World War I Series - A. C. Gecowets

 

A. C. GECOWETS

A.C. Gecowets was born on January 28, 1893, in Washington Township, Defiance County, Ohio. A.C. was always just A.C. in all the documents found on him, no other name. His father was Charles Abraham Gecowets, so were his initial a reversal of his father's?  We just don't know. His mother was Alice McFeters Gecowets. 

By the 1900 Federal Census, A.C. lived with his grandmother, Ida McFeters, and his uncle, LeRoy McFeters who farmed in Washington
Township. A.C. was 7, and his sister Delta was 5. 

On June 5, 1917, he filled out his World War I Draft Registration in North Richland Township, Defiance County.

In May, 1918, he was assigned to the 18 Company, 5th Battalion, 159th Depot Brigade until June 17, 1918. In the war, he belonged first to Company C, 153rd Infantry until September 13, 1918, when he was moved to Company C, 127th Infantry. The 153rd was a replacement company to use as needed when regiments had lost soldiers who needed to be replaced. A.C. either volunteered or was assigned to the 127th in September where he fought until death in the Argonne Forest.

In a letter home to W. P. Rath, father to Francis Rath (see his post), A. C. Gecowets was mentioned by Pvt. George M. Long, the author:

"Mr. A. C. Gecowets of Defiance was killed near the same spot that Francis was hit and Gecowets died on the field. This happened about 11 a.m., October 5.  Gecowets was hit by machine gun bullets and they broke both his legs."

(Defiance Crescent-News, April 10, 1919, pg.5)

This account gave his date of death as October 5, 1918; other more reliable documents stated he died on October 12. But his sister was not informed until January 1919.  The Defiance Crescent News reported on January 4, 1919:

"WAS BROTHER OF MRS FRED WAHL OF DEFIANCE

Private A. C. Gecowets, who was reported in yesterday's casualty list as killed in action, met death on the battlefield October 12th. He was a brother of Mrs. Fred Wahl of this city. Before going to war, he was employed in the vicinity of Jewell."

A.C. was first buried near the battlefield in Geshes, France in Grave 13, but he was reburied in the Meuse-Argonne Cemetery later. His sister was notified of the reburial on January 28, 1919.

In Memoriam

A.C. Gecowets

Guest Blogger - Dawn Hasch