Some Gave All

Some Gave All In Honor Of Nicolas William Meyer

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By Charles Micheals

This book is provided free of charge. However, if you would like to make a gift to the ongoing work of the author and his work with Wycliffe Bible Translators and help cover the cost of producing this book and others like it, please go to: Supporting Charles and Barbara Micheals' Work With Wycliffe Bible Translators (Cover Photos – Nicholas Meyer and Diary Book courtesy of Karen DeVries, Cemetery Chapel courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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Some Gave All In Honor of Nicolas William Meyer

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© 2015 Charles J. Micheals Published by the Micheals Family Historical Society

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher.

ISBN: Pending

First Printing 2015 (Not for Sale) Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.

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Dedication To the brave men and women of the armed forces of the United States of America who have fought to preserve freedom.

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Some Gave All In Honor of Nicolas William Meyer “For the one in authority is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.”

(Romans 13:4)

No family who has sent men and women to fight in a war wants to receive news of their loved ones being injured, missing in action or killed in battle. Yet in World War I, worldwide there were over 17 million deaths and 20 million wounded making World War I among the deadliest conflicts in history of human warfare. Among the deaths of World War I,116,708 were military personnel from the United States1.

For William and Jenny Meyer, the parents who had immigrated from the Netherlands, they sent their son Nicolas off to war in May 1918 with bright hopes for a short war and a lasting peace. Just five months later, sadly were to receive news of the death of their son Nicolas in the battle of the Argonne Forest.

This short story is written to honor and preserve the memory of my family member by marriage, Nicolas William Meyer. Nicolas was the younger brother of Albert Meyer who married another Dutch immigrant, Alice Smit. Together Al and Alice Meyer raised the author’s mother Sue Aberdeen (Mejeur) Micheals after her mother Susie (Smit) Mejeur (sister to Alice) died just a few days Sue was born.

This book details first the family of Nicolas Meyer and at the end pay tribute to Nicolas who gave his life for his country. All gave some, some gave all.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I_casualties

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My thanks go to these who helped make this book possible:

❖ Alvin Mejeur, cousin of Charles Micheals. ❖ Kathleen Boldenow, cousin of Charles Micheals. ❖ Karen DeVries, cousin of Charles Micheals.

A special word of thanks goes to my wife Barb for her help during the time it took to collect material and to write this short book. She encouraged me to keep working on this project and gave advice on many practical things. She also helped with editing and proofreading. Without her help, this work would not have been completed.

(Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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The Meyer Family

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Willem (William) and Janntje (Jennie) Meijer (Meyer) William Albert and Jennie Nickolas (Bos) Meyer (originally Meijer) were immigrants from the Netherlands. to the United States. William Albert Meyer was born on May 19, 1854 at Woldendorp, Netherlands. His parents lived in the the city of Termunten in the Province of Groningen, Netherlands. William died on May 27, 1911 of cancer at his home on 1837 N. Pitcher Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Jennie Bos was born in Delfzijl, in the Province of Groningen, Netherlands (8 miles from Termunten) on March 24, 1868 and died in Kalamazoo on April 30, 1929. William and Jennie were married on April 1, 1886.

William and Jennie (Bos) Meyer (Photos courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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Jennie (Bos) Meyer

Notice of the death of William Albert Meijer (Meyer) (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

Kalamazoo, Mich., 27 May 1911

Today, my beloved husband and caring father passed away after a lengthy illness …

William Albert Meijer (Meyer)

… at the age of 57 years and 8 days. This loss is a heavy burden, but I wish to acknowledge that God does not need to give an account of His actions. The promise that He is the judge of the widows and a father of the orphans has become my comfort and strength.

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Jennie Bos’s Parents (Photos courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

Jennie Bos’s Father

After William died Jennie got remarried in 1913 to Gerrit Jonkman whose wife had died. He had children from a previous marriage, Grace Meninga, Lambert (Elizabeth) Delger and Ann Knapp.

Little other information is known about the Meyer family before they immigrated and at the time of this writing little is actually known of the family activities in the USA or when their last name began to be spelled as “Meyer”. More information will be added to this book when it becomes available.

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Map of Termunten and Delfzijl, Netherlands from 1866 - Public Domain2

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Termunten#/media/File:Termunten.gif

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2018 – William and Jentje (Jennie) Meyer’s grave (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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2018 –Gertrude Meyer, Sam Meyer, infants Hentry and Rient Meyer, William and Jentje (Jennie), Meyer’s graves (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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Children of William and Jennie Meyer William and Jennie had eleven children: Annachien (Anna), Albert, Imke (Emma), Aalltje (Alice), Nicolaas (Nicolaas or Nick), Siepko (Sam), Henderikus (Henry), Geertruida (Gertrude), Henderikus (Henry), Rient and Ane (Andrew). This book will note Nicolas at the end, even though he was not the youngest child.

