Honoring the Boys of World War l

Kewaunee County joined Wisconsin counties and individual communities to honor the men of World War 1. Mrs. George Wing summed up the June 1919 event when she wrote from Casco a little over a month later. Mrs. Wing felt it was a “beautiful thing for the county to give its soldier boys.”

On July 1, 1919, Kewaunee County Clerk Joseph G. Lazansky – as a directive from the Kewaunee County Board of Supervisors - wrote to Whitehead & Hoag Co. in Milwaukee thanking the company for contributing to “the grandest day in the history of Kewaunee County.” Lazansky was thrilled. The day devoted to honoring World War l veterans and those who made the supreme sacrifice brought words of praise and admiration from the boys and their parents.

As part of the planning, articles in the Record Herald and the Enterprise told about honor medals and requested names of those who served. Five hundred such medals were presented to the “soldier and sailor boys” at an event witnessed by 6,000 people from all parts of the county. Lazansky's letter said it would be too difficult for him to explain and was sending a copy of the official county paper.

Next-of-kin were presented Gold Star Medals in an impressive ceremony that pleased Colonel Phillip Westphal, Commander of the 121^st Field Artillery and Captain Edward Reynolds, Commander of Co. F. Lazansky wrote that Westphal and Reynolds “who by their  presence honored the boys by whom they are so loved and esteemed.”

As soon residents read about the celebration, responses came pouring in. John Neuzil of Rio Creek, who saw the article in the Record, said he was the father of Herman and John who were each land soldiers. M.W. Burke wrote the next day saying Ensign William D. Burke was in the Merchant Marine and Private Edmund F. Burke was in the Army. Arthur Fenske wrote on May 21 to say Private Hugo Perlewitz, Co. A, 6^th Div., 161 was at 161 Depot Brigade at Camp Grant, Illinois, but that Private Oswald Perlewitz was still “over there” in Co. C, 57 Eng. in Paris, France. Wenzel Tuma wrote from Luxemburg to say he was a Private in Co. M, 103 Reg. Inf. 26^th Div. and was glad to celebrate.

Private Jacob Blahnik and John Edward Koss sent in their own names while, on May 23, Mrs. Fred Wendrickx of R. 2, Casco, asked for two medals, though she did not say for whom. Charles H. Kickbusch said “my boy is still in France,” and requested a medal for him, Private Albert C. Kickbusch, 85C Trans. Corp. Fred Leischow said he served in a dental corp.

Walter Prokash wrote from Waukegon on May 25^th saying he was a Sergeant with 221 Field Signal Battalion and would be at the celebration. Guy Birdsall said he was in the 4^th WI Inf. National Guard in 1917 and landed in France on February 10, 1918. There he served with the 32^nd Division and was promoted to Sgt. 1^st Class. He was discharged on April 23, 1919 following 14 months of duty in France. Pvt. Walter Peter Duchert, 40 Co., 4 Group, said, “as I am one of the boys, I hope to take part that day.” Jacob A. Velicer asked to have his badge mailed and Wenzel A. Spacek just sent his name and address from R. 2, Box 53, Algoma. Pvt. Frank Helebrandt only said he was with 305 Machine Gun Battalion. Pvt. 1^st Class William Holdorf offered little more, just saying he was coming.

John Simonar of R. 1, Luxemburg (Neuren) wrote to say he had two boys. Lawrence did not serve overseas and was at home, though John G. was still in Russia. George Radey said he was coming as did J.E. Pelnar and George Pribyl, who said they were an ex-sailor and an ex-soldier. Paul Ticalsky was attached to Supply 340 Inf. and Luxemburg’s Walter C. Siegmund said he was in the Battle of Argonne. George O. Sullivan was “a boy who would appreciate a bronze Honor Medal though he lived in Kenosha.” He wrote a second time to say he could not attend the event but would still like a medal. Apparently he was employed at The Simmons Co. of Kenosha, as he used the stationery for his R.S.V.P. Henry Ruttner, Edwin Cemyla and Ed Waterstreet lived in Milwaukee. Waterstreet wrote that he was one of a number of Kewaunee boys living in Milwaukee who would be at the celebration. Octaves Bader planned to attend. Bader enlisted on May 31, 1917 and served with 121 1^st Field Artillery, Battery B, 32^nd Div. He wrote that he left Green Bay on July 1, 1917 and, following 8 months training, he sailed for France, arriving in March.  

Joseph Barta of Wyandotte looked forward to receiving a medal, but was unable to attend. Barta served in Puerto Rico as a 1^st Lt., 374 USA Inf. Arthur J. Schwantes sent his R.S.V.P. from Wabeno where he was a part of the Land Clearing Special. He planned to attend, but on August 21, 1919 he wrote from Escanaba saying though he didn’t get to Kewaunee he would like to have his medal. Major T.A. Baumeister submitted his name from Camp Pike, Little Rock, Arkansas. He didn’t make it either.

