world war i
the men who fought
first, a list of men who registered, from an edition of
the table rock argus
Editor's note: Through an oversight, we did not notate the edition from which this came. The Argus digital copies are not indexed so we have left the list without a date. It's probably from 1917.
A reference to the 89th Division, 355th Infantry, is called for. As described by James Olson in his book "The History of Nebraska," the 355th Infantry was a significant unit; in France during World War I, the 355th was known as "Nebraska's Own." The 89th Division, most assigned to the 355th, was known as the "Fighting Farmers" and respected for their ability to do with the physical hardships of the war as well as their courage. Table Rock residents including Harry Madden and Bill Vondrasek both belonged to the 89th Division and were assigned to the 355th Infantry.
died in the service of their country
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7 lost their lives.
Ralph Aaron Bennington (1889 – 1918) , died of fatal lung damage after being gassed. Herman Brauer (died in 1925 following years of "shell shock," known today as PTSD) Hugh DeHart (1891-1918) died in World War I.John L. Brown died died in the service while stateside pneumonia. Ralph Fisher, also died in 1918 as a soldier died of meningits, a complication of the Spanish flu while aboard a hospital ship Merrin Hays died in 1919 of the consequences of gassed. John Michal, “Died of accident.” Hugh DeHart (1891 – 1918), died in combat attempting to save an officer Charles N. Schick |
others who served
foy brown
joe cochran
jay dow
emil goodenkauf
Emil Goodenkauf with parents Nick and Mary. Thanks to Sandi Knippelmeyer for this family picture!
harry madden
Harry Madden on the left, don't know who he is with. Kim Vrtiska shared this one.
December 12, 1957 Argus
At a reunion of the 355th, Harry Madden is front row, third from the left. Photo donated by Ines Madden.
william glen (glen) mettlin
Awarded the french croix de guerre for bravery
Glen Mettlen high school graduation picture, Table Rock Class of 1916.
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From the 1919 Cornhusker Yearbook (University of Nebraska). The yearbook contained a section of students who were serving overseas.
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July 26, 1917
October 25, 1918
November 3, 1919 Lincoln Evening Journal. The same article appeared in the Lincoln Journal Star, same date.
Glen's parent were William and Edith Kaufman Mettlen.
Glen graduated from Table Rock with the Class of 1916. His classmates were Ida Branek, Lulu Colling Quigley, Lester Fellers, Marvin Kent, Elsie Shawhan Gleason, Matilda Shawhan Gleason, Esther Stover, and Victor Stover.
The following information was posted on his Findagrave memorial at https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=146522884:
Glen served in the US Army during WWI. He enlisted on April 30th, 1917 while he was attending college at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.
He served in Company M, 16th Infantry, 1st Division. He was the first of the soldiers to sail for France with General "Black Jack" Pershing.
He was wounded on May 30th, 1918 in Villiers. He was again wounded on July 18th in the battle of Villiers at Cotteret Forest. He was severely wounded the second time by a high explosive shell striking his right arm and hip. He was in the hospital until October 15th, when he again rejoined his company.
He married Marie Josephine Griess and they had a son William S. Mettlen.
After WWI, Glen worked as a yardmaster for the railroads for many years.
All of the Mettlen Family are buried in the same Masonic lot lot at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Omaha.
Glen graduated from Table Rock with the Class of 1916. His classmates were Ida Branek, Lulu Colling Quigley, Lester Fellers, Marvin Kent, Elsie Shawhan Gleason, Matilda Shawhan Gleason, Esther Stover, and Victor Stover.
The following information was posted on his Findagrave memorial at https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=146522884:
Glen served in the US Army during WWI. He enlisted on April 30th, 1917 while he was attending college at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.
He served in Company M, 16th Infantry, 1st Division. He was the first of the soldiers to sail for France with General "Black Jack" Pershing.
He was wounded on May 30th, 1918 in Villiers. He was again wounded on July 18th in the battle of Villiers at Cotteret Forest. He was severely wounded the second time by a high explosive shell striking his right arm and hip. He was in the hospital until October 15th, when he again rejoined his company.
He married Marie Josephine Griess and they had a son William S. Mettlen.
After WWI, Glen worked as a yardmaster for the railroads for many years.
All of the Mettlen Family are buried in the same Masonic lot lot at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Omaha.
A couple of other items about Glen Mettlen relating to his high school years in Table Rock:
March 10, 1913 Lincoln Star. Charles Wood also served in World War I and thereafter lived a long life, dying in 1961 at the age of 66. Charles Wood's sister Emma Wood Cunningham was taught at Table Rock for many years. Lowrain McCrea became a doctor in Philadelphia and also lived a long life.
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May 22, 1916 Lincoln Star
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ROY FRANCIS MUNDELL
a ww I veteran "with overseas duty"
His obituary as it appeared in the Argus:
KANSAS
WAGONER SUP. CO. 334 FLD. ARTY.
