USA > Wisconsin > Racine County > Racine county in the world war > Part 41
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from service while unable to work. They had been promised a suitable compensation as a result of paying money into the War Risk In- surance fund, but usually the allowance was inadequate and the disheartened veteran would find it impossible to get any satisfaction by writing to Washington.
The rapidly shifting personnel of the depart- ments made it a hopeless task to get action upon any matter pending. That was not in- variably true, but it happened in so many cases that it seemed the rule to men and women who tried to assist men in getting something done, through correspondence.
Shortly after the war ended, a big mass meeting was held in Racine at which were present representatives of almost every civic society. It was agreed unanimously that Ra- cine should erect a suitable memorial to the men and women who had been in service. It was also decided that this should be in the form of a Memorial hall, which should contain room for veterans' organizations to meet, a trophy and flag room, and an auditorium in which public meetings could be held. A com- mittee was appointed to carry out the idea and make plans for financing it. A discussion arose as to the best site, and there were vari- ous estimates as to the cost. Up to the open- ing of the new year-1920, nothing had come of the plan excepting talk, but the project may become a reality some day.
While the memorial scheme was allowed to mark time, there were numerous "drives" for foreign relief projects to aid the people of France, Russia, Armenia, Greece, India, Serbia and even Germany. No call from distant and unfamiliar peoples went unheeded.
Racine's Heroic Dead.
During the World War, many of Racine's soldier and sailor dead had been brought home for burial from camps where they had died. A military funeral was held in all cases where the families of the deceased service men de- sired it, and the city had paid all honor to those who had given their lives for their country.
In October, 1919, it was announced that bodies of the American soldiers who had died in northern Russia during the summer cam- paign there would be returned to the United States, and the ship bearing the 119 bodies, ar- rived at Hoboken on Nov. 7. Among these was the body of Lieut. Edmund R. Collins of Ra- cine, son of Dr. W. P. Collins and the first of Racine's soldier dead to be brought back from foreign fields. The War Department tele-
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Photos Loaned by Maj. Rickeman and Lt. Sanders
A BALLOON EXPERIENCE REMEMBERED BY MEN OF BATTERY F
The American observation balloon which was stationed above the battery was ignited by German flyers, near Montfaucon in the Argonne, Oct. 20, 1918. The blazing bag started to say and finally to drop. The mass of flames came down among the baggage wagons of the battery and the ensuing blaze did considerable damage. Below is shown a file of French sold- iers traveling through a communication trench toward their positions in the front lines.
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graphed that the body would be sent to Ra- cine, and would reach here Nov. 12. Arrange- ments were made for a military funeral on Nov. 14, but when the casket arrived in Raeine it was found to contain the body of another soldier instead of Lieut. Collins.' The identifi- cation tag on the body hore the name of "Odial," a private in the 339th regiment whose residence was Carlisle, Ind. Inquiry developed that the body sent there had been buried, but it was exhumed and found to be that of Frank Sapp of Summitville, Ind. At Summitville, the body of L. Connors of Hillman, Mich., had been buried by mistake, the relatives having failed to open the casket to identify the body. Wir- ing to Ilillman, Dr. Collins learned that the body of L. Pelto had been sent there and buried under the name of Connors. The casket bear- ing Pelto's name was still at Hoboken, and when it was opened it was found to contain Lieut. Collins' body. Investigation finally dis- closed that twenty-eight of the bodies returned to America had been placed in caskets bearing the wrong names, through some blunder at Archangel, Russia.
Lieut. Collins' body was brought to Racine on Nov. 26, and on Friday, Nov. 28, requiem high mass was held at St. Patrick's church, at- tended by three hundred former service men in uniform and delegations from many of the leading civic organizations and the veterans of the Civil war and Spanish-American war. Fol- lowing the services, the body was escorted to the Catholic cemetery by the ex-soldiers and sailors, headed by a full band from the Great Lakes station, and after the brief services at the grave a firing squad from the state guards fired three volleys over the grave and a bugler blew "Taps." In honor of the dead hero, flags were flown at half mast during the day throughout the city.
