USA > Indiana > Lake County > History Of Veterans Of Foreign Wars (1944) > Part 4
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
The book was made up in loose leaf form, so that, if and when, new data was collected after the book had been finished, it could be written up and placed in the book where it should be. It was also decided that this book would not be written for a select few, but that any member of the Post that would fur- nish a cut of himself, and a sketch of his life, that it would be published in this book at no cost to the member.
Had it not been for Past Commander Curtis Bundy, who named all the officers in the period that the records were lost or destroyed, there would h .. ve been a missing link in the records for that period. Thanks to comrade Bundy for this fine service.
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EDWARD M. PINNEY
Commander 1942-1943
Edward M. Pinney
Edward M. Pinney was born July 18, 1875, at Lincoln, Illinois. He was the son of Julius and Sarah Pinney. While a very young man he moved with his parents to Boonville, Mis- souri, and was educated in the schools of that city.
After he had finished school he, like many other boys, did many odd jobs. He finally went to work for John Eagler, who was building the bridge for the Missouri, Kansas and Texas railroad, over the Missouri River at Boonville, Missouri. John Eagler happened to be the uncle of John W. Blume, the present His- torian of the Post. This bridge was completed in 1896. In the late twenties this bridge was torn down and replaced with a new and mod- ern structure.
On July 20, 1898, he enlisted in the United States Army from California, Missouri. He was sent to Camp Columbia, Cuba, about 10 miles west of Havana. He was discharged April 6, 1899, from the hospital at Camp Columbia and he then returned to his home at Boonville, Mo.
In 1900 he went to Bloomington, Illinois, and went to work for the C. and A. Railroad in the bridge and building department; from there he moved to Decatur, Illinois.
He was married to Miss Ida Crew, who was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Crew of Bloomington, Illinois, on October 24, 1900, and to this union were born one son, Fred- erick, who died when a very small child, and
two daughters, Mrs. Frany Morenz of Ham- mond and Mrs. Rosy Conroy of Decatur, Illinois.
Mrs. Ida Pinney, the wife of Comrade Pin- ney, passed away September 15, 1930, at Decatur, Illinois. Edward then came to Ham- mond to live with his daughter, Mrs. Frany Morenz, in 1931; the present address is 518- 173rd street, Hammond, Indiana.
Due to ill health, Commander Pinney re- signed as Commander in the month of July. The Post accepted his resignation with regrets and made him an Honorary Commander for the balance of his year; in addition they presented him a check for $50.00 for the fine service that he had rendered the Post. Senior Vice Commander Werner P. Meissner was immediately installed as the Commander for the balance of the year. On July 18 the Lar- sen Post gave a party in honor of Comrade Pinney and all enjoyed a very nice time. He passed away Nov. 9, 1943.
WERNER P. MEISSNER
Commander 1942-1943-1943-1944
Werner P. Meissner
Werner P. Meissner was born August 3, 1900, in La Porte, Indiana. At an early age he moved with his parents to Whiting, Indiana, and was educated in the public schools there.
On April 14, 1917, when he was only 16 years of age, he enlisted in the United States Cavalry at Hammond, Indiana. On April 18, 1917, he took his Oath at Columbus, Ohio,
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and was sent from there to Del Rio, Texas, and assigned to C Troop, 14th Cavalry, for training. In a very short time he was trans- ferred to Headquarters Troop in the 6th Divi- sion, composed of the 6th, 8th, 14th and 16th Cavalry Troops, and on December 7, 1917, they were stationed at San Antonio, Texas.
They left San Antonio, Texas, on March 20th for Chattanooga, Tenn., for Camp Forest, arriving there March 24, 1918. On May 9th they were again transferred to Camp Wadsworth at Wadsworth, S. C., arriving there May 10th. On June 29th they left Camp Wadsworth for Camp Mills, L. L., and arrived there July 1st and spent the fourth of July at Coney Island. Embarked for France on the transport "Desna" (an English boat) with a fleet of 20 or more ships, arriving at Halifax harbor July 9th and left the following day for France.