(L - R) Emma Meyer, Anna Meyer, Alice Meyer, Gertrude Meyer (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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(L - R) Gertrude, Andy, Henry and Emma Meyer (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

(L – R) Jennie Bos’s Father, Anna Meyer, Jennie Smit, Jennie Bos’s Mother (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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Annachien (Anna) William Meyer Anna was born on June 22, 1887 in Cooper, Michigan. She grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan and lived there her whole life. She married James Albert Smit on January 9, 1912 in Kalamazoo at the home of the Smits at the North West Christian Reformed Church (1837 N. Pitcher Street) in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Rev. S. Elderweld married them.

Wedding photo and invitations of Jannes (James) Smit and Annachien (Anna) Meyer (Photos courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

James was a printer by trade and worked at the Upjohn company. They attended Second Christian Reformed Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Initially they lived at 1409 N. Clark Street (later called Princeton Ave.) Eventually they moved to 528 Lulu Street.

They had four children. Jennie (b, November 14, 1913, d. March 27, 1915), William (b. September 25, 1915, Married Connie Klop on April 12, 1941, d. August 1, 1967), Jennie (b. November 24, 1917, Married Louis Van Den Berge on July 17, 1941, d. June 17, 2010) and Jeanette (b. January 14, 1920, Married Floyd Diephuis on Mary 23, 1942, d. May 27, 1995).

James died on February 25, 1920 due to pneumonia following a breakout of influenza in the city.

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James and Anna Smit with two of their children, William and Jennie Smit (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

Three of James and Anna Smit’s children. (L- R) Jennie (Smit) Van Den Berg, Jeanette (Smit) Deiphuis and William (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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William (Bill) Smit as a youth. Connie (Klop) Smit with their son William Jr. (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

Louis and Jennie (Smit) VanDenBerge (Photos courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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Floyd and Jeannette (Smit) Diephuis

(L-R) Jennie, Margaret, Pete, Barbara, Patsy, John, Louis Van Den Berge (Photos courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

Louis and Jennie VanDenBerge family (Photos courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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Floyd and Jeanette Diephuis family (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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After James died, Anna married John Mejeur (b. September 2, 1882) on April 13, 1922. John was first married to Susie Smit, the younger sister of James Smit. Susie Smit died in 1920 when the author’s mother Sue Aberdeen (Micheals) Mejeur was born.

1962 - John and Anna (Meyer/Smit) Mejeur at their 40th wedding anniversary (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection

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John and Anna had two children. Maggie (b. February 7, 1923, d. October 11, 1943) and Alberta (b. July 25, 1925, Married Peter Bob Van Hout on December 30, 1948, d. October 6, 2013)

Maggie Mejeur (Photos courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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Peter Bob and Alberta (Mejeur) Van Hout

1922 - Mejeur family: (L-R) Top Row: Uko Mejeur, William Smit, Maggie Mejeur, Jennie (Smitty) Van den Berg, Jeanette Deiphuis, John Mejeur (father) Jerry Mejeur. Front Row - Jennie Noteboom, Trena Werner, Anna Mejeur (mother), Sue Micheals, Alberta Van Hout. (Photo Courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection

Anna died on and died November 4, 1965. John died on October 31. 1666.

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2013 - Chuck Micheals at James Smit and Anna (Meyer/Smit) Mejeur’s grave at Riverside Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Michigan (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

2013 – Jennie, Elizabeth and Albert Smit’s Gravestone, Riverside Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Jennie Smit is the daughter of Jannes (James) and Anna Smit and Elizabeth and Albert Smit are the children of Garret and Josie Smit.

(Photo Courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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2013 - Chuck Micheals at Maggie Mejeur and John Mejeur’s grave at Riverside Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Michigan. James Smit and Anna Mejeur’s grave is in the far background. (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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Albert William Meyer Albert was born on August 22, 1889 in Cooper, Michigan. He died in Kalamazoo, Michigan on April 18, 1972. He married Alice Smit on February 19, 1913 in Kalamazoo, Michigan (Alice was a sister to James Smit who married Anna Meyer). Rev. R. Diephuis was the minister and the wedding was held at North West Christian Reformed Church. Alice was born on February 19, 1893 in New Amsterdam, Drenthe, Netherlands (Veenoord, Drenthe, Netherlands) and died on January 12, 1970 in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Albert Meyer - Alice Smit at age 17 (Photos courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

Albert (Al) grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He finished grade five and soon found himself helping around the house and eventually with his first job in the celery fields on the Northside of Kalamazoo.

Due to Al’s friendship with Garret Smit (a younger brother to James and Susie Smit), he was introduced to Garret’s sister Alice Smit. Garret and Alice Smit’s parents were Albert and Jennie Smit who lived nearby at 1409 Clark Street (changed to Princeton Avenue). They had immigrated to America from the 27 | P a g e

Netherlands in 1902 after spending several years in Pretoria, South Africa and initially lived for several year on Woodward Avenue in several houses before moving to Clark Street.