The government has promised the parents of the men who died in battle in France that their bodies shall be returned to America for burial if desired, but owing to certain laws there it is impossible to exhume bodies for shipment for two years or more after the war. In the meantime, the American dead were gathered from the various battlefields and col- lected in three large national cemeteries in the Chateau-Thierry, St. Mihiel and Argonne dis- triets, and there the government has arranged to have the graves carefully marked and cared for. The men who died at the various base hospitals in France and England still lie in the cemeteries where they were first interred, but will be sent home. The cemetery at Ro- magnesous Montfaucon, near Verdun, contains
the graves of about 30,000 Americans who died in action in that vicinity, including several Ra- cine soldiers.
Veterans' Organizations.
The first national organization to invite the membership of veterans of the World War was the Army and Navy Union. This had been in existence for many years, and all were eligible who had at any time served in the army, navy or marine corps. It also provided for honorary membership of civilians. The Racine post, known as Gen. John J. Pershing garrison, is in a flourishing condition. The following officers were elected in December, 1919:
Commander, W. W. Johnston; senior vice commander, J. P. Jensen; junior vice command- er, Howard J. Rodgers; chaplain, John Diehl, G. A. R .; quartermaster, Charles Kannenberg, Jr .; paymaster, John M. Frey; officer of the day, George W. Seater; officer of the watch, Oswald Rasmussen; officer of the guard, John Bradford; council of administration, William HJ. Armstrong, D. M. Oram, John Dederich, Royal E. Schaefer, Charles E. O'Connor; adju- tant, P. F. Petersen.
While awaiting transportation from France, the Thirty-second division formed a society which planned to meet in Milwaukee in 1920, and in Detroit the following year. Maj. Gen. William G. Haan was chosen as the first presi- dent. Regimental societies were also formed, with the intention of meeting at the same place as the divisional organization in later years.
When the members of this division returned to Racine, they desired a local society and an organization was effected under the name of the Racine Veterans, Thirty-second division. A preliminary meeting was held at the Elks' club on June 19, 1919, and on July 10 a con- stitution was adopted permitting all who saw service with the division during the war to join. Officers elected were:
President, Max J. Zirbes; vice-president, Clarence A. Voelker; secretary, W. L. Haight, treasurer. Harry J. Herzog.
At the annual election in December, 1919, Arthur Naleid was chosen as president and William Hayman as vice-president.
During the summer a big pienic was held, and on Armistice dav the society sponsored a community celebration of the anniversary of the ending of the war. The organization is purely social, and holds monthly dinners where the members talk over their days in France. There is a membership of about 250, including members of the two batteries and the ambu- lance company who are still residents of Ra- eine.
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Photos Loaned by Chicago Tribune
THE WEEKLY SHAM BATTLE AT GREAT LAKES NAVAL TRAINING STATION
Once a week (visitors' day) a sham battle was fought on the parade ground at Great Lakes. Hundreds of Racine people motored down during the summer of 1918 to see the realistic performance. A tank was used and several thousand gobs were included in the maneuvers. Below are shown compani's of gobs ready to start for trains to go to the coast and sea duty. They have their "turkeys" ready packed with their belongings, in front of each man.
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The American Legion is a huge national or- ganization of former soldiers, sailors, marines and army nurses who were in service during the World War. It was first organized in France by members of the A. E. F., on March 15, 1919, who arranged at the same time to have a similar meeting held in the United States for action by the men who did not go overseas. Representatives of the A. E. F. held their second meeting in Paris April 7, 1919, and the home contingent gathered in St. Louis on May 8. A constitution was adopted which placed all veterans on an equal footing, re- gardless of rank and regardless of whether they saw service overseas or not. All branch- es of the service were to be represented, but membership was to be limited to those actually in the military or naval service during the World War. This constitution was later rati- fied with but few changes. Following the ap- proval of the organization at St. Louis, a mem- bership campaign was launched and approxi- mately 950,000 members were obtained by Nov. 11, 1919, when the first formal convention of the Legion was held at Minneapolis.
