The Herbert E. Anderson Post No. 117 of the American Legion in Defiance, Ohio is named after this brave World War I soldier.
LIEUTENANT HERBERT OSWALD EDWARD ANDERSON
Born to Albert and Mary (Olson) Anderson on Jan. 28, 1894, in Defiance, Herbert lost his mother, perhaps in childbirth. He had an older brother, Robert, and a younger brother, Wilbert, called Dewey, and a sister, Esther.
Albert, the father of four remarried on September 19, 1894, to Sarah H. Shelhart. Herbert gained eventually two half siblings, Marie and Dorothy. The family were members of Zion Lutheran Church.
On June 24,1916, Herbert enlisted at the Defiance Armory into Company G, 6th O.V.I. as a Private under Captain DeKay. He was sent to the Mexican border where he patrolled until March 1917. A move followed to Fort Riley, Kansas to muster out, but "contrary orders sent his outfit to Cleveland for guard duty. While serving there, he was advanced to a sergeancy.
From Cleveland, he went into training for foreign service at Camp Sheridan, Ala. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in September 1917 and received his first lieutenancy commission in February 1918, before going to Camp Lee, Va., preparatory to sailing to France, June 22, 1918."
(The Crescent-News, October 17, 1921, p.1)
He arrived in Brest, France on July 5, 1918. Captain DeKay was promoted, so 1st Lt. Anderson took command of Co. 6, 147th Infantry, 37th Division.
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It was between 9 and 9:30 on September 27, 1918, in the Avacourt section of the Meuse-Argonne offensive (circled above). Lt. Anderson was leading his company over Montaucon when he received mortal wounds.
"Red Cross stretcher bearers, carrying a private back to the lines, stopped to unload the private in order to take the wounded officer first. This Lieut. Anderson refused to allow, saying, 'I once was a private, take him to a place of safety and then come back for me.' In the turmoil of conflict, they never returned. Lt. Anderson died at 24 years, 8 months and two days." (The Crescent-News, October 22, 1938, page 1)
The body arrived home by train on the day before the planned funeral at 6:45 p.m, October 16, 1921, and it was immediately taken to the home of his father, Albert Anderson, for services the next day at the home on 517 East Second Street; rites were said at 1:30.
Then a funeral procession started for the Armory, led by mounted Marshalls, Clarence Nestleroad and Walter Cox, followed by the Elks Band. Four Color Guards followed, along with the Defiance Howitzer Company, veterans and representatives from the American Legion Post named after Anderson. Businesses and citizens were requested to fly their flags until after the funeral was over.
Men from Lt. Anderson's company were pallbearers:
A.B. Dekay, Raymond Slough, Harry E. Moore, Marvin Gallup, Clyde Morris, and John M. Conroy.
The headlines of The Crescent-News on October 17, 1921, stretched across three columns on page 1:
"THOUSANDS THRONG STREETS
PACK ARMORY FOR FUNERAL OF
LIEUT. HERBERT E. ANDERSON
Concourse is Declared By Older Residents To Be The
Largest Ever Assembled in Defiance For Similar Services
...Soldiers of America's three wars, relative and friends packed the auditorium while thousands remained outside waiting to accompany the body to the cemetery.
The service was conducted by Rev. Benjamin F. Hoeffer of the Zion's English Lutheran Church...
At the grave the Herbert E. Anderson Post No. 117, American Legion lowered their comrade with Legion ritual service. General William V. McMaken of Toledo, Major Harry Lowry of Napoleon, and a number of captains, lieutenants, and other officers of the 147th Infantry were present to pay respects to their fellow leader.
Members of Family Present
Members of the immediate family present were: Mr and Mrs. Albert Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Anderson and other brother, Dewey Anderson and three sisters, Miss Esther, Miss Dorothy and Miss Marie...
Vice Post Commander Roger H. Blue read the ritual and Chaplain McLain offered prayer for the rest of the weary soul as the body was lowered into the grave.
Salute and Taps
A three-volley salute announced that a comrade had at last found his rest after three years after the fatal day duty had called him to make the full measure of sacrifice while leading his company.
As the multitude stood with uncovered heads bowed in reverence and comrades of many conflicts held respectful salute, James Conroy blew taps over the body at peace with friends in his homeland.
The march to the cemetery was led by Clarence Nestleroad and Walter Cox mounted fellow soldiers with Lt. Anderson. Then came the Elks Band playing the funeral dirge.
The National Emblem was carried aloft by John Hale, while Brainard Malley bore the Herbert E. Anderson American Legion Post colors. Color guards were August Haselswart and F. O.Rotsel...
then the pall bearers...
Next came the flower bearers who were James Gilbert. Joseph Relyea, Elsworth Florence, Edward Weisenburger, Orville McCullough, Harvey Bennett, Clarence Ressler, and Harvey Flentje.
The firing squad in charge of Sgt. L.W. Pollock were Elmer Fessel, Ralph Karr, Howard Blue, Jesse Hellard, Elmer Miller, Ellsworth Florence, Paul Bauer and Russel Title.
Three hundred soldiers in uniform, many of whom were of the 37th Division were in the line of march. Hundreds of cars filled with Defiance friends and many from surrounding towns brought up the rear.
Thousands of others walked to the cemetery..."
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| Riverside Cemetery |
A few months later, the Crescent-News reported from Zion Lutheran Church on December 5, 1921:
"In a special congregational meeting yesterday, the Ladies Aid of his church received permission to contract for a pipe organ which will be installed in the church. The organ is not only a tribute to the Ladies Aid but is a memorial to Herbert E. Anderson who died fighting for his country on foreign fields. A substantial donation by Albert Anderson and family made the instrument possible."
(Thanks to the eagle-eyed folks from the Veterans Office who spotted a couple of omissions in our World War I monument lineup...You know who you are!)
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