Harrison County, Missouri - Chapter 27: World War, 1921

Chapter 27: World War

UNITED STATES ENTERS WORLD WAR - RESPONSE OF HARRISON COUNTY - SOLDIERS FROM HARRISON COUNTY - COMPANY G CALLED INTO ACTIVE SERVICE - OFFICERS - PRIVATES - THIRTY-SIX GOLD STARS - FORTY COMMISSIONED OFFICERS FROM HARRISON COUNTY - CITED FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE - IN FLANDERS FIELDS - ANSWERS - SUMMARY OF WORLD WAR.

It is not in the province of this history or within the purview of this short chapter to attempt a history of the great World War which threatened the very foundation of civihzation and affecting every nation in the world.

President Wilson, in his speech before Congress, April 6, 1917, used the following eloquent and forceful words which found a spontaneous response throughout all America:

"Let everything that we say, my fellow countrymen, everything that we henceforth plan and accomplish, ring true to this response till the majesty and might of our concerted power shall iill the thought and utterly defeat the force of those who flount and misprize what we honor and hold dear.

"Germany has once more said that force, and force alone, shall decide whether justice and peace shall reign in the affairs of men, whether right as America conceives it, and dominion, as she conceives, shall determine the destinies of mankind.

"There is, therefore, but one response for us; force, force to the utmost, force without stint or limit, the righteous and triumphant force which will make the law of the world, and cast selfish dominion down in the dust."

Mexican Border

The above list, while no doubt incomplete and some names are omitted, is the most complete list obtainable. This was furnished through the courtesy of E. Newton Carter, county superintendent of the schools.

In April, 1917, the United States declared there was a state of warfare existing between the United States and Gei-many and in August Company G was again called into service, and August 13 left for Nevada and from there the Fourth Regiment was sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, for intensive training and for the purpose of preparing to serve America

Company G belonged to One Hundred Thirty-ninth Infantry. They left Camp Doniphan, Oklahoma, on their way to France, by way of Camp Mills, Mineola, New York, in April, 1918, and set sail for France on April

25, 1918. Landing in England they remained there but a short time - going from there to France. Their movements as a part of the great Thirty-fifth Division is chronicled elsewhere. April 25, 1919, the Thirtyfifth Division docked at Newport News, New Jersey.

Axline, Arthur Andrew: Killed in action at Battle of the Argonne in France, September 28, 1918, aged twenty-nine years, eleven months, one day. Was first lieutenant Company G, One Hundred Thirty-ninth, but at time of death was commanding Company E. Son of Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Axline, of Bethany.

Browning, Carroll: Killed in action in France, September 12, 1918. Son of Duff Browning, of New Hampton. Was in Casual Department, Eighty-eighth Division.

Carter, Charles Madison: Died in France in October, 1918, aged twenty-three years, nine months. Was member of Company G, One Hundred Thirty-ninth Infantry. His home was in Hatfield. Son of Mrs. Margaret Carter.

Chipp, Fritz H. : Died of diphtheria at Camp Mills, Mineola, Long Island, New York, April 22, 1918, aged twenty years, one month, fourteen days. He was the son of J. J. and Fannie Dunham-Chipp and grandson of Mr. and Mrs. William A. Dunham. He was a member of Company G. One Hundred Thirty-ninth Infantry - Company G's first sacrifice.

Crump, Roscoe : Son of James Crump, of Oilman City. Died in camp in March, 1919. Enlisted in limited service, after having failed to pass examination with the big contingent that left here for Des Moines.

Collins, Sergeant Andrew Floyd : Died of influenza at Camp Funston, Kansas, October 8, 1918 ; aged twenty-five years, six months, twenty-eight days. He was a son of Josiah and Elizabeth Collins, of Sherman Township.

Drury, Amos K. : Died of influenza at Camp Funston, Kansas, October 8, 1918; aged twenty-six years, six months, twenty-two days. Son of Thomas and Etta Drury, of Akron. Member of Field Hospital Company No. 240.

Flint, Paul: Son of A. J. and Mrs. Ruth Flint, of near Bethany. Died of pneumonia April 16. Member of Company G, One Hundred Thirty-ninth Infantry.

Fuston, Willard: Died of influenza at Camp Funston, Kansas, October 9, 1918; aged twenty-seven years, six months, twelve days. Son of George and Mrs. Fuston, of near Martinsville.

Gibson, Coi-poral Elmer W. : Died in France from wounds received in action October 9, 1918. Was son of A. J. and Alice Gibson, of Melbourne. He was aged twenty-five years, one month, two days. Member of Company L, Fourth Infantry.

Gillespie, Claude: Died of influenza at Camp Custer, Michigan, October 11, 1918 ; aged twenty-four years, one month, four days. Son of Mrs. Rebecca Gillespie, of Ridgeway.

Harris, Roy: Died of influenza at Camp Funston, Kansas, October 11, 1918; age twenty-eight years, eight months, fourteen days. His home was near Blythedale.