On the High Seas
On July 17, 1918, at 7:30 P.M., we sighted a submarine and most of our fleet opened fire on it. We did not know if we damaged the sub or not. The food on our trip going over was very poor. It took us 15 days to make the crossing and arrived at LeHavre, France, on July 22.
In France
We were stationed at a rest camp at Le- Havre for a day and then moved to Chauteau- villian by rail and arrived there July 25, 1918, and were billited in an old barn. After several days in these billets, we moved by truck to Remiremont, arriving there August 26; we left there the next day by truck for LeCollette to do M.P. duty; on September 12 we went to Gerardmer and remained there until Octo- ber 26, when we left by rail for Futeau, arriv- ing there the following day. On November 6, we left for Mt. Blainville and it was there I had my first experience in a dug-out; we spent two nights in this dug-out. We left there on November 8 for Grandpre and stayed there for the night and on November the 9, we headed for Authe, arriving there the same day. On November 11 we left for Futeau arriving there the same day. On November 12 we went by truck to Verdun arriving there at 3 A.M., November 13. We left Verdun on November
21, and arrived at Chancenay the next day and on the 30th we left there for Aignay le Duc, arriving there on December 1st. We re- mained there until April 28, 1919, when we were sent to Bertrich, Germany, remaining there until May 24, when we entrained for Brest, France, arriving there on May 28; left Brest on June 3 on board the S. S. Mt. Vernon, docked in Hoboken, N. J., on June 10, 1919, for Camp Mills. On June 14 we were sent to Camp Sherman, Ohio, where we received our discharge on June 18, 1919.
He returned to his home in Whiting, In- diana, and went to work for the Sinclair Refining Company. He was married to Miss Alice Stavanaugh, who was the daughter of Henrietta and Samuel Stavanaugh of Water- ville, Minnesota. His serial number in the army was 1,140,439 and his present address is 1318 Davis Ave., Whiting, Indiana. He became a member of the Larsen Post March 4, 1918, is a member of the Degree Team, and became Commander of this Post July 17, 1942.
JAMES F. PACE 1st District Commander, 1942-1943
James F. Pace
James F. Pace, District Commander of the First District, Veterans of Foreign Wars, De- partment of Indiana, served with Second Battalion, 148 Infantry, 37 Division, Ohio National Guards in France.
He hails from Newark, New Jersey, where he served as Legislative Chairman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars in the year of 1919.
Hammond Public Library
Hammond, Ind.
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He left Newark to complete his law course in Oklahoma City University and later settled in Richmond, Indiana, to practice law and or- ganized a Veterans of Foreign Wars Post there and became its first Commander and served for two years. He was one of the organizers of the Steel City Post 909, Gary, Indiana, and served as Judge Advocate.
He was Senior Vice Commander in the First District, 1940-1941, and was appointed Chair- man of the Citizenship and Medal Awards Committee by Past Department Commander Merville Ray and was reappointed by Past Department Commander Charles L. Hopkins while serving in that capacity.
On June 1, 1941, Comrade Pace was elected District Commander at LaPorte, Indiana, and was installed at the Department Convention June 30, 1941, at Michigan City, Indiana. He is also a practicing attorney at 708 Broadway, Gary, Indiana.
ALBERT J. KLUG
$02
Albert J. Klug
Albert J. Klug, our present Junior Vice Commander, was born April 9, 1893, at Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Albert and Mary Klug of Wilkes-Barre.
His first enlistment in the United States Army was on August 10, 1911. He served in the regular army in the Medical Corps for a period of three years.
On July 22, 1918, he was inducted in the United States Army for the second time from Kingston, Pennsylvania, and was sent to Camp Lee, Virginia.
