World War 1 Casualties G – M

Soldiers’ Memorial, Jones Park, East St. Louis, Illinois

Donated to SCCGS and researched by Tom Pearson and Larry Kritis

Click here for source abbreviations which follow each compilation.

To Introduction and more men.

Researched by Tom Pearson and Larry Kritis

GATES, Walter W. (no information available)

GILL, Frank L. Jr., 24 (04 October 1918)

— Photo on horse
— Son of Mr. & Mrs. Frank Gill of 1819 St. Louis Avenue
— Died in France after wounded, buried at Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Plot E, Row 13, Grave 37
— SERGEANT, US Army, 124th Field Artillery Regiment, 31st Infantry Division
— His last letter home published in newspaper on 22 October 1918,

“Well, dear folks, I was sure glad to get your letters. You ask why I have not written—I have an awfully good excuse. We generally fire every other 48 hours, only stopping long enough to cool off the gun barrel, then the other 48 hours we have nothing to do but put on and take off gas masks, sleep and dodge shells—lots of time to write! I had 48 hours leave and was back in a large city and had an awfully good time, though I was tired out. Managed to enjoy myself at that—trying to talk to and understand French girls. They sure love the American soldiers. I guess I have a dozen fiancées over here, and every one I talk to I tell her after the war I’m going to take her back to America with me. We have an awful time trying to get enough to eat when we are on leave. The French pas comprene—no understand. If you want potatoes you ask for pomnetas; eggs, euffs; bread, lapam; white wine, vin blanc; ham, jom bone. But I manage to get plenty to eat and drink, and I’m pretty good on French now.“I got a letter from Glenn the other day and he says he is going to enlist again. I hope he does and I hope he gets in. I will sure be proud of him if he does, for a guy has only one chance to do something for our grand old flag. I wish I had nine lives, like the cat, to lose fighting for our country and my loved ones so far away from me.
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“But we have our fun. Our war cry is, ‘Heaven, Hell or Hoboken by Xmas!’ and when a big shell is coming the boys holler, ‘Shoot, you devils; you’re faded!’ An aeroplane just flew overhead with two French planes after him. They were sure taking the air! I have not been shot as yet and don’t think I will be for some time. They haven’t even dented my hat. It is made of boiler place, so no chance.

“Well, dear folks, you must be good and write to me often, for I sure like to hear from you. With all my love, your son, FRANK.”

— Enlisted in the 124th more than a year ago
— Formerly worked at the Aluminum Ore Company, name entered on bronze plaque at entrance of main building, memorial service on 19 November at main gate.
(Sources: ABMC; DJESTL)
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GOLIERD, John J., 22 (21 September 1918)

— Son of Mrs. Mary VIZEAU of 915 Cutter Avenue
— Brothers, Alexander and Philipine ALEX; Sisters, Marie VIZEAU and Mrs. Augusta HANDCOCK
— Died of pneumonia in Bethal, France
— PRIVATE, US Army, Artillery
— Enlisted from 1322 Colas Ave; single
— Trained at Camp Douglas, Arizona
— Funeral 1 January 1922, at 2:00 p.m. from family residence of 910A Brady Avenue to St. Mary’s Church, then to Mount Carmel Cemetery; Kurrus has charge.
(Source: DJESTL; SGW)
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GOODWIN, William T., 24 (04 October 1918)

— Son of Mr. & Mrs. Albert. E. GOODWIN of 3825 Forest Place (Alta Sita)
— Killed by exploding shell; single
— PRIVATE, US Army, 124th Field Artillery, Battery F
— Trained at Camp Logan, Houston, Texas
— Enlisted from 2924 Trendley Avenue
— Formerly worked at the Aluminum Ore Company, name entered on bronze plaque at entrance of main building, memorial service on 19 November at main gate.
(Source: DJESTL; SGW)
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GRADY, Willie F., age unknown (25 October 1918)

— Mother, Mrs. Sarah GRADY
— Residence, East St. Louis
— Mortally wounded in France, buried at St. Mihiel American Cemetery, Plot A, Row 10, Grave 31
— PRIVATE, US Army, 805th Pioneer Infantry Regiment
— His mother, of DeKalb, Mississippi went on the Gold Star Mothers’ and Widows’ Pilgrimage in 1930 to see the grave of her son.
(Sources: ABMC; GSMW; SGW)
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GRAY, Russell, 29 (29 October 1918)

