Major George B. Knapp – World War One Veteran

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Marion High School Class of 1898

George Brunton Knapp was born on 4 May 1880, in Marion, Ohio. George B. Knapp was the oldest son of James A. Knapp & Rosetta (Tavenner). George’s Grandfather, John R. Knapp was an early settler of Marion County, as well as a former mayor and postmaster of the city.
George B. Knapp graduated from Marion High School in 1898. He would work as a reporter for the Marion Tribune upon graduation from high school. Throughout his civilian career he would work in the field of journalism, office supplies and printing.
George B. Knapp was married 4 May 1907, to Miss Edna (DeWolfe).
George would continue the family tradition of military service. His great-grandfather, William Knapp of New York, was a private in the New York militia and a minute man during the Saratoga campaign in the Revolutionary War. George’s Grandfather, John R. Knapp, also of New York, was a veteran of the War of 1812.
George B. Knapp does not appear to have served during the Spanish-American War or the Border Campaign, but he did assist in the planning of the homecoming for D Company, when they returned from the Border Campaign, in March of 1917.

1st Lt. George B. Knapp

George B. Knapp was enlisted as a private with D Company, 4th Infantry on 21 August 1899; he made Corporal on 7 December 1899; and Sergeant on 16 January 1900. Knapp would become a First Lieutenant on 7 August 1900. Sometime after, George B. Knapp would become a Captain and have command of D Company.
But when The Great War broke out he is shown to enlisted again as a private and attended the first officer training camp in Indiana. He would report to Fort Benjamin Harrison, in May of 1917. By 15 August 1917, Knapp would be a Captain of Infantry and was ordered to report to Camp Sherman. On 31 December 1917, Knapp would be promoted to Major. As a Major, he would command two different battalions of the 330th Infantry, and also would later command the 330th Infantry Regiment at different periods during 1918 and 1919. Major George B. Knapp would serve overseas from June 1918 to January 1919, with the 83rd Division. He would again become regimental commander of the 330th Infantry upon his return to Camp Sherman until his discharge on 31 March 1919. After his Honorable discharge from the Army, he would return to Marion, Ohio, and work in real estate. He would serve as Head of the Chamber of Commerce, President of Marion Real Estate Board, serve as secretary of the Vernon Heights Realty Company, Vice Chair of the Marion Chapter American Red Cross, and on the executive committee of the Harding Memorial Association. Under the administration of Mayor T. F. Andrews, Knapp would serve as the Director of Public Safety in Marion, Ohio. In 1928 Knapp was on the primary ballot for Congressman of Ohio’s 8th District as a Republican.
George B. Knapp would die on 1 March 1929, at his home in Marion, Ohio. Knapp would be recognized for his civic activities and his military service while he laid in state. He would be buried with full military honors at the Marion Cemetery on 4 March 1929.

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Major George B. Knapp

MAJOR GEORGE B. KNAPP
TELLS ABOUT HIS TRIP
Captain of the Boat Going Over Is
Acquaintance of Dombaugh.


SEES DAN LAMARCHE AND
EARL SYCKS EVERY DAY


Billeted in Picturesque French
Town of 2,000 People – Sees
Other Countries.


James A. Knapp today received a letter dated, July 4, from his son, Major George B. Knapp, of the 330th infantry, now in France.
This letter is as follows:
“Just time to let you know I am well and that everything is well with us here. We are billeted in a beautiful, quaint old French village of about 2,000 souls, and as we are the first troops of our army to be billeted in this town, the people here seem to be as interested in our army as we are in these people.
“Our trip during the past month has been full of interest and we have had some experiences that all the men will always look back upon as real days in their lives. The time we spent in England was, I think the most interesting part of our journey to this point, I was on leave a while, while in England, and saw a little of Liverpool and South Hampton and Winchester. My visit to Winchester was by far the most interesting.
“We have also seen a little some of the other countries and while we have been on the go most of the time I have had opportunity for some side trips during our travels, while the troops were resting and camps for short periods.
“I had command of all the troops on board the ship we came over on and while too busy all the time to be seasick. I spent three hours each day after meals with the captain of the ship and my association with him made the trip more interesting and pleasant as well. He knew Allen Farqueher, of Bucyrus, at the naval academy and also Captain Dombaugh and his executive officer was in the same class with Reinecke of Marion, at Annapolis
“I see Dan LaMarche and Earl Sycks every day. I saw Fred Scott last night for a few moments. He is not far from us with his regiment.
“Hope everything is O. K. I will be glad to hear from you at any time. “

The Marion Daily Star dated 8-5-1918

Pvt. George H. Shuster Dies in Service, 1898.

