ALFRED PRIGGE
Alfred Prigge, son of Frederick and Emma Prigge, grew up in Adams Township, Defiance County. Born June 5, 1893, Alfred was raised with a house full of siblings, and in 1900, his paternal grandmother, Catherine Prigge. By 1910, at the age of 16, he was working as a farm laborer full time, living with Arnold and Laura Davis.
On June 5, 1917, he filled out his World War I draft registration as a single man, aged 24. Then he was a farm laborer for Ed Precht.
He stated he was born in Okolona, but currently resided in Jewell.
By the next year, he was an enlisted man.
The Army took him on May 29, 1918, into the 68th Replacement Regiment of the 68th Company, 6th Infantry in Fort Gordon, Georgia. He was there until July 16, 1918, and eventually he was reassigned to Company K of the 102nd Infantry as a Corporal.
His was called a replacement draft to fill in for all those men lost overseas. Alfred sailed on the ship Beltana on July 24, 1918, destination France and the Meuse-Argonne Defensive Sector.
On the left is the seal of the 102nd Infantry; their motto was "Stand Forth."
Alfred went to the Chauteau Thiery region in France, first, where he engaged in fighting at the battles of Champagne, the Marne, Alsace-Marne and the Second Battle of the Marne. On August 5, 1918, his group went to St. Mihiel and eventually, Verdun, where Alfred met his death on October 26, 1918, at the age of 25.
Corporal Prigge was awarded the Purple Heart and the World War I Victory Medal for his service.
Alfred was buried in the Argonne American Cemetery, but it was noted that he has an honorary grave in the Bethlehem Cemetery near Ridgeville, Ohio in Lot 18, Block B, Grave 2.
No picture or obituary could be found.
In Memoriam
Alfred Prigge
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