Even With the Kaiser Canned, Keep Those War Gardens Going

From the December 12, 2018, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Even though the Kaiser has been canned and the United States war gardens have helped out wonderfully in the work there should be no letup in the raising of foodstuffs for the coming year.

"The consignment of seeds  for the various dealers in the city came in this morning, and it looked queer to see large boxes of seeds being delivered before the city had even had a snowstorm."

Keep A Good Thing Going.  --Cooter

Fairdale, Illinois, Celebrates End of WW I With Burning of Kaiser in Effigy

From the December 5, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Fairdale celebrated peace in the appropriate manner Monday by a community service at the school house.

"Music by the band, speaking, singing and the burning of the kaiser in effigy, were features of the affair."

War's Over, Man.  --Cooter

Memorial Clock Dedication Delayed By Influenza in 1918

From the December 5, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"The dedication of the Wiltberger memorial clock in Waterman, which was to have been held some time ago but was postponed on account of the prevalence of influenza, will occur on Sunday.

--Cooter

Huge 1917 World War I Bond Rally in DeKalb

From the December, 5, 2018, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1917  A photograph of an absolutely huge crowd of people gathered at the DeKalb Armory for a bond drive to raise money to support the World War I effort.

It took place on October 21, 1917, at the Armory located at 320 East Locust Street.

--Cooter

The Vietnam War in DeKalb County in 1968

From the November 7, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1968, 50 Years Ago.

**  "Once again, the senior girls  of Shabbona High School will be baking cookies for the boys in Vietnam."

**  "Reports of a possible break through toward peace in Vietnam spread around the world today.

"Attention centered on an American offer to end the bombardment of North Vietnam."

--Cooter

No More Tin Foil in Wrigley's Juicy Fruit Chewing Gum for the War Effort

From the November 14, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"To help meet the needs of the government, Wrigley's will discontinue the use of tin foil as a wrapping of Juicy Fruit chewing gum, in order to release valuable material to Uncle Sam.

"Hundreds of thousands of pounds per week of tin foil will thus be made available to the government, it is said.    Juicy Fruit  will hereafter appear in the hermetically sealed pink wrapper same as Spearmint.  Doublemint will also be wrapped in waxed pink paper, instead of green."

--Cooter

Drunks Coming From Maple Park to DeKalb in 1918

From the November 21, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Saturday and Sunday seemed to be busy ones for the police as there were several drunks arrested Saturday night and early Sunday morning, many coming back on the last car from the nearby oasis, Maple Park.

"The fellows given a chance to sober up at the city bastille and Monday morning were before the police court and assessed the usual fine for such misdemeanors.

Maple Park Was A Major Destination for NIU Students in the 1970s for the Same Reason.  --DaDrunk

New Taxi Fare Rates: 35 Cents in 1918

From the November 14, 2018, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"The following rates will prevail for Taxi Service.  35 cents to all points in the city except south of Bush street, and points on Haish, Leonard, Ellwood,  and Glidden avenues south of South street, west of Normal  Road on Lincoln Highway, north and west of Normal school, north of Clark street, and east of the tracks on Lincoln Highway, where fifty cents for one passenger will be the rate, or 35 cents each for more than one.

"Night calls , from midnight to 6:00 a.m. 50 cents a person.  Funerals and weddings $5.00 per car, in DeKalb."

Hey, TAXI!!!  What, No UBER?  --Cooter

Collecting Nut Shells and Pits for Gas Masks

From the November 14, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Saturday afternoon the Star theatre gave a special matinee for the kids of the city and as an admission charged the youngsters were asked  to bring all the nut shells, pits, etc. they could find.  A large barrel was placed in the lobby of the theatre and it was necessary to hake the barrel several times to make it hold the pits and shells the kids brought.

"The barrel was filled before the afternoon show began and the manager of the local theatre  feels very well repaid for his efforts, as he has a barrel of material for carbon for gas masks to turn over to the government."

--Cooter

Airplanes Flying Over DeKalb in 1918

From the November 14, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Many DeKalb people witnessed a most perfect aeroplane  flight this forenoon just before 11 o'clock, when a big machine sailed over as graceful as any bird.  The machine was not flying fast or high and the continual purr of the motor was easily heard by pedestrians on the street.

"The machine came from the northeast and was flying in a southwesterly direction.  Another airplane was seen here shortly before one o'clock in the afternoon."

--Cooter

Students Raising Money For Lincoln's Original Gettysburg Address in 1943

From the November 28, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Mrs. Marjorie B. Leinauer, county superintendent of schools reports that a total of $128.99 has been contributed so far by the school students of the county for the fund to be used by the state to purchase the original manuscript of Lincoln's Gettysburg address, which will be placed in the state historical library."

--CootAbe

Nut Shells and Pits Collected for Gas Masks in 1918

From the November 28, 2018, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Over 617 pounds of nut shells and pits were sent recently from DeKalb to the government for the making of gas masks.

"What disposition shall be made of them now, no one  knows.  Barrels are standing on the corners yet being filled."

The War Was Over By This Date.  --Cooter

The Flu Epidemic Hits the Movie Houses in DeKalb County in 1918

From the November 21, 2019, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"During the past week or ten days, that the movie houses have been compelled to close shop on account of the flu epidemic, the owners have been busy at odd jobs around their places, such as painting, wiring, etc..

"It is very probable that the places will be allowed to open up again within the next few days or a week and they will then be in fine shape for the fall and winter business."

I imagine there will be quite a few other stories about this flu in the "Looking Back" articles in the next year.

--DaCoot

"Flu Masks" On the Train in Nov. 1918: Was This the Spanish Flu Pandemic

From the November 21, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"There is always a first time for everything, and passengers on the 7:40 this morning saw DeKalb people board the train wearing 'Flu' masks.

"This is the spirit of cooperation here in the city of DeKalb that is going to keep a serious epidemic from getting a foothold here."

Was this the Spanish Flu Pandemic near its beginning, or just a regular winter onset flu?  Sources say the first observed case took place in Haskell County, Kansas, in January 1918.  The first recorded victim of the flu was Army cook Albert Gitchell at Fort Riley, Kansas, on March 4, 1918.

If this "Flu" mask incident in DeKalb was the Spanish Flu it was way in advance of the bad breakout in 1919.

--Cooter

Boy Scouts Getting Into Pershing Week and Selling War Stamps

From the September 12, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"When you pass the booth of the Boy Scouts at the Leslie's building, stop and ask the boys what they are doing.

"They will inform you that it is Pershing week and they are so enthused that they will induce you to show your patriotism.  They reported sales of the stamps as 'pretty good' this afternoon."

Supporting the War Effort.  --DaCoot

DeKalb Boys in the Final Allied Offensive of World War I

From the August 8, 2018, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"DeKalb people who have boys with the old Third regiment over in France were glad to read the Chronicle Saturday night and get the first authentic information concerning the place where the boys are doing their fighting.

"There have been many rumors but the interview with General March for the first time told DeKalb folks that their boys are fighting with the British and Australians to the north and west  of the scene of the present allied drive."

This was part of the Somme and Oise-Aisne Offensives which led to the end of the war 100 days later, but with huge Allied losses.

--Cooter

The Case of the "Rough Looking and Dirty" Fellows in 1918

From the August 29, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Four fellows, rough looking and dirty,  were lurking around the railroad station this morning and when they saw an officer coming, whose coat happened to fly open enough to show a star,  the boys very hastily made themselves absent.

"When the Sterling passenger train came in, they all boarded the train between the tender and first coach, and one was dragged a few feet before getting on the train.  It is probably a good thing for the city that they made their departure in this manner, as it would have been necessary to send them on their way had the police discovered them."

--Cooter

Tourists Find a Section of the Berlin Wall Under Vegetation

From the August 15, 2018, Chicago Tribune by Erik Kirschbaum LA Times.

Nearly 30 years after it was toppled, a 20-yard-long section of the Berlin Wall has been discovered, hidden behind bushes, weeds and overgrown trees that over the years obscured it.

The Berlin Wall is one of the Cold War's most divisive symbols.  (I personally never thought it would come down.)

It is 11-feet high cement slabs and was found in the heart of Berlin.  It had once been part of an interior security barrier to keep East Germans from getting close to the outer wall separating East Berlin from West Berlin.  It is covered with graffiti and is now under monument protection status.

The tourists discovered it in June but it was just determined to be authentic this week.

Another, longer piece of the wall, about a 260-foot section, was discovered in similar fashion in January in a northern district of East Berlin in a forest area.

This occurred just one day after Berliners marked the anniversary of the wall's construction in 1961.

I  have a very small piece of the wall.

--Cooter

Stealing Apples in 1918

From the September 5, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Boys, almost young men, were stealing apples on the north end of town last night.

"Residents watched them work in almost professional way with flashlights.  A look-out is being  kept for them  on their second visit."

I wonder what the punishment will be if they are caught.

Hey, No Apple Cider For Youse Guys!!   --Cooter

NIU's Summer Commencement 1968

From the August 22, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1968, 50 Years Ago.

"At Northern Illinois University's  annual summer commencement, 470 students received graduate degrees.

"Another 338  received bachelor degrees as Northern presented a record 808 doctoral through undergraduate degrees at the event.  About 2,500 attended the ceremony.

And, I was there the next year and graduated in 1973.

NIU's Growing Fast.  --Cooter

Korean War Veteran Chuck Class-- Part 4: The P-51 Mustang

One poignant story Mr. Class was about the P-51 Mustang pilot that had been shot down.  Most of the aircraft he saw were World War II vintage, very few jets.  This plane had been shot down, but the pilot had been able to make a crash landing and the plane was upright.  But the plane started smoking and Mr. Class was close enough that he could see the pilot slumped over in the cockpit.

He wanted to rush over to the pilot's aide, but enemy troops were nearby and firing at the plane.  The smoke turned into flames and burned the whole plane.  That was a hard one.

Mr. Class did his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.  He was drafted into service.

--Cooter

Korean War Veteran Chuck Class-- Part 3: That Portable Shower

A really big treat for his unit was when portable showers would be brought to them.  "That was just great and they had warm water!"  This was a real big thing.

There were Korean homes in the countryside, but they were most often abandoned and just about everything taken from them.

They built Bailey Bridges made of steel and put together much like an erector set.  These were developed by the British during World War II and were noted for ease of construction and where you didn't need cranes or heavy equipment.