— Mother, Mrs. Mary BURRIS of 319 Rock Road
— Half brothers Alex, John BURRIS, half sisters Etta BURRIS, Mrs. Lulu KINART and Mrs. Pear SMALL
— Born 1889, mortally wounded and died in France
— PRIVATE, US Army, 124th Field Artillery, Battery E
— Funeral 14 August 1921 at 2:00 p.m. from Kurrus Chapel to Greenwood Cemetery, Section C.
(Source: DJESTL; SCCGS; SGW)

Griffin, Henry J. (no information available)

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HALLIHAN, William A., 25 (27 September 1918)

— Son of Mr. & Mrs. J. J. HALLIHAN of 917 Baugh Avenue
— Brother of Deputy City Clerk John HALLIHAN
— Killed in action in battle of Argonne Forest
— PRIVATE, US Army, Co. H, 111th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division, buried in Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Plot E, Row 34, Grave 19
— Enlisted May 1918, trained at Camp Gordon, Georgia, sent to France in July
— Prior to enlistment employed as vice-president of the Cahokia Coal Company
— Died same day as friend from a few doors down on Baugh Avenue, Clyde PENDLETON
— In 1919, Major Thomas L. FEKETE of 124th Field Artillery located grave and made sure it was properly marked.
(Sources: ABMC; DJESTL; SGW)
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HARDY, Robert, age unknown (19 March 1919)

— Mother, Mrs. Maggie MCEWAN of 2639 Renshaw Avenue
— Killed at Rovars, France while on guard duty following the signing of the armistice
— WAGONER, Co. B, 303d Ammunition Train
— In 1921 body moved to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Section 5, Site 7476A.
(Source: DJESTL; NCSGL)
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HAWK, Harry, 26 (05 October 1918)

— Parents live in Kane, Illinois
— Youngest brother presently in training camp
— Roomed at home of Mrs. Lizzie CLAYTON for 11 years at 717 North 9th Street
— Killed in action in France, buried in Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Plot A, Row 5, Grave 38
— PRIVATE, US Army, Machine Gun Co., 130th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Division
— Enlisted October 1917, trained in Houston, Texas, shipped overseas in May
— Employed at Armour
(Sources: ABMC; DJESTL; SGW)
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HAYS, Charles J., age unknown (27 October 1918)

— Mother, Mrs. George MISKOE of Donegal, PA
— Residence, East St. Louis
— Death cause unknown, buried in Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Plot A, Row 19, Grave 32
— PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, US Army, Battery E, 124th Field Artillery Regiment, 33rd Infantry Division
— His mother went on the Gold Star Mothers’ and Widows’ Pilgrimage in 1930 to see the grave of her son.
(Source: ABMC; DJESTL; GSMW)
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HAZEL, Norman L., 29 (11 November 1918)

— Wife, Mrs. C. Evelyn HAZEL of 206A North 7th Street
— Mother, Mrs. S.E. HAZEL
— 3 brothers, George, Curtis and Robert HAZEL; 1 sister, Minnie HAZEL
— Formerly of East St. Louis, moved to Memphis, Tennessee prior to service
— Brother, Robert HAZEL of 334 N. 5th Street received news from members of Norman’s company
— Sons Burnett and Everett living with grandmother in Memphis
— Died of lobar pneumonia; wounded while driving a wagon along a road in range of the German artillery, refused to go to base hospital but went to first aid station to be ‘patched up’ and go back to the front lines to ‘carry on.’
— Thomas O’BRIEN, a member of the East St. Louis police department with him when he died
— In a letter to his children he said that the war would be over before Christmas and he would be home to help trim their Christmas tree.
— PRIVATE, Co. E, 146th Infantry
— Enlisted with the 303rd Ammunition Train in June 1917
— He was a member of the East St. Louis Lodge of Odd Fellows
— Formerly worked for Aluminum Ore
— Funeral 23 October 1921, 2:00 p.m. at the Helvetia Lodge No. 480 of International Order of Odd Fellows hall (7th & St. Louis Avenue) band and drum corps marching; burial in Mt. Hope Cemetery, the pallbearers and firing squad from 124th Field Artillery Post of the American Legion, Linder has charge.
(Source: DJESTL)
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HERMAN, John W., 26 (03 October 1918)

