ANDERSON, W. H.
Linn Grove

Born July 17, 1886.  Enl. January, 1918.  Pvt. Signal Corps. Aviation Section.  Trained: Jefferson Barracks.  Died at Jefferson Barracks, March 24, 1918.  Buried at Havanah, North Dakota.

 

 
ANTONSEN, JOHN L.
Maple Valley Township

Enl. May 13, 1918.  Pvt. Co. D, 102d Inf. 26th Div.  Trained: Jefferson Barracks; to Waco, Texas; to Camp Merrit.  Sailed August 18 from New York; landed Brest August 25.  Was with Co. K, 55th Inf. one week; to camp in interior of France; transferred to 102nd Regt., 26th Div.  August 31; September 4 to front lines; hiked every night for a week to reach front lines; at St Mihiel September 10; into action at 8 a. m. September 12.  To Verdun October 22.  Killed in action October 24.

 

 BENGSTON, GOTTFRIED
Albert City

Born September 8, 1891.  Enl. February 25, 1918. Pvt. Co. E, 351st Inf. 88th Div.  Trained Camp Dodge.  Died at Camp Dodge May 1, 1918, of pneumonia.  Buried at Fairfield Township Cemetery, Albert City, Iowa.

 

 BRAZEL, JOHN F.
Sioux Rapids

Born April 19, 1888.  Enl. April 9. 1917.  Fireman 2d cl., on U. S. S. Montana. Trained:  G. L. N. T. S.; on Montana patrolling coast of Atlantic.  Promoted from fireman 3d cl. to fireman 2d cl.  Died on Hospital Ship at Norfolk, Va., July 21, 1918.  Buried in Lone Tree Cemetery, Sioux Rapids, Iowa.

 

 BRIGHT, CLAUDE LEANDER
Sioux Rapids

Born January 13, 1895.  Enl. April 27, 1918.  Pvt. Co. B, 307th Inf. 90th Div.  Trained: Camp Dodge; at Camp Travis; to Camp Mills.  Sailed from New York June 19; ship had to put in at Halifax for ten days; sailed again July 4; landed Liverpool, July 15.  To rest camp at Winchester; to Argonne at Bar-le-Duc four weeks.  Went to St. Mihiel; over top September 12, facing heavy artillery fire, under fire sixty days without relief; to Argonne Forest; wounded October 25 at 3:30 a. m. and removed from field at 9:00 p. m. of the 26th; to hospital; died November 2.  Buried in France.  Pvt. Bright was given the honor of being one of the best in his organization in bayonet drill and rifle range practice; he was commanding the company when wounded and was scheduled for promotion to corporal; out of 250 men in his company only 50 were left at the time of the armistice.  He was wounded in shoulders, both arms, and right side.

 

 BYAM, OLIVER F.
Lee Township

Born August 14, 1895.  Enl. June 25, 1916.  2d Lieut., Instructor in 146th M. C. Bn.; with 7th Inf. 3d Div. at time of death. Trained; with 2d Idaho N. G., 2d Idaho Inf., Gooding, Idaho — not assigned — on border duty from July 1916 to January 25, 1917; enlisted in regular army August 5, 1917; promoted to Sgt. April 26, 1917; to 2d Lieutenant, October, 1917; to Ogden, Utah; to Boise, Idaho; to Camp Greene; to Camp Mills; to Camp Merritt.  Sailed January 8, 1918; landed in France. Instructor in 146th Machine Gun Bn. at Selles-sur-Cher until September 1.  Killed in Argonne Forest while with the 7th Inf. 3d Div. at Cunel, October 20, 1918.  Buried on battlefield, Cunel.  Lieut. Byam was cited as follows:  For extraordinary heroism in action near Cunel Heights, France, October 11, 1919.  Upon his own initiative Lieut. Byam moved his machine gun platoon through heavy artillery and machinegun fire 400 meters in advance of the front line and from there opened fire on the enemy, who was holding our advance, displaying exceptional bravery in holding this position against several hostile attacks.  This officer was later killed by machine gun fire while leading a patrol against the enemy's line.

¹Eilers, Tom D.  Buena Vista's Part in the World War.  Storm Lake, 1920, p. 15.