USA > Pennsylvania > York County > York > York County and the World War: Being a war history of York and York County > Part 3
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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
[ 30 ]
REGIMENTAL SERGEANT MAJOR HAROLD HAINES BAIR 316th Headquarters Company
Sergeant Major Bair, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Bair of 340 Walnut St., Hanover. Pa., was born January 14, 1891. He attended Hanover High School but discontinued to attend the York School of Business, York, Pa. At the time of entering the service he was a member of the Expediting Bureau, Bethlehem Steel Co .. Sparrows Point, Md. He left this work and was sent over seas where he was attached to the 316th Infantry. He was killed by a high explosive shell while on active duty in the Argonne Forest, September 29, 1918.
PRIVATE EDWARD B. ROSER Company L, 9th Infantry
Private Roser was killed while in action in France on November 3, 1918. He took part at the front in the Argonne Drive; it was in this engagement that he lost his life. He left York for Camp Lee, Virginia, and was assigned to a Replacement Company. He had formerly been a member of Company A, N. G. P., but when that Company entered the regular service. he was rejected. Previous to entering the service he was in the baking business and lived with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Simon L. Roser, 277 Union Street, York. Pa. Private Roser was thirty-one years of age at the time of his death.
PRIVATE JOHN H. FERREE 16th Company, 4th Training Battalion 155th Depot Brigade
Private Ferree was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Ferree, 220 N. Penn Street, York, Pa. He was born in York, December 30, 1890, where he attended the public schools. He was sent to Camp Lee, Va., with a contingent of York County men June 24, 1918. While in the service a few weeks he was killed by a land-slide of sand while on detail duty. He was killed instantly and his body was brought home for burial. He was given a military funeral by the Spanish War Veterans of York, Pennsylvania.
[ 3] ]
EDWIN CLARE REBERT Died of Wounds
GEORGE FRED THOMANN Died of Wounds
VALENTINE KILGORE LUTZ Died
[ 32 ]
SERGEANT MAJOR E. CLARE REBERT 316th Infantry Headquarters Company
Sergeant Major Rebert was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rebert. He was born at New Oxford, Pa .. August 10, 1892. He attended the York County Academy and also Goldey College at Wilmington, Del. Before entering the service. he was employed by the York Manufacturing Company in the complaint department. He was a member of Mt. Zion Lodge I. O. O. F. and of the York Lodge Free and Accepted Masons, No. 266. He was also a member of the Grace Reformed Church. He enlisted and was sent to Camp Meade, Md., November 19th, 1917. He sailed for overseas soon after and was wounded in action September 30, 1918. He was officially reported dead March 10, 1919.
CORPORAL GEORGE FRED THOMAN Company A, 112th Regiment
Corporal Thoman was the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Theodore Thoman of 720 Pennsylvania Avenue, York, Pa. He was born at Jefferson, York County, May 21, 1896. He attended the public schools until he moved to York, where he was employed by the American Chain Company. He later took up his trade as pressman at the York Printing Company. He enlisted on his twenty-first birthday in York and left for Camp Hancock, Georgia, where he was appointed a Corporal and held that rank until his death. He also passed an examination as an expert automatic gunner on the Lewis and Browning Machine Guns. Corporal Thoman saw active service at Chateau Thierry and the Argonne Forest, where he was hit by a high explosive shell and instantly killed, October 8, 1918. He belonged to the Heidelberg Reformed Church and Sunday School of York, Pa.
HOSPITAL APPRENTICE VALENTINE KILGORE LUTZ Philadelphia Nary Yards
Hospital Apprentice Lutz was the only son of S. D. Lutz of Laurel, Pa. He served as a mail carrier for over two years, and was employed at A. M. Grove's Store at Muddy Creek Forks. He was graduated from the Cross Roads High School in April, 1917, prior to his entering the Service. He was stationed at League Island during the Influenza Epidemic and volunteered to care for some comrades who were very sick. While thus engaged, he contracted Influenza and died October 11, 1918, at the League Island Naval Hospital. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Hunter of Quinston Church where interment was made. He was twenty-one years old at the time of his death.