— Stepfather, Raymond CAMPBELL, Mother Mrs. Ellen CAMPBELL of 910 Goodrich Street
— Born 26 January 1892, died of pneumonia in France; single
— PRIVATE, US Army, Battery E, 6th Field Artillery, 1st Division
— Enlisted in May 1917, arrived in France in August 1918
— Trained at Douglas, Arizona
— Body returned in 1921 and buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Section 5, Site 7488A.
(Sources: DJESTL; NCSGL; SGW).

HESTER, Oscar, age unknown (27 October 1918)

— Lived at 1934 Trendley Avenue
— Died of disease and buried in Oisne-Aisne American Cemetery, Plot A, Row 33, Grave 12
— PRIVATE, US Army, 4th Pioneer Infantry Regiment.
(Sources: ABMC; DJESTL; SGW)
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HICE, Benjamin F., age unknown (22 June 1918)

— Father listed as from Chucky, Tennessee
— Fiancée, Miss La Vina DONALDSON of 519 North 12th Street, a teacher in the Franklyn School, came from Carlyle, Illinois
— Died at Base Hospital in France
— Enlisted from 1020A Illinois Avenue where he lived the last 7 years
— US Army, 128th Field Artillery
— Served on the Mexican border with the St. Louis Guards, sent to Ft. Sill, Oklahoma October 1917, then to France in May
— Employed by the Illinois Central Railroad
(Sources: DJESTL)

HILLIARD, William, age unknown (date of death unknown)

–Private, US Army, 124th Field Artillery, Battery F
(Source: Peace Edition, DJESTL 8 June 1919, Casualties of the 124th)

HIRBE, Charles, 23 (05 October 1918)

— Lived with brother, Eddie HIRBE and sister-in-law, Mrs. Eddie HIRBE (nee LINK) of 2726 Market Avenue
— Was 21 yrs old in 1910 census, born IL, died of Spanish Influenza at Camp Grant (was training there for one month)
— Funeral at residence then to Mt. Carmel (Walsh in charge) on 10 October 1918.
— Formerly employed as laborer.
(Source: DJESTL; FC1900)
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HODGES, James (no information available)

HOWELL, Richard C., 20 (08 October 1918)

— Single, parents dead, 20 North Main Street
— Sister, Mrs. Lena DWYER at 101 N. Main Street
— Killed in action when shell struck mess tent (see BUXTON)
— PRIVATE, US Army, Battery F, 124th Field Artillery, Argonne Forest, near Verdun
— Enlisted from 101 North Main Street with Field Artillery, trained at Camp Logan, Texas.
(Source: DJESTL; SGW)
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HURST, Peter E. Jr., 19 (07 October 1918)

— Son of Mr. & Mrs. Peter E. Hurst of 1321 North 14th Street
— Brother SERGEANT Louis W. HURST with him at death
— Killed in action and buried in Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Plot E, Row 4, Grave 37
— WAGONER, US Army, Battery F, 124th Field Artillery Regiment, 33rd Infantry Division
— Formerly employed with Fellner-Crow.
(Sources: ABMC; DJESTL; SGW)

JOHNSON, George A. (no information available)

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KAEMMERER, George, 31 (29 September 1918)

— Sister, Mrs. Joseph FRIESZ of 520 N. 26th Street
— Killed in action
— Original telegram from the War Department informing of death lost (sent to another address), news came from English girl named Miss Ethel M. DAY who KAEMMERER knew when in training, she hear through a letter from one of his comrades who found his body on the battlefield
— PRIVATE, US Army at 1008 Delmar Avenue
— Enlisted from Camp Taylor with a friend, PRIVATE Max SUMNER, they both went through Tank Service training together in England and went into battle together in France. They were both killed the same day
— Previously employed by the Aluminum Ore Company.
(Source: DJESTL; SGW)

KARWELAT, Heinrich J., age unknown (07 October 1918)