Bugler George F. Winnekens came from Stangelville. George F. Sekadlo was another bugler who was coming. He wrote that he was “proud of being a soldier in Uncle Sam’s army” and he would be proud of the big day.

Oswald Thibaudeau lived at R. 6, Kewaunee and served in Co. G, 9^th Us Inf. A.E.T. Leonard Thibaudeau lived in Sturgeon Bay and said he was a Kewaunee boy who served in the Navy at Great Lakes, Illinois, and would make the big day. Clarence Toppe and Bernhart Schneider wanted to be recognized, Matt Jerovetz was coming and both Benny H. Jahnke and Edwin J. Jahnke, both of Luxemburg, were pleased to take part. Pvt. Fred A. Graycarek planned to wear his uniform.

Henry Gerlach of R. 4, Box 15, Algoma, sent his son’s name. William H. Gerlach was serving in Co. F, 128 Inf. when he was killed in action on November 10, 1918. Paul G. Stangel’s siblings wrote to say he was in the Navy and had served in 12^th Reg., Co. I of the Hospital Corps. Paul did not make it home. Joseph Koukalik’s mother wrote. Joe was a Franklin man who sacrificed his life and died in a southern camp though his body was returned to Stangelville for burial. Frances H. Bach was with the Portage Red Cross when she asked for a medal for her husband Edward George (Ted) Bach. Ted was with U.S. Base Hospital, Unit 13. Ted’s status was not made clear.

Dr. F. Brunckhorst wrote from Hortonville saying though he enlisted from another county, he was still a “Kewaunee boy.” Brunckhorst felt Kewaunee County had an “enviable record throughout the war and was always ahead of others.”

There were errors. Algoma’s Mayor James McGowan wrote to Lazansky saying Miss Paul had stopped in the office to report that her brother Frank Paul, a resident of the Town of Ahnapee, was in Co. F, 12^th Ammunition Train and did not receive a medal. Miss Paul felt the mayor was probably distributing medals for those not in the county. Mr. Paul was at Faithorn, Michigan at the time. McGowan did indeed pass out additional medals. Two were Gold Stars. Algoma had more Gold Stars than the letters to Lazansky indicated. Ernest Haucke was killed in action at Chateau Thiry, Frank Lidral at St. Mihiel and Ralph Perry in the Argonne. Fred Naze was also killed in action. Fred Schmidt and William Pfluger were both overseas when they died of pneumonia. Frank Jirtle died at the Coast Guard Academy and Edward Hanel, a sailor, died at a rifle range.

Whitehead and Hoag Co. expected errors. When the medals were sent, Lazansky was told that if there was a spelling error, the medal would be remade. If the error was Lazansky’s fault, the county would incur additional costs. More medals were required after the initial order was placed. On June 2, 100 were ordered: 45 were cast without gold stars, 8 were cast with gold stars and there were 47 blanks. There was another order for 10 by July 3^rd. As people continued to learn about the event, more came forward, and on July 17, another 100 were ordered. Included were two 10kt sold gold stars for Roger Moore and Herman Gaulke. Gaulke died at Verdun. In August additional blank bronze medals were ordered, and then in September John Bitzan, then of Milwaukee, said he saw service from September to December 1918 and would like a medal in “rememberance of the war.”

Lazansky let it be known that if men learned about the event too late to respond, they could still receive a medal by leaving their information at the Karsten Hotel. John L. Rataichek, Peter Sconzert, and Victor F. Langer did that. Arthur J. Koller, George A. Lohrey and Herbert F. Brensike said they never received information. Though Edwin and Bernard Jahnke sent their R.S.V.P., they said they didn’t know about the medals.

Charlie Peters used stationery from Luxemburg’s Bach-Kieweg Co. when he he told “Friend Joe” that he regretted not being able to take an “active part in the honoring celebration for the boys.” Peters said that the business houses in Luxemburg were going to close for the day and Lazansky could expect a number of delegates. Peters praised the event and offered his service during the day. Algoma harness maker F.G. Jirtle wrote about his late son, Frank J. Jirtle and also offered his help. Luxemburg's Hector Boncher used his company stationery to say Andrew, Edward and Joseph Bragger were single sons of Henry Bragger and all deserved medals. Andrew served in the Army while the other two were in the Navy.

Looking at the draft lists, it appears that about 1,200 men were eligible for duty. A little more than half that number served in “the war to end all wars.”
 

Information came from Lazansky’s correspondence found at the ARC at UW-Green Bay, Gold Star Mothers by Harry Heidmann and Lester Heidmann, Algoma Printing Co. and the newspapers mentioned. Names are as listed on documents. The World War l postcard is in the author's collection.