USA > Illinois > Fayette County > Fayette County in the World War > Part 12
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Next week the air raids will probably start again as the moon comes out then. Then airplanes come over on clear nights as they can get their surroundings better and our searchlights cannot locate them on a clear night. They make quite a noise and the big guns firing at them sure beats any 4th of July I ever saw in Vandalia. The first one I was in kept us up until 3:30 A. M. They always come by here as we are in the line to London.
Well, I hope to hear from Vandalia soon that the boys are getting along and that everybody young and old is waking up as to the war and trying to do their bit.
Very truly yours, LIEUT. MARK GREER.
P. S .- Kindly send paper to Lieut. Mark Greer, M. O. R. C. care American Express Co. 6 Haymarket S. W. London, England.
From A Fighting Marine.
May 7, 1918.
Mr. J. L. Lakin,
Friend Jesse :---
Since coming back from the front lines have been busy writ- ing letters, washing clothes and sleeping and will try and write that long delayed letter which no doubt you have been expectng.
We have been at the front for some days now and have had very good luck and so far I like it all O. K. In fact you don't have to duck so much shell fire as you do in a rest camp unless it is far behind the lines but most of them are close by and they continuously shell us.
This is about the best place we have struck so far. Been here some days and believe me it is appreciated as you sure need a rest after spending several days ducking Fritz's shells as he sures hates the Yanks. When the French are in this sector they
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IN THE WORLD WAR
seem to know that they are not coming over or something of the sort for they don't bother them at all. Just as soon as we get around they shoot about fifty gas shells then a few high explo- sives, give you a rest for a few hours probably, then tear in again.
Been in a couple of attacks that they never succeeded in get- ting any where except shooting h- out of our trenches. No one hurt and felt as good as I do now. You naturally have a tendency to feel a little shaky at first but when you look over to see Fritzie coming over you get pretty sore and forget to be nervous.
We are among the French continuously and "poly voe" a little bit. They sure are the real goods. What they don't know about this war no one knows.
Am sitting here with six other marines in a dugout with a wooden floor, stove and very safe from any kind of shell fire or air raids. All trenches and dugouts are not the same as you might expect to see over here as they are pretty well torn up.
The trenches at home are great and are models to these here and the boys coming over do not want to be disappointed as they won't find things like that here. You have to contend with lots of things that you wouldn't think of doing in the States. Your feet are wet most of the time and you stand in mud in most trenches. Some have wooden walks but most of them are bad. You are out in all kinds of weather and ready to jump out of your bunk any second. Speaking of bunks they are mostly made of two boards with chicken or barbed wire of some kind stretched across it and your blankets. Sleep with our shoes on at all times and your gun and helmet on your arm.
You can imagine about ten or twenty days such as that in the front line. You get pretty seedy; of course you can take a bird bath in the trench if you can get enough water.
So far I haven't caught any "trench cooties" as they call them. Have been very healthy and feel fine.
We get pretty good chow now and have learned to like it no matter what it is. Beans or slum mostly.
The Y. M. C. A. is in every Camp and you can get tobacco, candy and such as that when you have any money. These French francs don't go so awful far. Two francs for a small half pint of jam which would cost about 10c in the States, 40c here; same way with all sweet stuff.
Don't think this is going to last so long from the way the Germans are losing men. It will be lucky if it does end for those Dutch before two million Yanks get over here. All are taking
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FAYETTE COUNTY
hold and working hard to win everywhere they are holding any ground. There is lots to take and give over here but by doing so I am sure we will come home with the Kaiser. Here is hoping so.
This is growing lengthy and must close. Hoping this finds every one all O. K.
Yours truly, CORPORAL C. E. KIRK, 82nd. Co., 6th Regt. U. S. Marines, France.
War Experiences of a Fayette County Woman.
