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World War I, Comanche County, Kansas


The Western Star, July 27, 1917.

The Great Army Draft Has Been Made.
Comanche County's Honor Roll

More Volunteers.

Harry Holt recently returned from Wichita when he joined Battery F of the Field Artillery, the same battery in which James Crawford and Ray Bachman have enlisted. They will report for duty on August 5.

Thirteen young men from Protection and vicinity went to Wichita on Monday with the view of enlisting in the U. S. Army. About half of them were near the top of the list of drafted men and probably would have had to go, anyway. They preferred to go as volunteers. Among the number were: Geo. Brock, Geo. Morris, Rufus and Leroy Leiter, Lyle Gray, Andrew Shaw, Carl Winn and Jack Peacock.

It is understood that all who have volunteered since last Friday, when the drawing took place, will be credited on the county's quota in case another draft is made.

Roy Gates is now a member of the U. S. Marines, stationed at Port Royal, S. C. He volunteered a few weeks ago.

The Great Army Draft Has Been Made.

In all the history of this country; it is probable that never before has there been such a general interest in any one event as was shown in the drawing by Government authorities on last Friday of names registered on June 5 to determine the order of liability to military service of those who may be subject to being drafted. It is a momentous event, bringing as it did to millions of people a significance and a fullness of meaning never before experienced. The drawing of the numbers began at 9:30 a.m. and continued until after midnight Friday. The first authentic information in regard to the numbers drawn reached this city early Saturday morning, and it was then that the interest began to become tense. The newspaper offices and other news centers were besieged for information. Telephones were kept busy, and a very short time result of the drawing was generally known. To be sure there was considerable anxiety, felt in many a home, but be it said to the credit of our people that the spirit of the "slacker" does not exist here. There appears to be ready and cheerful compliance on the part of every one with the requirements imposed by the Government, even in this critical hour. Already the response by Comanche Co., young men has been prompt and loyal, as is shown by the large number of volunteers. Comanche Co., is with Uncle Sam in his efforts to help rid the world of autocracy.

We print this week on page 4 a complete list of the numbers showing the order in which they were drawn. Only the first 200 names drawn (as far as the numbers apply to this county) are printed, as it is not probable that those whole serial numbers are above 200 will be summoned before the local board at this time, but all the 391 numbers are given in the order in which they were drawn. The official notice from Washington has not yet been received here, and it is probable that in the unofficial report given a few errors have occurred. If so, the same will be corrected next week.

As soon as the local Registration Board receives the certified list same will be posted and notices will be sent to the first 76 or more persons drawn. These people will be required to appear before the local board for physical examination within 7 days after the posting of the lists.

Comanche-co.'s Honor Roll.

The great Army Draft, by which the order of liability for service in Uncle Sam's new army of 687,000 men was held in Washington on last Friday. Three weeks ago each person who registered on June 5 was given a number by the local board. In Comanche-co. these numbers begin at 1 and run consecutively to 591, which is the total number of registrants in this county. In this way the men between the specified ages in every county or district in the United States was numbered. of course in some counties and city districts the total is much larger than in this county. During the drawing every number was drawn, but the order in which they were determines each person's liability to be called to the colors, exemption rights, of course, being considered. Beginning with the first number drawn, each person, in consecutive order, will, during the next few days, be called before the local board for physical examination and for definite instructions as to further procedure. Comanche-co.'s total quota of men to be furnished is given as 61. The number of volunteers from this county to date is about one third that number, so there remains to be chosen only about 38 men. It is probable that the full quota will be filled from the first 200 men drawn, the names of whom are printed below. The names were drawn in order shown by the numbers to the left of the names. The "serial" number of each will be found to the right of the name.

(Corrected list is below, August 3, 1917)

The official notice of the recent big draft for Uncle Sam's New National Army was received in this city from Washington the latter part of last week. A comparison of the list with the lists at first reported by the daily paper revealed a few errors in the lists as heretofore printed. Below we give correct list. The 591 numbers in this county are shown in the order in which they were drawn. Only the first 200 names drawn are printed.