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George H. Shuster was born 13 March 1872, in Delaware, Ohio. His parents were George A. & Olive (Strickney) Shuster. George H. Shuster was not listed in The Marion Daily Star article covering G Company’s forming up just prior to departing for Camp Bushnell. Shuster may have joined with the second call or transferred into the company later. Pvt. George H. Shuster was with the 4th O. V. I. when it captured the city of Guayama, Puerto Rico, on 5 August 1898. He would remain with G company until they reached Ohio. Shuster was admitted to a Hospital in Delaware, Ohio, where he died of typhoid fever on 5 December 1898. Pvt. George H. Shuster is buried in Soldier’s Circle at Oak Grove Cemetery, Delaware, Ohio.
At this time the author is not aware of an Honor Roll, for those who died in service in the War with Spain, in Marion, Ohio. But there is a memorial bearing the names of those from Fourth Ohio, who died in service. The Memorial of the 4th O. V. I. in Guánica, Puerto Rico.

CM3 Elmore E. Foos Dies in Service, 1953

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Elmore Elsworth Foos was the son of Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Foos. Elmore E. Foos was bon 15 November 1932, in Grand Prairie Township, Marion County, Ohio. Foos was a 1950 graduate of Harding High School. Foos enlisted into the United States Navy in 1951. Foos graduated from basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. He attended training to be a mechanic for a mobile construction battalion. He became a member of the Seabees and attained the classification of Construction Mechanic Third Class (CM3).
CM3 Elmore E. Foos was stationed at Davisville, Rhode Island. Foos had previously served tours in Cuba and Africa. Foos was killed in a motor vehicle accident near Brownsville, Texas, while sightseeing with other servicemen. He would die on 18 July 1953.
CM3 Elmore E. Foos is buried at Grand Prairie Cemetery, Brush Ridge, Marion County, Ohio.
Elmore E. Foos is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park in Marion, Ohio.

James H. Couts – Spanish American War Casualty (1898)

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James H. Couts was born in Bucyrus, Ohio, in 1880. His parents were Charles & Hattie (Mehaffey) Couts. His parents appear to have died while he was still a minor. At 16 years of age he would live with a W. A. Reeser, west of Bucyrus, Ohio. At 19 he would move to Marion, Ohio, and live with his aunt, Mrs. Thomas Markey.
James H. Couts was mustered in to G Company, 4th O. V. I. on 22 June 1898. Pvt. Couts would move with the 4th O. V. I. for training and then serve with them in Puerto Rico, during the War with Spain. Couts would have been with the regiment when they were involved in skirmishes and action that captured Guayama on 5 August 1898. He would become ill and be moved to the Division Hospital in Guayama, Puerto Rico, on 29 August 1898. He died of his illness at Ponce Puerto Rico, on 23 September 1898.
Pvt. James H. Couts was placed in a vault in for six weeks. His body would have been shipped back to family if they so desired. But at the time the government had plans to maintain a national cemetery in Puerto Rico. The Marion Daily Star article covering the return of G Company to Marion, indicates the remains Pvt. James H. Couts were at Ponce, Puerto Rico.
There is a grave marker for James H. Couts at the Marion Cemetery. At this time the author is not aware of an Honor Roll, for those who died in service in the War with Spain, in Marion, Ohio. But there is a memorial bearing the names of those from the 4th O. V. I., who died in service. See the Fourth Ohio Memorial, in Guánica, Puerto Rico.

Private Charles E. Sweeney – World War Two Casualty

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Charles Eugene Sweeney was born on 23 April 1915, to Charles P. & Lillian M. (Corfield) Sweeney of Chauncey, Ohio. Sweeney was married to Antoinette Sweeney who was living in Marion, Ohio, at the time of his death.
Prior to entering the United States Army, Sweeney was employed with the Marion Steam Shovel Company. Sweeney was drafted into service. He would enter service on 22 September 1943, and begin serving overseas on 20 March 1944. His wife, Antoinette (Gibson) Sweeney, would receive her last communications with him just three days before he was listed as missing in action. In this letter he stated that he was part of an infantry unit that would be heading to Rome. It was not be until July of 1944, that she would be notified that he was killed in action on 28 May 1944. His death would come in the area of Anzio Beach. He was serving with the 180th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division.
Private Charles E. Sweeney is buried in the West Union Street Cemetery, Athens, Ohio.
Charles E. Sweeney is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park in Marion, Ohio;
on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse; and on the World War II Veterans Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.