Rube's service in WW1
/By Michael Peck
Happy Veterans Day 2013
I think Dad’s discharge paper contain a clerical error. I hope that this was the only error. The information elsewhere seems accurate. The two page document written in a beautiful flourish of its day by back office clerks (women I suspect) states Dad was a private first class in the “9th Infantry.” It is that fact that started this research. While the 9th Infantry never served overseas in WWI, the 26th Regiment did.
The famous 26th Regiment contained mostly New Englanders and thus became known as the “Yankee Division.” It also was called the “Sacrifice Division” because barely 15 percent survived. From what little Dad ever said to me (or others?) that fact and a few other miscellaneous pieces help complete a little of the puzzle of his war narrative. Therefore, I think an effort at a Veteran’s Day Tribute to our patriarch is in order.
Dad enlisted on April 6, 1917 less than one month after war was declared. The country was alive with patriotism. It is a sad commentary that only war or peace brings such patriotic unanimity.
I am convinced he was wounded in the Second Battle of Marne which is consistent with the date stated in his discharge papers: July 18, 1918. Dad knew a smart-ass like me would connect the dots and wish him happy birthday some day. He turned seventeen years old from a hospital bed. Happy Birthday 96 years later! Our card was lost in the mail.
The battle that I have reasoned ,where he was grievously wounded by a German hand-grenade, is also known as the Marne-Reims Offensive. This was an Allied Initiative starting on July 15 and ending on August 6, 1918. Marne is listed on Dad’s discharge paper. The German defeat here lead to the Armistice roughly 100 days later. Dad fought in the other legendary battles of the Great War. Likewise, they are listed on his discharge papers.
Shelly has the original document and Elaine has his dog tags. I have a decent copy made at a fancy studio. It is hung framed in my “I Love Me” room. The papers show the crease of a tri-fold, which was manner of storing documents in that era. By the way these tri-folded documents were held together with red tape. Hence the expression, when you went to see the company clerk to get your file he might say, “Sorry, I can’t get to that because it is bound up in red tape.”
Dad screwed around with his birth date. You can see how he smudged it up. He wasn’t yet sixteen when he enlisted. (dob 7/24/1901 NYC and enlisted from Bridgeport on 5/2/1917.) I guess he wanted us to not catch a fib.
Dad had a life defining moment during the Great War. He touched the history of his era. He made history for me in my era.
Miss you Dad.
Michael Peck