— Residence, East St. Louis
— Date of Death (missing in action), Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Tablets of the Missing
— PRIVATE, US Army, 2nd Engineer Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division.
(Source: ABMC)
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KILKEARY, William P., 23 (03 November 1918)

— Father, Patrick, Mother, Mary (died 24 September 1918) of 429 North 8th Street
— Brother, SERGEANT Edward KILKEARY in Officers’ Training Camp, Camp Gordon, Georgia; sister Miss Elizabeth KILKEARY
— Family resided in Macon County, Decatur, 1st Ward
— 16 yrs old in 1910 census, born IL, gassed 10 August in France, died of pneumonia in the Base Hospital
— PRIVATE, US Army, 131st Infantry; captured 5 Hun prisoners
— Enlisted August 1917
— Sister received news from Red Cross nurse.
(Sources: DJESTL; SGW; FC1910)
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KIRBY, Herschel A., 19 (11 September 1918)

— Son of Mrs. Viola KIRBY (formerly of Prospect Park, now in Littles, Indiana)
— Younger brother, Roy is stationed at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station
— Killed by a fall (accidental) from a train in France
— PRIVATE, US Army, 60th Artillery, Battery B,
— Enlisted at Jefferson Barracks in April 1917, lived at Edgemont Station
— Trained at Fortress Monroe in coast defense, went to France in March where he finished his course in wireless telegraphy.
(Source: DJESTL; SGW)
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KIRCHOFF, Edward M., age unknown (28 September 1918)

— Residence, East St. Louis
— MECHANIC, US Army, 138th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division
— Date of Death (missing in action), buried in Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Tablets of the Missing.
(Source: ABMC)

KLEBER, James “Hank,” 27, (13 October 1918)

— Son of Mr. & Mrs. John KLEBER of 1718 Illinois Avenue
— Engaged to Miss Clara ROHM
— Died of pneumonia at Ft. Bliss, Texas
— CORPORAL, Army, 314 Cavalry, Troop B
— Enlisted last May
— Employed by B. Goedde Lumber Company for 10 years
— Body to be shipped to Carlyle, Illinois
(Source: DJESTL)
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KLEE, Conrad, age unknown (05 November 1918)

— Residence, East St. Louis
— Died of disease, buried at Walnut Hill Cemetery, Belleville
— PRIVATE, US Army, Field Hospital Co 40, 6th Sn. Tn, 6th Division
— (Sources: IRH-1929; ROH; SGW) vol. 2, page 471

LAWLER, Lawrence, 25 (date of death unknown)

— Wife, Zelma Clara LAWLER
— Parents live on St. Clair Avenue
— 2 brothers, 2 sisters
— Died in hospital due to backfired cartridge accident in teaching soldiers how to shoot
— SERGEANT MAJOR, US Army, stationed at Monroe, Virginia
— Enlisted in Army at 16, retired to civilian life after 3 enlistments, recalled
— Body shipped to East St. Louis, military funeral arrangements made by father-in-law, A. L. RHYMER of 721 North 7th Street
(Source: DJESTL)
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LEDBETTER, Artie O., age unknown (01 March 1918)

— Residence, East St. Louis
— Cause of death unknown, buried in Suresne American Cemetery, Plot B, Row 1, Grave 33
— PRIVATE, US Army, 12th Engineer Regiment.
(Source: ABMC)

LENCE, Loren, 28 (07 November 1918)

— Cousin Charles HOLMAN of 508 Converse Avenue
— Divorced wife and son live in Amstead, Illinois
— Cause of death unknown, buried in Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Plot G, Row 1, Grave 14
— CORPORAL, US Army, Co. K, 335th Infantry, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
— Trained at Camp Taylor in February.
(Sources: ABMC; DJESTL; SGW)
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LONGUST, Henry W., 29 (19 October 1918)

— Photo
— Father, Harry W., Mother, Rose (nee Weick) of 1455 St. Louis Avenue, 5th Ward
— Sister, Mrs. Herman HOHLT of 1607 State Street
— William was 20 yrs old in 1910 census, born IL, died of pneumonia at Alexander Park Hospital, Southport, England, buried 21 October 1918 in the Southern Cemetery, Manchester, England
— PRIVATE, US Army, Co. B, 137th Machine Gun Battalion, 38th Division
— Left for France 6 October 1918, died before reaching port
— Letter from Private Alfred FREDERICH (brother of Mr. Herman HOHLT) from Rollingen, Luxembourg on 17 January 1918:

“Received your letter of December 3 a few days ago and while I was very glad to hear from you, I was sorry to hear of the death of your brother. Please accept my sincerest and heartfelt sympathy upon your bereavement.But I am sure he died as a hero should—for God and his country he gave his life—could anyone ask for a greater sacrifice? While he never saw the field of battle he nevertheless faced the great unknown and passed away in the great cause for which we struggled and, thank God, won.