[ 33 ]
JOSEPH HENRY HENDRICKSON Drowned
WALTER STOVER GARRETT Died
WARREN BLESSING DIETZ Died
[31 ]
SEAMAN, SECOND CLASS, JOSEPH HENRY HENDRICKSON
U. S. S. Michigan
Seaman Joseph Hendrickson was the first York boy to give his life while doing his bit for Uncle Sam. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert C. Hendrickson of 611 Jessop Place, York, Pa. He enlisted in the U. S. Navy during the early days of the war. In 1916 he was attached to the U. S. S. Prairieland and helped the Marines to guard and disarm the natives during an uprising at San Domingo. After seven months he was transferred to the U. S. S. Michigan. On October 30, 1917, Seaman Hendrickson died at his post while on a picket boat of his ship. His body was found on the beach at Mesick's Point. When found he was clad in blue suit and jumpers and kapack life belt; he had no special distinguishing features and was identified by stencils on his clothing and a letter in his pocket. Seaman Hendrickson was brought to York and interred in St. Patrick's Cemetery.
AUTOMOBILE MECHANIC WALTER STOVER GARRETT Company D, 307th Regiment
Automobile Mechanic Walter Stover Garrett, son of Rev. C. F. and Mrs. Estie M. Garrett, resided at 807 West Princess Street. York, Pennsylvania. Prior to his enlistment he was a chemist by ocen- pation. He entered the Service July 15, 1918, and was sent to State College for a period of six weeks of intensive training: there he qualified as an expert automobile mechanic and truck driver. From State College he was sent to Camp Holabird, Md., where like many of our brave comrades he was stricken with the influenza epidemic. After pneumonia had developed he was taken to Fort McHenry Hospital, where, after a vain effort to save his life, he died.
PRIVATE WARREN BLESSING DIETZ 281st Aero Squadron
Private Dietz was born September 3, 1918, in Hallam, York County, Pa. He was employed by the American Wire Fabrics Company at Mt. Wolf, Pa., before entering the service. On December 12, 1917, he enlisted at York and was sent to Columbus Barracks. After two weeks there he was sent to Camp Grant, Rockford, Illinois. Here he trained for about three months and was sent to Park Field, Tennessee. From there he went to Garden City where he obtained a three day furlough to come home. He returned to Camp and shortly afterward sailed for overseas. Private Dietz was in France twenty-one days when he was taken sick with pneumonia and died September 26, 1918. He was twenty years old at the time of his death.
[ 35 ]
WILLIAM JOHN FELDMAN Died
CHARLES J. SLONAKER Drowned
PAUL EDGAR LAU Died
[36]
PRIVATE WILLIAM JOHN FELDMAN Headquarters Company, 18th Field Artillery
Private Feldman was the son of Rev. and Mrs. William H. Feldman of 404 West Market Street, York, Pa. He was attending the York High School at the time of his enlistment November 20, 1917. He acted as Colonel's orderly and messenger at the front where he first saw active service on his birthday, July 14, 1918. He was wounded October 6, 1918, at Montfaucon while in some Ger- man barracks. The enemy's artillery was located in plain view several miles across a valley and part of the first shell to fall struck him. Private Feldman showed great courage under fire and after experiencing numerous narrow escapes he contracted pneumonia and died at Contrexeville on October 17, 1918.
SEAMAN CHARLES J. SLONAKER U. S. S. Lake Moor
Charles J. Slonaker enlisted in the United States Navy, December 10, 1918, at York, Pennsylvania. He was sent to Philadelphia and later to Norfolk, Virginia, for training. Having been through some hard training he accompanied the U. S. S. Lake Moor on her Maiden Voyage to Europe. At mid- night April 11, 1918, she was torpedoed and sunk, Seaman Slonaker was instantly killed by the explosion. He was the son of Henry C. Slonaker of 68 West Boundary Avenue, York. Pa., and prior to his enlistment was a machinist.