Near the Smit’s house on Woodward Avenue, the Stapert family lived. The Staperts had a daughter Winifred who later married Sam Smith and had a daughter Barb who married the author (Charles Micheals), the great-grandson of Albert and Jennie Smit.

In 1909, Al Meyer and Garret Smit heard about work on a farm in Sioux Center, Iowa and the two young men left Kalamazoo. During this time, Garret and Al began correspondence with Alice Smit because they were lonesome. Garret didn’t stay in Iowa long and he returned to Kalamazoo. However, Al stayed in Iowa for nine months, but he too came home when Al’s father became ill. That was when Al and Alice began courting. Just before coming home on August 7, 1910, Al made his Profession of Faith in the First Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center.

1909 - First Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center, Iowa (Public Domain)

After they were married Al and Alice moved to 1912 North Edwards Street which was at the edge of the city and right next to the celery fields in Kalamazoo.

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Al and Alice Meyer’s wedding photo and first house on N. Edwards Street (Photos courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

Al and Alice Meyer and Sue (Photos courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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Al and Alice Meyer and Sue and Wilma

Al and Alice took on the responsibility of raising Sue Mejeur, the daughter of John and Susie (Smit) Mejeur after Susie died after childbirth. Al and Alice later on adopted a daughter Wilma.

Both Al and Alice were baptized members of Second Christian Reformed Church in Kalamazoo as children and as professing members as a young married couple. They moved to Birnamwood, Wisconsin and joined the Birnamwood Christian Reformed Church there. After a few years they moved to Holland, Michigan and joined Prospect Park Christian Reformed Church. They stayed in Holland a number of years and eventually moved to Parchment, Michigan and joined Parchment Christian Reformed Church. After moving to the outskirts of Kalamazoo area on Barney Road, they again joined Second Christian Reformed Church from April 5, 1944 until January 8, 1964. During that time they moved to Galesburg, Michigan to farm. After retirement in 1964 they moved back to Kalamazoo and joined Alamo Avenue Christian Reformed Church, Kalamazoo, Michigan where they stayed until they both passed away.

Al and Alice Meyer’s grave (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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Imke (Emma) Meyer Emma was born on April 2, 1892 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Before getting married, Emma worked as a Finisher at the Kalamazoo Parchment Company. She married Mr. James Pasman on August 26, 1914 by Rev. R. Diephuis in North West Christian Reformed Church. James was born December 4, 1888 in the Netherlands. They lived in Richland, Michigan near a lake and attended Trinity Reformed Church. They had two children. Emma died on November 22, 1951 in Kalamazoo and James died on September 18, 1978 in Kalamazoo.

Emma Meyer (Photos courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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Emma Pasman with sons - Gary and unknown Pasman son (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

Gary Pasman Unknown Pasman (Photos courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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Jake and Emma Pasman and son Gary Pasman and unknown person

Aaltje (Alice) Meyer Alice

was born March 8, 1894 on Vine Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Alice worked for Rev. Roelof

Diephuis by doing his books and helping him with household duties. She married Mr. Jacob (Jake) K. Vander Veen in 1920. They lived in Kalamazoo, MI off from Douglas Ave near the Todd Peppermint factory.

They attended Third Reformed Church in Kalamazoo Michigan. They had one son John who worked at a Harding’s Supermarket. Jake was born on January 31, 1896 in Kalamazoo, Michigan died on June 20, 1970.

Alice died in Kalamazoo on May 29, 1955.

Alice (Meyer) Vander Veen with unknown boy (Photos courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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Jake Vander Veen

Siepko (Sam) Meyer Sam was born on February 27, 1898 on West Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Not much is known of him, other than he died on August 25, 1915 after being struck by a train.

(L-R) Nicolas and Sam Meyer (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

The afternoon of Sam’s death, Nicolas wanted to walk the dog in the cornfield with Sam. Sam was tired and willing to go along, but grew tired and so sat down on the nearby railroad bridge while Nicolas finished walking the dog. Sam took out his harmonica and began to play and got so immersed in his playing he didn’t notice the train coming down the track. He was hit by the train and thrown from the bridge.

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After coming back from walking the dog, Nicolas looked for Sam but could not initially find him. Eventually he heard Sam coughing. When he found Sam, Sam could hardly breathe. Nicolas ran to get some men who helped carry Sam home. An ambulance took him from his home to the hospital where it was diagnosed that he had six broken ribs that had punctured his lungs. Sadly, he died shortly before midnight.

