WW 1 Training Camps
Fannie L. Cunningham, Nurse, Delaware County, Indiana
Camp Merritt: I shall never forget seeing those thousands of fine boys marching day and night to the boats for service at the front, and knowing that many would never return. After the armistice, Camp Merritt became a debarkation point. such a lot of those poor boys, maimed for life, passed through camp, and the influenza epidemic made things much worse. Hundreds died in camp. To me, war is awful and I did not see the worst if I was not oversees.
Aylmer Everett Hendryx, Captain, Marion County, Indiana
Cited for exemplary service while serving in the Constabulary, Philippines.
I was injured on the 10th day of May, 1918, while assisting in the rescue of men of the 81st Div. in a train wreck at Camp Jackson, South Carolina that occurred on that date. Fracture my left anterior tibia and lower end of patella, resulting in 25% loss of extension.
Promotions: none “Wrong Politics”
Marion Edward Wood, Private, Vanderburg County, Indiana
Co. A, 112 th Ammunition Train, 37 th Div. “I sailed for France on June 28, 1918 from Philadelphia, and was taken sick with measles and taken off the ship Halifax, Nova Scotia on July 2 where I remained in the hospital for 17 days; nine days in Nova Scotia hospital and eight days at the Pine Hill convalescent home and then returned to Hoboken New Jersey for seven days at St. Mary's hospital and sent to Camp Merritt, New Jersey for duty on July 25. On August 19, I was transferred to the detachment of bakers and cooks and remained there until December 11, 1918 was then transferred to Camp Mills, Long Island. There I remained until a few days before I was discharged, going from Camp Merritt and Camp Sherman, Ohio. This is where I received my discharged on March 28, 1918.”
William B. Theising, Goldstar, Decatur County , Indiana
William B. Theising was born in Fugit Township on a farm near St. Maurice on May 23, 1897. He received his education and later farmed on his father's farm at St. Maurice until he was called for service to his country on September 4, 1918. He was sent to Camp Taylor and assigned to 13th Co., 4th Training Batt., 159th Depot Brigade. He was there about three weeks when he got sick and died October 2, 1918, at the age of 21 years, 4 months and 10 days. His corpse arrived at Greensburg, October 4, one month after he left it, on October 7. He was buried with full military honors at St. Maurice Cemetery, St. Maurice, Indiana.
Hans Ivar Christiansen, Wagoner, Grant County, Indiana
What were the effects of camp experience upon yourself?
“Developed a fine spirit of comradeship among the boys. The discipline and training aided in the up building of a stronger body, both mentally and physically.
“The above spirit and training enabled us to endure the great hardships of mind and body.
“War is what Sherman said.”
Prior service 18 months with the Danish Navy. Hospitalized in seven different hospitals in France, reason not listed. Battles: Alsace Loraine, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne.
Ada Moore, Army Student Nurse Corps, White County, Indiana
"Helped care for soldiers returning from France wounded. At Ft. Sheridan, in 1920, 4,300 patients were in the hospital. Walter Reed Hospital had 1000 or more."