county board, Miss., and Scacco 
Nazzareho, from Allegheny county board, McKeesport. Joseph Houraney, a former 
resident, left on Saturday evening from Brooklyn, N.Y., and will make the 
sixteenth man in the East Side board's quota.

Altoona Tribune, Monday, June 3, 1918, page 10