During the fall, posts were organized at Burlington, Waterford and Racine, and early in December the Menzo J. Bixby post was formed at Union Grove. Racine post No. 76 elected as its first officers W. L. Gittings, commander; Harry J. Herzog, vice-command- er; H. J. Sanders, adjutant; W. L. Haight, historian; Phillip Clancy, master at arms, and the Rev. W. J. Bott, chaplain. A campaign for members during the last half of November resulted in the enrollment of about 750 as members here, but the number is constantly increasing. While it still is early to guess whether this organization will be universally accepted as the mouthpiece of the World War veterans, it has already received some such recognition from Congress and the press of the country and it is likely that it will soon catch up the torch to be dropped by the rapid- ly depleting ranks of the G. A. R. and be viewed as the society best qualified to serve as a rallying point for Americanism in times of national peril. The constitution of the American Legion, adopted Nov. 11, 1919, is as follows:
PREAMBLE
For God and Country, we associate ourselves to- gether for the following purposes :
To uphold and defend the Constitution of the Unit- ed States of America ; to maintain law and order : to foster and perpetuate a one hundred per cent Ameri- canism : to preserve the memories and incidents of our association in the great war ; to Inculcate a sense of Individual obligation to the community, state and nation ; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right the master of might : to promote peace and good will on earth; to safe- gnard and transmit to posterity the principles of
justice, freedom and democracy : to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.
ARTICLE I .-- Name
SECTION 1 .- The name of this organization shall be THE AMERICAN LEGION.
ARTICLE II .- Nature.
SECTION 1 .- THE AMERICAN LEGION is a civilian or- ganization ; membership therein does not affect or increase liability for military or police service. Rank does not exist in the Legion ; no member shall be ad- dressed by his military or naval title in any conven- tion or meeting of the Legion.
SECTION 2 .- THE AMERICAN LEGION shall be abso- lutely non-political and shall not be used for the dis- semination of partisan principles nor for the promo- tion of the candidacy of any person seeking public office or proferment. No candidate for or incumbent of a salariod elective public office shall hold any office in THE AMERICAN LEGION of in any department or post thereof.
SECTION 3 .-- Each member shall perform his full duty as a citizen according to his own conscience and understanding.
ARTICLE III .- Organization
SkCTION 1. - THE AMERICAN LEGION shall be organ- ized in departments and these in turn in posts. There shall he one department in each state, in the District of Columbia. and in each territory of the I'nited States. The National Executive Committee may es- tablish additional departments in territorial posses- sions of the l'nited States and in foreign countries.
ARTICLE IV .- Eligibility
SECTION 1 .- Any person shall be eligible for mem- bership in THE AMERICAN LEGION Who was regularly enlisted, drafted, indneted or commissioned, and who served on active duty in the Army, Navy or Marine Corps of the United States at some time during the period between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918. both dates inclusive, or who, being a citizen of the I'nited States, at the time of his entry therein. served on active duty in the naval, military or air forces of any of the governments associated with the United States during the great war ; Prorided, that no person shall be entitled to membership (a) who, bring in the Army. Navy or Marine Corps of the United States during said period, refused on conscientious, political, or other grounds to subiect himself to military disel- pline or unqualified service, or (b) who, heing in such service, was separated therefrom under circumstances amounting to dishonorable discharge and has not sub- sequently been officially restored to an honorable status.
SECTION 2 .- There shall be no form or class of mem- hershin except an active membership as herein above provided.
ARTICLE V
SECTION 1 .- The legislative body of the Legion shall be the National Convention to be held annually at a time and place to lx fixed by the preceding National Convention.
SECTION 2 .- In the National Convention each de- partment shall be entitled to five delegates and one additional delegate for each thonsand members whose current dues have been received by the National Treasurer thirty days prior to the meeting of said convention, and to one alternate for each delegate. The delegates shall be chosen at department conven- tions to be held not less than two weeks before the National Convention.
SECTION 3 .- Each delegate shall be entitled to one voto. The vote of any delegate absent and not renre- sented by an alternate shall be cast by the majority of the delegates present from his department. Alter- natos shall have all the privileges of delegates except that of voting.
SECTION 4 .- A quorum shall exist at a National Convention when sixty per cent of the departments are represented as provided above.