I did not know him personally, but I have no hesitation in saying that he did not fear to die for a cause so great. Our boys aren’t the kind that fear death, and he was one of them, an American.

While I was not acquainted with him, I can nevertheless feel the great loss that his death has caused to his parents, relations and friends. My heart weeps with yours and goes out with deepest regret and sympathy to his parents.

I’ve seen boys at the time when some devilish Hun contrivance laid them low—wounded; I’ve seen them lying on the field, dead, that Liberty might live, and I thank God that you brother died before he got on the field and faced the bullets, shells, and gases of the Huns.

And the fact that he never faced the enemy doesn’t make him a bit less a hero, as those who were fighting bravely. He gave all he had—he offered his life as a sacrifice on the altar of freedom—he made the supreme sacrifice for his God—that France, her Allies, and good old U. S. A. might live. Could any man do more? No matter what might have gone before, he died a hero and the State and Nation can well look to him with pride.

I’m afraid I will not be able to do as you ask in regard to my visiting his grave. You see I am up in Luxemburg with the Army of Occupation and am due for four or five months more of service in Europe. Then we’ll go direct to a port of embarkation, and sail for home. I’m very sorry that I cannot do as you ask, but I may help a little. The enclosed clipping from a magazine will no doubt be of great service to you if you simply follow the directions.

But I must close, asking you again to accept my deepest sympathy and extend the same to your parents, I am, sincerely,
Your brother,
PRVT. ALFRED L. FREDERICH

— Trained at Sweeney Auto School, Kansas City and at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, then to the 137th
— Employed by I. C. Railroad and a city supervisor, Lumber dealer
— Body returned to East St. Louis and funeral 17 October 1920 at 1 p.m., from family home to Masonic Temple, then to Mount Hope Cemetery. Kurrus has charge.
(Sources: DJESTL; FC1910; SGW)

LOVE, Henry, 19 (10 November 1918)

[note: This abstract was updated July 2006]

— Mother, Mrs. Anna B. LOVE of Trenton, Illinois; brother Joseph LOVE of O’Fallon,
— Grandfather, Henry OBERNEFEMANN of O’Fallon
— Aunt and uncle, Mr. & Mrs. Edward HARTER of O’Fallon
— Born in Ridge Prairie 27 July 1898
— Residence in O’Fallon, Illinois
— Last employed at Willard’s foundry and earlier at the East St. Louis and Suburban Railway Co.
— Wounded in action in France, found with 3 other Americans in a cluster of bushes where they had taken refuge from machine gun fire.
— Died at Base Hospital
— PRIVATE, US Army, Co. E, 130 Infantry
— Enlisted 27 July 1917 in National Guard and sent to Camp Logan, Texas for training.
— Transferred to the 130th Infantry when the Guard was federalized and sent to Camp Merritt, N.J
— Went overseas in June 1918
— Body brought back to grandfather’s house in O’Fallon
— Military funeral on 1 August 1921, at St. Clare’s Catholic Church of O’Fallon, Mass by Rev. Fr. POWELL of St. Clare, Rev. Fr.

GOELZHAUR of Trenton and Rev. Fr. HAEFFNER of Lebanon..

— Burial at St. Clare’s Cemetery
— Photo in O’Fallon Progress
(Source: SGW: O’Fallon Progress)
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LYNCH, Joseph T. , 24 (27 September 1918)

— Son of Mr. & Mrs. Anthony T. LYNCH of Ava, Illinois
— Killed in action in Argonne Forest; single
— CORPORAL, US Army, Co B, 137th Infantry
— Enlisted from 1224 Cleveland Avenue in Motor Supply Co.
— Trained at Camp Doniphan
— Brother-in-Law T. W. JENNINGS (of the Jennings and Sullivan Rubber Co., 11th and Illinois) wrote to LYNCH’s officer, Lieutenant G. E. VINING, about circumstances of death and received a letter saying that he was unable give detail because of severe fighting at the time. Part of the letter was published in the newspaper.