He embarked for Brest, France, September 23, 1918, and arrived in Brest, October 7, 1918. He was in the 147th Company, Trans- portation Corps. He was a boilermaker by trade and served in that capacity in the United States Army in the railroad service. He was stationed most of the time at Is-sur- Tille, France.
He sailed back from Brest to the United States on September 20, 1919, landing in Hoboken, New Jersey, and from there was sent to Camp Dix, New Jersey, where he was discharged on September 25, 1919.
He went back to his home in Kingston, Pa., for a short visit, and then went to Los Angeles, California. He was employed there by the Southern Pacific railroad shops for about one year. He then went to work in the building trade there.
In 1926, he went to Greenwich, Conn., and worked in the building trade, remained there for three years, returning to Los Angeles, still staying with the building trade.
In 1934 he came to Hammond, Indiana, and went to work for the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company in Indiana Harbor where he is still employed.
He was married to Miss Anna Scherer, who was the daughter of Nicholas and Katherine Scherer of Griffith, Indiana. His serial number while in the army was 4,076,684 and his social security number is 312-09-4895; his present address is 1125 - 167th street, Hammond, Indiana.
He was elected as Junior Vice Commander of the Larsen Post, July 17, 1942, and became a member of this Post, April 17, 1936.
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ROBERT A. BLUME
Robert A. Blume
Robert A. Blume was born August 10, 1886, at McKittrick, Misouri. He was the son of William and Minnie Blume, both deceased and buried at New Franklin, Missouri.
Robert and his brother John, the present Historian of this Post, both entered the service on the 24th day of June, 1917, at Fayette, Missouri, and both were sent to Camp Pike, Arkansas, at Little Rock for training.
Robert left Camp Pike for Camp Merrit, New Jersey, the early part of September, 1918, was there a day or two and sailed for Brest, France. He stayed at a camp in Brest for about two weeks, then was transferred to a camp further in the interior, where they received gas mask drills, and about 10 days later were sent to the front lines at Damare, France, in the Argonne Sector.
After the Armistice was signed they moved into the Toul Sector, and from there they fol- lowed the retreating Germans into Germany. They crossed the Moselle River, then the Rhine River, entering Germany on December 1, 1918. They arrived in Coblenz, Germany, about the 17th of December and from there they went to Neidermending, arriving there about the 20th of December. He was stationed there until August 6, 1919; his Division Headquarters being stationed at Andernack, Germany.
He went to an American school in Brush- Bole, Germany, where the Rainbow Division was stationed. The Rainbow was sent back to the States in April, 1919, and the 3rd Division took over their area on the 8th of April. He traveled through France, Alsace-Lorraine, Luxemburg, Belgium and Germany.
It took 17 days to make the hike from the Toul Sector, a distance of 220 miles, to Neidermending, Germany.
He sailed from Brest, France, on his birth- day, the 10th day of August, 1919, and landed at Hoboken, N. J., August 20, 1919.
He was discharged on August 26, 1919, at Camp Taylor at Louisville, Kentucky. His serial number in the service was 3,266,205. He is now living in Los Angeles, California.
CHARLES GATES KINGWILL
Charles Gates Kingwill
Charles G. Kingwill was born in Chicago, Illinois, July 25, 1862, and was educated in the public schools of that city.
In September, 1880, he joined Troop D of the Illinois First Cavalry and served as First Sergeant in this outfit for two years, receiving an honorable discharge in 1884. In October of the same year he joined the Fourth Division of the Illinois Naval Militia in Chicago, serv- ing as Quartermaster in this outfit until war was declared with Spain in 1898. He then enlisted as a seaman in the U. S. Navy and was sent in charge of the Second Company of
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Naval recruits which was on May 24, 1898.