A major job of Mr. Class' unit was clearing minefields, both U.S. and Korean.  The American fields were supposed to have mines put in at a certain distance apart, but that was a rare occurrence.  They sure didn't appreciate that.  Anti-tank mines were dug in deeper than the anti-personnel ones.  They used mine detectors.  He became quite the expert on mines during his service.

Most of the mines he picked up were American and you were somewhat safe if you were behind the mines as they faced the enemy.  But a problem was whether or not the mines had been booby-trapped.  If they thought that had been done, they would loop a string or rope around the mine and get twenty feet away and pull it.

He had a near-miss once from an American hand grenade turned into a booby trap.  He realized right away what he had tripped and hit the ground hard just before it went off and luckily was not hit.

--Cooter

Korean War Veteran Chuck Class-- Part 2: The Turkey Dinner

Fortunately, he was never wounded during the conflict.

As an engineer, he usually wasn't near the front lines, except when his unit would give the infantry a night off and take their places along the front lines.

Both North Koreans and Chinese wore the same uniform.  U.S. and South Korea forces also wore the same uniform. About the closest he ever came to seeing the enemy was seeing them on a distant hill. "They were shooting at us and we were shooting at them."

In 2000, he and his wife went to Washington, D.C. and visited the Korean War Memorial.

His unit had their own cooks so they didn't have to eat the c rations.  They bought their own food and ate well.  He remembers one Thanksgiving where they had the complete turkey dinner, but had a glob of ice cream melting into it.

--Cooter

Korean War Veteran Chuck Class, 89-- Part 1: The Sweater

I interviewed Mr. Class on Wednesday, December 12 at the American Legion Post 703 in Fox Lake, Illinois.

He has been with the post for 42 years in a multitude of jobs, including past commander.  Right now, until the end of December 2018, he is the Adjutant and Financial Officer and lives in nearby Spring Grove.

In the Korean War, he was in the Army in the First Cavalry, supposedly moved by vehicles, but he recalls more often by a lot of marching.  He arrived on scene in 1951-1952, when most of the "nasty stuff" was over and fighting was mostly around the 38th Parallel.  The early part of the war involved battle lines going all the way to the northern part of the peninsula and to the southern part.

Mr. Class  was with the engineers and involved in a lot of bridge and road building as well as explosives (especially disarming mine fields).

The weather in Korea is much like it is here in the Midwest, cold in the winter and hot in the summer.  He arrived over there in June and by December it was pretty cold.  He remembers being very thankful for a sweater he received.  But one time he took the sweater off on a warmer winter day while his unit was working in a mine field.  A shell came in, exploded, and perforated that sweater.  "Thank goodness I wasn't wearing it."

--Cooter

60th Anniversary of Our Lady of the Angels Fire-- Part 7: The Aftermath

The only positive that came out of the fire was the changes made to the fire protection system requiring the inclusion of sprinklers in all schools, the fire alarms required to be hooked up to local fire departments, building materials changing from flammable to non-flammable materials such as concrete to replace wood and plaster.

Fire drills are held and students are trained what they need to do in case of fire.  Teachers are required to account for all their students.

There has not been another school fire  in which more than ten students have died since the Out Lady of the Angels fire in 1958.

60th Anniversary of Our Lady of the Angels Fire-- Part 6: Other Suffering

In the early 1960s, a boy who was ten years old and in fifth grade at the time of the fire confessed to starting the fire, a confession that he later recanted.  He did, however, know details of the fire's origin that had not been made public and that he should not have known.  He was not ever prosecuted.

Those that died that day were not the only ones to suffer.  Many of the students were severely burned and spent months in the hospital healing and even several years later were still undergoing skin grafts.  Others had nightmares and others required counseling to overcome the emotional problems they had to deal with.

60th Anniversary of Our Lady of the Angels Fire-- Part 5: Arson?

That afternoon throughout the Midwest, as families turned on their televisions to watch their favorite afternoon shows, they discovered that the only program on was news about the Out Lady of Angels fire.  Throughout the area, watchers remained mesmerized through the following  days as coverage moved from the fire to the funerals of the victims.

It was not easy to find out who was still inside the school as many of the students found their parents in the crowds watching or made their way home.

The cause of the fire has never been officially determined but it was thought to be that the fire started in the basement and was probably started by one of the boys who brought down the wastebaskets at the end of the school day and thus it was arson.

60th Anniversary Our Lady of the Angels Fire-- Part 4: 92 Students and 3 Nuns Perished

The school's second floor windows were 25 feet from the outside ground preventing a safe jump for students ir teachers.

The fire department was late getting to the fire as they had somehow been given the wrong address.  They then had to use a ladder as a battering ram to break through the locked iron fence surrounding the school.  Eventually more than 200 firefighters from 22 engine companies, seven ladder companies and 10 squad companies responded to the fire.

The Chicago Fire Commissioner at the time, Robert Quinn, was quoted as saying of the fire, "It was the worst thing I have ever seen or ever will see."

Firefighters and neighbors began to bring ladders to the site to attempt to rescue trapped students on the second floor of the north wing.  Firemen climbed ladders and pulled many students through the windows to safety.

Some of the students jumped from the windows.  Approximately 340 students and teachers were trapped on the second floor of the north wing and of these, 92 students and three nuns perished.

60th Anniversary Our Lady of the Angels Fire-- Part 3: A Recipe For Disaster

While the building was made of brick, it was the interior that was fuel for the fire.  Inside was entirely combustible.  The walls, desks, doors and the roof quickly burned.  The floors had been coated with flammable petroleum-based waxes that had built up over the years.

There was only one fire escape which was located in the north wing but the hallway leading to it quickly became filled with toxic smoke.  Sprinklers were not required in the building.  Fire alarms were located in the south wing and not connected to the fire department.

There were not any fire safe doors from the stairway to the second floor.  The few fire extinguishers in the north wing were mounted seven feet off the floor as a deterrent to students messing with them.  Unfortunately, at seven feet even most of the adults could not reach them without a ladder.

60th Anniversary of Our Ladies of the Angels Fire-- Part 2

Continued from December 2.

The fire began in the school's basement between 2 and 2:20 p.m., shortly before the students would be dismissed for the day.  The basement housed cardboard trash barrels where students emptied classroom waste baskets into to be disposed of later by the janitor.

It was here in the basement at the foot of the stairway that the fire started.  And the really sad thing was that 30 minutes later the students would have been gone.

The fire quickly made its way through the school, filling the air with fire, smoke and heat.  The halls quickly filled with smoke and soon the second floor of the north wing of the school was cut off from easy access to the hallway, fire escape and stairway needed to exit the building.

The school was built in 1910 and included numerous additions and remodeling as the student population grew, leaving a winding building of many wings, bot something that would be effective in a fire.  Even though the school had been fire inspected a short time before the fire and it is reported that it passed inspection because of the age of the structure, it had been grandfathered in in and not required to meet the newer safety measures.

So Sad.

Workin' In Those Oat Fields in 1918

From the August 22, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Sid Rowe, George Rowe, Wes Concidine and Fire Chief McEvoy went to the Hickey farm today to shock oats and Conidine and George Rowe had boasted of their ability to stay in the field all day and do more work than the others.

"Police Magistrate Glidden called at the Hickey farm this noon concerning the work of the men and learned that Concidine and Rowe had been given a leave of absence from the field at 11 o'clock and it was necessary to administer first aid to the two workmen.  The other two men, according to the telephone word this noon, were still in the field, working along in fine shape and all the oars that would be cut would easily be shocked by night."

Again, a wartime lack of manpower.

Who Got Bragging Rights?  --Cooter

Genoa Schoolhouse Burns Down in 1918

From the August 22, 2018, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Yesterday afternoon about three o'clock fire was discovered at the Genoa schoolhouse and before the fire department could get to work the flames were beyond control and the building was totally destroyed.

"The origin of the fire is unknown.  Reports say that it might have been started from spontaneous combustion, while others think it might have started from sparks from rubbish which the janitor was burning alongside the building."

I'm Sure the Children Were Extremely Upset.  --Cooter

Still Looking for "Big Joe's" Mate in 1943

From the August 15, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

I first wrote about this on August 20, 2018.

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Although one effort to secure a cow buffalo for Hopkins Park brought only temporary success, the buffalo passing away shortly after arriving in DeKalb, efforts are being made within another week to secure another mate for "Big Joe" the present occupant of the tract in back of the Sanatorium."

Joe Needs a Wife.  --Cooter

The 1 Millionth Dekalb-Built Wurlitzer Piano in 1968

From the August 29,. 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1968, 60 Years Ago.

"In 1919, the DeKalb Division of the Wurlitzer Company was born, and it became the exclusive source of Wurlitzer built grand pianos, augmenting  the production of upright and player pianos at the Wurlitzer  North Tonawanda, New York Division.

"To consolidate  piano production, Wurlitzer transferred all piano manufacturing operations to DeKalb in 1935.  Since that time, Wurlitzer  pianos have come from DeKalb in a steady flow except during World War II, when the entire plant was converted to war production.

"Recently, a majestic grand piano came off the modern Wurlitzer production line with the serial number 1,000,000, the millionth piano built in DeKalb."

Play It Again, Sam.  --Cooter

Pearl Harbor Survivors

Today is the 77th anniversary of the attack which plunged the United States into World War II.  Usually, when I write about a Pearl Harbor survivor, it is to report his death.  I am always happy to write about one who sis still alive.

From the November 16, 2018, Desert Star  "Clarence Lux celebrates with fellow vets" by Jene Estrada.

Mr. Lux was celebrating his 98th birthday.

He enlisted in the Navy in 1940 and was on the USS Tennessee on that day.  He was discharged in 1946 as a petty officer.

He is one of three Pearl Harbor survivors still left in the area.  The others are Jim Donis of Palm Desert who was in the Army Air Corps and Ed Wise.

The 41st President, George H.K. Bush: Shot Down Over Chichijima

Since President Bush's burial will take place today in College Station, Texas, where his presidential and vice presidential libraries are located (as well as his vice president during his term, Dan Quayle).

From Wikipedia.

GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH

While he was president, he was called just George Bush, but after his son was elected, he was referred to as George H.W. Bush, Bush 41, or George Bush Sr..

I am writing about his World War II service in most of my blogs today.