The following is illustrative of the service which American women rendered in the Great War and of the courage which they displayed in braving dangers such as had never attended a like service before. It is with a due sense of pride that we record the following extract from an account of the experiences and services of Miss Gertrude Chapman of Vandalia as we have it from her own hand:
"I give a few notes on the trip over, the bombing of Paris by the Germans, canteen work near the front, and conditions in the Balkans. I do not send these notes for publication in connec- tion with my own small part in the work, but to give a better idea of American Red Cross service and the experiences of many women in its ranks. I hesitate about sending anything, for, sum- ming up, it was the duty and privilege of all to serve our country and uphold its ideals. We all are proud-proud of our country and of having served-and our histories are apt to prompt the question of the small boy, "Uncle, didn't any one help you win the war?"
Sailed for France, via of. Liverpool and London, in convoy of eleven ships, two of them battle ships. On arrival in danger zone, were surrounded by destroyers and sub-chasers. Had boat drills; each one was assigned to a life boat. No one was allowed anywhere without a life belt. No lights were allowed. At one time a number of shots were fired; another time a smoke ring was put out. Do not know what happened. The convoy just ahead of us reached the danger zone in the bright moonlight and one of the boats was torpedoed and sunk. Those great ships, loaded with troops, were a sight that stirred one's blood-fighting blood. That was only one of many, many convoys-the answer to the sinking of the Lusitania and Germany's ruthless war to override the world.
London was dark. Crossed the channel at night. Reached Paris at night; streets and houses all dark. The third night after
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our arrival in Paris, experienced a German air raid, and shortly thereafter we were introduced to "Big Bertha." At intervals, the Germans bombarded Paris by day with the long-range guns, and at night with planes. The air raids occurred on bright nights; sometimes two in one night. One would hear the far-off sirens and then the nearer ones. The distant barrage would begin and grow nearer and nearer until the guns all over the city were fir- ing. Four minutes after the first alarm, all lights were cut off. Paris took refuge in her cellars and underground places. Very few of the women workers at the Y. W. C. A. Hostess House went into the cellar-perhaps three or four. We were ordered, however, to come down to the ground floor in case of fire or the stairs should be wrecked. Had a bomb struck the hotel, or even in the street outside, we would have been only a part of the de- bris. When they did strike, not many blocks away the whole house shook. We sat around talking, reading, writing, some dozing off, until the raids were over. Sometimes we were aroused a second time in one night. Sometimes we were so tired that we just turned over and went to sleep again. "Big Bertha" would begin early in the morning and fire at short intervals until night. Sometimes the shells would strike far off; sometimes near Head- quarters. One got used to those things in a short time and took them as a matter of course. In fact, we wondered what was the matter with the Germans if they neglected us for a longer interval than usual. Bill was on the wrong track; he only got us "riled."
The American Red Cross Canteens, established at hospitals for the injured received from the front and from field dressing stations, were in tents, and our experiences and duties were var- ied. We lived in cold tent or barrack; waded around in the rain and mud; built the canteen fires; made cocoa and sandwiches; washed tin cups and kettles; visited the hospital wards and dis- tributed chocolate, chewing gum, cigarettes, and magazines- sometimes the paper from Paris; wrote letters for those unable to do so. In the receiving ward as the injured were brought in, and through the hospital trains when patients were evacuated, we served hot cocoa, sandwiches, cake chocolate, and cigarettes-as permitted by the doctors. We saw our planes fly over in battle formation; the troops going up to the front; heard the roar of the guns and saw the flashes at night. Then the wounded would begin to come in. Most often they were brought in and were evacuated during the night-through the cold, rain, and mud. It will always be a great wonder to us how the ambulance drivers
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FAYETTE COUNTY
kept the roads-bad roads too. The other great wonder to us was the cheerfulness, courage, and patience of the wounded. Ger- man planes killed one man and injured another at one hospital, but the bombs dropped at the other hospital only shattered win- dows. (This refers to the two Evacuation Hospitals previously mentioned).