He was sent from Chicago to Key West, Florida, and arrived there on June 1 of the same year, and was sent aboard the Lancaster. He was placed in charge as coxswain of the dingey, carrying orders to other ships of the fleet. On June 5, he was transferred to the U. S. S. Monitor Puritan on which he served in the Havana blockade, and the Puerto Rico campaign. Comrade Kingwill returned to the United States in late September of that year and was honorably discharged from the ship at Portsmouth, Virginia, Navy Yard on Octo- ber 3rd, 1898. He again joined the naval reserves in Chicago and served until 1904 and then came to Hammond, Indiana.
He was employed by the American Steel Foundries Company soon after he arrived here and served this company in an executive ca- pacity for many years, and retired on a pen- sion on December 31, 1928.
He was a Charter member of the Edward H. Larsen Post and served the Post in many varied capacities. As chairman of the enter- tainment committee, he brought many high- class entertainments to Hammond with nice profits to the Post. In 1922 the play was Pat Barnes in "A Buck on Leave," and in 1923, Mme. Schumann-Heink. She made a return engagement in 1926. Sousa and his band en- tertained the people of Hammond in 1924. Several carnivals were also sponsored by 802 and then in 1928 he brought to Hammond, with the consent of the Post, the United States Navy Band. Many war pictures were also brought here by Comrade Kingwill.
On Washington's Birthday of 1928, as chairman of the entertainment committee, he was instrumental in bringing our National Commander, Frank Strayer, to Hammond. A large banquet was served in the Chamber of Commerce rooms in his honor.
Comrade Kingwill was a delegate to the Na- tional Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in 1922 in Seattle, Washington, and in 1928 at Indianapolis, Indiana, and again in
1933 at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1931 he moved to Los Angeles, California, and has resided there ever since. His present address is 201 Worthington Apartments, 1059 S. Man- hattan place, Los Angeles, California.
(Octagon) May, 1922.
That celebrated A. E. F. musical comedy, "A Buck on Leave," written and produced by our own Pat Barnes (formerly of the Sharon Works), was presented recently at the Par- thenon Theatre at Hammond, for two evening performances and a matinee. Chiefly instru- mental in bringing this show to Hammond was Mr. C. G. Kingwill, veteran of the Spanish-American War, and the proceeds, which amounted to $700.00 net, were turned over to Edward H. Larsen Post No. 802, Vet- erans of Foreign Wars, under whose auspices the affair was promoted.
A local newspaper, in speaking of the show, made the following comments: "C. G. King- will takes the part of General Pershing, but the Buck (referring to Pat Barnes) is not overawed by the Commander-in-Chief and when he encounters that personage in the lobby of the hotel at Aixles-Bains, he famil- iarly inquires how things are at the Simplex. Instead of ordering the Buck to the brig, General Pershing replies very pleasantly that business is good and that if Pat will drop around he will put him to work in the Foundry."
Sergeant Barnes proved to be a most charm- ing fellow and completely won the hearts of his audience through his inimitable stories. He was born just as much for the part of the "Buck" as was Joseph Jefferson for "Rip Van Winkle" or Frank Bacon for "Lightnin'."
As for "General Pershing" Kingwill, a good photograph in full regimentals published here- with, shows how well he looked the part.
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ALLEN BARNETT
Allen Barnett
Allen Barnett was born February 19, 1860, in Boone County, Indiana, near Danville. He was the second son of James Pleasant and Mary Ann Barnett.
He was educated in a school four miles north of Danville, known as the Quebec school; he also received one year of education in the Central Normal College in Danville, Indiana, where he took up a business course.
He moved with his parents to Neodesha, Kansas, in 1882, where he spent four years, then he returned to Indiana and two years later he went back to Neodesha, Kansas, and took up a homestead which was in 1887. Re- peated crop failures forced him to abandon the claim. He then went to Cripple Creek, Colorado, and prospected for gold and silver until the beginning of the Spanish-American War.
As a volunteer he joined the First Colorado Regiment and was assigned to Company E. With this company he sailed for the Philip- pines to join the other companies of the regi- ment that sailed previously.
