A SOLDIER'S POEM

As perhaps many of you already know, 2017 marks the 100^th anniversary of the entry of the United States into World War I. This first global conflict was dubbed the “War to end all wars.”  It featured new forms of weaponry including the use of chemical weapons (mustard gas) and aerial combat. In addition, just as a measles outbreak caused the deaths of many young men during the Civil War, Spanish influenza ended the lives of thousands of armed service members while serving our country.  Our county alone suffered over 50 war casualties, plus many who were wounded.

The Kossuth County Genealogical Society has begun a project to gather and preserve information about Kossuth County residents who served in World War I.  We have been busy finding obituaries, service records, letters, and news articles, as well as seeking contributions from the public of things like discharge papers, photos, and journals for scanning and memorabilia that we could borrow for use at a display to be set up around Veteran’s Day.

PRIVATE HENRY B. STELPFLUG

While researching these brave men and women, I came across a poem written by Private Henry Stelpflug.  Born on a farm three miles northwest of Bancroft on April 10, 1893, Henry was the son of John A. Stelpflug and Mary (Emde) Stelpflug.  Both of his parents had immigrated to America from Germany.  They were married in Fayette County, Iowa, in 1884 and moved to Bancroft in 1889 when they purchased their farm.

Henry attended country schools in his neighborhood and the school in Bancroft.  He spent his entire life on the farm except for a little over a year that he spent serving during the war.  Private Stelpflug was inducted into the United States Army on May 28, 1918, in Algona and left immediately for Camp Dodge.  He was eventually assigned to the 352^nd Infantry, a part of the 88^th Infantry Division.

While stationed in the Haute-Alsace sector, the 88^th Division managed to hold the line preventing a huge force of German infantry, artillery and air power from getting to the Meuse-Argonne offensive, contributing indirectly to the success of that battle.  What Henry saw during his service left a big impression on him – enough to set his thoughts to verse.

From Bancroft Register, March 27, 1919

HENRY’S POEM

His poem was published on March 27, 1919 in the Bancroft Register and it describes his transport by ship and his experiences on the front. 

We left dear o’ homeland

        One bright sunny day

To clean up the Huns

        In lands far away.

We boarded the transport

        In dear old New York

And landed in England

        A few miles from “Cork.”

The trip was swell

        Across the ocean so blue

Living on hard tack

        And bully beef stew

We boarded the train at Liverpool

        And got off at Winchester

Like a lot of damn fools

We stayed over night

        And slept in a tent

Then we boarded the train

        And to Southampton we went

Then up the gang plank

        Again we did prance

Crossed the channel

        And landed in France.

Stayed a while in Le Havre

        Then we traveled some more

Till we got to Les Laumes

        Put up our dog tents

And sang “Home Sweet Home”

        Then once again we moved

On to Grigon

        And the doughboys life there

Certainly was grand.

Drilling and hiking

        And eating hard tack

I’d like to say more

        But I dare not give facts

Then on to Belfort

        Again we did go

And was rushed in caves

        From air raids you know.

Then we started to hike

        At eleven P.M.

And stopped at Laire

        And of gas drill and skirmish

We soon got enough

        So we moved on to Angate

And began to get rough

        Then to Angate we went

Four in a barn.

Some doughboys did joke

        And lit a cigarette

And she went up in smoke

        And then with a French pump

We worked half the night

        And the way fire did burn

It sure was a fright.

Then we got settled down

        For 2 days or more

Till some got sick

        And others foot sore

So with a small company

        Again we moved on

To the village of Ramagney.

There we stayed and rested

        Then we moved on again

The same as before

        Then into the dugouts

Together we went

        Back in reserve

One week there we spent.

Then up in the front

        There in a trench to lay still

Waiting for orders

        To go over and kill

We thought not of danger

        For it was such great fun

To sneak thru the trenches

        And watch for the Hun.

Then in the still of the night

        A signal would flash

And some timid sentinel

        Would sound the horn

And yell “gas”

        With explosions and air fight

It sure was such fun

        Oft times I regret

That our work there is done.

For one dark and dreary night

        We shouldered our guns

And went into Poppy

        For the battle was won

And then on to Lucy

        We started good living

For there in that town

        We spent our Thanksgiving.

Then into Ribeaucourt

        We soon settled down

Waiting for word

        To start homeward bound

Tis one Christmas day

        And sadly I say

We did not eat our turkey

        In the dear U.S.A.

But soon we will be leaving

        For the land o’er the foam

To settle forever

        In the dear old “Home Sweet Home”

Then by the fireside gleam

        Will sit there and tell

How the Hun yelled Komrad

        When we blowed them to H---

“This is the trip of the 352 Inf. Of which I believe I am the only doughboy of Kossuth County.”

Pft. Henry B. Stelpflug

Lo. C. 352 Inf.,

A. P. O. 795 A. E. F.

 
EPILOGUE

Henry was honorably discharged from service on June 13, 1919, at Camp Dodge.  He returned home to Bancroft where he was content to spend his days farming.  In addition to growing crops, he raised cattle and swine.  His Spotted Poland hogs became well known especially after one boar won first place for his division at the State Fair in 1929. 

Sadly, Henry died August 24, 1930, at the Veteran’s Hospital in Kansas City from an attack of tuberculosis brought on by the flu.  He was only 37.  Following a funeral service at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Bancroft, he was laid to rest beside his parents in the Catholic cemetery there.  Never married, he was survived by six sisters and one brother. 

CAN YOU HELP?

If you have any information or memorabilia about a World War I Kossuth County veteran, please consider sharing that information with the Kossuth County Genealogical Society so that it may be preserved for future generations.  Contact Manita Murphy at 515-320-2091 or by email at murphyconst@gmail.com to make arrangements for scanning of photos or other information or possible loan of artifacts for the display in November.

These brave veterans MUST NOT be forgotten. 

Until next time,

Kossuth County History Buff

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