Kalamazoo Telegraph newspaper report – August 26 and 28, 1915

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2018 – Railroad bridge where Sam Meyer was killed in Parchment, Michigan – Kalamazoo River (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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The railroad bridge showing the span. (Photo Public Domain)

From the Meyer home to the bridge showing old railroad track on an angle coming up to the bridge (Photo courtesy of Google Maps)

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Riverside Cemetery in Kalamazoo, Michigan - Section Y - 314.03. For frame of reference, William Micheals is buried in section HH 046,04 and Frank & Sue Micheals are buried in Section LL 026,06. Albert & Jentje Smit and John & Anna (Smit) Mejeur are buried in Section KK. Note Nicolas is buried in France, not in Riverside Cemetery.(Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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Henderikus (Henry) William Meyer Henry was born on March 27, 1900 on N. Pitcher Street. He died January 5, 1901 due to convulsions caused by an abscess in the neck. This often occurs during or just after a bacterial or viral infection in the head or neck such as a cold, tonsillitis, sinus infection, or an ear infection. As an infection worsens, it can spread down into the deep tissue spaces in the neck or behind the throat. Without a treatment of antibiotics this can a fatal situation, which it seems it was in this situation.

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Geertruida (Gertrude) Meyer Gertrude Meyer was born October 16, 1902 in Kalamazoo, Michigan at the home of her parents at 1937 N. Pitcher Street. At age three she had an abscess on her neck caused by ulcerated teeth. At age four she had pneumonia, at age five she had Scarlet Fever and then the Measles. At age six she had pneumonia again and stomach trouble. Yet in all these difficulties God preserved her young life.

8th grade graduation photo from William’s Street Christian School Gertrude Meyer (Right) with Elizabeth Jonkman – step-sister (Left) (L-R) Gertrude, Henry and Andrew Meyer (Photos courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

She started attending William Street Christian School at age five. Her school friends were Garret Buursma, Cora Vermeulen and Katie Vandegehucht. Her teachers were Mr. Herman Stuit (he started the first Christian school in Kalamazoo), Mr. D. Drost, Mr. D. Veltman, Miss Joldersma and Miss Lydia Nakken. She

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worked at the Upjohn Pharmaceutical company for 35 years. She was a member of Second Christian Reformed Church. She never married. She died on September 10, 1964.

Younger and older photos of Gertrude Meyer (Photos courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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Gertrude Meyer’s Diary Started In 1912

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(L-R) Herman Sr.(Teacher at William Street Christian School), Nicholas, Anna, Herman Jr. (missionary in India), Senna, Minka (wife of Herman Sr.) Stuit (later Stuart) (Photo courtesy FamilySearch.com)3

Lydia Nakken – Teacher at Williams Street Christian School Graduate of Western State Normal School, Kalamazoo, Michigan4

3 4

https://familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/25940363 https://web.library.wmich.edu/DIGI/WMU_Yearbooks/1911.pdf

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2018 – Gertrude Meyer’s grave – Riverside Cemetery (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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Henderikus (Henry) William Meyer Henry was born on April 17, 1905 at the home of his parents at 1937 N. Pitcher Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He attended William Street Christian School. He married Jennie Burnham and they had two children, Janice and Marilyn. They were members of Third Christian Reformed Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Henry died on July 18, 1978 in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Henry Meyer (Photos courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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Henry and Jennie Meyer (Photos courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

(L-R) Marilyn and Janie Meyer

(L-R) Janie and Marilyn Meyer (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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Rient William Meyer Rient was born on July 11, 1906 at the home of his parents at 1937 N. Pitcher Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan and died nine days later on July 20, 1906 due to convulsions.

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Ane (Andrew) William Meyer Andrew was born on March 24, 1908 at the home of his parents at 1937 N. Pitcher Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He married Grace J. Boot in 1929. After getting married in moved to Paw Paw, Michigan where he operated a store (Meyer’s Dry Goods). They had two children, Janet (Gillen) and Betty (Drenth). When Andrew and Grace retired they lived in Deerfield, FL for a while.

Andy Meyer (Photos courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

(Photos courtesy of the Julie Alphenaar Collection)

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Grace Boot

ALL GAVE SOME,

SOME GAVE ALL In Honor of Nicolas William Meyer

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Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial Montfaucon, France

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Nicolas William Meyer Nicolas was born on March 3, 1896 (His gravestone states 1897) on Vine Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

He was the son of William and Jennie Meyer (Bos). He was a member of Second Christian Reformed Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He worked for the Kalamazoo Cold Storage Company and the Loose-Leaf Binding Company just before he entered the military service in Kalamazoo, Michigan on May 25,1918. He was sent to Camp Custer for his training. He was assigned to 337th Infantry, Company C. While overseas, he was transferred to the 7th infantry, 3rd Division, Company M where he served as a Private.

He was killed in action in the Battle of the Argonne Forest on Oct. 15, 1918 in Argonne, France. He is buried at a Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery located on the Argonne battle field.

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(Photo courtesy of the Honor Role of Kalamazoo County Book)

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(Photo courtesy of the Honor Role of Kalamazoo County Book)

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(Photo courtesy of the Honor Role of Kalamazoo County Book)

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The Battle Of The Argonne Forest Nicolas was an infantry man and assigned to the 337th Infantry Regiment, Company C.

