Historic Hood River
Doughboys in France
Notes
Veterans Day was originally a remembrance of the armistice that ended the fighting in Europe on November 11, 1918. Let’s spend a few minutes remembering some of the men from Hood River who were in France when the guns fell silent 107 years ago today.
This Pansy DeWitt image is captioned “Allyn, Limoges, France 1918”. While her album is full of first names with very few last names, I’m getting better sorting out the “Who’s who” of the extended DeWitt family. “Allyn” was Allyn Button (brother of Malcolm Button) of Button ranch/bridge/junction/bridge fame. Allyn married Katherine Baker (the “Katherine” also prominent in the album, who was Pansy (Georgiana) Baker DeWitt’s sister. To confuse us more Allyn and Katherine named their child “DeWitt”. Pansy’s brother William (Bill) Baker Jr. had a daughter Margurite who also figures prominently in the album.
Bill and Allyn were amongst the group of Hood River men who trained in Fort Stevens before being sent to France later in 1918. This article informs us Allyn graduated radio school with the 65th artillery and was in France with approximately 25 Hood River men, approaching the front in September 1918. You can read the details of the 65th deployment here including their work around Limoges. It’s a worthwhile read for today’s remembrance.
Allyn’s brother Malcolm Button became a flying cadet shortly after the war.
Arlen
Listen for the Bells of Peace at 11/11/11 today. I will be ringing at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center here in Portland.
AND, many thanks Arthur for your week day posts!.
Roger Sheldrake
I will be at the Albany Veterans Day Parade remembering all that have served before and after myself. One son and two grandsons will proudly stand with me when the flags go by. Vietnam 1966/67
I will listen for those bell Arlen
L. E.
Ring loud and clear Arlen. I am listening.
Thank you to all who have served.
My Grandpa was a Belgian in a German prison camp when the guns fell silent. After his release he boarded a ship and came to America.
Many years later, when I was his grandchild, I watched him crack a fresh chicken egg on a fence post and slurp it down. I was vocal in my disgust. He informed that is what kept him alive as a prisoner.