After the war he returned to San Francisco, where he was mustered out of the army and receiving his discharge, he returned to Kansas, where on April 15, 1899, he was married to Miss Viola Higgins of Neodesha, Kansas. To this union were born one son, Kyle, now of Hammond, Indiana; three daughters, Mrs. Erma Moffett and Miss Georgia Barnett, both of Hammond, and Mrs. Pauline Heck of Toledo, Ohio. He had four brothers: William
A., Charles J., Oliver P., and Harry C., and one sister, Mrs. Mattie F. Flynn.
Comrade Barnett and his family came to Hammond from Neodesha, Kansas, in 1927. In April, 1931, his wife, Viola Barnett, passed away, and after her death, he became very active in all Veteran's affairs. He was a mem- ber of the Spanish-American War Veterans of Hammond, but was more active in the Lar- sen Post.
He held several offices in the Post and served on many committees, and was a member of the famous degree team of the Post. He at- tended almost all District and State Conven- tions and many National Conventions. He passed away in Hines Hospital at Hines, Illi- nois, February 20th, 1940, at the age of eighty years and one day. Internment was in Neodesha Cemetery, Neodesha, Kansas.
HENRY W. CARR
Henry W. Carr
Henry W. Carr was born September 8, 1898, at Wickliffe, Indiana; he attended the public schools at Monticello, Indiana. While attending high school there, he decided to join the Indiana National Guards, and served with them on the Mexican border in 1916 in the 3rd Indiana Regiment Band.
In France he served with the 67th Field Artillery, Brigade Headquarters Company, in
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the World War of 1917 and 1918. He served with this unit in France, Belgium, Luxem- burg and Germany, and returned to the United States in April, 1919, and was dis- charged at Camp Sherman, Ohio, May 12, 1919.
Comrade Carr was married to Miss Lillian Waterstradt of Danville, Illinois, in July, 1919, and then moved to Hammond, Indiana. To this union there were born three children: Alice B. Carr, Richard W. Carr and James C. Carr, all of whom belong to the various branches of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 802.
Comrade Carr became a member of this Post in 1934 and was elected a Trustee in 1937, and served until 1938, at which time he was elected Junior Vice-Commander for 1938-1939.
EDWARD N. MAGINOT
Edward N. Maginot
Edward N. Maginot was born February 22, 1890, at Cedar Lake, Indiana. He was the son of Michael and Thresa Maginot, now residing in Hammond, Indiana. He was educated in the schools of Hammond, and after he had finished school, he went into the feed business in Hammond.
Comrade Maginot enlisted in the army on June 25, 1918, and went to Camp Sherman, Ohio, was there about six weeks and then was sent to Camp Mills on Long Island. From there
he sailed for Liverpool, England, then to South Hampton, crossing the channel to Le Havre, France, he entered a camp further into the interior for further training.
He was then transferred to Company C, 363rd Infantry, 91st Division, and soon saw active service in the Meuse-Argonne Sector; from there they were transferred to Belgium, again seeing plenty of active service, where he was wounded on November 1, 1918, by a piece of shrapnel in his shoulder.
He was sent first to the Evacuation Hospi- tal, then to the General Hospital No. 22, in France, then to Base Hospital No. 29, in Lon- don, England, and he left this hospital for the U. S. A. about December 25, 1918, and en- tered the Greenhut Hospital in New York City and from there he was sent to Camp Dodge, Iowa, where he received his discharge February 10, 1919.
He then came back to Hammond, Indiana, where he went back into the feed and coal business and is still in the same business located at 488 Fayette street, and his present home address is 5420 Oakley street.
On April the 5th, 1940, a motion was made by Walter Klamm, seconded by Claude Jones, that the Post present Comrade Maginot with a continuous membership badge of some kind, he being the only active member that was a charter member of the Post. The committee selected a V. F. W. ring and was presented to him at the installation party the same month of that year at the Masonic Temple. He was also awarded a Purple Heart for distinguished service in the presence of the enemy.