This regiment was

part of the 85th Division in Europe in World War I. The 337th Regiment was created on August 5, 1917 and was initially assigned to the 168th Infantry Brigade as part of the 85th Division. While overseas, he was transferred to the 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Division and assigned to Company M. While the 337th Regiment did not see any major battles in World War I, the 7th Regiment, known as the Cottonbalers did.

1918 - Camp Custer where Nicolas trained for the military (Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress) 5

The 3rd Division, activated in November 1917 and nicknamed the Marne Division, fought in the AisneMarne Offensive and also the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. General Joseph T. Dickman lead the 3rd Division and on July 15, 1918 took the division into the brunt of the Meuse-Argonne battle, which was to be the last German offensive of the war. General "Black Jack" Pershing called these battles among the most brilliant pages in the annals of military history.6

The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, also known as the Battle of the Argonne Forest, was the last major battle of World War I. The entire Allied offensive stretched along the entire Western Front and was fought from September 26, 1918 until the time that the Armistice was signed on November 11, 1918, bringing an end to the war. In all, the battle raged for a total of 47 days.

5

Camp Custer, Michigan, photographed from kites, camera elevated 500 feet, Copyright claimant's address: 425 So. Wabash Ave., Chicago, Ill. Copyright deposit, Kaufmann & Fabry Co., October 29, 1918 (DLC/PP-1918:45907). Panoramic photographs (Library of Congress) (DLC) 93845487 6

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3rd_Infantry_Division_(United_States)

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The Meuse-Argonne Offensive was the largest offensive in the history of the US military. In a series of attacks, known as the Hundred Days Offensive, the battles involved 1.2 million American soldiers, and was one of a series of Allied attacks known as the Hundred Days Offensive, which brought the war to an end.

1918 - The Meuse-Argonne Offensive (Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons ) 7 The 3rd Division fought in the vicinity of the current Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial in Montfaucon and it is likely that Nicolas died in battle on or near the cemetery grounds. The cemetery holds the remains of 14,500 Americans killed in this battle and in all the battles of this offensive General Pershing lost 26,277 men who were killed and a further 95,786 men who were wounded. Thus, this offensive is the largest and bloodiest offensive for the American Expeditionary Force in World War I.

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"Meuse-Argonne Offensive - Map". Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Meuse-Argonne_Offensive_-_Map.jpg#/media/File:Meuse-Argonne_Offensive__Map.jpg

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The American losses in the offensive were significant not only because of a tough and stubborn German army, but were made much worse by the military maneuvers used during the early parts of the offensive and the inexperience of many of the military personnel.

The Battle’s First Phase - September 26 to October 3, 1918 The American attack began at 5:30 a.m. on the morning of Thursday, September 26. It was preceded by a six hour long bombardment the night before by 700 Allied tanks. In the morning the Allies advanced against German positions along the Meuse River in the Argonne Forest. The goal of the battle, comprised of 37 French and American divisions was to cut off the entire German 2nd Army.

In the first morning of battle 800 mustard gas and phosgene shells killed several hundred German soldiers and more than 10,000 German soldiers were unable to continue fighting. The second day of battle the Allies advanced into the German held area and were well supported by around 500 US aircraft and a large number of tanks.

By the third day over 23,000 German soldiers had been taken captive and by that evening that number swelled to over 33,000 prisoners. While advancing more than six miles into the German territory the Germans continued their fight and prevented the Allies many larger gains.8

As the third battle day wore on, the 3rd and 5th Corps were able to meet most of their battle objectives.

However, the 79th Infantry Division failed to capture Montfaucon in its first try and the 28th ‘Keystone’ Infantry Division was halted by the tough German military. The Allies were unable to gain any additional territory until later in the day when the 79th Division finally captured Montfaucon. On September 29 more German divisions moved into the area as the 35th Infantry Division had run low of food and ammunition during the attack.

While the Allies were held at bay to some extent the French forces were able to advance nine miles and move well into the German held areas. In the battles around Somme-Py and northwest of Reims (The Battles of Somme-Py and Saint-Thierry) the French troops were quicker, more battle ready, fought on flat

8

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/meuse-argonne-offensive-opens

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land and so gained more territory forces than those gained by the American units who were fighting in the mountains and nearby Argonne forest.

On September 30, General Pershing called off the offensive. Just four days later the fighting was renewed.

The battle offensive ahead can best be summarized in these few lines penned by an officer of the 316th Infantry:

"The road from Avocourt That leads to Montfaucon, The road, sir, packed with men A swinging fast upon The Romagne woods that lie beyond The ruined heights of Montfaucon.

North over reclaimed No-Mans Land The martyred roadway leads, Quick, with forward moving hosts And quick with valiant deeds Avenging Rheims and shattered Leige And outraged Gods and Creeds.

There lies the road from Avocourt That leads to Montfaucon, Past sniper and machine gun nests By steel and thermite cleaned- they.ve gone.

And there, in thunderous echelon, The ruined heights of Montfaucon."

