Noble County, IN – WW I Memorial Roll
December 27, 2010
Posted in Memorial Roll Calls, World War I
Tags: Memorial Roll Call, Noble County Indiana, Virgil Winebrenner, World War I
The History Junkie sincerely hopes everyone had a very Merry Christmas. I know that I did.
As mentioned before, the Everytown USA Project aims to capture the military history from each community across this great nation.
Today, let’s take a moment to honor Noble County, Indiana’s war dead from World War I. The list comes courtesy of the Indiana Gold Star Honor Roll printed in 1921 by the Indiana Historical Commission. A monumental read, check this book out if you can find it.
Biddle, Roy Henry: Farmer. Private, Company B, Student Army Training Corps. Died of influenza at Ft. Snelling, MN, October 9, 1918.
Bishop, Charles Edward: Graduate of Dartmouth College. Principal of Ligonier High School. Company C, 5th L.S.R, 161st Depot Brigade. Died of pneumonia at Camp Grant, IL, October 4, 1918.
Brumbaugh, Bright Glenwood: Railroad employee. Private, 32nd Division at Alsace, France Front. Died of tuberculosis at Hospital No. 20, Bordeaux, France on February 2, 1919.
Egolf, Fred Adam: Farmer. Private, 21st Company, 6th T.B., 158th Depot Brigade. Died of pneumonia at Camp Sherman, OH, October 5, 1918.
Gandy, Tony Lewis: Farmer. Corporal, U.S.M.C. 75th Company, 6th Regiment. Wounded at Battle of St. Mihiel, France on September 14, 1918. Died of wounds on September 15, 1918.
Haller, Glyndon Childs: Pharmacist, graduate of Indiana University. Private, served in France as a druggist in Mobile Hospital No. 11. Died of pneumonia in France, February 13, 1919.
Harrison, Ralph David: Writer, collaborated with Martin Johnson in the narrative of travel, “Through the South Sea with Jack London.” Corporal, 5th Company, 2nd T.B., 158th Depot Brigade. Died of pneumonia at Camp Sherman, OH, October 7, 1918.
Joslin, Ray Alanson: Painter. Private, Company D, 55th Telephone Battalion. Fought at Battles of St. Mihiel, Argonne and in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Served with Army of Occupation. Died of pneumonia at Wittlich, Germany, January 26, 1919.
Miller, Raymond Edward: Printer. Corporal, Battery A, 137th Field Artillery, 38th Division. Died of pneumonia at Camp Shelby, MS, December 29, 1917.
Ostrander, Lloyd Gerald: Laborer. Private, Battery A, 137th Field Artillery, 38th Division. Died of pneumonia aboard ship en route to France, October 17, 1918.
Reeve, Floyd Lester: High School Student. Private, Battery A, 137th Field Artillery, 38th Division. Died from fall, while climbing pine tree to hang mistletoe for Christmas celebration at Camp Shelby, MS, December 24, 1917.
Ressler, Claude F.: Teacher and Farmer. Private, Aviation Section, Signal Corps. Died of pneumonia at Ft. Sam Houston, TX, January 23, 1918.
Rice, Charles Edward: Laborer and Carpenter. Private, Company E, 22nd Engineers. Died of pneumonia at Base Hospital No. 116, Bazoilles-sur-Meuse, France, September 14, 1918.
Seidel, Theodore Julius: Laborer. Private, U.S.M.C. Died of pneumonia at Portsmouth, N.H., September 23, 1918.
Sontchi, Clarence S.: Engineer. Sergeant, Automobile Mechanics Motor Truck Company 371, Train 499. Died of pneumonia at Camp Custer, MI, February 17, 1918.
Virgil Winebrenner - 1st Infantry Division
Sprandel, Louis Frederick: Clerk. Sergeant, Medical Detachment, Base Hospital, Chief Executive of Disability Board. Died following operation for appendicitis at Camp Taylor, KY, March 29, 1919.
Walburn, Aubrey E.: Served overseas with Battery A, 137th Field Artillery, 38th Division. Returned ill with tuberculosis. Died of tuberculosis at Tuberculosis Hospital, Rockville, IN, April 12, 1919.
Watts, Leslie Frederick: Metal worker. Private, Company B, 1st Battalion P.T.R., 161st Depot Brigade. Died of pneumonia at Camp Grant, IL, October 14, 1918.
Winebrenner, Virgil G.: Blacksmith. Corporal, Company K, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Killed in action near Nancy, France, November 12, 1917.
My father, Clyde Reynolds, served in the Army during WWI and was in France. (Unfortunately I can’t locate his memoriabilia and was quite disappointed a Government web site had a membership fee to do a search.) Camp Grant was located in Rockford, Illinois. Having grown up in IL during WWII, we visited Fort Sheridan and Great Lakes Naval Training Station for long waits and brief visits with loved ones. If a convoy passed through Cary, people gathered on both sides of the Route 14 to wave and cheer the troops, or throw packages of cigarettes and money to them. No one in uniform could pay for anything to eat or drink while in Cary whether they ever lived there or were visitors. That’s the kind of patriotism I grew up with and will always feel in my heart.
Eileen,
Wonderful memories from your childhood. What struck me about this list is the number of service deaths as a result of pneumonia, influenza and tuberculosis. Far more than from battle action. Though I certainly don’t remember, it must have been a terrible time period.
Mike
I’m still looking for the orginal papers my sister shared from our father and his WWI military service; however, I recall from those letters that his brother, “Pink” (think his given name was Fulton) died while in the military of non-military related causes. It’s very possible it was one of the diseases you mentioned. Willard Reynolds, their baby brother, retired as a quartermaster @ Fort Sheridan. He was a good man and our favorite uncle.
Eileen
Eileen,
Keep looking. I’d love to hear what you find out.
Seems like, just from this one list, that October 1918 was particularly deadly for pneumonia. I wonder if this fact is consistent throughout the country.
i went to a moving sale . the woman had a bunch of pics 1.00each. as i looked i found a military pic i had to buy it. its weird is as if the guys were screaming at me. “i did my part serving my country, do yours dont let our pic get ruined”. the pic is a group of men maybe 400-500 with canons. and the barriks in background i believe its from ww1 due to their uniforms(keep in mind i know nothing about the military. ) i took the back off and hand written is “dear sister. this is the 137th f a (theres something else i cant see) this was taken the night before 50men were sent overseas for duty” the pic is about two feet long. i have it hanging in my main enterance. i sit and think of those men. that it might have been the last pic of them before there were killed in action.or taken prisioner. i would like to be able to find out how i can figure out their names,idea of where.when it was taken. i think f a stood for field artillary. but would there be that many men in the company? could be whole 137th. as i said i dont understand anything military. all i know is i wasnt leaving that pic behind. can anyone help. could have been taken at a training camp.you can contact me at [email protected]