PRIVATE PAUL EDGAR LAU Company 7, Concentration Brigade
Private Lau was the son of Mr. amd Mrs. Pius Lau of 33 West Hanover Street, Hanover, Pa. He was a Notary Public and was also in the insurance business in Hanover, Pa., prior to entering the service. He enlisted August 1, 1918, and was sent to Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas. Later he was transferred to Buffalo, N. Y., where he was stationed at Acceptance Park, Military Road, where he contracted influenza and died October 15, 1918, in the Emergency Hospital at Buffalo, N. Y.
[ 37 ]
LANDIS LEVAN TRIMMER Died
RODNEY W. POLACK Killed in Action
JOHN FRANKLIN MORTON Died
[ 38 ]
PRIVATE LANDIS LEVAN TRIMMER Co. I, 18th Infantry Battalion
Private Trimmer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Absolom Trimmer, 328 Reinicke Place, York, Pa., entered the service June 24, 1918, and was sent to Camp Lee, Va. His employment had been that of a truck salesman. He was one of the two men chosen to lead the First City District, when nearly two hundred York and York County boys left for Camp Lee, Va. It was while stationed at Camp Lee that Private Trimmer died of pneumonia, October 5, 1918. He was buried at the Burmudian Meeting House, East Berlin, without the regular ceremony, due to the ban on public funerals during the influenza Epedemic.
ACTING CAPTAIN RODNEY W. POLACK Company D, 60th Regulars
Acting Captain Polack was the son of Robert F. Polack of Mcclellan Heights, York, Pa. He attended Mercersburg Academy and later went to Virginia Military Institute. He was engaged in the jewelry business before enlisting in May, 1917. He went to Fort Oglethorp where he received a commission as First Lieutenant. Lieutenant Polack sailed for overseas in April, 1918, and saw extensive active service at the St. Mihiel front. He was promoted to acting captain and his name was forwarded for commission as such but it was not received before his death. As acting captain he led his company, capturing 205 prisoners, including several German officers. During this entire engagement there were only three of his men wounded, none of them seriously. For this work he was highly honored and his company was made Shock Troops. He was killed in action October 14th, 1918, at Cunel, France.
JOHN FRANKLIN MORTON Section B, S. A. T. C.
John Franklin Morton, son of Mrs. Ella Morton, 1532 W. Market Street, York, Pa., was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Epworth Church and Sunday School and the Reliance Fire Company of West York. After the death of his father he was the sole support of his mother, whom he always cherished greatly. Prior to his entering the service he was engaged in the silk business. He died October 11, 1918, while stationed at Philadelphia, Pa. His last words to his mother and sister were: "If I can only get to France and help erush the Kaiser I don't care how they bring me home. I would rather be a dead hero than a living coward."
[ 39 ]
ALLEN MECKLEY Died
DAVID F. MILLER Killed in Action
CHARLES RUSSELL BURKHOLDER Died of Wounds
[ 40 ]
PRIVATE ALLEN MECKLEY Motor Service
Private Meckley was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Alphens S. Meckley of Glenville, Pa. He was born in Codorus Township and attended the public schools there. Before entering the serviee he was an engine and automobile mechanic. He was stationed at the Springgarden Armory at Philadelphia, Pa., and was injured at that place August 31, 1918. He was taken to the Jefferson Hospital and died September 4, 1918.
PRIVATE DAVID F. MILLER Company I, 313th Infantry
Private Miller was the son of Mrs. Annie Miller of Red Lion Pa. He was born in North Hopewell Township and attended Strayer's School. Before entering the service he was engaged in the cigar business at Red Lion. Private Miller was sent to Camp Meade, Md., during the month of May, 1918 , where he underwent training for two months, being sent overseas in July. He was engaged in the Argonne Forest drive and wounded September 26, 1918. Soon afterward he died from the wounds received while in action at that place.
PRIVATE CHARLES RUSSELL BURKHOLDER Company F, 313th Infantry
Private Burkholder was the son of Mrs. Margaret Burkholder, of Muddy Creek Forks, York County, Pa. Before entering the service he was engaged in farming. He left home for Camp Meade, Maryland, May 24. 1918. Soon after reaching Camp he was sent to France, where he was killed in action, September 28, 1918. He was buried in an American Cemetery at Halancourt, Mense. France. Private Burkholder was thirty-one years old at the time of his death.