George Bush piloted one of his torpedo squadron's Grumman TBM Avengers when they attacked Japanese installations on Chichijima on September 2, 1944.  His crew included  Radioman 2nd Class John Delaney and Lt. (jg) William White.  His aircraft was hit by flak during the attack, but Bush successfully released bombs and had several hits.

With his engines ablaze, he flew several miles from the island where he and one of the other crewmen bailed out.  The other one's parachute did not open.

Illinois Bicentennial: Welby Nall Crang of Clinton

The Crang-Bennett American Legion Post 103 in Clinton, Illinois, is named for Welby Crang and Artie Bennett, two locals who died in France in World War I.

Welby Crang was a private in the Army and was with the Signal Corps of Camp Logan, Colorado, and then with Aviation at Kelley Field in Texas.  He landed in Liverpool, England, October 29, 1917 before moving to Indrie, France, by the end of the year.

He died of pneumonia December 28, 1917, in Issodun, France.  He was the first World War I death from DeWitt County.  His funeral was held in Clinton on November 7, 1920.

Illinois Bicentennial: Artie Bennett From DeWitt County

From Crang-Bennett American Legion Post 103, Clinton, Illinois.

Crang-Bennett American Legion Post 103 is named after    Crang and Artie Bennett, two Americans from Clinton, Illinois who died in World War I.

Artie Bennett entered the Marine Corps on May 21, 1917.    He was with the 82nd Company 6th Regiment U.S. Marines and landed at Brest, France,  November 19, 1917.  On June 8, 1918, while forcing the enemy from their positions, the company encountered  much enemy gunfire.    Private Bennett was severely wounded while attacking enemy machine gun nests.  He died one hour later.

This was the first death from Dewitt County, Illinois, caused by enemy fire.  Private Bennett was later buried at American Cemetery Belleau, Aisne, France.

Illinois Bicentennial: Sent More Than 350,000 To WW I-- Part 2: The American Legion

In honor of the Illinois Bicentennial of Statehood today.

Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner signed a proclamation announcing that the Illinois National Guard and Chicago's Pritzker Military Museum will lead efforts to to ensure the land of Lincoln remembers its role in the Great War.

Records from the Illinois Office of the Adjutant General lists more than  351,000 Illinois men serving in the Army, Navy and Marines during the war and some 5,000 died.

The American Legion Post in Clinton is the Crang-Bennett Post 103 is named for Artie Bennett and  and Army Sgt. 1st Class  Welby Crang, who lived  a block from Bennett and died in France in 1917 from pneumonia.

This post was founded in 1919 to honor those who died but also to help those who returned.  Said Ron Devore of the post:  "Some of the guys had been gassed, their lungs were burned, they had missing limbs and disabilities; they were messed up for life, and they weren't getting anything from the government."

The Bicentennial of Illinois Statehood, December 3, 2018: World War I

From the November 4, 2018, Sauk Valley.Com.

ILLINOIS SENT MORE THAN 350,000 SOLDIERS TO EUROPE TO FIGHT DURING WORLD WAR I

By Tony Reid.

Artie Bennett, a Marine from Clinton, Illinois, was cut down by a hail of bullets in France.  A letter home from a fellow Marine said Bennett, age 18, had been attacking a German machine gun nest as Marines fought to stem a enemy advance that was threatening Paris in June 1918.

He lingered an hour before dying, one of the first casualties from Illinois.

The letter was typed by fellow Marine  Private John  W. Olsen, said:  "He passed away quietly, without complaint, and was laid to rest near where he fell."

60th Anniversary of the Our Lady of the Angels Fire--Part 1: December 1, 1958

From the November 28, 2018, Hi-Liter newspaper  "Remembering the students of Our Lady of the Angels school fire" by Sandra Landen Machaj.

For students at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Grade School, Dec. 1, 1958, began as an ordinary school day.  But for these students and their families, it would not end that way.  It would be a day that changed their lives in ways that would never be forgotten.

For it was on that day that a fire broke out in the school and took the lives of 92 students and three of the nuns that taught them.  The fire with its large number of deaths was the worst school fire ever in Illinois and the third worst school fire in the nation.

In 1958, Our Lady of the Angels was one of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago.  The parish consisted of about 4,500 families, many of whom sent multiple children to the parish kindergarten through eighth grade school.

The school had an enrollment of approximately 1,600 students.  Located at 909 N. Avers in the Humboldt Park section of Chicago, the community at that time was a melting pot of Italian, Polish and Irish families, most of whom had lived here for several generations.

New York's Fort Wood in World War I

I have been writing about this fort in my Not So Forgotten: War of 1812  and Tattooed On Your Soul: World War II blogs.  This fort is the base of the Statue of Liberty.  You can read more about Fort Wood in these two blogs.  Click on My Blogs to the right of this blog entry.

The fort was built in 1811, and by 1904 being used by one company of Signal Corps troops and a sub depot for Signal Corps material.

On July 30, 1916, there were a series of explosions at the nearby Black Tom Wharf in Hersey City that severely damaged the post and did $100,000 damage to the Statue of Liberty.  These explosions were deemed to be an act of sabotage by German agents, even though the U.S. had not yet joined the war.  This is another reason that led to the U.S. entering the war in 1917.

During World War I, Fort Wood was used as a coastal defense fort and supply depot.

--DaCoot

Statue of Liberty's Original Torch Removed To Museum-- Part 2

The move on Thursday, November 15 was the latest chapter for the icon that "has crossed many miles in its lifetime,"  according to Stephen Briganti.

The torch left France in 1976 and was brought to the United States where it was exhibited at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia and then it went to New York City's Madison Square Park.  The torch made the trip to help raise funds to pay for the statue's pedestal.

It went back to Paris in 1882 and then returned to New York Harbor along with the other pieces of the crated statue in 1885.

The torch was held high by Lady Liberty from 1886 to 1984, but modifications to the flame changed the original design over the years.

Glad the Original Is Going Inside.  --DaCoot

Statue of Liberty's Original Torch Moved to A Museum-- Part 1

From the November 16, 2018, Northwest Herald (McHenry County, Illinois).

A photo showing the original torch of the Statue of Liberty being transported in New York City.  The torch was removed in 1984 and replaced by a replica.  It is being moved to a new museum on Liberty Island.

From the 1980s until now, the torch was at the base of the statue.  Visitors watched as its base and detached flame were slowly and carefully removed to the museum which will open next year.  The torch altogether weighs 3,600 pounds.

The new museum is about 100 yards from the statue.

Officials with the National Park Service and the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation said the torch was removed in 1984 because it was too badly damaged to restore.  In the process of taking it down, the largest free-standing scaffolding to that time was erected.

Being housed inside will help prevent further deterioration.

--CootStat

The Problem With Crickets in 1943

From the August 29, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Crickets and more crickets are being found throughout the city and the business section was again overrun last evening with pedestrians encountering much trouble as they walked along the main streets.

"Thousands were swept into the street as the merchants arrived to open their stores this morning, doorways and along the edges about store fronts being literally covered."

--Cooter

The Case of the Bubbler Loafers in 1918

From the August 29, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Of late there has been much complaint about men and young men, loafing around street corners, using the bubbling machines as resting places.

"The bubbler on Fourth  street was occupied for over a half an hour by three fellows and many people, rather than disturb the loafers, went another block for a drink of cold water.  People in the habit of doing this this should remember there are others in this world who are glad to take advantage of a bubbling fountains and not monopolize them for an hour at a time."

Drinking fountains were called bubblers back then.

--  Cooter

"Atomic Attack" At NIU in 1968

From the August 8, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1968, 50 Years Ago.

"The United States will be under 'atomic attack' for 24 hours this weekend as nearly 30 Northern Illinois  residents take shelter in a university dormitory here.

"The shelter is in the basement of the 13-story Stevenson Towers on the Northern Illinois University campus will house participants from age three to adults during a drill  conducted by NIU's disaster preparedness committee."

Better Prepared Than Sorry.  --Cootbomb

A Ginger Ale Crime Spree in DeKalb in 1918

From the July 18, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"The DeKalb police department, or rather a member of it had a little experience yesterday afternoon, all due to the fact that a case of ginger ale was unintentionally left left out of doors.  The kids sneaked down the alley, four of them in all, each helping himself to a bottle of said ginger ale.

"Discovering that Officer Sid Rowe was on their trail they began to run.  The officer chased them for some little distance,and then after they had disposed of the goods by hiding, stopped.  The officer told them to go get the bottles, take them back here they got them, which they did, and report to the station.  The boys were given a severe reprimand.

Crime in 1918?  --CootAle

When Presidents Lied or Misled U.S. to War-- Part 4: Lincoln and FDR Are Exceptions

Michael Beschloss does give two examples of American war presidents who did not follow the other three:  Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt.  He says the two waged war for higher moral purposes (saving the Union, abolishing slavery, defending democracy from Fascism).

And, they educated the public about why the country was sacrificing so many lives and so much money, though he does discuss FDR's internment camps and Lincoln's suspension of habeus corpus among other wartime abuses of power.

--Cooter

When Presidents Lied or Misled U.S. to War-- Part 3: Woodrow Wilson and WW I

President Woodrow Wilson tried to inscribe democratic ideals on the world order during World War I.  But his disdain for Congress and failure to educate the public about his wartime agenda backfired.

He jailed his antiwar foes and faltered at persuading the American people to back his idea for a League of Nations.

--Cooter

When Presidents Lied or Misled U.S. to War-- Part 2: The Spanish-American War

James Polk followed James Madison's (War of 1812, see the Nov. 19, 2018) Not So Forgotten: War of 1812 blog post) agenda when he concealed his westward expansion policy.

President William McKinley wanted to go to war with Spain in the 1890s and used what was a faulty boiler causing the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor.  He even promised to free the people of Cuba from Spanish occupation.

So in 1898, we went to war at his behest without his consulting Congress or the American people.

But what it really was an attempt for an American empire.  He grabbed the Philippines from Spain and demanded the conversion of its people to Christianity.  (I thought the people of the Philippines were Catholic when the U.S. took over.)

--Cooter

When Presidents Lied Or Misled U.S. Into War-- Part 1: The Mexican War

From the November 16, 2018, Washington Post  "When presidents lied or misled the nation to go to war -- and when they didn't" by Matthew Dallek.

I wrote about President James Madison and the War of 1812 in my Not So Forgotten: War of 1812 blog today.