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The Battle’s Second Phase – October 4 to October 28, 1918 The second phase of the battle began on October4, 1918. The 1st, 3rd and 32nd Allied Divisions replaced all of the original divisions that fought in the first phase. The 1st Division pushed through the German lines and created a gap by advancing about one and a half miles against the German 37th, 52nd, and 5th Guard Divisions. The German troops faltered though as they were exhausted by the relentless Allie attack. They were demoralized by their stunning defeat and the large loss of lives, the large number of prisoners and wounded soldiers. They were also plagued by the spreading influenza epidemic.

American Troops Marching Toward the Front, Montfaucon, October 2, 1918.9

It was during this section of the second offensive that the Lost Battalion situation occurred. The name, Lost Battalion, was given to describe the situation when nine companies of roughly 550 men of the 77th Infantry Division were trapped by German soldiers in the Argonne Forest. Around 200 men were eventually killed and 150 taken prisoner. The remaining 200 men were eventually rescued.

9

http://www.314th.org/montfaucon.html

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On October 2, the 77th Division under the direction of Major Charles White Whittlesey quickly advanced into the Argonne hills believing that the French forces were supporting their left flank and that two American units were supporting their right flank. Unfortunately, the French forces had their advanced stalled and without this knowledge Whittlesey advance his division beyond the rest of the Allied line. He quickly discovered that his troops were cut off from their supply lines and had been pinned down by German soldiers taking advantage of their positions on the surrounding 200ft. high bluffs.

Whittlesey sat pinned down for the next six days while his men used up all their food or water. Surrounded by the Germans and sustaining heavy casualties the men were forced to fight in almost unbearable conditions. While almost completely destroyed they were eventually rescued on October 7 due to an attack by the American 28th and 82nd Divisions.

328th Infantry Regiment of 82nd Infantry Division line of advance in capture of Hill 223 on October 7, 1918. (Public Domain via U.S. Army Military History Institute)

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The Americans continued a number of very costly frontal assaults against the Germany army, but finally between October 14 – 17 broke through the German Hindenburg Line in the Battle of Montfaucon. It was likely in this battle that Nicolas Meyer was killed.

In the 1927 book Doughboy Ditties - The Stretcher Bearers written by Lt. Joseph Cushing of the 314th Infantry Regiment who was wounded in the battle for Montfaucon, the writes about his agony of being wounded in the fight. This agony must have been the agony that Nicolas felt as he breathed his last.

“It burns like the Hell that the preachers Have told us about but I guess I can last until a Medic reaches Me here in this terrible mess.

It must have been two or three hours Since first I crawled into this pit To dodge from the rat-a-tat showers Those guns in the pill boxes. spit.

It pains. Yes! I guess it’s a goner; Shot close to the hip and the bone It’s splintered to shreds, here a corner Stands out from the knee cap, alone.

Oh well! It’s the left and I’m thankful.

(That sniper has started his play.

He’s peppered this hole with a bank full Of lead and I can’t get away.)

Just think- if I had them both missing I’d be a charge and a care.

If only the Medics find me Before it’s too late and they make A neat amputation then bind me I’ll call it a regular break.

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I see them! The bearers are coming, Defenseless: I revel their pluck.

That’s funny! I caught myself humming.

No wonder- I’m surely in luck.

I wish I could walk so those fetchers Of comfort could hurry on by And put on their merciful stretchers Some fellow more wounded than I.

I know (there he goes! He is aiming.

I’ll pray and I hope that I can.

What honor you dog, is there claiming The life of an ambulance man?

Grant me the strength and the power to warn; To signal these searchers for me.

The swine! One has stumbled: he falters- he’s gone.

You murderers hang to your tree.)

I know what they mean by the falling And heaping of smoldering coal.

(Wait! Someone is stealthily crawling.

I hope he discovers my hole.

Flop in. So your shoulder is wounded?

Then turn me around until I crack A shot at the devil whose hounded The men who would carry me back.)

( I knew I could do it. He’s slipping.

He’s falling. He fell to the ground.

I felt I could silence that zipping.

If someone would turn me around.)

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My leg, at the hip, and your shoulder Are sore but old man we.re alive And well not be so very much older Before stretcher- luggers arrive.

There’s cork and there’s wood and there’s fiberWhich one do you think is the best?

But I guess I’ll be just a subscriber To ones Uncle Sammy would test.

They’re coming! They’re coming to find us.

You say that you told them this pit Was here and the sniper behind usWhy man- you’re the bearer he hit?

Come here- slide around ‘til I see you.

I thought he had finished you right.

My boy, but I envy to be youAn ambulance man in the fight.

Let me shake that good hand you’ve remaining; Your armlet is noble to see.

Here men- get relief for his paining Then send someone over to me.”

On a side note, the author’s grandfather on his father’s side, William Franklin Micheals, was a male nurse in World War I in the Battle of the Argonne Forest. While the chances are remote, it is possible he helped care for Nicolas Meyer.