“In July, Corp. Jos. T. Lynch by his request was transferred from 110th M. S. T. to Co. B, 137th Inf. On September 27th we lay in shell holes all day on the edge of the Argonne Forest. We were subjected to grilling artillery fire from the enemy, and during the afternoon Joseph met his death from the burst of a shell. He died instantly and knew no suffering. You realize that during an advance like the Argonne drive the dead are left for the burial parties who follow the drive. I had his body wrapped in a blanked and in a short time after he was hit we moved forward in a fierce attack. I am unable to say whether he was buried where he fell or moved to some burial ground. You may get this information if you will direct a request to the Graves Registration Service.“During the time I knew Joseph, he was a true soldier and gave exemplary service to his country, the highest and most noble service a man can give. I may give you some consolation to know that though his body is buried in a foreign country, he soul has been transported to a better place where he can wait for his loved ones.

“A sincere friend,
1ST. LIEUT. G. E. VINING, Co. B, 137th Inf.”

(Source: DJESTL)

MACE, Homer I., 23 (02 October 1918)

— Son of Mrs. Abbie MACE of 827A North 8th Street
— Died at base hospital at Camp Merrit, New Jersey; in hospital at Camp Dix from attack of poisoning when 303rd A. T. went overseas, then transferred to Camp Merrit where he became sick again; Uncle, DeWitt IRVIN, went to see him at base hospital and was with him when he died
— PRIVATE, U. S. Army, 303rd Ammunition Train, Co. F
— Enlisted with 124th Field Artillery
— Trained at Springfield and Camp Logan, Texas
— Honorably discharged and came home last Thanksgiving
— Drafted last April and went to Camp Dix, New Jersey
— Employed at National Stockyards as inspector
— Funeral at residence on 6 October 1918, then to Mt. Hope cemetery, Walsh in charge.
(Source: DJESTL; IRH1929, vol. 2, page 678)
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MACURDY, William V. (no information available)

MANESS, Ray J. (no information available)

MCCUTCHEON, Ralph, 31 (October 1918)

— Oldest son of Mrs. Anna MCCUTCHEON of 514A North 14th Street
— 4 brothers (Frank, Donald, Earl, Arthur (overseas)) and 1 sister, Florence
— Died of bronchial pneumonia at Camp Taylor
— PRIVATE, U. S. Army
— Funeral on 10 October 1918 at home, Burke has charge.
(Source: DJESTL)

MILES, James E., 28 (15 November 1918)

— Son of Mr. & Mrs. Oscar MILES of Prospect Park, East St. Louis
— Brother, Oscar, in France
— 3 sisters, Mrs. John BACH of Calhoun County, Illinois, Leotta and Eunice
— Born 23 Jan 1890, died at Camp Sheridan, Chicago of pneumonia
— PRIVATE, US Army, Auto Corps, Motor Transport service
— Enlisted in army a few weeks ago
— Employed at State Street Garage
— Body taken to parents house, military funeral service 19 November 2:00 p.m., burial in Greenwood Cemetery, Section A. Brenner-Brichler have charge.
(Source: DJESTL, SCCGSQ)
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MOSER, Milton C., 26 (10 October 1918)

— Father, Frank, Mother Nora of 210 Missouri Avenue
— Milton was 9 yrs old in 1910 census, born IL, became ill during trip and died one week later of disease in France; family resided in St. Clair County, Shiloh Valley Twp
— PRIVATE, US Army, Co. G, 4th Infantry Regiment
— Stationed at Camp McArthur, Texas for several months before leaving for France
— Body returned to East St. Louis, 29 September 1920, funeral 1 October at St. Patrick’s Church and burial at Holy Cross Cemetery.
(Sources: DJESTL; FC1910; SGW)
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MUCHNECK, Abe, age unknown (03 September 1918)