GEORGE S. PARKER
George S. Parker was born in Rockford, Illinois, May 3, 1894; he was the son of George W. and Margaret B. Parker. He was reared on
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PAUL A. BOBINSKY
George S. Parker
a farm in Ogle County, Illinois, and attended school in DeKalb County.
He entered the army October 15, 1915, and served until August 21, 1921. He served in active combat against Pancho Villa's forces March 29, 1916, at Guererro, Mexico, this be- ing known as the Mexican Punitive Expedi- tion, which started on March 16, 1916, and ended February 5, 1917. He received his train- ing at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, Mis- souri, and also at Fort Bliss in Texas.
He served at Jefferson Barracks from Oc- tober, 1915, to January, 1916; 7th Cavalry, January, 1916, to September, 1919; 15th Military Police September, 1919, to January, 1920; Quartermasters Corps, January, 1920, to August, 1921.
His serial number was R-1006054 and his social security number is 312-09-6095.
He was married to Miss Mary M. Farris, the daughter of Elmer L. and Dora Farris of Paris, Illinois, in June, 1928, and to this union was born one daughter, Alice Mae Parker. Com- rade Parker was employed by the Ford Motor Company at Hegewisch, Illinois, from 1924 to 1930 and since that date he worked for the Hammond Brass Company and also the Youngtown Sheet and Tube Company, and at the present time, he is employed at the Youngstown Steel Door Company as a mill- wright worker. He lives at 36 Clinton street in Hammond, Indiana, at the present time.
0
Paul A. Bobinsky
Paul A. Bobinsky was born April 19, 1891, and was the son of Anthony and Johanna Bobinsky. He was married to Miss Constance Janowski, who is the daughter of John and Marcyanna Janowski. To this union was born one son, Ronald, and one daughter, Johanna. His wife, Mrs. Constance Bobinsky, was the President of the Ladies Auxiliary for the years of 1941-1942.
Comrade Bobinsky enlisted Feb. 14, 1918, from Hammond, Indiana, and was sent to Camp Dix, New Jersey. He served with Com- pany C, 303rd Field Signal Battalion. He served in two engagements: the St. Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne and Argonne Forest Sec- tors. He sailed for Liverpool, England, May 26, 1918, and returned to the United States May 12, 1919. His serial number was 175954 and his social security number is 312-10-6125. His present address is 4724 Ash avenue in Hammond.
Comrade Bobinsky kept a very interesting diary and I am going to quote some very in- teresting notations he made from day to day, and I can only give you a few of them as he has enough to fill this book.
May 17, 1918-Departed on the British "Toloa" with 12 other transports. Embarka- tion point, Brooklyn, New York. We passed the Statue of Liberty at 7:07 A. M.
June 3, 1918-Burial at sea of someone who died on one of the ships in our convoy.
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June 7, 1918-Landed at Liverpool, Eng- land, after passing to the north of Ireland. Traveled one whole day within sight of Ire- land and Scotland.
June 9, 1918-Arrived at Dover, England, at 7:00 A. M. My company billited at a British rest camp. Day was spent in sight- seeing.
June 10, 1918-Crossed the English Chan- nel for Calais, France, arriving there at 1:20 P. M.
June 26, 1918-Received the first mail from the U. S.
September 12, 1918-Arrived on the St. Mihiel sector and there heard the first artillery barrage. It was French railroad artillery bombarding Metz.
October 8, 1918-Arrived in the Argonne Forest.
November 1, 1918, 5:30 A. M .- 133rd Ar- tillery Brigade, 78th Division, put over a big artillery barrage. Fritzies beat a retreat and our artillery hot after them. This is the be- ginning of the drive toward Sedan.
November 11, 1918-Heard news of Ger- many signing the Armistice as we passed thru St. Menehould.
JEROME A. DALTON
Jerome A. Dalton was born April 4, 1895, at Markle, Indiana. He was the son of John and Ellen Dalton, their present address being Hammond, Indiana.
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