U.S.S. Texas, Nov.
24, 1918
Dear Sister:
Well, I thought I would drop you a few lines tonight being it is Sunday.
Censorship is lifted now so a person can write a decent letter.
I am well and I hope this finds you the same. The news now is that we leave for
the states the end of this week, but I can’t believe it and a person can’t tell
much about what you hear.
I put in application for discharge today but there’s lots going to be disappointed
for nearly every one of the black gang was up there.
I’m in for Duration but I told them I was need on the farm so I think I stand a
pretty good show. I’ll surely be glad if I can leave this place. Edinburgh is a
pretty place but far behind a city in the States.
I was on the list for a furlough over here but I guess they are not going to
give any more and I’d rather get on in the States.
A pound over
here goes about as far as a dollar bill at home.
There were some
French sailors and officers on board to-day.
I had a chance
to see some of the German fleet. We went out ninety miles off Bay Island last
Thursday, where we met them. They had to surrender or fight so we brought them
into the Firth of Forth river and they are just outside the sub-nets. The only
ship we lost was censor ship. I guess they are going to put me and another guy
in the brig, Thanksgiving, so the rest can get something to eat. I believe I
weigh 180 now, I don’t know for sure but I weighed 173 lbs. when I left the
hospital.
We left the
States on my birthday, July 14, and maybe I didn’t watch that shore as long as
I could see it. When it went out of sight we didn’t see any more land for 10
days and that was nothing but little hills and rocks and mixture. There’s one
little town they’ve got an iron fence around the only tree on the island. I
guess it’s the Orkney Island north of Scotland. I haven’t seen hardly a board
since I left U.S. Everything is made of rock and cement.
There are about
1500 men on this ship, about 450 being firemen.
I think I would
have to work harder if I was on a transport. There’s lot more regulation on a
battleship than there is on a transport.
When I get up
in the morning I’ll have to turn into fire room No. 3. The fire rooms on this
ship are nearly all painted white. Some swell looking place when it’s rigged up
for Admiral Inspection. Brass work and white paint to handle soft coal in!
One of these
ships is just like a town – black smith shop, electrical shops, laundry,
canteen, carpenter and paint shops and firerooms and engine rooms, besides a
few more things.
I rate a
Foreign Service Chevon. They are gold and we are supposed to get them after
being in foreign service three months. I’d be willing to go without mine if
they’d turn me loose when I get back.
Well, here’s
hoping I’ll eat Xmas dinner at home. I hope Louie will be home, too.
Your brother, Claude
S. Smith
Posted: February 26, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
The Victory Boys, Renville County Journal, 11-8-1918
The “Victory Boys & Victory Girls” is a new organization – an outgrowth of the needs of funds to carry on War Activities and of the enthusiasm of the young folks of our land to do their mite to encourage the older boys who have gone to the front. A nucleus of a “Victory Boys” organization was formed in the Journal office the other evening. As the organization grows, the names of the new members will be published in the Journal. Application for membership may be handedin to any member of the Journal staff or the Post Office force. Suggestions as to how to earn the money required will be cheerfully given.
Palmer Gilbertson, Harold Johnsrudand Zieberg Birk have each pledged themselves to earn and give $5.00 to the United War Fund Campaign. This entitles them to membership to the “Victory Boys”, a new boy’s organization now springing up all over the country. The purpose is to enroll every boy in the land to back their older brothers, over in France.
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Posted: February 25, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Killed in France, Fairfax Standard, December 26, 1918
The many friends in this vicinity of Captain Oscar Youngdahl better known at Professor Youngdahl will be grieved to learn of his death, which occurred in France on October 8.
Deceased put in two years of earnest work in Fairfax as superintendent of the public school, and while here gained a wide circle of close friends. He was very successful in his school’s work and a hard worker. He was here the two years preceding the close of school in June 1915.
The following account of his army life and his death is taken from the Red Wing Republican.
Mrs. Olivia Youngdahl Monday received a message from the war department announcing the sad death of her son, Captain Oscar Youngdahl at an American base hospital in France on October 8. She had previously received word of his being wounded on two occasions. Cablegrams and letters sent him remained unanswered and the message from the war department was the first word of him to reach her in months. Previous to this time letters had from him at regular intervals.
That the young officer had a premonition that he would probably lose his life was shown in his last letter home in which he told his mother how his trunks and other valuables in France could be secured in case anything happened to him. He also stated that he had been recommended to the war department for a captain’s commission. This honor was conferred upon him before his death, the war department informed Mrs. Youngdahl.
Mr. Youngdahl graduated from the Ft. Snelling officers’ training school receiving a commission as first lieutenant and being among the first American fighters to go overseas. He saw active service on several fronts and was in the thickest of the fighting during the great offensive this summer and fall.