Harris, Cecil: Killed in action in France between September 28 and October 2, 1918. Born March 16, 1889. Son of Dave and Nellie Harris, of near Bethany. Was member of Company G, One Hundred Thirtyninth Infantry.

Hawkins, Francis U.: Killed in action in Fi'ance October 22, 1918; aged thirty-one years, ten months, ten days. Was son of James Hawkins, of near Bethany. Received training at Camp McArthur, Texas. Left Bethany May 11, 1918; sailed from Camp Merritt, New Jersey, for France August 17, 1918.

Harrold, Sergeant Joseph Clinton: Died of pneumonia at Fort Riley, Kansas, October 6, 1918; aged twenty-four years, sixteen days. Son of Joel and Jane Harrold, of near Blythedale.

nlvey C: Died of pneumonia at «-- ^^^-^ ^nint Louis October, 1918; aged thirty years, one month, one day. Was. Sn of Editor 5 D. and Mrs. McDaniel, of Gainesville. Was m service as

^^XtrCral Gharles Frederic. ("Teddy"): Died on battlefieM of F^nce September 27, 1918. He was a son of S. S. and Rose B. Opdyke, Rd;ely. Member of Gompany G, One Hundred Thirt.^ninth Infantry Opdyke, John: Died of influenza at Gamp Funston, Kansas, October 9 1918 Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Opdyke, of Mount Monah. ' Patterson, Roy: Died January 7, 1918, of tonsilitis, at Fen. McArthur, Waco Texas. He was a son of T. B. Patterson, of Gilman City^

Phillips, George Monson: Killed in action in France October 5, 1918 , aged twenty-two years, Ave months, four days. He was the son of Ms Ida Phillips, of Bethany. He was a member of Gompany L. Fo-th In fantry. Left Bethany September 7, 1917 ; sa.led or France Apd 27 1918. Rice Gecil: Son of Mrs. Garret Rice, died April 2, 1918, at Foit Logan, Colorado, of scarlet fever and complicati^ons developing pi.eumonia. He was a flrst-class private, detachment Quartei-maserCoips.

Shipps, Thomas. Killed in action in France, September 26, 1918^ He was aged Uventy-one years, six months, one day. His brothe ^ E. Shipps, lives near Mount Moriah. Thomas was a member of Gompany G, One Hundred Thirty-ninth United States Infantry.

Wilson, Carlisle "Chuck": Died in France November 7, 1918, from wounds received in battle of the Argonne Forest on September 27, 1918. Son of J. C. and Alice Wilson and was aged twenty-seven years, three months, nine days. Was captain of Company G, One Hundred Thirtyninth Infantry.

Brown, Lloyd N. ; first lieutenant infantry, Bethany. Broyles, Glen H. ; major Hospital Corps, Bethany. Broyles, Watkins A. ; first lieutenant infantry, Bethany. Buis, Roy; first lieutenant infantry, Bethany. Burris, Carl; second lieutenant, Ridgeway. Bryant, George, second lieutenant infantry, Bethany. Bussell, Walter; second lieutenant infantry. Mount Moriah. Chiles, J. W. ; captain Dental Corps, Ridgeway. Chipp, Dr. J. J. ; captain Medical Corps, New Hampton. Cole, Melverne C. ; second lieutenant aviation, Bethany. Collins, Harley; captain infantry, Bethany. Crossan, Laurence; second lieutenant quartermaster, Bethany. Duncan, Earle, second lieutenant infantry. New Hampton. Flint, Joe; second lieutenant aviation, Bethany. Frisby, Elliott; captain infantry, Montana. Gunn, C. Gai-vin; second lieutenant infantry, Bethany. Hinkel, Victor V. ; first lieutenant Dental Corps, Ridgeway. Kirby, O. W. ; first lieutenant Veterinary Corps, Ridgeway. Lewis, William C. ; second lieutenant Air Service, Bethany. Martin, Earl A. ; first lieutenant infantry, Bethany. Magee, William; second lieutenant infantry, Bethany. Markey, Hugh Francis; second lieutenant Quartermaster Corps, Gilman City.

Miner, Erwin; second lieutenant Quartermaster Corps, Ridgeway. Neff, C. Earl; second lieutenant field artillery, Bethany. Price, Dr. John; first lieutenant Medical Corps, Mount Moriah. Quinlan, M. J. ; first lieutenant Dental Corps, Gilman City.

Captain Randall Wilson, One Hundred Thirty-ninth Infantry, commanded a small detachment in an advanced position north of Chaurdon farm and covered the evacuation of many wounded from farm, remaining on duty twenty-six hours, repelling attacks made by the enemy and returned only when evacuation of the wounded was completed. (September 29-30, 1918.) Captain Wilson lives at Bethany and commanded Company G, Fourth Missouri Infantry. He served with the Missouri troops on the Mexican border. Since his citation he was made major. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Wilson.