— Son of Mr. & Mrs. A. MUCHNECK of 1563 St. Clair Avenue
— Killed in action in France
— PRIVATE, US Army, Co A, 341st Machine Gun Company
— Last letter to home written by MUCHNECK on 17 August 1918 published in newspaper

“Dearest Folks,
Received a letter dated June 27th about 10 days ago, which was just before we left for the trenches and was going to answer it while there, but never got so I could write a letter, although I had started one several times.We were in the trenches and just got back last night and are here in a town several miles from where the trenches are. These trenches that we were in were support trenches in what was called a quiet sector, but it surely got lively sometimes. All we had to look out for was artillery fire or artillery duels and gas attacks, the latter was the most trouble to use, as we had to get up at all hours of the night to put on our gas masks when the alarm was sounded, all of which fortunately happened to be false alarms; but the effects of the gas is so serious and it acts so quick we put on our masks first and then investigate, finding no gas we would take them off.

Previous to our entry in these same trenches there was a gas attack with quite a few casualties, so we were extremely careful that we would not get the same dose.

It was quite interesting at times while we were there, the screech and whining of big shells, over our head the bursting of shrapnel all around us, aeroplanes whizzing over head and every evening aerial maneuvers and a battle between ours and the Hun planes. At night we could hear many planes over head on their way to raid some town, and search lights playing over the heavens, signal lights and very bright lights, turning night into day for a minute in No Man’s Land.

We were very fortunate, as our company did not have a single casualty on our first trick in, although there were several close shaves to some of the men, one shell bursting through the roof of a dugout where there were some of the men’s quarters, but it didn’t explode.

All of our quarters were in dugouts in the ground. We had bunks and it wasn’t so bad, except that we didn’t have our clothes off the whole time, and rats and vermin were quite plentiful.

I don’t know how long we stay here for our rest. We are entitled to 10 days rest, but I hear that it will only be for a few days and will be moved to an active part of the front.

I don’t know of anything more to write you, so will close, with love to all, Mamma, Minnie, Dave and Sarah.

Your loving ABE.
Prvt. Abe MUCHNECK, Co. A., 341 Machine Gun Bri., American Expedition Forces.
A. P. O. 761.”

(Source: DJESTL; SGW)
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MUFFA, Nick, age unknown (12 October 1918)

— Residence, East St. Louis
— Killed in action
— PRIVATE, US Army, Co D, 61st Infantry Regiment, 5th Division
— Buried in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Section WH EU, Site 4106 .
(Source: NCSGL; SGW)
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MURRAY, Rheuma (no information available)

---

Sources:

AMBC: American Battle Monuments Commission https://www.abmc.gov/

DJESTL: Daily Journal, East St. Louis, Illinois. The Belleville Public Library, 121 East Washington Street, Belleville, Illinois, has all issues of this newspaper on microfilm. Photocopies may be arranged for a small fee.

FC1910: US Federal Census for 1910 (men who resided in East St. Louis in 1910 may be found on National Archives microfilm Series T624, St. Clair County, Illinois, reel 322. Widely available in major libraries, on interlibrary loan, and online at commercial web sites.)

GSMW: Pilgrimage for the Mothers and Widows of Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines of the American Forces Now Interred in the Cemeteries of Europe as Provided by the Act of Congress of March 2, 1929. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 1930. Y1.1/2:9225

An index to Pilgrimage for the Mothers . . . , which includes some of the information from the printed volume, is available on the Ancestry.com web site (fee based). There are two informative articles on the pilgrimage of the Gold Star Mothers and Widows on the National Archives web site: World War I Gold Star Mother’s Pilgrimages, part 1 and part  2

IRH1929: 1929 Illinois Roll of Honor

NCSGL: National Cemetery System Gravesite Locator
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ROH: Roll of Honor, Burial Places of Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Army Nurses of All Wars of the United States Buried in the State of Illinois, 2 volumes, Springfield 1929.

SCCGSQ: St. Clair County Genealogical Society Quarterly

SGW: Hauslee, W. M., F. G. Howe, & A.C. Doyle. Soldiers of the Great War. Washington, DC: Soldiers Record Publishing Association, 1920 (Illinois soldiers in volume I). 940.91 SOLDIERS
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