Anither president and his war:

In 1846, President James Polk responded to the ambush of a U.S. military patrol near the Rio Grande by asking Congress to declare war on Mexico.  Polk wanted to get control of California, New Mexico and Arizona and extend slavery and the nation westward.

Thus said the author of the book "Presidents of War" by Michael Beschloss.  His book details how presidents "weaponized deception."

"They hid the risks of war from soldiers and civilians, used false pretexts to fight their wars, and they waged wars even though the republics survival was not at stake.  With too-frequent acquiescence of Congress, [presidents] have seized for themselves the power to launch large conflicts almost on their own authority."

--Cooter

Fox Lake-Grant Township Hist. Soc. Meeting Today: Old Time Radio

The General Meeting will take place today at the Grant Hall Museum at 411 Washington Street, Ingleside, Illinois, at 9:30 a.m..

The agenda today includes election of officers followed by a recreation of an old radio program by the Radio Players of Lake County.  If  you wonder how they used to make the old radio programs like Ralphie listened to ("Little Orphan Annie") on "A Christmas Story" you will see it done live.

See You There.  --Cooter

Sgt. Henry Gunther, Last American Casualty in WW I

From Find-A-Grave

Birth:  5 June 1895 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Death:  11 November 1918 (aged 23)  Chaumont-devant-Damvillers, Department of de la Meuse, Lorraine, France.  He was originally buried at a U.S. military cemetery in France.  Body exhumed and returned to the United States in 1923.

Burial:  Mount Holy Redeemer Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland.   Section W, Lot 301.

Last Casualties of World War I-- Part 2: France, British, Commonwealth, American and German

**  Augustin Trebuchon was the last Frenchman to die when he was shot on his way to tell  fellow soldiers that hot soup would be available  after the ceasefire.

**  The last British soldier to die was George Edwin Ellison of the 5th Royal Lancers who was killed at 9:30 a.m. while on a scouting mission.

**  The final Canadian and Commonwealth soldier to die was Private George Lawrence Price who was killed in his trench just two minutes before 11 a.m..

**  The last American was Henry Gunther, who is generally recognized as the very last soldier killed in the war.  He was killed 60 seconds before the Armistice went into effect.  He was killed by German troops, who knew about the Armistice, but Gunther was charging them.

**  The last reported German death was Leutnant Tomas who was killed after the Armistice.  he approached advancing American soldiers saying he and his men would be evacuating houses they occupied, but the Americans did not know about the Armistice.

--Cooter

Last Casualties of World War I-- Part 1: So Sad, 2,738 Deaths On last Day

From ANSWERS:  "Who Was the Last Casualty of World War I?"

Even after word reached units that the war was to stop at 11 a.m., firing continued right up to that time.  Some Allied artillery units continued firing so as to use up ammunition so they wouldn't have to cart it off.  Allies also wanted to ensure that should the fighting start again, they would be in the best possible situation.

As mentioned in the last post, there was also the "honor" of firing the last shot.

As a result, there were 10,944 casualties on that last day, including 2,738 deaths.

All For Nothing.  --Cooter

WW I's Last American Death

NOVEMBER 11, 1918

Last American KIA in WW I.

Army Private Henry Gunther, of A Company, 313th Infantry Regiment, 79th Division, was Killed In Action while charging a German machine gun nest at one minute after 11 a.m..

He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

End of War, Nov. 1, 1918: Casualties

ARMISTICE ENDS WORLD WAR I

2,171,560 Americans serve on Europe (1.39 million see active service on the front).

Casualties:

53,513 combat deaths

63,195 other deaths (mostly due to pneumonia and influenza)

204,002 wounded in action

58,000 gas casualties (2,000 fatal).

WW I, the End-- Part 6: Armistice Signed, Fighting Continues in Africa

Armistice Day is now commemorated as Veterans Day.

NOVEMBER 11, 1918

At 5:10 a.m., in a railway car in Compiegne, France,  the Germans sign the Armistice which is in effect at 11 a.m. -- the eleventh hour of the eleventh month.

Fighting continues on the Western Front until precisely 11 a.m., with 2,000 casualties on both sides.

Artillery barrages  also erupt as 11 a.m. approaches as soldiers yearn to claim they fired the very last shot of the war.

NOVEMBER 12, 1918

A final action occurs as Germans in Africa under the command of the elusive General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck encounter British troops in Northern Rhodesia, where news of the Armistice had not yet reached.

It's Over.  --Cooter

"The Deadliest Weapon In the World" USMC

Today marks the 243rd birthday of the United States Marine Corps.  Tomorrow marks the 100th year since the end of World War I, and, of course, Veterans Day.

Probably the greatest compliment ever paid to the Marines is this quote by the Commander of American Forces in Europe during World War I, John "Blackjack" Pershing.

"The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle."

Oh Yeah!!  Thanks General.  --CootMarine

WW I Ending-- Part 5: Austria-Hungary Signs Armistice, Kaiser's Government Collpases

NOVEMBER 3, 1918

Austria-Hungary, Germany's only remaining ally, signs armistice with Italy, leaving Germany alone.

NOVEMBER 8, 1918

At Compiegne, France, six representatives of the German government are presented with armistice terms by the Allied Supreme Commander, Marshal Ferdinand Foch.  The terms include the Germans leaving all occupied lands, the Allied occupation of Germany west of the Rhine River, surrender of weaponry, including all submarines and battleships and indefinite  continuation of the naval blockade.

NOVEMBER 9, 1918

The Kaiser's Imperial government collapses in ruin as the German Republic is proclaimed with Friedrich Ebert heading the new provisional government.  Kaiser Wilhelm seeks refuge in Holland.

It's About Over.  --Cooter

WW I Ending-- Part 4: Collapse of Austria Hungary, Armistice With Turkey and Mutiny in Germany

OCTOBER 24, 1918

In Italy, Allies crush the Austrian-Hungarian Army which has 30,000 killed and 400,000 captured.

OCTOBER 29, 1918

Czechs declare independence from Austria.  Two days later Slovakia does likewise.

OCTOBER 30, 1918

Turkey signs armistice with Allies, becoming the second Central Powers member to quit the war.

NOVEMBER 1, 1918

After pausing to regroup and resupply, Allied  armies continue the attack against the Germans.  U.S. armies advance on the Meuse River.

NOVEMBER 3, 1918

Mutiny strikes the German Navy at the ports of Kiel and Wilhelnshaven as sailors refuse to put to sea for one final battle with the British Navy.  Uprisings begin in German cities and there is a fear that this could turn into a Bolshevik uprising both with the German government and Allies.  This causes a real sense of urgency to the armistice negotiations.

--Cooter

WW I Ending-- Part 3: Allies Break Through Hindenburg Line and German Army Retreating

OCTOBER 5, 1918

The Allies break through the last remnants of the Hindenburg Line.

OCTOBER 6 AND 7, 1918

The state of Yugoslavia proclaimed signalling the beginning of the break up of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in central Europe which had existed for six centuries.

Poland proclaims itself independent from the Russian Empire.

OCTOBER 13, 1918

The German Army  involved in a general retreat from a 60-mile  portion of the Western Front. in France.

OCTOBER 23, 1918

Wilson informs Germany that any negotiations could not include current German military leaders.    Ludendorf disavows this and is forced to resign by the Kaiser.  Civilians are now to do most of the negotiating.  This was the basis of the military's "stab-in-the-back" defense after the war.  They had been sold out by the civilians.

--Cooter

WW I Ending-- Part 2: German Government Notified of Military Collapse and Wilson Asked

SEPTEMBER 29, 1918--

Bulgaria signs an armistice with the Allies, becoming the first  of the Central Power to quit the war.

OCTOBER 2, 1918--

Ludendorf  informs the German legislature in Berlin that the war is lost and that armistice negotiations should begin immediately.  The German politicians are shocked by the news, having been largely kept in the dark by the military and Kaiser until now.

OCTOBER 4, 1918

President Woodrow Wilson receives a request from the German government to start armistice negotiations.  The Germans figured he'd be more lenient than the British or French.  Wilson replies with a list of demands as prelude of discussion including  German withdrawal from all occupied territories and an immediate halt to U-boat attacks.

--DaCoot

World War I: The End Fast Approaching-- Part 1: Germans In Dire Straits by September 1918

From The History Place.com/world history/firstworld war/index.

The History Place:  World War 1

1918:  A Fateful Ending

SEPTEMBER 28, 1918

Confronted by the unstoppable strength of the Allies and faced with the possibility of military defeat, German General Ludendorf suffers a nervous collapse.  He informs his superior, Paul von Hindenburg, that the war must be ended.

The next day they meet with the Kaiser and urge him to end the war.

The German Army is becoming weaker by the day with huge troop losses, declining discipline and battle-readiness due to exhaustion, illness,  food shortages, desertions and drunkenness.

The Kaiser agrees with them.  An armistice must be reached.

--Cooter

Camp Wadsworth, S.C.-- Part 4: Specialized Units and the Slavic Legion

Camp Wadsworth also had several specialty units including military police, construction workers,  cooks and bakers and even a remount (horses) unit.

In addition, anti-aircraft machine gun battalions, signal battalions corps artillery parks and pioneer infantry  regiments.  There were also several military schools there as well, including one for nurses.

It was also the training base for the Slavic Legion intended as a regiment of non-naturalized volunteers from nations in the Balkans.  This group was only partly trained when the war ended and they were demobilized there.

Beginning in February 1919, the War Department began carrying out salvage operations at Camp Wadsworth, sending usable items to other posts that remained open.

Several of the camp's buildings were sold and moved to other places.

Most of the area that used to be Camp Wadsworth is now within the Spartanburg city limits and has been developed as  the Wadsworth Hills residential neighborhood.

--Cooter

Camp Wadsworth-- Part 3: The 369th Infantry Regiment (Blacks) Was There

The camp was used for individual training and bayonet practice.    They also dis unit level  exercises.  In addition, love fire ranges were established 26 miles from the camp where rifle, machine gun and artillery training was carried out.

In addition to the 27th Division, the  96th Division trained there, but the war ended before they were trained and they demobilized there on early 1919.

The 15th New York Infantry Regiment, a unit of black soldiers with white officers, later federalized as the 369th Infantry Regiment.  Tension with local population, who had been promised that no black soldiers would train there caused the Army to  rapidly transport the 369th to France where they completed their organizing and training.

They were assigned to the 93rd Division which was made up of other black units.  The regiments of the 93rd Division served in World War I as part of the French Army.