[ 41 ]
ERNEST C TIPTON Died of Wounds
BERNARD PRESTON ALTHOFF Killed in Action
WILBUR D. BUCHMEYER Killed in Action
[ 42 ]
PRIVATE ERNEST C. TIPTON Supply Company, 326th Infantry
Private Tipton was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Tipton and husband of Mrs. Minnie C. Tipton of 249 West York Avenue, York, Pa. He was born at Fort Royal, Virginia. Private Tipton was killed by an aerial bomb explosion, September 15, 1918, and buried in the American Cemetery at Jarville, France. Following is part of a letter received by Mrs. M. C. Tipton from one of his comrades: "Ernest and I were sleeping together at the time we were both wounded. We got up about midnight to watch an air raid but it was chilly so we went back to our lonely beds. Suddenly I heard an awful bang and saw Ernest going for the door saying he was hit. We were put in an ambu- lance and taken to Nancy. After undergoing an operation I asked about him and one of the boys told me he was dead."
SERGEANT BERNARD PRESTON ALTHOFF Company B, 145th Infantry
Sergeant Althoff, son of William J. and Sarah Agnes Althoff, was born in Hanover. Pa. He re- ceived his education at Gettysburg Parochial School, and after finishing school he assisted his father on the farm. Later, Sergeant Althoff moved to Elyria, Ohio, where, at the age of twenty-seven he was engaged in the insurance business. About June 20, 1917, he enlisted and was sent to Camp Sheridan: there he remained until June, 1918, when he was transferred to Camp Lee, Virginia. He then immediately sailed for France. Sergeant Althoff was wounded about September 26, 1918, and was killed in action September 28, 1918, in the Argonne Forest.
CORPORAL WILBUR D. BUCHMEYER Company K, 112th Infantry
Corporal Buchmeyer was the son of Mrs. Rosie J. Buchmeyer, residing at 1439 Monroe Street, West York, Penna. He attended the public schools at home and before entering the service was employed in the paint department at the Martin plant of the Martin-Parry Corporation, West York. Corporal Buchmeyer after receiving his overseas training sailed for France with his company Soon after arriving in France he was sent to the front where he was engaged in the Argonne drive. It was during this drive that Corporal Buchmeyer was killed in action, October 5, 1918.
[ 43 ]
RALPH E. WEILER Killed in Action
ERVIN O. SHEFFER Killed in Action
JAMES ERVAN FOLCKOMER Drowned
[ 44 ]
PRIVATE RALPH E. WEILER Company G, 328th Infantry
Private Weiler, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Weiler, resided at 136 North Street, Hanover, Penna. He was killed in action when fighting with Sergeant York of Tennessee, who is eredited as being one of the World War's greatest heroes. Private Weiler volunteered with about seven others to wipe out a series of German machine gun nests that had been retarding their progress in the Argonne. The detachment was cut off by a line of Hun Infantry, and between two fires battled for life. There were 132 Germans and 35 enemy machine guns captured as the result of this attack. Five graves mark the scene of the fight at hill number 223, in the Argonne. They are the resting places of Private Weiler and four of his comrades who so nobly and successfully overwhelmed the enemy on October 8th, 1918.
CORPORAL ERVIN O. SHEFFER
Co. 1, 38th Infantry
Corporal Sheffer resided at 1309 West King Street, York, Pa. Before entering the service, he was employed by the American Chain Company of York, Pa., being a chainmaker by trade. Corporal Sheffer sailed for France soon after he left home and while overseas took part in several large battles. He was on active duty at the Marne, the Vesele, St. Mihiel, and the Argonne Forest. It was at the latter place that Corporal Sheffer was killed in action on October 9, 1918.