First 200 Comanche-co. Men to be Called.

1. Lawrence York, 258
2. Nat Campbell, 458
3. Fred Warren Wallace, 337
4. George Warren Brock, 275
5. Ernest Cathrae, 509
6. Joseph J. Hopkins, 564
7. Wm. H. Scott Farmer, 536
8. Oral O. Darnell, 548
9. Ernest Clifton Wood, 126
10. Clarence E. Byers, 107
11. Clarence F. Nichols, 373
12. Charles R. Brewer, 486
13. Fred Jasper Jenkins, 507
14. Charles Jellison, 309
15. Gilbert W. Sell, 437
16. Leo Unruh, 43
17. Ray Mann, 420
18. Fred Lenertz, 514
19. Lee Drake, 433
20. Frank P. Scholle, 10
21. Charles G. Haldeman, 487
22. Bruce McLaughlin, 140
23. Clayton B. Drake, 432
24. Robert Dunn, 18
25. Loyd W. Korf, 182
26. Vernon W. Pepperd, 513
27. Harry V. Boshell, 46
28. Walter R. Johnston, 223
29. Arthur G. Eaton, 117
30. Jose Lopez, 390
31. Frank G. Cromley, 75
32. Earl O. Peeler, 280
33. Rufus Leiter, 332
34. Fred E. Ridenour, 379
35. Elster M. Dorman, 542
36. George Schmidt, 194
37. George W. Hiatt, 552
38. Elmer G. Lawrence, 298
39. R. Myatt, 343
40. George R. Herd, 15
41. James Roark, 452
42. Wyatt B. Jellison, 355
43. Leo S. Ward, 530
44. Hiram P. Deewall, 218
45. Paul R. Beitler, 550
46. Manley M. Troyer, 574
47. Ernest W. Miller, 31
48. Daniel N. Jackson, 525
49. Ivan J. Hillis, 183
50. Frank V. Harter, 56
51. Emmet Bennett, 5
52. Elmer L. Potter, 350
53. Albert C. Oller, 54
54. George A. Johnson, 549
55. Nathaniel Weddle, 440
56. James W. Septer, 269
57. Charles F. Reed, 335
58. James Ferguson, 493
59. George S. Morris, 341
60. Alphonso Vera, 391
61. Noah Zimmerman, 353
62. Hugo T. Mockry, 360
63. Jesse C. Brock, 571
64. Isow R. Edwards, 488
65. John E. Rohr, 72
66. John W. Fish, 356
67. L. C. Marshall, 112
68. Lawrence E. Sanders, 128
69. Charles A. Scholle, 11
70. Earl Fletcher, 363
71. Melvin E. Patterson, 6
72. John W. Dauma, 327
73. Ollie M. Wilkerson, 93
74. Thomas E. Linton, 345
75. Albert W. Seaman, 103
76. Ira B. Goff, 556
77. M. O. Parcel, 154
78. Jasper L. Morris, 51
79. Henry T. Waller, 30
80. William F. Dunlap, 199
81. Roman Gavisia, 388
82. Roman Yrega, 406
83. John W. Wallace, 519
84. Jake Kindsvater, 25
85. Arthur H. Schrock, 392
86. Abigael Acosta, 383
87. Howard Miller, 588
88. Paul Hooley, 576
89. Chas. E. Joines, 122
90. Jas. F. Holloway, 222
91. Jas. T. Adams, 297
92. Morris C. Bard, 321
93. Fred L. Baxter, 368
94. Ira M. Edwards, 320
95. George R. Brown, 121
96. Eli C. Williams, 221
97. Wm. W. Riner, 292
98. Homer Edwards, 504
99. Ollie H. Ward, 470
100. Harry Clayborn, 312
101. John H. Canfield, 90
102. Chas. Vulgamore, 191
103. Lois R. Scott, 477
104. Harry T. White, 130
105. Jess Crawford, 168
106. Benjamin F. Rambolt, 424
107. Edgar L. Franklin, 175
108. Ralph F. Hazen, 300
109. Frederick O. Riley, 278
110. Owen U. Hinman, 524
111. Frederick Murphy, 532
112. Lewis Guyett, 336
113. David L. Laker, 212
114. Perry A. May, 49
115. Lorren R. Lytle, 8
116. Floyd H. Hillman, 305
117. Foy R. Cosby, 557
