(Independent April 7, 1976)
Hugh Putnam
Just 59 years ago yesterday president Wilson declared war on Germany and her allies. I think it fitting and proper that the young man whose number 258 was first drawn in Foster County should be called upon to give us the history of that era. That young man happens to be Hugh R. Putnam.
As a veteran of World War II have been asked to prepare this article on the great conflict and the part Foster county played in its successful conclusion in 1918.
In 1917 the European war had been going on three years. America was a neutral nation but was shipping vast quantities of material to the allied countries‑ England and France. Germany under the leadership of Kaiser William ordered unrestricted warfare by their submarines against all shipping and was destroying America's trade. War with Germany and her allies was inevitable. When a submarine sank the SS Lusitania which was loaded with American tourists bound for England it was the crowning act of piracy that aroused the nation and president Wilson declared war on Germany and her allies on April 6, 1917.
Hysteria was rampant in the nation and Foster county was no exception. Men from every part of the county were enlisting. Edna Thurston was appointed recruiting officer and the Independent says. "She wore a natty blue uniform and a white hat."
Some of the early volunteers were Fred Sutherland, Monroe Shenkel, Jacob Wagner, Charles Barrett, Ralph Horney, Rollin Goss and Lois Lemert. War gardens were being planted by town and country families alike and Harold McCue and John Buchanan were putting in 10 acres of beans.
Congress ordered a draft of all men 20‑30 years of age and they were to register June 5th. When that day arrived every young man went to his polling place and registered. Carrington played host to all registrants with a parade, speeches and dedication of the new 100 foot flag pole and the raising of a huge 14 by 18 foot flag which had been brought by the school children. Over 700 men registered that day.
The same day of registration a Red Cross chapter was organized and soon after there was a chapter in every community in Foster County. Rain late that day dampened the fireworks display for the evening, but the dance was well attended.
As I recall that day an incident stands out in my mind very clearly. When the flag was raised and the band played the national anthem people sat around on the grass or walked around talking to friends, children ran to and fro making considerable noise. Then Mr. Fred Bier Sr. a foreign born, but
naturalized citizen rushed to the bandstand and called for quiet. He looked at them for a minute and then gave them a stirring lecture on patriotism and the proper respect for the flag.
He reminded them of the many blessings and the freedoms that the flag represented. You don't sit around on the ground talking to your neighbor when the flag goes by or the national anthem is played. You stand up at attention and salute.
A second regiment of the North Dakota National Guard was being recruited in the state and Carrington was asked to organize Company F. The 65 men needed to qualify quickly enlisted and officers elected. Edward Kelleran, Captain, Gordon Turner, 1st Lt., John Knoen, 2nd. Lt. The line officers were appointed by Gov. Lynn J. Frazer and were Maj. Frank White, former Governor of North Dakota as colonel Dr. R.J. McKenzie as 1st Lt. of the hospital corps. All other line officers were veterans of the Philippine War. Mobilization was to be about September 15th.
By the middle of June 1917 the first of some two million men had reached France under the command of General John J. Pershing. They were marines and regular army troops and were filtered into the trenches with French or English troops in quiet zones for training.
July 19‑20 were exciting days in the country for the results of the draft were received. Every draftee had a number and that number had been put in a capsule and a man, blindfolded had drawn out the numbers in Washington, D.C. The first number drawn was 258. That number drafted a man in every county in the U.S. Here in Foster county that number belonged to Hugh R. Putnam, who had the distinction of being the first man drafted in Foster County. Number 2 was for Arthur K. Olson of Glenfield.
Draft boards had been set up and quotas assigned to each county, but enlistments were usually more than the monthly quota. Soon after receiving my draft status I enlisted in Company F. The company was quartered in ‑the basement of the court house and drilled in the adjacent area.
In September the company was mustered into federal service. Dances, dinners and parties were held for the soldiers and on October 1st with bands playing, flags waving, wild cheering and with many tears the troops entrained for Camp Greene, North Carolina.
On arrival in camp the entire Second North Dakota regiment was broken up and the various companies designated as ambulance, engineer or hospital corps. Company F became the 16th Field Hospital, 116th Sanitary Train, 41st division. Medical officers were assigned to the company and our training took on a different type of work. Our time was spent in classes on first aid.
On October 25th we moved from Camp Greene to Camp Mills at Hempstead, Long Island, New York. We were quartered in tents and with winter coming on, we were not very comfortable although each tent had a Sibly stove that burned wood. Our main past time for those cold days was lying on our cots watching for holes in our tent. Sparks from our wood fire would fall on the canvas and set the tent on fire. You had to be fast to crawl up the corner of the tent and put the fire out before it got a good start.
By December 15th we were ready to go overseas. Some 5000 troops boarded the SS Covington and we set sail for France arriving at Brest December 30th. The night of December 31st, we entrained for LaCourtine in French box cars. The cars were about 20 foot long and had four wheels and 40 men were in each car. It was a two days and nights trip.
After a short stay at LaCourtine we moved north to Gondecourt and our first assignment. We took over a 150 bed hospital. For a month prior to this we had sent details each week to work in the wards. As Sergeant in charge of the detail I was not assigned to any hospital work. As a result I went to the Dispensary and worked with the pharmacist. He showed me how to mix ingredients and liquid medicines. There was no such thing as pills for every ailment. After a month of this work the 1st. Division hospital corps moved out and we took over. As the work assignments were posted I found that I had been ordered to run the dispensary. I told my son, Robert, that it took him 4 years to become a pharmacist and I did it in 30 days. That didn't go over too good.
I would like to say this about Company F. It was made up of 80 men picked up off the streets and farms and all with a limited education‑ high school or less; yet in the 8 months we tended the sick and wounded there was no incident when a man was derelict in his duties to a patient.
July 1st we were relieved of hospital duties and ordered to field duty at Chateau Thierry.
It was the first major conflict that American Troops participated in and helped turn the tide of battle.
During this time the home front was doing its duty in the war effort. All Red Cross units were busy making bandages. Liberty Loan sales were exceeding the quotas. One incident at home marred Carrington's patriotic image. Mr. O.F. Elliot, a painter, was arrested for making unpatriotic remarks about the government.
From the time of our arrival in Chateau Thierry we were on the move every week or 10 days following the battle fronts. We went back across France to the Nance Bulge battle then followed through the Argonne battle to the signing of the Armistice. Following the Armistice we were ordered to follow the troops through Luxemberg and into Germany. We crossed the Rhine River at Coblentz on December 15 and settled down for occupational duty in German barracks until March 1919 when we were
ordered home via Marseilles, France. We arrived in New York aboard the SS Sophia in May and were discharged at Des Moines, Iowa on June 19, 1919. After nearly two years of active service we received a royal welcome home.
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 398