CHIEF PETTY OFFICER JAMES ERVAN FOLCKOMER
U. S. S. Lawrence
Chief Carpenter's Mate Folckomer of 120 W. Philadelphia Street, York, Pennsylvania, enlisted at the age of seventeen and was serving on his third term of enlistment at the time of his death. He saw active service at Vera Cruz, Cuba. Chief Carpenters Mate Folckomer was drowned October 29, 1918, at Savannah, Georgia. During his long period of enlistment he served on the following ships: U. S. S. Constellation, U. S. S. Yankee, U. S. S. Wabash, U. S. S. Dixie, U. S. S. Salem, U. S. S. Havford, U. S. S. Paducar and U. S. S. Lawrence. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Clotien Folckomer. Previous to his enlistment he was engaged in the wood working industry.
[ 45 ]
WILLIAM T. RINGLAND Died
CLARENCE E. LEASH Died
SAMUEL MCKINLEY MARKLEY Died
[ 16 ]
PRIVATE WILLIAM T. RINGLAND Company E, 316th Infantry
Private William Ringland was the son of Mrs. J. G. Ringland of Delta, York County, Pa. Before entering the service he was engaged in farming. He entered the service November 5, 1917, and was sent to Camp Meade, Maryland. Here he was taken ill, later developing pneumonia, from which he died in the Base Hospital at Camp Meade, Maryland, on January 23, 1918 A letter from his Captain to his mother is in part as follows: "I want to assure you that we feel the loss of your boy as much as you do, for while you have lost a son, Uncle Sam has lost a brave and good soldier."
PRIVATE CLARENCE E. LEASH Unassigned 13th Company
Private Leash enlisted at the local recruiting station on December 26, 1917. He left for the district station at Harrisburg on January 7, 1918, and from there he was transferred to Camp St. Thomas, Kentucky. A short time afterward he was transferred to Fort Caswell, N. C. Private Leash enlisted as a musician and at the time of his death he was waiting to be assigned to a band. He was a member of several York Bands and of the Emmanuel Reformed Sunday School orchestra. He was also a member of the Emmanuel Reformed Church and Brotherhood. Private Leash was given a military funeral and buried in Mt. Rose cemetery by members of Colonel Watts Camp No. 68 United Spanish War Veterans, and by the members of his church.
PRIVATE SAM MCKINLEY MARKLEY 23rd Company, 6th Training Battalion, 154th Depot Brigade
Private Markley was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Markley of Cly, York County. He attended the schools at Pleasant Grove. Before entering the service he lived with his parents and was em- ployed by The York Haven Paper Co. Ile was sent to Camp Meade, Md., May 23, 1918, where he remained until his death, October 6, 1918. He was confined to the Hospital several times and had an operation preformed on his arm. Blood poison set in, and it is thought that he also had influenza which developed into pneumonia. Thus his recovery was rendered impossible.
[ 47 ]
GEORGE M. LIGHTNER Killed in Action
HORATIO SMITH Died
WARREN LEONARD THOMAS Died of Wounds
[ 48 ]
CORPORAL GEORGE M. LIGHTNER Company K, 26th Infantry
Corporal Lightner enlisted at York in April, 1917. He was sent to Columbus, Ohio, and then to Mexico, where he served until June. He then went overseas and served with the First Division until he was killed on July 20, 1918, by a bomb dropped from a German aeroplane. This was the third day of the Battle of Soisson, in which his division lost eight thousand men. Corporal Lightner's great grandfather, George M. Lightner, fought at North Point in the War of 1812 with Captain Spangler's York Rifles, and his grandfather, William H. Lightner, was a member of the 103rd Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. Corporal Lightner was also a good fighter according to a letter received from his Captain, in which great regret was expressed at losing such an excellent soldier.
PRIVATE HORATIO SMITH Company C, 304th Engineers
Private Smith was the son of Jacob S. Smith of Seven Valleys, York County, Pennsylvania. He was born in Codorus Township and prior to his enlistment was employed as a laborer, living at Seven Valleys with his father. Sometime after entering the service he was taken sick and, although every- thing possible was done to save him, he died; thus playing his part in the great struggle for World Freedom.