118. Charles Schweiter, 585
119. Reuben Tinkler, 323
120. William B. King, 438
121. George T. Brown, 441
122. Neal Simonds, 357
123. Jacob B. Groves, 23
124. Jesse G. Davis, 331
125. Frank Fred Schenk Jr., 492
126. Ferman E. Sayers, 565
127. Frank P. Adams, 539
128. Chas. M. Stein, 349
129. Jack Hunter, 562
130. George E. Kennedy, 501
131. Roy O. Johnson, 102
132. Gurney T. Hadley, 86
133. Robert M. Whitney, 71
134. Edward L. Burghardt, 555
135. Ralph B. Todd, 506
136. Gray Reed, 435
137. Oscar C. Walker, 450
138. Lewis E. Holland, 113
139. Carl Wingert, 156
140. Wm. E. Nicholson, 276
141. Herman W. Sloop, 567
142. Chas. E. Carrington, 421
143. Alfred T. Elvin, 169
144. Chas. G. Sherman, 436
145. Jose Gallardo, 396
146. Arthur D. Gamon, 257
147. Leonard A. Zeitler, 155
148. Carl Vincent, 284
149. Chesney Stewart, 183
150. Fred B. Harbaugh, 185
151. Talbert C. Miller, 265
152. Fred L. Cosby, 285
153. George W. Gilmore, 560
154. Joseph A. Weeks, 303
155. Lewis C. Miller, 563
156. Wm. B. Patterson, 211
157. Bert R. Zimmerman, 146
158. Harold D. Powell, 229
159. Chas. H. Simmons, 410
160. Howard P. Miles, 299
161. E. A. Bullock, 58
162. Grover W. Wallace, 150
163. Donald J. Overocker, 19
164. Oscar F. Becker, 400
165. Clarence J. Bennett, 4
166. Wm. W. Williams, 115
167. Chas. W. Sanford, 206
168. Jacob C. Huffman, 228
169. Elbert E. Behler, 136
170. Owen H. Robinson, 430
171. Jacob I. Kimes, 328
172. Fred McDonald, 96
173. Harry Hornbaker, 570
174. Ottoe C. Bain, 544
175. John H. Sealey, 138
176. Tom F. Williams, 91
177. Harrison L. Dunn, 17
178. Arnold Mauck, 378
179. Clifford VanWey, 237
180. John J. Russell, 422
181. Harry L. Osborne, 344
182. Fred Arthur Ferrin, 442
183. Emmett H. Fisher, 202
184. Ira Metzker, 164
185. Roy Whitney, 268
186. Willie C. Blue, 272
187. Orville C. Walker, 407
188. John W. Burnette, 262
189. Peter Ratzliff, 566
190. Chas. S. Hopkins, 581
191. Sherman C. Cutsinger, 311
192. James D. Starin, 124
193. Russel H. Washburn, 481
194. Fred L. Thompson, 582
195. Chas. W. Thrall, 240
196. Frank L. Todd, 499
197. Jacob C. Taves, 590
198. Clarence L. Shearer, 444
199. Alonzo Vincent, 326
200. Walter W. Ferrin, 447


"In early 1917, the United States declared war on Germany. In the first months of the American participation in World War I, enthusiasm was strong but volunteer enlistment into the army was modest. Consequently, a draft was instituted to bring in the needed number of men. On three designated registration days in 1917 and 1918, approximately 24-million civilian men born between 1872 and 1900 provided information for draft registration cards. More than 80% of these civilians received exemptions or deferrals, and they were thus never called for military service."
-- World War I Draft Registrations at RootsWeb.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!

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