Captain Youngdahl was a young man of the highest character and was well known in educational circles having served as superintendent of schools in a number of Minnesota towns. His love and regard for his mother were touchingly revealed in his letters home and the many steps taken to add to her comfort. Members of the family have the sincere sympathy of the community in their great loss.
Editor’s Note: We do not have a photograph of Captain Oscar Youngdahl.
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Posted: February 24, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Compiling State War History, Morton Enterprise, 12-20-1918
Story of Minnesota’s Share in Great War to be Made Permanent Record
A meeting of the Minnesota War Records Commission, which was authorized by the Public Safety Commission and appointed by Governor Burnquist, will hold another meeting at the Historical Building, St. Paul, on December 20th, to consider further plans for making Minnesota’s record in the great war an important feature of the state’s history.
Between thirty and forty counties in the state have so far been thoroughly organized to handle this important work. Every county well eventually have its own history compiles and without a double every patriotic and public spirited citizen will be interested sufficiently to co-operate willingly in the compilation of our own county’s war record with those who are placed in charge of the work.
Questionnaires will soon go out to all county supervisors of the work which, after being properly filled out, will tell to the last detail the story of every man’s part in the war that had been in the service from this county.
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Last Updated: February 24, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Letter from Claude Smith, Morton Enterprise, December 20, 1918
U.S.S. Texas, Nov. 24, 1918
Dear Sister:
Well, I thought I would drop you a few lines tonight being it is Sunday. Censorship is lifted now so a person can write a decent letter.
I am well and I hope this finds you the same. The news now is that we leave for the states the end of this week, but I can’t believe it and a person can’t tell much about what you hear.
I put in application for discharge today but there’s lots going to be disappointed for nearly every one of the black gang was up there.
I’m in for Duration but I told them I was need on the farm so I think I stand a pretty good show. I’ll surely be glad if I can leave this place. Edinburgh is a pretty place but far behind a city in the States.
I was on the list for a furlough over here but I guess they are not going to give any more and I’d rather get on in the States.
A pound over here goes about as far as a dollar bill at home.
There were some French sailors and officers on board to-day.
I had a chance to see some of the German fleet. We went out ninety miles off Bay Island last Thursday, where we met them. They had to surrender or fight so we brought them into the Firth of Forth river and they are just outside the sub-nets. The only ship we lost was censor ship. I guess they are going to put me and another guy in the brig, Thanksgiving, so the rest can get something to eat. I believe I weigh 180 now, I don’t know for sure but I weighed 173 lbs. when I left the hospital.
We left the States on my birthday, July 14, and maybe I didn’t watch that shore as long as I could see it. When it went out of sight we didn’t see any more land for 10 days and that was nothing but little hills and rocks and mixture. There’s one little town they’ve got an iron fence around the only tree on the island. I guess it’s the Orkney Island north of Scotland. I haven’t seen hardly a board since I left U.S. Everything is made of rock and cement.
There are about 1500 men on this ship, about 450 being firemen.
I think I would have to work harder if I was on a transport. There’s lot more regulation on a battleship than there is on a transport.
When I get up in the morning I’ll have to turn into fire room No. 3. The fire rooms on this ship are nearly all painted white. Some swell looking place when it’s rigged up for Admiral Inspection. Brass work and white paint to handle soft coal in!
One of these ships is just like a town – black smith shop, electrical shops, laundry, canteen, carpenter and paint shops and firerooms and engine rooms, besides a few more things.
I rate a Foreign Service Chevon. They are gold and we are supposed to get them after being in foreign service three months. I’d be willing to go without mine if they’d turn me loose when I get back.
Well, here’s hoping I’ll eat Xmas dinner at home. I hope Louie will be home, too.
Your brother, Claude S. Smith
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Posted: February 24, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Flag Received Monday, Morton Enterprise, 12-20-1918
The following letter together with a Fourth Liberty Loan flag was received by the chairman of the Fourth Liberty Loan for the village of Morton, Minn.
Buffalo Lake, Minn., December 11, 1918
Dear Sir:
In appreciation of the Loyalty and Fourth Liberty Loan bond sales in your village, your government herewith present your village with a Fourth Liberty Loan Service flag, showing 6 stars, the stars stand for percentage of distribution of bonds per capita as per record of Minneapolis office of your village. This flag is the property of your village and when your boys return home “from over there” this flag should be displayed, thereby showing the boys, that you have backed them up here at home, while they were fighting for us. I congratulate your village, and you as chairman, upon the splendid showing in the last bond sale. It was not a one man’s job, and had the boys not waded in with the whim they did, our county might have failed in its efforts to reach its allotment. I beg to remain, Yours very truly, F. G. Nellermoe, County Chairman
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