CORPORAL WARREN LEONARD THOMAS
114th Light Field Artillery
Corporal Thomas, son of Mrs. Mollie A. Thomas, 152 West King Street, York, Pa., entered the service May 31, 1918. He was sent to Camp Jackson, South Carolina, where he received his training for overseas duty. Soon after it was learned that his company was on the firing line. On September 9, 1918, he was wounded, and on September 14, 1918, he made the supreme sacrifice for his coun- try. Nothing definite has yet been received except that it is known he was killed in hattle. Before leaving for the service, Corporal Thomas was employed by the Gillespie Laundry Company, York, Pennsylvania.
[49]
GEORGE E. EVANS Died
WILLIAM FRANCIS GEHRING Died
DAVID RUPP III Killed in Action
[ 50]
FIRST LIEUTENANT GEORGE E. EVANS Ice Plant Unit No. 301
Lieutenant Evans was a Government Inspector at the York Manufacturing Company. He was stricken with pneumonia and admitted to the York Hospital April 29, 1918, where he died on May 24, 1918, at the age of thirty years. Lieutenant Evans had expected to be sent to France but this was prevented by his sickness. The deceased had been employed at the York Manufacturing Company as a mechanical engineer for seven years prior to his enlistment. On March 25, 1918, he was married to Miss Viola Lewis, a bereaved bride of but a few brief months. He was a graduate of Cornell Uni- versity and the son of Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Evans of Great Barrington, Mass., his former home.
CORPORAL WILLIAM FRANCIS GEHRING Company A, 149th Machine Gun Battalion
Corporal Gehring, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Gehring, 303 Iligh Street, Hanover, Pennsylvania, was the first Hanover hero to sacrifice his life on the battlefields in France. He enlisted in the early days of the war, June 6, 1916, at Reading, Pa. He served seven months with the 4th Regiment, N. G. P. on the Mexican Border. After being mustered ont his company was again inobilized and he was transferred to a Machine Gun Battalion, Rainbow Division, and was sent to France soon after. Corporal Gehring was killed March 10, 1918, by shrapnel. His mother received a letter from Chaplain Halliday which reads in part as follows: "William was on duty in the trenches and an ex- ploding shrapnel shell took its toll of his life. On March 11th, the funeral was held in a village back of the lines in the cemetery at Domjevin (Meurthe et Monolle), France. Full military honors were accorded to your son and the grave properly marked."
CAPTAIN DAVID RUPP III 313th Infantry, 79th Division
Captain Rupp, son of Mr. and Mrs. David Rupp Il and husband of Agnes W. Rupp, was born in York, January 28, 1884. He received his early education in the York County Academy and was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1905. He then entered the paint manufacturing business. He enlisted March 7, 1913, as a private. In June, 1916, he served as First Sergeant at El Paso, Texas. In April, 1917, he was made First Lieutenant of machine gunners at Fort Niagara. From there he was sent to Camp Meade, where he was attached to the 313th Infantry. On February 5, 1918, he was promoted to Captain and given command of a Company. On July 7, 1918, Captain Rupp sailed for France, where he was killed in action in the Argonne battle September 29, 1918. between Montfaucon and Nantillois.
[ 5] ]
MARTIN SMYSER WEISER Died
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HARRY B. STOUGH Died
WALTER BRYAN HERRMAN Killed in Action
[ 52 ]
LIEUTENANT MARTIN SMYSER WEISER U. S. Transport Service
Lieutenant Weiser was born in York, May 10, 1891. . After the usual primary education Lieutenant Weiser attended the York Collegiate Institute for some years. Following a natural inclination he also attended a military institute of Louisville, Kentucky, and later the Pennsylvania Military College of Chester, Pa. He then attended Drexel Institute of Philadelphia for a year, following which he was employed by the Electric Light Company of York. During the Mexican Border trouble he spent several months in the service, and then, after several months of illness, he volunteered for service overseas. He won a commission as second Lieutenant and afterwards was promoted to first Lien- tenant. After several months in the transport service he became ill with Influenza and died at Fort MeHenry, October 7, 1918. His body was laid in the family burial ground. Lieutenant Weiser was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of York.
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