ARTICLE VI .- National Officers
SECTION 1 .- The National Convention shall elect a National Commander and five National Vice-Command- ers. No two Vice-Commanders shall be chosen from the same department, and no more than three from those who served in the Army. These officers shall be members of the National Convention of the Na- tional Executive Committee, and the Chairman and Vice-Chairmen respectively of both bodies. A VIco-
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HEADQUARTERS
RACH
MERICAN RED CROSS
RACINE WOMEN WHO WORKED UNTIRINGLY IN THE RED CROSS SERVICE
In the panel at the left, from top to bottom are: Mrs. W. H. Crosby, Mrs. John Barr, Mrs. W. H. Reed; in the right panel are Mrs. J. G. Chandler, Mrs. O. W. Johnson, Mrs. H. F. Johnson. The center portrait is that of Mrs. John Sidley and just below is that of Mrs. Warren J. Davis. At the bottom is pictured the Red Cross Headquarters. The second figure from the left is Miss Bertha C. Kelley, one of the most energetic and efficient workers in the local chapter. In the group at the right are Mrs. J. G. Chandler, (left figure) and Mrs. Bernice Sherman (extreme right.)
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IN THE WORLD WAR
Commander, shall, on request of the National Com- mander, act as chairman of either of said bodies.
SECTION 2. The National Convention shall also elect a National Chaplain.
SECTION 3 .- Such officers shall serve until the ad- journment of the sucereding National Convention aud, thereafter, until their successors are chosen. Vacan- ries in these offices occurring between national con- ventions shall be tilled by the National Exeentive Com- mittoo.
SECTION 4 .- The National Commander shall appoint a National Adjutant. The Executive Committee shall appoint a National Treasurer and such officials and standing committees as may be necessary and shall authorize or approve all expenditures All appointed officers shall hold office at the pleasure of the ap- pointing power, and all persons having the enstody of funds shall give adequate bonds.
ARTICLE VIL .- National Executive Committee
SECTION 1 .- Between National Conventions, the ad- ministrative power shall be invested in the National Executive Committee which shall be composed of the National Commander and Vice-Commanders in office, and of one representative and one alternate from each department to be elected as such department shall de- termine : provided that in 1919 the delegates to the National Convention shall elect the Executive Commit- terman and alternate from their respective depart- ments.
SECTION 2 .- The Executive Committee shall meet at the place of the National Convention within twenty- four hours after the final adjournment of the National Convention, and thereafter at the call of the National Commander. The National Commander shall call a meeting upon the written request of fifteen or more members of said Executive Committee.
SECTION 3 .- Seven members shall constitute a quorum of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VIII .- Department Organization
SECTION 1 .- Departments shall be chartered by the National Exceutive Committee and shall be composed of the posty within their respective areas. Each de- partment charter shall be signed by the National Commander and National Adjutant.
SECTION 2 .- Each department shall have a depart- ment commander. a department adjutant, a depart- ment executive committee and such other officers as the department shall determine.
ARTICLE IN
SECTION 1 .-- Those who desire to form a post shall make application for a charter to the commander of the department in which they reside. The charter shall be issued by the National Commander and Na- tional Adjutant upon receipt of the application prop- erly exeented by the charter members of the projected post, Imt only when such application is approved by the commander of the department, or by the Depart- ment Executive Committee. Post charters shall be countersigned by the commander and the adjutant of the department.
SECTION 2 .- The minimum membership of a post shall be determined by the Executive Committee of the department in whose area it lies.
SECTION 3 .- Each department may prescribe the constitution of its posts. Post charters may be re- voked by the Department Executive Committee with the approval of the National Exeentive Committee.
SECTION 4 .- No post shall be named after any living person.
ARTICLE X .- Finance
SECTION 1 .- The revenge of THE AMERICAN LEGION shall be derived from annual membership dues aud from such other sources as may be approved by the National Executive Committee.
SECTION 2 .- The amount of such annual dues shall be determined by each National Convention for the ensning year.
SECTION 3,-The annual dnes shall be collected bv each post and transmitted through the department 10 the national treasurer.
ARTICLE XI .- Discipline
SECTION 1 .- The National Executive Committee, after notice and a hearing, may suspend or revoke the charter of a department which violates this Constitu- tion or which fails adequately to discipline any of its posts for any such violation, and may provide for the
government and administration of such department during such suspension or upon such revocation.
ARTICLE XIL .- Change of Residence
SECTION 1 .- Any member in good standing in a post removing from his department shall be entitled to a certificate from his post stating his membership and the duration thereof.
ARTICLE XIII .-- Auxiliaries
SECTION 1 .-- THE AMERICAN LEGION recognizes an auxiliary organization to be known as the "Women's Auxiliary of The American Legion."
