The 2019 Memorial Day festivities were like no other as the Village of Covington honored those residents who fought in Word War I with a monument. Nearly 300 Covington servicemen fought in Word War I with the United States Army’s 148th Infantry Regiment in the battles to liberate Belgium in 1918. On hand to represent Belgium in paying respects for the sacrifices of the Covington servicemen who sacrificed on behalf of freedom was Lieutenant Colonel Heidi Libert of the Belgian Armed Forces.
Covington’s World War I Centennial Monument was made possible thanks to generous donations that raised over $40,000 – a project spearheaded by Jay Wackler, a 1961 Covington graduate and David Frank, a 1967 Covington graduate.
WORLD WAR 1; Company A left El Paso, Texas and entered Fort Benjamin Harrison to be mustered out but as world war was imminent, the order was recalled. After a short stay at Fort Benjamin Harrison, they were sent to Ohio on guard duty. On August 14, 1917 they were ordered to Camp Sherman near Chillicothe and later became part of the 148th Infantry, 37th Division, U. S. Army. They were also stationed at Camp Sheriden (Montgomery, Ala.) and Camp Lee at Petersburgh, Virginia. On June 23, 1918, they embarked for overseas service on the U. S. S. Susquehanna and on July 5, 1918 landed at Brest, France and a short time later were detailed for. service on the Alsace- Lorraine front. They also served at Vosges Mountains, Robert- Espange, Verdun, Meuse-Argonne, St. Mihiel, St. Jean, Weltje, Belgium, Olsene, Bellow Wood and Ypres. They returned to the United States March 28, 1919 and were discharged in April of that year.
Covington-area servicemen killed in Word War I:
Orville Bazill
Private First Class, Company A, 166th Infantry, 42nd Division
buried in Greenville Creek Cemetery, Covington, Ohio
J. Lowell Boyer
Private, US Army, 1st Machine Gun Battalion, 1st Division
buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery & Memorial, France
Albert B. Cole
Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company A, 148th Infantry, 37th Division
buried in Highland Cemetery, Covington, Ohio
His monument notes: “In France He Died For US”
Lloyd W. Cornor
Corporal, U.S. Army, Company A, 3rd Infantry (Ohio National Guard)
buried in Old Ludlow Cemetery, Laura, Ohio
Oscar P. Kindell
Private, U.S. Army, Company F, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division
buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery & Memorial, France
Edward S. Knight
Corporal, U.S. Army, Battery A, 44th Coast Artillery Corps.
burial place currently unknown
Arlie Carl Nicholas
Private, U.S. Marine Corps, 47th USMC Detachment
buried in Highland Cemetery, Covington, Ohio
Roscoe Rogers
Private, U.S. Army, Company M, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division
buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery & Memorial, France
Fred Siler
Private 1st Class, U.S. Army, Company A, 166th Infantry Regiment, 83rd Infantry Brigade, 42nd Division.
buried in Riverside Cemetery, Troy, Ohio, Lot 28 W, Section 12, Grave 4
His memorial notes: “In France He Died For US”
Covington-area boys who were wounded in World War I:
Lawrence A. Alexander
Corporal, U.S. Army, Co. A, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division
Leonard C. Black
2nd Lt., U.S. Army, Co. A, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division
Millard F. Boggs
Sergeant, U.S. Army, Co. A, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division
Chalmer E. Brown
Corporal, U.S. Army, Co. E, 61st Infantry Regiment, 37th Division
Lee A. Dunham
Private, U.S. Army, Co. A, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division
Burley C. Erwin
Sergeant, U.S. Army, Co. A, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division
Alva Fansler
Corporal, U.S. Army, Co. M, 166th Infantry, 42nd Division
William M. Finfrock
Sergeant, U.S. Army, Co. A, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division
James G. Freshour
Captain, U.S. Army, Co. C, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division
Charles E. Frey
Private, U.S. Army, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division
Harry N. Gruber
Sergeant, Company C, 148th Infantry, 37th Division
John T. Hentrich
Corporal, U.S. Army, Co. A, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division
John C. Hoover
Corporal, U.S. Army, Co. A, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division
Joseph L. Hoover
Corporal, U.S. Army, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division
Ray V. O’Roark
Sergeant, U.S. Army, Co. A, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division
Ralph V. Pratt
Private, U.S. Army, Co. A, 166th Infantry Regiment, 42nd Division
Coulus W. Younce
Private, U.S. Army, 322nd Field Artillery
Covington High School Graduates who served in Word War I:
Fenton L. Boggs – Army – Class of 1915
Benjamin A. Branson – Army – Class of 1906
Willis E. Branson – Army – Class of 1911
Otis Buchanan – Army – Class of 1915
Chalmer L. Driver – Army – Class of 1910
DeWitt T. Etter – Army – Class of 1915
Walter C. Falknor – Army – Class of 1911
William M. Finfrock – Army – Class of 1912
Edward G. Fisher – Army – Class of 1914
Emery C. Fritzv – Army – Class of 1911
Hobart A. Fulker – Army – Class of 1914
James W. Hill – Army – Class of 1914
John D. Huffman – Army – Class of 1917
Joseph W. Landis – Army – Class of 1911
Harmon M. Maier – Army – Class of 1905
Henry Ray Minton – Army – Class of 1901
Ray V. O’Roark – Army – Class of 1916
John S. Perry – Army – Class of 1917
Leslie O. Rhoades – Army – Class of 1911
Galen B. Stade – Navy – Class of 1917
Luther J. Tobias – Army – Class of 1906
Fred T. Yount – Army – Class of 1902
Below is a gallery of images from the 2019 Memorial Day festivities. Click on the thumbnails to view larger images.