The Balkans, already weakened by the Balkan War, at the close of the World War were utterly unable to cope with condi- tions alone. In many parts villages had been destroyed and the surrounding country pillaged. The people were in rags, home- less, dying of hunger, exposure and disease. The few hospitals were overflowing with patients; without medicines, beds or bed clothing; patients lying on the floors on dirty rags or straw, un- cared for; (typhus, consumptive, and other patients all packed together). Most of the doctors had been killed in the war and the Balkans have no trained nurses. Parentless children roamed the streets or were huddled in orphanages, they too without suffi- cient food, clothing, beds and care.
Montenegro and Albania have no railroads. Transportation is by ox-cart, donkey or horse. The people (principally the wom- en) carry heavy loads long distances over the mountains. Ser- bia's railroads were practically destroyed-scarcely a bridge or station was left intact from Salonica to Belgrade. Her cattle and horses had been killed or seized.
The home of the poor-usually only one room-dirt floor,. no furniture, a twig fire in one corner, the only chimney a hole in the roof, or the door; probably no fire at all, for wood was scarce; often an emaciated, sick child or grown-up lying on rags in one corner. It was truly the survival of the strongest. Yet their spirit was undaunted and they fought all these years. Serbia was the backbone of the Balkans in the war. Montenegro has fought for independence for 500 years. Albania too loves independence.
In most parts of these countries, native life is very primitive. Yet before the war, the people had the necessities of life and even plenty. They raise their own food. They raise the sheep for wool, the silkworm to spin the silk, and the plants for cotton and linen, and weave by hand their own cloth. A native woman or child walking along the mountain roads, a load strapped to her back, or in the field herding goats, would be spinning yarn by hand or knitting. They till the fields with hoes or a forked limb shaped like a plow. Few steel plows are seen. The fields of the average peasant are small and often hilly and rocky.
Yours very truly, GERTRUDE CHAPMAN.
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IN THE WORLD WAR
CHAPTER XIII.
THE AMERICAN LEGION
The American Legion is an organization of ex- service men who served in the Great War whose origin dates back to February 1919, when a group of Amer- ican officers met in Paris to discuss the problems con- cerning the return of soldiers to civil life. An idea grew out of this meeting to organize the ex-service men into some kind of an organization that would fur- ther the cause of satisfactory adjustment for the re- turning soldier. On the strength of this idea a meeting consisting of an equal number of officers and enlisted men was called in March at Paris. This caucus created the American Legion.
The first state convention in Illinois, was held at Peoria, October 17th and 18th, 1919. This convention created a permanent state organization and elected delegates to the national convention which was called in the meantime by a national caucus held at St. Louis in May.
The first national convention met in Minneapolis, Nov. 10, 1919. A constitution was adopted, elected offi- cers and designated Indianapolis as national headquar- ters. The national officers elected were, a national Commander, national Adjutant, national Finance Offi- cer and a national Chaplain.
The purpose of the American Legion as set forth in the preamble to its constitution is: "For God and country we associate ourselves together for the follow- ing purposes : To uphold and defend the constitution of the United States of America, to maintain law and or- der; to foster and perpetuate a 100 per cent American- ism; to preserve the memories and incidents of our as- sociation in the Great War; to inculcate a sense of in- dividual obligation to State and Nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses, promote peace and good will on earth, to safeguard and trans-
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FAYETTE COUNTY
mit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy ; to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness."
With these high principles at heart the first post of the American Legion in Fayette county was organ- ized at Vandalia, August 2, 1919. Posts were later or- ganized at Farina, St. Elmo and Ramsey.
Crawford-Hale Post (Vandalia)
The Crawford-Hale Post of the American Legion was organized at Vandalia on August 2, 1919, in the court house. Previous to this meeting circulars had been sent over the county signed by Will M. Albert calling the meeting. A temporary organization was perfected and Fred Easterday was elected Chairman and Will M. Albert was elected Secretary. Joseph B. McGlynn of East St. Louis was present at the meeting and assisted in the organization.