--Cooter

Camp Wadsworth-- Part 2: Named After a Union General and Built In A Hurry

Continued from October 29, 2018.

It was decided that a division of the New York National Guard would train there.

Camp Wadsworth was named for Union Brigadier General James S. Wadsworth, a prominent man from New York and who had been killed in 1864 at the Battle of the Wilderness.  His son, James S. Wadswoth, Jr. was also in the Union Army during that war.  His grandson, James Wolcott Wadsworth Jr, was a U.S. Senator from New York during World War I.

There was a two-month deadline to build the camp.  Starting in mid-July 1917, thousands of civilian workers cleared trees, laid pipes, built roads and temporary structures.

National Guard troops from New York began arriving in August.  Eventually, all units of the New York National Guard's 6th Division were there and were federalized as the U.S. Army's 27th Division.

They departed for France in May 1918.

--Cooter

Another Nurse to the Front in WW I

From the August 29, 2018 MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Miss Zaida  McDole of Elva, who volunteered some weeks ago for service in the nursing department for the American Red Cross, left this noon for Camp Merritt, N.J., where she will probably start in a short tome overseas.

"Miss McDole is a most efficient trained nurse and will be able to do splendid service in  in behalf of our boys at the front who are wounded."

--Cooter

The Factory Goes to the Farm For the War Effort

From the August 8, 2018, MidWeek "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"As another way of showing their patriotism, a crowd of the American Steel & Wire company fellows went out to the farm of L.H. Hopkins last night after work and put in two or three hours in the field.

"A more patriotic aggregation in the city than the steel fellows cannot be found.  They have always gone over the top in any drive that has been instituted here and are now willing to take up labor on a farm after working hours, if it will help win the war."

A serious manpower shortage in agriculture because of World War I.

--Cooter

Pieces of the First Zeppelin Shot Down in France

From the September 19, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Prof. E.C. Page of the Normal school, founder of the Normal  museum of history, received another curio in the shape of two pieces of material cut from  the first Zeppelin that was shot down in France."

World War I.--  CootZep

Canned Fruit for Wounded Soldiers in 1918

From the September 19, 2018, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, IL)  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"A barrel of canned fruit is to be made up by the ladies of Clare and sent to the Wesley hospital for the benefit of wounded soldiers.

"You may bring the fruit any time before the first of October to the home of Mrs. J.A. Daley and exchange it for an empty fruit can."

All For the War Effort.  --Cooter

DeKalb Wagon Co. Goes to the Oats in 1918

From the August 22, 2018, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"As a diversion from the daily routine of factory work and also as a patriotic movement, 20 employees of the DeKalb Wagon company were sent to Cliff Hunt's farm last night after five o'clock and shocked oats until dark.

"Farm help this year is scarce, and farmers who have large fields of small grain have been compelled to send out S.O.S. calls  for men to get bundles shocked."

There was a major problem in agriculture as far as workers because of World War I.

Young Men Away in the Military.  --Cooter

Camp Wadsworth, South Carolina-- Part 1: Mobilizing for WW I

In my last post, I mentioned the call for 2,395 white men from Chicago to go to Camp Wadsworth in South Carolina to train for war.

From Wikipedia.

A World War I training facility located near Spartanburg, S.C..  It was in operation from July 1917 to  March 1919.

As the United States began to expand its army in preparation for entry into the war through a combination of  mobilizing units of the National Guard and drafting men into the wartime National Army it was determined to open 32 centers to train them.

The centers for draftees would have wooden barracks as it would take longer to prepare them.  National Guard centers would use tents and be located in the warmer Southern states because of that.

Cities and towns lobbied to get one of these because of economic reasons.  Spartanburg was successful in their effort.  Newton B. Baker, Secretary of War, and General Leonard  Wood, commander of the Army's Eastern Department visited the area and approved a location there.

--CootCamp

WW I: October 28, 1918: A Call To Chicago For More Troops

From the October 28, 2018, Chicago Sun-Times  "Chicago Daily News: On This Date."  As reported by the Chicago Daily News, sister paper of the Chicago Sun-Times.

OCTOBER 28, 1918, 100 years ago.

**  A call for 2,395 white men for general military service, to entrain for Camp Wadsworth at Spartensburg,  S.C. (Spartanburg)., the five-day period beginning Nov. 11, was received by Adjt. Gen. Dickenson today.

**  Another call directs the entrainment of 465 colored men, beginning Nov. 13, for Camp Grant at Rockford.

**  These calls exhaust the draft availables in all registration lists previous to that of September 12.

--Cooter

Clinton Rosette Glidden-- Part 2: A Glidden Connection

Ancestry lists him as Clinton Rosette Glidden and that he lived from 1897 to 18 July 1919 and died in France.  In this case, he died a year after he was wounded.  I would think it would have been a 1918 death from the wound.

His parents were Varnum Alexander Glidden and Susie Stewart.

These Gliddens were related to Joseph Farwell Glidden of barbed wire fame..  As a matter of fact, Varnum Alexander Glidden names one of his sons Joseph Farwell Glidden.

--Cooter

Clinton Rosette Glidden-- Part 1: WW I Casualty Named After Clinton Rosette

I clicked on the name of Cunton Rossette Glidden and found out that he had died of wounds.

Further research revealed, as I thought, the man's name was Clinton Rosette Glidden.  He was not the son of Joseph Glidden, however, the inventor of barbed wire.  But related.

He was named after Clinton Rosette, 1850-1909 of DeKalb County, Illinois.  He is considered one of the famous people of DeKalb and was the first editor of the DeKalb Chronicle newspaper (still in business). Clinton Rosette was also instrumental in DeKalb getting what is today known as Northern Illinois University.

In 1968, the DeKalb School District named Clinton Rosette Middle School after him.

--Cooter

WW I: October 24 to Nov. 4: The Battle of Vittorio Veneto in Italy

ITALY:  BATTLE OF VITTORIO VENETO

October 24 to November 4, 1918

The U.S. 332nd Infantry Regiment's (83rd Infantry Division) 2nd Battalion defeats Austrians at Gravo di Papdopoli on November 3,

Armistice in Italy is declared on November 4 --  one week before the more famous one in France.

--Cooter

Who Was This Cunton Rossette Glidden From DeKalb County?

Yesterday I wrote about four men from DeKalb County going off to World War I.  I decided to look around the web to see if they survived.  Of course, they were going to a training camp in mid August 1918 so it is unlikely they ever even got out of the United States as the war ended three months later.

But, while I was looking at a list of Gold Star families for DeKalb County in World War I and following wars (in which I did not find their names) I did come across a very famous name in DeKalb, the name Glidden.  Joseph Glidden is credited with being one of the inventors of barbed wire and lived in DeKalb, Illinois.

Before I go on any further, I should say that a Gold Star is given to families of those who give their lives in war.

The name I saw was given as Cunton Rossette Glidden.  I knew there was a Clinton Rosette Middle School in DeKalb (where I  did observation and some teaching while at NIU).

Well, perhaps the Cunton was a misspelling of Clinton and Rossette was actually Rosette.

Got me To Wondering.  --Cooter

I Almost Started Another Blog for World War I

I must admit that I seriously considered starting a new blog for World War I, but didn't.

I even had a name picked out for it, "The War That Didn't End All Wars."  I first considered it on the centennial of its beginning in August 2014 and then again on the centennial of the United States' entry into the war in 1917.

But, I didn't start one.  I have way TOO MANY blogs as it is.  That would have been my eighth blog.

But, I have been writing a lot about World War I in this blog an will continue to do so.

--Cooter

World War I Coming To A Fast End 100 Years Ago

After nearly four years of the most horrific casualties ever in any previous war, maybe altogether, "The War To End All Wars,"  World War I was fast approaching an end now.  The arrival of American troops turned the tide.

There were just 20 days more before the Armistice went into effect on November 11, 1918.

Then, we had the Spanish Flu Pandemic.

--Cooter

DeKalb County, Illinois, Goes to World War I

From the August 1, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"A large number in Ohio Grove attended the farewell party at Cortland in honor of four boys who will leave soon for different training camps.

"Roy Whitman, Lloyd Warber, Harry Selgren, and Fred Housewert are now with the colors."

I looked these names up in DeKalb County war casualties and none were listed.  So, that is good news.

The War Needs Young Men.  --Cooter

WW I, October 18, 1918: Shoulder Patches for AEF

One hundred years ago today.

A "shoulder patch" is authorized for the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF).

Division also create patches.

I found a picture of every army and division insignia patch at the roadstothegreat war-ww1.blogspot site.

I wish I had known about this site earlier.  A good one and much better than my poor little effort.

--Cooter

War Pigeons

From Wikipedia.

Homing pigeons have long played an important role in the military.  Due to their homing ability, speed and ability to fly at high altitudes they were often used a  war messengers.

Carrier pigeons of the Racing Homer breed are especially sought because of their superior abilities.

During both world wars, pigeons were used to carry messages.    When they landed, special wires in the coop would sound a bell or buzzer and a Signal Corps soldier would know a message had arrived.  He would go to the coop and remove the canister from the bird's foot and send the message by  telegraph, field phone or personal messenger to its destination.

The carrier pigeon's job was especially dangerous as enemy troops knew they were carrying an important message and they became major targets.

I have already written about Cher Ami and President Wilson.   Another famous World War I pigeon was the Mocker.

--DaCoot

WW I Hero Pigeon, President Wilson-- Part 3: Both Sides Used Pigeons in WW I

After his death, Wilson was taxidermied and presented to the Smithsonian Institution before being transferred to the custody of the U.S. Army in 2008.  Today he is in the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.

Carrier pigeons were used by both Allied and Central Powers armies during World War I.  They would fly back to their coops bringing important military information.

When they weren't in use. pigeons would be housed in mobile units, often converted  horse carriages or even double-decker buses.

Military carrier pigeons were also used in World War II.  In that war, 32 pigeons were awarded the United Kingdom's Dickin Medal for their heroism.

--Cooter

Another WW I Hero Pigeon, President Wilson-- Part 2

President Wilson was born in France and first assigned to the U.S. Army's newly-formed Tank Corps, delivering messages to tank battalions commanded by Col. George S. Patton in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel.

Soon afterwards, the pigeon was assigned to an infantry unit operating  near Grandpre during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in 1918.