WORLD WAR I VETERAN
(Posted courtesy of the Table Rock Historical Society.)
TABLE ROCK ARGUS, Table Rock, Nebr. March 11, 1965. (pg.1)
MUNDELL FUNERAL TO BE HELD FRIDAY
Funeral services will be held from the Wherry Chapel in Table Rock, Friday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. for Roy Francis Mundell, 69, who was accidentally killed Monday at Columbus.
Services will be officiated by Rev. Harvey Richardson, and interment will be in the Table Rock Cemetery.
OBITUARY-
Roy Francis Mundell, 69, of Columbus, Kansas, was accidentally killed Monday afternoon, March 8th, when a side section of a building he was razing fell and crushed him while he was working at a farm northeast of Columbus.
Mr. Mundell was born Mach 5, 1896 at Lucas, Iowa, the son of Frank and Elnora Wiley Mundell. He made his home in Nebraska before moving to Columbus in 1951. He followed highway construction work and was a concrete form setter. He was a veteran of World War I with overseas duty.
Survivors are his wife, Mrs. Jenna Mae Mundell of the home; six sisters, Mrs. Jennie Baker of York, Nebr., Mrs. Grace Jacobs of Lincoln, Nebr., Mrs. Bonnie Terry of Cupertino, Calif., Mrs. Marie Shaffer of Campbell, Calif., Mrs. Myrtle Ready of San Jose, Calif., Mrs. Rena Reichmuth of Nebraska; and two brothers, Ray Mundell of Salensborg, Kansas, and Warren Mundell of Calif.
NOTE: The birth date of his mother and his birth date, would make her only 11 when he was born.
KANSAS
WAGONER SUP. CO. 334 FLD. ARTY.
WORLD WAR I VETERAN
(Posted courtesy of the Table Rock Historical Society.)
TABLE ROCK ARGUS, Table Rock, Nebr. March 11, 1965. (pg.1)
MUNDELL FUNERAL TO BE HELD FRIDAY
Funeral services will be held from the Wherry Chapel in Table Rock, Friday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. for Roy Francis Mundell, 69, who was accidentally killed Monday at Columbus.
Services will be officiated by Rev. Harvey Richardson, and interment will be in the Table Rock Cemetery.
OBITUARY-
Roy Francis Mundell, 69, of Columbus, Kansas, was accidentally killed Monday afternoon, March 8th, when a side section of a building he was razing fell and crushed him while he was working at a farm northeast of Columbus.
Mr. Mundell was born Mach 5, 1896 at Lucas, Iowa, the son of Frank and Elnora Wiley Mundell. He made his home in Nebraska before moving to Columbus in 1951. He followed highway construction work and was a concrete form setter. He was a veteran of World War I with overseas duty.
Survivors are his wife, Mrs. Jenna Mae Mundell of the home; six sisters, Mrs. Jennie Baker of York, Nebr., Mrs. Grace Jacobs of Lincoln, Nebr., Mrs. Bonnie Terry of Cupertino, Calif., Mrs. Marie Shaffer of Campbell, Calif., Mrs. Myrtle Ready of San Jose, Calif., Mrs. Rena Reichmuth of Nebraska; and two brothers, Ray Mundell of Salensborg, Kansas, and Warren Mundell of Calif.
NOTE: The birth date of his mother and his birth date, would make her only 11 when he was born.
william (bill) vondrasek
In 1915, the year he graduated, he worked at the Hylton Drug Store. Here he is.
According to his obituary, he was a soldier who served in the 355th Infantry, 89th Division, in France and Germany. Here are two letters to his sister Emma Goodenkauf that were published in the December 6, 1918 Argus. In one, he says he can't write letters home "when we are the front because we have plenty of other things to do, like dodging shrapnel, etc. Ha ha." "I suppose the folks are ready to husk corn. I sure wish I was there to help, but I am too busy to get away."
Bill Vondrasek on a Booster Tour of the area in the mid-1950s, photo by Edward Tomek.
William wert and his brother
March 7, 1919
brothers bob & oscar wiar
Here are family pictures of these two World War I veterans shared by Diane Anderson starting with this one of the brothers with their niece, little Jeanette Cook, daughter of their sister Hazel
Oscar and Bob in later years, with sistersm Addie Wiar Wilcox, Hazel Wiar Cook, and Minnie Wiar McNeely.
otto wopata
January 20, 1960
the war's end
Archer King took this photograph of people celebrating the declaration of the end of the war, at the Pawnee County Courthouse. Photo 1615.
watching the war from afar
December 13, 1914 article in the Argus -- France is buying Nebraska horses for use in the war.
January 22, 1915 -- More horses needed for the war. Buyers are coming to Table Rock and other towns in the area, rain or shine.
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April 12, 1918. The 355th Infantry Band. When their band tour is done, they are off to France to fight in the trenches. "All Nebraska Boys. No Slackers."
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March 28, 1968 Argus