The name for the organization was chosen by a committee consisting of Glen O. Walters, Fred A. Meyers and Clinton E. Dillon and the name decided up- on was The Crawford-Hale Post in honor of Edward B. Hale the first Fayette county man to die in the serv- ice, and Lewis C. Crawford, the first Fayette county man to lose his life in France. At this meeting Fred Easterday was elected Post Commander and Will M. Albert, Adjutant.
There were fifty charter members of the organiza- tion. The first meetings were held in the court house and were well attended. On the 13th of April, 1920. the Post secured for club rooms the rooms in the Kelly block and from receipts from dances and entertain- ments secured a pool table and a billiard table and oth- erwise fitted out the room for club purposes including new furniture and electric lighting fixtures.
List of Charter Members Crawford-Hale Post American Legion
Will M. Albert
Fred A. Meyers
Fred G. W. Easterday
Henry O. Dorn
Frank Lovett
Hugh Kirkman
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IN THE WORLD WAR
Jerry Bolt
James H. Hale
Walter F. Boye
James C. Cunningham
Lester B. Filer
Walter Weaver
Clayton Frailey
Harold Emerick
Theodore Depew
Eugene Ireland
Walter E. Sheppard
Glen O. Walter William F. Mattes Jr.
L. E. Wilson
Albert J. Lemke
Fred Turney
Cameron B. Withers
Selby T. Oldham
Ross Carson
William E. Hankins
Clinton E. Dillon
Bert Van Zandt
Pearle M. Durbin
James A. Burcham
Harry M. Starnes
Donald Smith
Dan Schilling
Charles E. Segrest
F. P. Feery
C. W. Turner Harold Ivan Mitchell
Charles R. Hausmann
Archie A. Oglesby
William Raymond Leever
John M. Bingaman
Benjamin Lipsey H. G. Walton
Dan Reeter
Charles L. Hammer
Kelly Roe
Clifford E Kirk
Frank M. Denny
Rollo Rantz
Delmar Wehe Post (Farina)
The Delmar Wehe Post American Legion, No. 411, was organized temporarily on November 20, 1919, by twenty- ex-service men. Geo. L. Fender was elected temporary Commander and Levi G. Jones temporary Adjutant. During the next few days twenty-five more names were added to the list making a total of fifty charter members. The post was named the Delmar Wehe Post in honor of Delmar Wehe, the only man from the community to die in overseas service. The fol- lowing were the charter members of the Post:
John G. Hopldt
Clifford P. Vincent
ยท Ray H. Keene
Leo Kelso Kelly
James L. Jenkins
Dr. L. C. Bassett
James L. Gammon Dr. H. A. Baughman
Vance L. Brasel
Lewis E. Hanbaum ,
Frank M. Vincent
Ewald Washholz
.