On the morning of October 5, his unit came under fire and Wilson was dispatched with a message that the unit needed artillery support.  During his 25-mile flight to headquarters, German soldiers spotted him and  began firing.  Wilson was hit several times, losing a leg and getting a wound in the chest, but he managed to deliver the message in a record 25 minutes.

He survived his wounds and was retired and sent to the U.S. Army Signal Corps Breeding and Training Center at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, where he would live another eleven years.

--Cootgeon

Another WW I Hero Pigeon, President Wilson-- Part 1

From Oct. 5, 2018, ABC News "Meet the hero carrier pigeon that saved US troops during a WW I battle 100 years ago" Elizabeth McLaughlin.

There is a pigeon on a third floor Pentagon hallway outside the Army Chief of Staff's office.  It is right there with American Revolution bayonets, Civil War uniforms and replicas of Vietnam War helicopters.

And, it looks real because it has been taxidermied and it is missing a leg.

That pigeon's name is President Wilson and he is an unsung hero of World War I where he made a daring flight to save American troops 100 years ago today.

President Wilson was one of many  military carrier pigeons (see the entries on Cher Ami earlier this month)  used in the W.S. Army Signal Corps who delivered messages between commanders and the front lines during the war.  They were especially useful because the technologies of telegraph and telephones were still unreliable.

--Cooter

"Oh, Skinny, Run Like Ev'rything! Car of Watermelons!"

From the July 25, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Oh, Skinny, run like ev'rything!  Car of watermelons!    Such was the cry in the neighborhood of the North Western (railroad), while Corey & Evans men were unloading a big car of the kids' delight.

:"This is among  the first cars of such to be received here, and there was the usual aggregation of little folks hanging around the car, just hoping that one would slop from the hands of the men as they were loading the big truck.

Wonder If Any Watermelons Were Dropped?  --Cooter

Invasion of the Crickets on 1919 (Well, Maybe Crickets)

From the September 5, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Appearance of the hordes of crickets, although many believe they are not crickets,  in  the business area and residential sections of DeKalb earlier this week has caused considerable discussion.

"Although the majority believe that they are crickets many other opinions have been expressed.  Some think they are hemp flies and they have been called many other things, most of them bad.

--Cooter

Cher Ami the Pigeon and WW I Hero-- Part 4: Remembered

To American school children of the 1920s and 1930s, Cher Ami was as well-known as any human World War I heroes.

Cher Ami's body was later mounted by a taxidermist and enshrined at the Smithsonian Institution.  It is currently on display with the body of pitbull Sergeant Stubby in the National Museum of American History's  "Price of Freedom" exhibit.

--CootPigeon

Cher Ami the Pigeon-- Part 3: American Hero and Awards

For this, Cher Ami became a hero of the 77th Division.  Army medics worked to save her life.  They were unable to save it so they carved a small wooden one.  When she had recovered enough to travel, the now one-legged bird was put on a boat back to the United States, with General John J. Pershing seeing her off.

AWARDS

 Cher Ami was given  the Croix de Guerre Medal by the French for delivering 12 messages at Verdun.

She died at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, on June 13, 1919, of the wounds she received.

After that, she was inducted into the Racing Pigeon Hall of Fame in 1931.  She also received a gold medal from the Organized Bodies of American Racing Pigeon Fanciers.

The man responsible for training and caring for her in the U.S. Signal Corps, Enoch Clifford Swain, was given an award for his service.

--Cooter

Cher Ami the Pigeon-- Part 2: Made It To Headquarters

Cher Ami was dispatched with a note written on onion paper, in a canister on her left leg which read:  "We are along the road parallel to 276.4.  Our own artillery is dropping a barrage directly upon us.  For heavens sake stop it."

As Cher Ami tried to fly back home, the Germans saw her rising and  opened fire on her.  After several seconds she was shot down, but was able to rise again and take flight.  She arrived back at her loft at division headquarters 25 miles to the rear in just 25 minutes.  This helped save lives in the Lost Battalion.

She had been shot through the breast, blinded in one eye and had a leg hanging only by a tendon.

--Cooter

The Lost Battalion's Cher Ami-- Part 1: A Very Famous Pigeon

Back on October 6, I mentioned this pigeon saving the men of the Lost Battalion at one point.

From Wikipedia.

Cher Ami is French for "dear friend" in the masculine. who had been donated by pigeon fanciers in Britain to the U.S. Army Signal Corps for use in France.  She is most famous for delivering a message from an encircled battalion despite receiving serious injuries during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in 1918.

On Oct. 3, Major Whittlesey and his battalion (later known as "The Lost Battalion") were trapped and surrounded by German troops.  He sent runners out to alert Allies of his predicament, but every one of them was captured.  Then, he started calling for help via pigeons which he had along with him.

The first two pigeons were shot down and the third got through, but had the wrong coordinates of the battalion which caused the Allies to open a bombardment on them.

This is when Cher Ami flew her famous mission.

--Cooter

Maj. Charles Whittlesey & "Lost Battalion-- Part 3: Jumped Overboard?

Whittlesey's reply was "You go to hell, though he later denied it.  That night, a relief force made its way to the "Lost Battalion."  Of the original 554 troops, 107 had been killed,  63 were missing and 190 wounded.  Only  194 were able to walk out.

Major Whittlesey received a battlefield promotion to lieutenant-colonel and when he returned to the United States, was awarded a Medal of Honor on December 6, 1918.

The "Lost Battalion" was one of the most talked about events of the war and in 1919 the story was made into a movie.  Charles Whittlesey tried to return to his law practice but was in huge demand for speeches, parades and honorary degrees.  It began to wear on him.

In November 1921, he acted as a pallbearer at the burial of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.  A few days later he booked passage on the SS Toloa from New York to Havana.  After dining with the captain on November 26, 1921, he left the smoking room at 11:15 p.m., saying he was retiring for the evening.  He was in seemingly good spirits according to the captain.

Charles Whittlesey was never seen again and presumed to have jumped overboard.  His body was never recovered.  In his cabin, many letters were found addressed to family and friends.  One even provided for his luggage that he brought with him.

--DaCoot

Charles Whittlesey and the "Lost Battalion"-- Part 2: A Plea For A Surrender From the Germans

Charles Whittlesey commanded a battalion of troops numbering 554.  Supporting units on their flanks  failed to keep up and these men found themselves surrounded by Germans.  The following days were perilous for Whittlesey and his men, who were called the "Lost Battalion" by journalists.

Without food or water, they were assaulted time and again by the Germans.

On October 7, the German commander sent a message written in English by way of a blindfolded American they had captured.  It read:

"The suffering of your wounded men can be heard over here in the German lines, and we are appealing to your humane sentiments to stop.   A white flag shown by one of your men will tell us that you agree with these conditions.  Please treat Private Lowell  R. Hollingshead [the bearer]  as an honorable man.  He is quite a soldier.  We envy you.

The German commanding officer."

--Cooter

Major Charles White Whittlesey, Cmdr. of the "Lost Batallion"-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

Jan. 20, 1884--  Presumed dead Nov. 26, 1921.

United States Army officer and recipient of the Medal of Honor.  Led the "Lost Battalion" during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in World War I.

Born in Florence, Wisconsin.  Grew up in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.  Law degree from Harvard Law School.  Established a law firm.

One month after the U.S. entered World War I, he took leave from his partnership and entered the Army as a captain in the 308th Infantry Regiment.  Promoted to major by September 1917.

On the morning of October 2, 1918, his division, the 77th, ordered to move forward against heavily fortified German lines as part of the massive Meuse-Argonne Offensive.

--Cooter

WW I October 8, 1918: Sergeant York's Accomplishment

From the April 2017 VFW Magazine.

This date 100 years ago.

OCTOBER 8, 1918

Sergeant Alvin York, of G Company, 328th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Division, is responsible for the deaths of nine of the 25 Germans killed and captures 132 more single-handedly in the Argonne Forest.

He becomes a huge American hero.

--Cooter

WW I's "Lost Battalion"-- Part 3: Saved By Cher Ami

The American's of the "Lost Battalion" suffered many hardships.    Food was scarce and water was available only by crawling, under fire to a nearby stream.  Ammunition ran low.

At times they even bombarded by Allied artillery.

Every runner sent out by Whittlesey either got lost or was captured by the Germans.  Eventually he had to rely on carrier pigeons.

In one incident on October 4, a carrier pigeon delivered inaccurate instructions, causing a bombardment on their positions by friendly fire.  The unit was saved when another carrier pigeon named Cher Ami got through with this message:

"We are along the road parallel to 276.4.  Our artillery is dropping  a barrage directly on us.  For heavens sake stop it."

Despite this, the "Lost Battalion" held its ground and other Allied units were able to break through German lines, forcing them to retreat and what was left of the "Lost Battalion" saved.

Quite the Story.  --Cooter

WW I's "Lost Battalion"-- Part 2: Became Surrounded By German Troops

On 2 October 1918, they launched an attack into the Argonne under belief that French forces were supporting their left flank and two American units were on their right.  Units of the 77th, including Whittlesey's 1-308th were making significant headway.

Unknown to them, the units on either flank had gotten stalled.  They men who would become known as the "Lost Battalion" continued and soon found themselves surrounded by German troops.

Over the next six days, they and the Allied troops trying to get to them would fight a horrific battle in the Argonne.

There were heavy losses all around.

World War I's "Lost Battalion"-- Part 1: A Really Bad Situation

Yesterday I posted about "The Lost Battalion" and what happened to it 100 years ago.

From Wikipedia.

"The Lost Battalion" is the name given to nine companies of the United States' 77th Division, roughly 554 men, who became isolated by German forces during World War I after an American attack in the Argonne Forest in October 1918.

Roughly 197 were killed in action, another 150 missing and 194 finally rescued.

They were led by Major Charles White Whittlessey, who was given the Medal of Honor for his actions.

--Cooter

A Family Squabble in DeKalb in 1918

From the August 1, 2018, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"The DeKalb police department received a call from the north side and one of the night patrolmen responded to the call..

"Gale Hamilton was working the desk Saturday night, and being a man of details, reported the incident as follows:  "Officer called to the north side, responded and found a family squabble."

Yes, Dear!  --  Cooter

WW I, October 2-9, 1918: Battle of Blanc Mont

OCTOBER 2-9

The 2nd Infantry Division attacks and takes the ridge and village of Etienne after a week's fighting.

