Our World War I Relatives
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Edward Kihntopf, grandfather of Mike Kihntopf of Schertz, Texas [far right]; b. 1896 in Jitomir, Ukraine. Entered into service in early 1916 serving with the 3rd Guard Division, Lehr Regiment. In action with the Sudarmée in Galicia during Brusilov Offensive, on the Somme later that year, repositioned in Galicia in response to Kerensky Offensive, detached as an interpreter to occupation forces in the Ukraine in 1918. Evacuated from the Ukraine in Dec. 1918. Emigrated to the U.S. in 1921. |
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Frederick S. Schmitt, grandfather of Rob Alspaugh, WFA Member who lives in Round Rock, Texas. Frederick S. Schmitt was born in 1886 in Pennsylvania, and was a member of the Pennsylvania Boys Brigade and later the Pa. National Guard. In July-October of 1916, he saw duty on the Mexican Border with the 10th Pa. Infantry, and was elevated to the Federal level in the same year. In 1917 he became a 1Lt. with the 14th MG Battalion, 5th Division. By June 1918, he had reached the rank of Captain, and was in Command of the 110th Divisional M.G. Battalion, seeing action in the Meuse-Argonne and St. Mihiel Offensives, as well as around Verdun. Post-Armistice found him with a Logistics, command based in Luxembourg. After returning to the States in 1919, he became joined the 6th US Infantry. In 1922, he was Honorably Discharged from the Army. |
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William Thomas, RN, grandfather of Southwest Chapter Chairman David Beer. Seaman Thomas, shown here with his grandson, served at Gallipoli and later in India. He was sunk three times at Gallipoli manning landing boats like those shown. He could be in this photo. |
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Gilbert E. Whittington, father of Vern Whittington of Austin, Texas. Private Whittington was from Boyd, Wise County, Texas , and was inducted into the Army at Decatur, Texas, on March 2, 1918. At the time he was almost 23 years old. Gilbert served in France with the 315 TM (trench mortar) Battery until August 8, 1918, and then with the 7th TM Battery until discharged in February, 1919. He was thus with the 90th "Alamo" Division at St. Mihel and in the Meuse Argonne. Later he served with the 7th Division at St. Mihel and Meuse-Argonne, seeing action also at Villers-en-Haye. After the Amistice his unit was in Germany on occupation duty. He returned to the US on January 22, 1919. |