Virgil Van Winkle
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FAYETTE COUNTY
Dr. F. M. Phillips
W. H. Milne
Charles A. Bee
Charles C. Schatz
Edward Strullmeyer
Leo Shatz
Albert Strullmeyer
Levi G. Jones
George L. Fender
George W. Jarhouse
Otto E. Baumann
Russel Seageser
Henry Hohedt Virgil C. Wehe
George Gherhardt
Lacey J. Roberts
Iva D. Combs
Myron Craig
Charles M. Hildebrand
John Barber
Richard Holson
Ernest Ruben
Arnold O. Irish
William Dippold
Edward R. Dillon
Rudolph Soldner
Barney Hollingshead
Otto Meyer
Fred Berhardt
Arthur Borcheldt
Ruben C. McCormick
Leroy Crandall
Shirley Rogers
Raymond Soldner
Haron C. Vint
Raswell Seager
Emil De Werff
Permanent officers elected were:
Commander-George L. Fender
1
Vice Commander-H. A. Baughman
Adjutant-Levi G. Jones Finance Officer-Dr. L. C. Bassett
Chaplain-Lewis E. Hanbaum
Sergt. at Arms-Frank M. Vincent
Weakly-Rowland Post (St. Elmo)
This Post was organized in January 1920, the charter being dated January 10th, 1920. The follow- ing names appear on same :
A. N. Berndt
E. W. Muma
A. L. Ragel
F. E. Miller
W. F. Askins
E. H. Parks
W. E. Schaub
R. H. Rexwinkle
W. R. Satterlee
M. E. Sapp
Clarence Shepard E. L. Greider
W. D. Kelly
Albert Sapp
H. E. Weakly
V. A. Price
L. A. Rader
R. F. Jones
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IN THE WORLD WAR
P. J. Kramer
L. K. Wiseman
Lewis Miller
J. M. Hensley
Harold Eyestone
Olin Muma
J. E. Orr
E. G. Orr
E. W. Jones
L. E. Johnston
Clyde H. Sefton
R. C. Ebelmesser
J. W. Bail
Earl Swarm
C. E. Tucker
L. W. Pyatt
Roy Pyatt
Roy Feller
E. F. Stice
E. S. Paradee
C. C. Niemeier
H. J. Rush
The name of this Post is Weakly-Rowland Post, No. 420, named in honor of John Weakly, who died in France and is now resting in a cemetery at Moweaqua, Ill., and Fred Rowland, who was killed in action in France, -and who is now buried in Fayette county at the New Liberty Cemetery.
The first officers were :- Post Commander-A. N. Berndt Vice Commander-F. E. Miller Finance Officer-E. W. Muma Adjutant-V. A. Price Sergt. at Arms-Aubrey Bolds
Chaplain-R. F. Jones Historian-Earl Greider
.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Fayette County Enlistments
7
Volunteer Enlistments ....
8
Civilian Relief
95
Military and Belgian Re-
lief
96
Selective Draft
13
Rejected at Camp.
22
Died at Camp.
22
Students Army Training Corps 23
Fayette County Officers ...
24
Adj. Gen. Frank S. Dick-
son
24
Lt. Col. J. J. Bullington 25
Maj. Chas. A. Clark ..
26
Maj. E. P. Clayton
28
Capt. F. G. W. Easterday
28
Capt. Mark Greer.
30
Company I, 130th U.S. Inft. 32
On the Border
32
Back into Federal Service 33
Off to Camp
35
Personnel
36
Life at Camp Logan.
38
Off for the Coast
41
The Trip Across
43
France
44
With the British
45
In Action
48
Back With the Yanks
51
In Meuse-Argonne Drive
52
The Armistice
55
Homeward Bound.
56
Memorial Honor Roll
58
The Draft Board.
82
Comparative Data
83
Draft Statistics
84
American Red Cross.
87
War Fund Drives.
89
Branch Chapters
93
War Supplies
94
Knitting Department ..
96
Red Cross Nurses
97
Young Men's Christian
Ass'n
102
Council of Defense
107
Neighborhood Committee 108
Community Centers.
109
Finance Committee.
112
Four Minute Men.
114
Legal Advisory Board.
.. 115
Food and Fuel Administra-
tion
117
County Food Administra-
tion
117
County Fuel Administra-
tion
119
Liberty Loans and War Sav-
ings Stamps
122
Organizations
130
Fayette County Doctors .. 130
Banks
133
Newspapers
134
Churches and Schools.
135
Boys' Working Reserve .. 137
Junior Red Cross ..
137
Spanish Influenza.
139
Soldiers' Letters
141
*The American Legion
155
Crawford-Hale Post
156
Delmar-Wehe Post
157
Weakly-Rowland Post .... 158
*Repeated efforts on the part of the compiler of this History to secure data concerning Anderson-Scroggins Post, of Ramsey, elicited no response to his inquiries.
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 3 0112 031892414
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