The 4th Marine Brigade, part of the division suffers 2,538 casualties.

--Cooter

WW I October 2-7, 1918, "Lost Battalion"

All of these WW I chronologies are from the April 2017 VFW Magazine.

LOST BATTALION

600 Doughboys from the 308th and 307th Infantry Regiments and a platoon of the 306th Machine Gun Battalion of the 77th Infantry Division are decimated at Charlesvaux in the Argonne Forest.

Only 200 remained fit for duty.

--Cooter

USCG Cutter Tampa-- Part 6: Legacy

The loss of the Tampa is commemorated by the U.S. Coast Guard memorial at Arlington National Cemetery and in  the chapel at the Brentwood American cemetery and memorial in Surrey, England.

The Tampa is mentioned in the roll of honor in the second verse of Semper Paratus, the Coast Guard's official march.

On Veterans Day, 11 November 1999, the 111  crew men of the Tampa were posthumously awarded the Purple Heart at Arlington National Cemetery.

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Tampa's sinking, a permanent glass mosaic has been placed to the facade of the Tampa Bay History Center telling the story of the ship and disaster.

USCG Cutter Tampa-- Part 5: Its Sinking With All Hands Lost

During the late afternoon of  26 September 1918, the Tampa parted company with Convoy HG-107 which she had just escorted into the Irish Sea from Gibraltar.  The ship was ordered to Wales and proceeded independently there.

At 1930 that evening, in the Bristol Channel she was spotted by bu UB-91.  The U-boat dove and maneuvered into attack position. and fired one torpedo out of its stern at 2015 at a range of about 550 meters.

Minutes later, it hit the Tampa portside amidships, throwing up a huge column of water.  The cutter sank with all hands.:  111 Coast Guard, 4 U.S. navy and  16 passengers, consisting of  11 British navy personnel and 5 civilians.

A search and rescue operation soon commenced and lasted three days turning up just some wreckage and a single, unidentified body.  Three bodies were later recovered.

USCG Cutter Tampa-- Part 4: Convoy Duty Between Gibraltar and England

The Tampa was then ordered to duty overseas.  On September 29, 1917, the Tampa departed New York in the company of the USS Paducah, USS Hubbard and five French-manned, American-made submarine chasers in tow., reaching Gibraltar  27 October.

War service for the Tampa lasted just eleven months. where she protected convoys from U-boats from Gibraltar to the southern coast of England.  Between  27 October and 31 July 1918,  eighteen convoys were escorted with two ships lost.

--Cooter

USCG Cutter Tampa-- Part 3: Seized An Austrian Ship

On April 6, 1917, after the United States entered World War I, the Tampa was transferred to from the Coast Guard to the Navy.

On the morning of April 9,  crew members of the Tampa and the Tallapoosa boarded the Austrian  steamer Borneo in Hillsboro Bay near Tampa and seized the ship and arrested the crew.  The Borneo was turned over to U.S. officials.

During the next four months, the Tampa received heavier armament by trading her three six pounders for two three-inch cannons, a pair of machine guns and depth charge throwers and racks.

--GreGen

DeKalb a Bad Place to Be in a Nuclear Attack

From the July 11, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1968, 50 Years Ago.

"On an average day, there are about 35,000 people within the city of DeKalb.  If radioactive fallout from a nuclear attack (or from a train or truck accident involving radioactive materials) were to settle in DeKalb only 119 of those people would stand a good chance of surviving.

"The Rice Hotel (148 N. 3rd Street) and the Drs. Smith building (261 East Lincoln Highway) are the only buildings which have been approved by the U.S. Corps of Engineers for shelter space and are stocked."

Very Comforting Thoughts Back Then.  --CootDead

WWI, September 30, 1918: USS Ticonderoga Sunk

SEPTEMBER 30, 1918

The USS Ticonderoga is sunk in the mid-Atlantic by the German submarine U-152, killing 214 men (113 sailors and 101 soldiers).

--Cooter

WW I: Sept. 29, 1918: Frank Luke Earns Medal of Honor

SEPTEMBER 29, 1918

Frank Luke, Jr. is first U.S. pilot to earn a Medal of Honor.

It was awarded posthumously for his 18 kills in 18 days.

--Cooter

WW I Sep. 26-Nov.11: Meuse-Argonne Offensive

SEPTEMBER 26-NOVEMBER 11, 1918

THE MEUSE-ARGONNE OFFENSIVE

Up until then, the largest U.S. field army (1st and 2nd Armies)  ever assembled -- more than 1.2 million men in 23 divisions (or elements of).

The first phase of the offensive ended October 3; Phase 2 October 30.  The final phase was the first eleven days of November.

Sedan is captured.

U.S. casualties:  26,277 KIA and 95,786 WIA in 47 days.

Th End Is Near.  --Cooter

USCG Cutter Tampa-- Part 2: Originally the USRCS Cutter Miami

Commissioned  19 August 1912, 190 feet long, 32.5 feet beam. 70 crew.

From 1912-1917, she mounted three six-pounder guns.  In the Navy she traded those for two 3-inch guns, machine guns and depth charges.

After commissioning, the Miami (original name until renamed the Tampa) served in the Revenue Cutter Service and did duties typical to revenue cutters.  It served on the International Ice Patrol, keeping an eye on icebergs in the North Atlantic, for several tours of duty.

It operated out of several stations as well, including Key West, Tampa and New York City.

On 29 August 1915, the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service and the U.S. Life-Saving Service  were merged to form the present-day U.S. Coast Guard.  A year later the name of the Miami was changed to Tampa.

--Cooter

USCG Cutter Tampa-- Part 1: Served in Revenue Cutter Service, Coast Guard and U.S. Navy.

In the last post, I wrote that today is the 100th anniversary of the sinking of this ship by a torpedo from a German  U-boat during World War I.  I'd never heard of the ship so did some more research.  Of course, good old Wikipedia was the first place I stopped.

United States Coast Guard Cutter Tampa   The ship initially served in the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service, then in the U.S. Coast Guard and finally in the U.S. Navy. Commissioned in 1912, it was used extensively in the International Ice Patrol which monitors icebergs, something founded after the sinking of the Titanic.

Its sinking on September 26, 1918, is regarded by some as the largest American combat loss during World War I.

--DaCoot

WW I Sep. 26, 1918: C.G. Cutter Tampa Sunk

SEPTEMBER 26, 1918

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tampa is torpedoed and sunk in the Bristol Channel, off England.

115 American lives are lost.

--Cooter

Working the Oats in the Field in 1918

From the August 15, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"The employees of the Fourth street bank, Robert McCormick, Frank Fordham and George Hanrahan, put their Thursday half-holiday to the best possible use yesterday when they went to the farm of Martin Mihm, a former employee of the bank, and shocked oats until dark.

"The fellows stated that they had several engagements from now on, and that many chicken suppers, etc., had been offered if they would only put in an appearance for work in the oat field."

Of course, with so many young men at war, there was a big need for help in the fields.

Will Work for Food.  --Cooteat

Hurricane Florence Floods Moores Creek National Battlefield

The recent Hurricane Florence has caused flooding at the Moores Creek National Battlefield near Wilmington, North Carolina.

It flooded Patriots Hall, but the park visitor center and administration buildings are still above the floodwaters.

The park will remain closed until further notice.

--DaCoot

North Korea Returns Remains of 55 Americans Killed in the Korean War

From the July 29, 2018, Chicago Tribune  "Kim's end game remains to be seen" by Eric Talmadge.

North Korea made good on a promise to President Trump by returning 55 sets of apparent remains of U.S. soldiers killed during the Korean War.  But it expects something in return -- a peace treaty, or something much like it.

Friday was the 65th anniversary of the end of the 1950-1953 Korean War , which concluded not in a formal peace treaty but an armistice agreement that was supposed to be temporary but has stayed in effect ever since.

The remains of more than 5,000 American soldiers are believed to be recoverable in North Korea and it is possible that they have gathered hundreds more of the remains

The remains were flown to Hawaii where they will undergo scientific testing to determine if they are human, American or of Allied troops.

A Step In the Right Direction.  Welcome Home.

June 25, 1876 A Real Bad Day for the Custer Family

On June 25, 1876, five members of the Custer family were killed at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, including three brothers, a nephew and a brother-in-law.  Of course, the real famous one was George Armstrong Custer.

I have been doing a lot of research on the family of George Armstrong Custer in my Not So Forgotten War of 1812 blog.  He had a strong connection with veterans of the War of 1812.  Plus, he was from Monroe, Michigan, the site of the infamous River Raisin Massacre during that war.

Plus, two of the Custer family are buried in Woodland Cemetery.

Go to the site by clicking on My Blogs to the right of this to find out what happened June 25, 1876.

Plus, you can find out where George and his brother Tom are buried.

--DaCoot

George Alford, Minuteman and Served Under Washington

From Wikipedia.

Woodland Cemetery, Monroe, Michigan.

I have been doing a lot of research on George A. Custer, his family and the War of 1812 in my Not So Forgotten War of 1812 blog.

I came across this man who is buried in Woodland Cemetery in Monroe, Michigan and he sounds like an interesting story.

George Alford (died 1836)  A Minuteman in the American Revolution and the only known Monroe soldier to have served directly under the command of General George Washington.

--DaCoot

Pistol-Wielding Lady Demands Retractions in the Barber Shop

From the August 1, 2018, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Miss Hortense Cotton, who last Saturday night drove terror into the hears of several fellows in the Lewis barber shop and Lewis himself when she stepped into the business place and demanded certain retractions on the part of Lewis, at the point of a 32-calibre revolver was arrested yesterday.

"The young lady was given a hearing and after the matter had been  threshed out by the officials of the law, the young lady was assessed the fine of $25 and costs, amounting to $33.60, which was promptly paid and the case dismissed."

Wonder what Mr. Lewis had said?

I Sure Would Like To Know the Particulars of This Case.  --Cooter

'Sixteen Candles' House Sells for $1.135 Million

From the July 15, 2018, Chicago Tribune by Bob Goldsborough.

The six-bedroom brick house in northwest Evanston, Illinois, where the 1984 classic teen comedy "Sixteen Candles" was filmed finally sold June 28 for $1.135 million, after two years on and off the market.

The three-story, 3,250-square-foot house is in a neighborhood that has been popular with filmmakers. In "Sixteen Candles" it was the cinematic home of the movie's main character, played by Molly Ringwald, and her family.

