Capt. Alexander D. B. Pratt, New York.
[star]2d Lt. Clarence I. Grubbs, Kansas City, Mo.
2d Lt. Arthur J. Hamblen, New York.
2d Lt. F. Hartig, address unknown.
2d Lt. Kenneth C. Lincoln, Fall River, Mass.
2d Lt. Harry R. Weiman, St. Louis, Mo.
Sergt. Lloyd C. Anderson, Binghamton, N. Y.
Sergt. Charles H. Bradshaw, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Pvt. 1st Class Louis Beckendorf, Brooklyn, N. Y.
*Private Jacob Borker, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Sergt. Ralph U. Brett, New York.
Pvt. 1st Class George Busko, Breckenridge, Minn.
*Pvt. James Conner, New York.
Corp. Patrick Conway, New York.
Sergt. Edward M. Crimmins, Binghamton, N. Y.
Sergt. A. James DiMaggio, Staten Island, N. Y.
Pvt. 1st Class Hugh A. Donnelly, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Corp. Edward J. Dwyer, Buffalo, N. Y.
Pvt. William Ehrmann, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Sergt. Josiah E. Evans, Ansonia, Conn.
Pvt. 1st Class John Greany, New York.
Pvt. 1st Class P. M. Hagen, Lansford, N. D.
Corp. Gilrock Hanson, Creston, Mont.
Sergt. William F. Howard, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Sergt. Ernest C. Hutchings, Manhasset, N. Y.
Pvt. 1st Class Robert R. Johnson, Newburgh, N. Y.
Pvt. John F. Kelly, Adler, Mont.
Sergt. George A. Klein, Jr., Brooklyn, N. Y.
Sergt. Harvey A. Kreuscher, Staten Island, N. Y.
Pvt. 1st Class James J. Lydon, New York.
Sergt. Joseph P. Monihan, Wilmington, Del.
[star]Pvt. Alfred Nickerson, Lewiston, N. Y.
Pvt. Andrew R. Pucella, Derby, Conn.
Sergt. John A. Ross, Brooklyn, N. Y.
[star]Sergt. George F. Russell, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Pvt. 1st Class Thomas J. Scanlon, New York.
Sergt. Aris M. Shellman, New York.
[star]Pvt. 1st Class Joseph Strauss, New York.
Sergt. Monroe Todd, Allen, S. C.
[star]Pvt. J. Robinson, Newfane, N. Y.
Pvt. Volney O. Thompson, Honesdale, Idaho.
Corp. Frederick Viemer, Seymour, Conn.
Sergt. Donald M. Wallach, New York.
The
Burke [Illustration: {American Legion seal}] Kelly
Post
That spirit of dominant Americanism with which the war was fought seems
in these times of peace to be best reflected by the American Legion.
Appreciating this, those members of Company B, 307th Infantry, who
regarded with favor the idea of a post-bellum organization applied to
the American Legion for a charter. One was granted and they were
admitted as the Burke-Kelly Post No. 172.
The name was selected in honor of the memory of two of their comrades:
Sergeant Frank W. Burke, killed by a high explosive shell on the line of
the Vesle, August 23d, 1918, and Corporal John E. Kelly, killed by a
high explosive shell during the battle of Merval, September 8th, 1918.
This publication of the History of Company B was made possible by the
members of the Burke-Kelly Post under the following officers:
_President_
WILLIAM F. HOWARD
_Vice-Presidents_
JOHN A. ROSS
ARTHUR J. HAMBLEN
ALFRED HELLER
_Secretary_
A. JAMES DIMAGGIO
_Treasurer_
THOMAS F. TWYFORD
_Corresponding Secretary_
JULIUS KLAUSNER, JR.
_Executive Committee_
DONALD M. WALLACH
FRED A. GLEIFORST
RALPH U. BRETT
[Illustration: Watching the Home Fires]
They were watched, and high they burned, by those who more than all else
represented to us the concrete reason for which we served.
None of us but _felt_ that we were fighting for our Country; but all of
us _knew_ that we were fighting for our Home.
Our Home Folks,--our Mothers and our Fathers, our Sisters and our Wives
and our Sweethearts and our Friends--all banded together so that we,
while never losing the _thought_ of Home, were also not to lose its
_touch_.
Those tenders of the fireside whom we knew as the "Family Unit" were
organized as the Company B Family Unit and were affiliated with the
307th Regimental Family Unit. They formed on our embarkation for
overseas, and by virtue of a succession of meetings under the active and
enthusiastic leadership of Mrs. William Vanamee and Miss Virginia Fuller
they became welded into a body that accomplished immeasurable benefit
not only for our physical but also for our spiritual welfare.
The socks, the cigarettes, the wristlets and the soap were needs of vast
import, but our knowledge that those behind us were marshaled just as we
were was more warming than wristlets, more comforting than cigarettes.
The officers during the early period were Miss Virginia Fuller,
President; Miss Helen Pritchard, Secretary; Mrs. W. B. Wise, Treasurer.
The meetings were held in a barren loft at 6 East 30th Street, New York
City. Here the ideas were conceived, the plans formulated, and the
policies acted upon, that were so far-reaching and effective.
Tho first drawn together for the good of Company B, their own sufferings
served to consolidate their interests and to strengthen their purpose.
As notice after notice issued from Washington advising as to losses in
battle by death and by wounds, the need for common consolation became
most urgent and a noble response came from those who were in a position
to give comfort. These were trying days, days of mental agony, days of
longing and hoping and praying.
In September one of our own men, Sergeant George A. Klein, Jr., who had
been returned to the United States as an instructor, appeared at a
meeting and gave word, mostly welcome, some sad, to the news-hungry
relatives.
These various activities were recorded in a small four-page bulletin
published for and distributed to us overseas.
And then the Armistice. Relief from the tension of the meetings was
given by the final let-up of the war and soon the time came when much
thought was given to filling those "9x4x3" boxes of Christmas cheer.
[Illustration: _The Ring_]
The date of our return was flashed across the waters during the early
part of April and immediately wheels were set in motion to prepare for
it.
Their welcome took the form of a reception and dance. For the first
time, and the only time, Company B and the Family Unit were together.
And as a token of their affection and regard they presented to each of
us a silver signet ring bearing our Divisional insignia--Liberty,
together with the Company and Regimental designation. Inside the ring
they had placed as their wish: "May God Protect You."
Guests of especial honor were the two McIntyre sisters, who were so
active overseas with the Salvation Army and who for so long a time had
been identified with our Division, having for a while been assigned to
our own Regiment.
Thus culminated the activities of the Family Unit of Company B. But just
as we have decided upon a continuation of our organization--the same in
substance, if not in form,--so the Unit decided to serve as the
Auxiliary to the Burke-Kelly Post, American Legion.
The Auxiliary meetings are held in the rooms adjoining those of the
Burke-Kelly Post, at the 77th Division Club. The original board of
officers includes Mrs. A. J. Hamblen, President; Miss Virginia Fuller,
Miss Sarah Kelly, and Mrs. William Charles, Vice-Presidents; Miss Anna
Charles, Secretary, and Mrs. W. B. Wise, Treasurer.
And their banner is still held aloft. A new name, but the old purpose.
[Illustration: {Decoration}]
[Illustration: {Bugler playing Taps}]