First Lieutenant Carlisle R. Wilson, deceased. One Hundred Thirtyninth Infantry, was cited for extraordinary heroism in action near Montblainville, France, September 27, 1918. He was a son of Judge and Mrs. J. C. Wilson, of Bethany. His citation reads: "In order to establish and maintain liaiso with the adjacent division Lieutenant Wilson, though wounded, led his men along the valley of the Cise River and across a bridge through the heaviest kind of artillery and machine gun fire. He died soon after this exploit from the wounds received." Before Carlisle's death he was made captain.

The details of the citation of Sergeant Jackson Elbert Walker were transmitted in general orders to the unit commander August 7, 1918. Special citation was included for Lieutenanti C. Thomas Hopkins, of Wichita, the first Wichita man killed in France. Lieutenant Hopkins dashed through a barrage of artillery and machine gun fire to rescue a wounded private, who had become entangled in the barbed wire, and was wounded himself in the attempt. Sergeant Walker crept through the barrage and rescued both the wounded private and Lieutenant Hopkins, who died soon afterward. Sergeant Walker was sent back to the United States as an instructor and assigned to the Tenth Division at Camp Funston, from which camp he received his honorable discharge. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Walker.

The poem "In Flanders Fields," generally considered the finest lyric called forth by the war, was written by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces in France. He was in continuous service from the outbreak of the war until the time of his death, which occurred at Boulogne, France, January 28, 1918. In his answer, Mr. Galbreath voices the rising spirit of America that led our khaki-clad boys by the millions to the theater of war. Both poems have been widely published.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row. That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly, Scax'ce heard amid the guns below. We are the dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow. Loved and were loved ; and now we lie In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe! To you, from failing hands, we throw The Torch. Be yours to hold it high! If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies blow In Flanders fields.

In Flanders fields the cannon boom And fitful flashes light the gloom, While up above, like eagles, fly The fierce destroyers of the sky ; With stains the earth wherein you lie Is redder than the poppy bloom, In Flanders fields.

Sleep on, ye brave. The shrieking shell The quaking trench, the startled yell. The fury of the battle hell Shall wake you not, for all is well. Sleep peacefully for all is well. Your flaming torch aloft we bear, With burning heart and oath we swear To keep the faith, to fight it through, To crush the foe or sleep with you In Flanders fields.

And in our hearts eternal love shall glow For all those crosses, row on row, That mark your place ; and in the sky The Dove of Peace shall ever fly - Silenced now the guns below. Dear noble dead, you sleep today Where poppies grow, and though generations go Your deeds live on. For your great sacrifice we've wept. Yet in our grief 'tis grand to know we've kept The faith with those who slept In Flanders fields.

From "Statistical Summary of the War with Germany" prepared by Colonel Leonard P. Ayres, authorized by the War Department, is extracted the following which, of course, is of interest to our readers :

During the Civil War ten out of every 100 inhabitants of the Northem States served as soldiers or sailors. In that struggle 2,400,000 men served in the Northern army and the navy.

Between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, when the armistice went into effect, 4,800,000 men constituted our land and naval forces. Yet a force proportional to that put forth by the North during the Civil War would have produced nearly 10,000,000 American fighting men.

The British sent to France in their first year of the war more men than did the United States in the first twelve months. On the other hand, it took England three years to reach a strength of 2,000,000 men in France, while the United States was able to place that number across the seas in one-half that time.

The organization of an immense army as that of the United States, its equipment and transportation across the ocean has never been equaled in the history of the world.

Two out of every three American soldiers who reached France took part in battle. The number that reached France was 2,084,000 and out of these 1,300,000 were engaged at the front. ?

front longer than that held by the British in October. The American divisions held 101 miles of line, or twenty-three per cent of the entire western front.

The artillery fired more than 1,000,000 shells in four hours, which is the most intense concentration of artillery fire recorded in the history of the world.

"During the period of hostilities two out of every 100 American soldiers were killed or died of disease. The total battle death of all nations in this war was greater than the total of all the deaths of all the wars in the previous 100 years.

The war cost of America was $21,850,000,000, or approximately .$1,000,000 an hour. The greatest number of men sent over seas in a single month was 306,000 and the largest returned home in a single month at the time of the report was 333,000.

The registration of men for the draft was 24,234,021 and of these 2,810,296 were inducted into service. The largest number inducted into the service in a single month was 400,000.

In the matter of expenditure in wars, it is interesting to note some comparisons between the cost of former American wars and that with Germany. It has never been possible to estimate exactly the cost of any war in money. The Mexican war is supposed to have cost $173,358,000 and the Civil War about $6,000,000,000.

It will be noted that the cost of the Civil War was about the same .«is the amount of the Fourth Liberty Loan in the present war. In the (12)

Fourth Liberty Loan the city of New York alone subscribed $1,482,078,- 650 - more than eight times the cost of the Mexican War, and all the Federal Reserve districts except that of Dallas, Texas, subscribed as much, and some of them several times more to the Fourth Liberty Loan than the cost of the Mexican War. The Chicago district subscribed $969,- 209,000, the Cleveland district $702,059,800, the Boston district $632,221,- 850, and the Philadelphia district $598,763,650.