Built in 1931, the house has two fireplaces, a media room on the third floor, a new kitchen with a breakfast room and an attached two-car garage.   Outside are a terrace, an outdoor kitchen and a wood-burning fireplace.

Public records do not yet identify the buyers.

Missed Your Chance to Live Somewhere Famous.  --Cooter

'Brady Bunch' House Up for Sale: Marsha Would Not be Happy

From the July 20, 2018, Chicago Tribune.

The home featured in the opening and closing scenes of "The Brady Bunch" is for sale for $1.885 million.

Records show that George and Violet McCallister bought the two-bedroom, three bathroom split-level home in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles in 1973 for $61,000.

The agent says the home attracts 30 to 50 visitors a day.  The owners died and their children are selling the property.

Quite the Markup.  --Cooter

A Detasseling Tale, Part 2: Home Front 1943

From the August 1, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"More than 100 theological students were scheduled to arrive in DeKalb late this afternoon or tonight from Chicago and will be employed as corn detasselers by the DeKalb Agricultural Association.

"The young men ranging in age from sixteen to 25 years of age were secured through the cooperation efforts of the Ag Association and the United States Employment agency."

A Corny Thing To Do.  --Cooter

A Tale of Detasseling in DeKalb County in 1968: $1.25 an Hour Pay

From the July 25, 2018, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1968, 50 Years Ago.

"A sort of 'children's crusade' will hit the cornfields in DeKalb County the next three weeks as the DeKalb Agricultural Association begins its annual summer corn detasseling campaign.

"The operation employs about 1,00 youngsters age14 and older.  With its 26 plants throughout the nation, the DeKalb Agricultural Association is probably the largest employer of children in the country.

"The youngsters get $1.25 an hour to pass up and down the rows of corn and pull the tassel off selected corn.  Close to 9,000 acres are involved in Waterman and Esmond."

Hot, Hard Work for $1.25.  But a McDonald's Hamburger Cost 15 Cents.  --Cooter

12 Fascinating Facts About "WKRP"-- Part 3: Herb's Volkswagen Seat Cover Suit

7.  Herb Tarlek actually did wear a suit made from Volkswagen seat covers.  Of course, those suits Herb wore?

8.  Venus Flytrap was the inspiration for SNL's Ladies Man.  He was SO SMOOTH.

9.  The show was inspired by Harry Chapin's "WOLD" song.

10.  Series creator Hugh Wilson wrote the lyrics to the them,e song.    The show's second theme is at the end and is really just a bunch of spoken gibberish.

11.  An extended version of the theme song became a hit in its own right.  In 1979, Steve Carlisle released it and in 1981 it hit #65 on the Billboard Top 100.

12.  Almost everyone returned for at least a cameo ten years later on "The New WKRP in Cincinnati" in 1991..  Rejoining the cast were Gordon Jump (Mr. Carlson), Richard Sanders (Les Nesman), Howard Hesseman (Dr. Johnny Fever) and Frank Bonner (Herb Tarlek).

Tim Reid (Venus Flytrap) and Lori Anderson (Jennifer Marlowe) made cameos.  Garry Sandy (Andy Travis) and Jan Smithers (Bailey Quarters) did not.

One Really Funny Show.  --Cooter

12 Fascinating Facts 'WKRP In Cincinnati'-- Part 2: Les' Bandages

4.  Les Nessman wears a bandage in every episode because of a real injury in the first episode.  He accidentally cut it but decided to keep it as part of his character.

5.  Blondie donated a Gold Record to the show for helping "Heart of Glass" become a hit.  Acts like U2, Toto, Knack, Cars and Devo all count WKRP as pivotal in launching their careers.

6.  The posters and band stuff you see on the walls were gifts from real DJs.

"As God As My Witness...I Thought Turkeys Could Flt!"  --Cooter

WWW I, September 1918: The Fortunes of War Turn for the Allies

SEPTEMBER 15-OCTOBER 15

Limey Defensive Sector.  U.S. losses 466 Killed in Action, 1,036 Wounded in Action.

SEPTEMBER 16

Italy.  Company E, 332nd Infantry Regiment, goes to the front near the Varage salient along the Piave River.

SEPTEMBER 17

U.S. troops consolidate their Meuse Heights-Moselle River Line by capturing Ronvaux, Monheulles, Pintheville, Haumont and Hatton Charel.

Later, the line stretches from the Forges on the Meuse River to the center of the Argonne Forest.

SEPTEMBER 17- NOVEMBER 11

Puvenell Defensive Sector.  U>S> casualties:  658 Killed in Action, 2.020 Wounded in Action.

--Cooter

WW I: St. Mihiel Offensive September 12-16

The first all-American offensive on the Western Front.

Seventeen U.S. divisions (or elements of divisions) participate.  This was a total of 665,000 men.

This was also the first time that tanks were used by U.S. military, the 1st Tank Brigade.

The offensive also featured the largest aggregation of air support during the war with 600 airplanes and crews.

The Doughboys take the German salient after a 36-hour battle.

15,000 Germans are captured as are 250 artillery pieces.

U.S. casualties, however, were enormous with 1,799 killed in action and 6,885 wounded in action.

--Cooter

12 Fascinating Facts About 'WKRP in Cincinnati'-- Part 1: Characters Based on Real People

From the September 13, 2018, MeTV site.  By the MeTV staff, March 29, 2018.

I have certainly enjoyed watching the reruns of my all-time favorite sitcom over this summer on MeTV.

1.  Andy Travis is based on real program director  "Captain Mikey."  Mikel  Herrington.    Arthur Carlson and Dr. Johnny Fever are also based on actual radio personalities.   Fever is Atlanta DJ "Skinny" Bobby Harper.

2.  Some of the characters were based on series creator Hugh Wilson's family.  Bailey Quarters is based on his wife.

3.  David Cassidy was originally cast as Dr. Johnny Fever.  Cassidy turned it down.  Howard Hesseman originally was called to be Herb Tarlek, but refused to read for anything but Fever.

Beware the Phone Police.  --Cooter

WW I, Sep. 12-13: Only U.S. Cavalry Action In WW I

SEPTEMBER 12-13, 1918  100 Years Ago.

Troops B, D, F and H of the Provisional Squadron, 2nd Cavalry (300 men) are the only American horse soldiers to come under fire -- during the St. Mihiel Offensive.

--Cooter

Remnant of 9/11 in Tinley Park, Illinois-- Part 2

Continued From my RoadDog's RoadLog blog.  You can click on it in the My Blogs section to the right.

The village Fire Department has had a banner created that will be mounted near the beam as a way to honor it and alert people as to its presence.

There were also plans for a mural to be made on the building by its present location, but that was dropped as plans for a more permanent memorial developed.

However, at least in 2016, nothing was done about it.

Come on Tinley Park, do something with it.  You have a real piece of history.  I'm sure we here in Spring Grove,Illinois, would be more than happy to take it off your hands.

Since this article is from Sept. 11, 2016, I was wondering if anything else has been done in Tinley Park since then.  I haven't been able to find that anything has.  But I did find an article about the beam coming to the town and will write about it in my Not So Forgotten War of 1812 blog today.  Click on the site at My Blogs to the right of this post.

Adm. John McCain-- Part 2: World War II Service

Upon commissioning, he took part in the Great White Fleet's voyage around the world, then joined the battleship USS Connecticut.

After that, he was ordered to the Asiatic Squadron and then based at San Diego, California, on the armored cruiser Colorado, patrolling off the Pacific coast of the troubled Mexico.  He was executive and engineering officer on this ship.  His next posting was to the flagship of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, the armored cruiser USS San Diego.

After the United States entered World War I, the San Diego did convoy duty in the Atlantic Ocean escorting troop and supply ships.    The USS San Diego was based out of New York and Halifax.

In may 1918, he transferred to the Bureau of Navigation.  Two months later, the USS San Diego was sunk by a mine placed by a German U-boat off the coast of Long Island.

During the interwar years, McCain advanced  in rank and became a major proponent of naval aviation which had so much impact on the next war.

I'll write about his service in World War II in my Tattooed On Your Soul World War II blog.

--Cooter

Admiral John "Slew" McCain, Sen. McCain's Grandfather-- Part 1

From the United States World War I Centennial Commission  "Remembering the WW I  Service of  John 'Slew' McCain" by Chris Isleib.

The United States recently lost one of its great men, Senator John McCain, who was a naval aviator during the Vietnam War.  But, his family has quite the Navy connection.  His grandfather was Admiral John McCain who fought in both World Wars.

The first John McCain was born in Mississippi and attended the University of Mississippi for two years before deciding to attend the USMA West Point where his brother William Alexander McCain was enrolled.  To practice for his entrance exams, he used the ones given at the USNA and passed them so decided to enter there.

His performance at the Naval Academy were lackluster at best but he graduated in 1906, ranked #79 out of 116 in his class.

--Cooter

Too Hot for Crime in 1918?

From the August 15, 2018, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"There is little to do, day or night at the police station these days, it being either too hot for violations of the city's laws, or else those fellows who are in the habit of getting arrested occasionally have left the city or have turned over a new leaf.

"For the last two nights, the desk sergeant has had nothing to do but sit and read the paper, and try to keep cool, and he said that he wished there was a little work now and then to break the monotony."

Hey, Bad Guys,  Bored Cops.  --Cooter

10 Offensive Things That Once Were Entertainment-- Part 2: Dance-Till-You Drop

5..  Blackface performances in minstrel shows.

4.  Great Depression Dance-Till-You Drop

3.  Pepe Le Pew--  A real sex offender if there ever was one.

2.  TV's Flipper  1964-1967

1.  Music songs such as "Funky Cold Medina" offensive to women.

Personally, I believe many of the so-called rap songs would fall into this category with the use of the racist "N" word, swear words and description of women.

--Cooter

Ten Offensive Things That Once Passed for Entertainment-- Part 1: Original Drive-By Shootings

From the August 13, 2018, ListVerse "10 Offensive Things That Once Passed For Entertainment" by Christopher Dale.

Remember, lots more information at the site.

10.  Poor Tours--  Rich folks touring poor people.

9.  The original drive-by shootings--  In the post-Civil War, people shooting bison from moving trains.

8.  Wild West Shows--  Whites had the valor, Indians were the barbarians.  Sorry Buffalo Bill Cody.

7.  Midget shows

6.  Premature babies

--Cooter