Bob Hudson Posted March 30, 2021 Share #1 Posted March 30, 2021 A fellow picker came by with this today: it's a FIRST DIVISION GENERAL ORDER'S NO. 1 commendation for Pvt Lewis JC Poppe, Company D, 16h Infantry, and some letters and postcards with some details of his unit's movements. He was cited for being being gassed during the Meuse–Argonne offensive offensive on October 9, 1918. His Congressman nominated him for the Medal of Honor. But that had nothing to do with gas. As one of his letters recounts, he singlehandily captured 15 Germans and was unarmed when they surrendered to him. His story was printed in newspapers across the country and in the halls of Congress. I found copies of those newspaper stories online and they help fill in what the letters says. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted March 30, 2021 Author Share #2 Posted March 30, 2021 Here's what all he said about the capture in his letter (he mentions MAX - Max is one of the captured German soldiers and with Lewis' help Max moved to the US after WWI). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted March 30, 2021 Author Share #3 Posted March 30, 2021 Here's one of the newsaper stories I found online: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted March 30, 2021 Author Share #4 Posted March 30, 2021 Here's another account from a hisotorical society http://newbremenhistory.org/towpath/2011-2020/Oct-2019.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted March 30, 2021 Author Share #5 Posted March 30, 2021 . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted March 30, 2021 Author Share #6 Posted March 30, 2021 Another couple of online documents: .. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted March 30, 2021 Author Share #7 Posted March 30, 2021 And some original documents: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted March 30, 2021 Author Share #8 Posted March 30, 2021 One last thing: his Dec, 21 1918 POW letter to his wife also contains some details of his movements in France. It's not overly detailed but it is still a lot more about a WWI GI than we usually see. Here's the entire letter: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave peifer Posted March 30, 2021 Share #9 Posted March 30, 2021 thats an interesting group,the first like it i've seen.was there anything else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted March 30, 2021 Author Share #10 Posted March 30, 2021 8 minutes ago, dave peifer said: thats an interesting group,the first like it i've seen.was there anything else? Just the letters, certificate and post cards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted March 30, 2021 Author Share #11 Posted March 30, 2021 Here's both sides of the "I have arrived" postcards: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted March 30, 2021 Share #12 Posted March 30, 2021 What a great story! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Crow 1986 Posted March 31, 2021 Share #13 Posted March 31, 2021 A great, first person, war service history. The follow on stateside chapters really make for an enjoyable rounding out of Private Poppe's adventures. Thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted March 31, 2021 Author Share #14 Posted March 31, 2021 4 hours ago, manayunkman said: What a great story! I am going to have read the other letters to see if they have a tale I've missed. His parents were both born in Germany and he was able to converse with the prisoners. He grew up on a farm and spent his occupation duty with the 304th Field Remount Squadron which handled Army horses and mules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
268th C.A. Posted March 31, 2021 Share #15 Posted March 31, 2021 Its nice that you can actually read it. He had great hand writing....yes it is a nice group. My Grand uncle was in Co H. 26th Regt 1st Division Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertmedals Posted March 31, 2021 Share #16 Posted March 31, 2021 Great story and group -- very unusual. New Bremen, Ohio is a pretty small town. Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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