SECTION 2 .- Membership in the auxiliary shall be limited to the mothers, wives, daughters and sisters of the members of THE AMERICAN LEGION, and to the mothers, wives, daughters and sisters of all men and women who were in the military or naval service of the United States between April 6, 1917, and Novem- bor 11, 1918, and died in line of duty or after honor- able discharge and prior to November 11, 1920.
SECTION 3 .- The auxiliary shall be governed in cach department of THE AMERICAN LEGION by such rules and regulations as may be preseribed by the National Executive Committee and thereafter approved by such department of THE AMERICAN LEGION.
ARTICLE XIV .- Ratification.
SECTION 1 .-- All acts performed and charters here. tofore granted by the temporary organization of THE AMERICAN LEGION are hereby ratified and confirmed.
ARTICLE XV .- Amendments
SECTION 1 .- This Constitution may be amended at any National Convention by the vote of two-thirds of the total anthorized ropresentation thereat, provided that the proposed amendment shall have been read at such convention at least twenty-four hours before the vote thereon.
NATIONAL INCORPORATION
This Constitution is adopted conformable to the Act of the Congress of the United States of America of date September 16, 1919.
At the Minneapolis convention, the Legion delegates refused to be drawn into any politi- cal battles and its most severe critics agreed that the organization was about the most demo- cratie and independent of any that had ever convened in America. Two of the typical fea- tures of the convention were the refusal of delegates to permit the mention of any mem- ber's former army rank even in casual de- bates on the floor, and the passing of a reso- lution declining to answer the question of the National Congress as to the soldiers' wishes regarding bonus legislation. The Legion held that it was not organized for selfish purposes, and while it admitted the debt of the nation to the former service men it had no sugges- tion to make regarding the payment of that debt. It did insist, however, upon the passing of legislation taking care of men disabled in war.
In January 1920, the Spanish-American War veterans presented Racine Post No. 76 with a stand of colors, the first made for any post in the country.
Another organization which grew out of the World War was a society known as the American War Mothers, and a chapter was organized in Racine. It had a membership of 700 in 1919. The first officers were: Presi- dent, Mrs. Arthur Ehrlich; vice-president, Mrs.
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Photos by Leonard-Malme
MEN PROMINENT IN CIVILIAN ACTIVITIES WHICH HELPED TO WIN THE WAR
Top Row-Warren Walker, W. F. McCaughey, H. C. Baker, Ed. Wratten, E. N. Rice, I. Friedman. Second-John Jones, Al Phister, P. E. Johnson, John Bolton, L. J. Quinn, Wm. Sanders. Third-F. A. Morey, Wm. Davis, Curtiss Washburn, Frank B. Renak, W. J. Williamson, W. H. Armstrong. Fourth-W. C. Gausche, R. C. Thackeray, W. T. Ilarvey, Edw. Hilker, Albert Hanson, C. Roy McCanna. Fifth-R. E. Browne, W. H. Gebhardt, David Winters, C. R. Nevin, Fred Nelson, John A. Brown. Bottom-H. F. Johnson, Rev. J. M. Naughtin, F. P. Swingle, Sophus Jeppesen, W. S. Dooley, H. C. Fyhrie.
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Joseph Prostrednick; secretary, Mrs. Thomas F. Powers; treasurer, Mrs. P. I. Hess; chair- man of programs, Mrs. J. F. Sugden. The first meeting was held in September, 1918. In De- cember a bazaar was held at which $600 was raised as a relief fund for returning service men. Mrs. B. A. Oliver was chosen presi- dent in 1919. Later the name was changed to "The Service Star Legion."
Besides the American Legion and the Army and Navy Union, there were organized in 1919 a dozen or more veterans' societies. Of these, eight seemed to be showing some growth at the end of the year, although none of them were represented in Racine at that time. These eight are:
American Officers of the Great War, with membership restricted to commissioned offi- cers.
World War Veterans, which was organized in the Northwest and which has as its main ob- jective the obtaining of suitable bonuses and other favorable legislation.
The Private Soldiers' and Sailors' Legion,
which bars former commissioned officers from membership.
Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States, with a membership limited to those who saw foreign service, in any war.
Veterans of Foreign Wars, with membership similar to the one mentioned above.
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