William Franklin Micheals (second from left) in France in World War I (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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The Battle’s Third Phase – October 29 to November 11, 1918 By the end of October, the Allies had advanced ten miles further north and had finally took control of the Argonne Forest. The French had also advanced twenty miles and had reached the Aisne River. The American forces where then reorganized into two armies. The First Army, led by General Liggett, would continue to move to the Carignan-Sedan-Mezieres Railroad.

The advance made by Liggett's First Army after November 1, 1918 (Map courtesy of the Doughboy Center)10

10

http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/hunterliggett.htm

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The Second Army, led by Lieutenant General Robert L. Bullard, was directed to move eastward towards the French town of Metz. Between these two armies, they faced various soldiers from 31 German divisions during this period of the war.

The American troops captured German defenses at Buzancy which allowed the French troops to cross the River Aisne. They quickly moved in and the took control of the French town of Le Chesne in the Battle of Chesne. In the final days of the war, the French forces conquered the town of Sedan and with it its important railroad hub. In the advance to the Meuse, on November 6 the American armies captured the surrounding hills. On November 11 the joyful news of the German armistice put a sudden end to the fighting. In all, the Battle of Meuse-Argonne left 28,000 German soldier dead. The allies had 26,277 soldiers who were killed. Of the Allied dead 14,500 were American soldiers who are buried in the MeuseArgonne American Cemetery in Montfaucon. Nicolas William Meyer was one of them. All gave some, some gave all.

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The Burial Site of Nicolas William Meyer Nicolas is buried at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial at Rue du Général Pershing, 55110 Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, France. Bud and Ardis Mejeur (Great Nephew and Niece of Nicolas) visited the gravesite in the 1960s when Bud was stationed with the military in Germany. Chuck and Barb Micheals and two of their children, Isaac Micheals and Maria (Micheals) Mishler and her baby Bryn visited the gravesite on July 22, 2015. They took along with them a photo of Nicolas and the scarf he was wearing when he died that has his blood stained on it. The photo was left at the cemetery office.

The cemetery is located on one of the fields of the Battle of the Argonne Forest. Over 14,000 American military men are buried at this cemetery which makes this cemetery the largest American cemetery in all of Europe.

His grave is in Section C, Row 35, Grave # 8.

Chuck and Barb Micheals at the gravesite (Photos courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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The Micheals and Mishler family paying respects (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

The Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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The Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery chapel (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

The chapel windows and side door (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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Inside the chapel (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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Chuck at the map of the Battle of the Argonne Forest, walk to the chapel (Photos courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

To honor those whose bodies were never found (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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Isaac Micheals and sister Maria (Micheals) Mishler and baby Bryn Mishler outside the chapel (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

The cemetery office (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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The Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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The Dutch Scarf Although Nicolas was born in the United States, yet his heart was drawn to the country of his ancestors, the Netherlands. His allegiance and duty was to the United States and yet his bond with his fellow Dutch countrymen who also fought in World War I led him to carry the scarf that was near and dear to many Dutch people.

The scarf was created as a remembrance of the Enthronement of Her Majesty Queen Wilhelmina, August 31, 1898. This was the scarf that he had with him when he died in battle. His blood from the wound is stained in this scarf.

Scarf worn by Nicolas William Meyer when he died – Blood stain still visible (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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The scarf has in the lower center the motto “JE Maintiendrai” (I will maintain) and the Coat of Arms of the House of Orange and Nassau, the Royal Family of the Netherlands. It was a phrase said by William the Silent in 1572 when he was elected the Prince of Orange and Nassau. The 11 Coat of Arms are from the 11 provinces of the Netherlands (Lower left to Lower Right – Drenthe, Overijssel, Utrecht, Gelderland, Noord - Holland, Noord - Brabant, Zuid - Holland, Zeeland, Friesland, Groningen, Limburg.

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The Queen Wilhelmina (Wilhelmina Helena Pauline Maria; 31 August 1880 – 28 November 1962) was Queen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands from 1890 to 1948. She reigned for nearly 58 years, longer than any other Dutch monarch. Her reign saw World War I and World War II, the economic crisis of 1933, and the decline of the Netherlands as a major colonial power. Outside the Netherlands she is primarily remembered for her role in World War II, in which she proved to be a great inspiration to the Dutch resistance.

Wilhelmina of the Netherlands wearing her coronation robe in 1898; painting by Thérèse Schwartze11 11

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelmina_of_the_Netherlands#/media/File:Th%C3%A9r%C3%A8se_Schwartze_013.jpg

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Wilhelmina was enthroned on August 31, 1898. On February 7, 1901 in The Hague, she married Duke Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Nine months later, on November 9, Wilhelmina suffered a miscarriage, and on 4 May 1902 she gave birth to a premature stillborn son. Her next pregnancy ended in another miscarriage on 23 July 1906.

Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Henry at their wedding12 12

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelmina_of_the_Netherlands#/media/File:Wilhelmina_of_the_Netherlands.jpg

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During this time period, Wilhelmina's heir presumptive was her first cousin once removed William Ernest, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, and next in line was his aunt (and Wilhelmina's cousin) Princess Marie Alexandrine of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach.

As it was assumed that the former would renounce his claim to the Dutch throne, and that the latter was too elderly and sickly to become Queen, Marie Alexandrine's eldest son Prince Heinrich XXXII Reuss of Köstritz stood in line to succeed Wilhelmina, assuming she had no surviving children. Heinrich was a German prince with close associations with the Imperial family and the military; and there were fears that were the Queen to remain childless, the Dutch Crown "was bound to pass into the possession of a German prince, whose birth, training, and affiliations would naturally have led him to bring Holland [sic] within the sphere of the German Empire, at the expense of her independence, both national and economic", according to one contemporary publication.

The birth of Juliana, on 30 April 1909, was met with great relief after eight years of childless marriage.

Wilhelmina suffered two further miscarriages on 23 January and 20 October 1912.13

Parents of The Queen William III (Willem Alexander Paul Frederik Lodewijk, anglicised: William Alexander Paul Frederick Louis; 19 February 1817 – 23 November 1890) was King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg from 1849 until his death in 1890. He was also the Duke of Limburg from 1849 until the abolition of the duchy in 1866.

Princess Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont (2 August 1858 – 20 March 1934) was Queen of the Netherlands and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg as the wife of King-Grand Duke William III. An immensely popular member of the Dutch Royal Family, she also served as regent for her daughter, Queen Wilhelmina, during the latter's minority.

13

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelmina_of_the_Netherlands

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The War Diary

– May 18 – October 10, 1918

Nicolas William Meyer (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

May Saturday, May 18, 1918 - I received my notice to appear for induction in the national army May 24th at 4:00 PM. Report at 8:45 AM.

Saturday, May 25 - Left town [Kalamazoo, Michigan] at 10:30 arrived at Custer 11:30 AM settled at 9:30 PM (24th Co 168th. Barracks 680, Camp Custer).

World War I Camp Custer (Photo courtesy of Library of Congress)

Sunday, May 26 - Breakfast and roll call.

Monday, May 27 - Examined and inoculated.

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Camp Custer Barracks14

Camp Custer Barracks15

14 15

http://dspace.willardlibrary.org/bitstream/handle/123456789/10755/LPC-018-005-004A.jpg?sequence=1 http://dspace.willardlibrary.org/bitstream/handle/123456789/10693/LPC-017-012-002A.jpg?sequence=1

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Tuesday, May 28 - Cleaned barracks and signed different papers personal, office, and allotment papers.

Al [Likely his brother Al Meyer], J.H. and Mrs. V. D. V. [Likely Alice (Meyer) Vander Veen – Nicolas’s sister] came to see me at 9:00 PM.

Al Meyer

Alice (Meyer) Vander Veen (Photos courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

Wednesday, May 29 - Our first drill and instruction (received some of our equipment) we got wet coming back Wednesday afternoon half-holiday.

Thursday, May 30 - Decoration day holiday at noon Gert* came here at 2:00 PM. All was quarantined in for scarlet fever. Sad news for a quick departure.

Friday, May 31 - On guard duty.

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June Sat June 1 - Fire in remount station at 5:00 AM. Drill and exercise and a hike to within a half a mile of Augusta and Saturday afternoon half-holiday. Exam every day for scarlet fever and foot inspection.

Sunday June 2 - Afman [Friends of the Meyer family] from Grand Rapids, Uncle Andrew and E. [Likely Eppe] Niewoonder [From Second Christian Reformed Church, Kalamazoo, Michigan] and bunch came out.

Afrman family in Florida (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

Monday, June 3 - Drill and exercise in AM and made out insurance papers in PM.

Tuesday, June 4 - Drill and exercise all day.

Wednesday June 5 - Drill and exercise half-holiday Ma [Likely Jennie (Bos/Meyer) Jonkman] and Babe came in the afternoon and Gert and the girls in the afternoon.

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Thursday June 6 - Up at 5:00 AM and drill till almost 3:00 PM and came in for some reason, shoes dealt out to some boys in the eve. H. Nie and P. Strikes and T. Bos [Bos family indicated here is likely from Nicolas’s mother side] came about 9:30 PM from singing school at the YMCA.

Friday, June 7 - On fire guard 11-1.

Saturday, June 8 - Strict quarantine lifted PM we got our clothing. Gert, Alice [Likely his sister Alice (Meyer) Vander Veen] and Henry [Likely his brother Henry Meyer] were over.

Henry Meyer (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

Sunday, June 9 – AM, we received our guns and equipment and worked shining them up till dinner time by 2:00 PM we were transferred and put out of quarantine.

Monday, June 10 - Drill and gun manual of arms at 3:00 PM we got our second shot and vaccination.

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Tuesday, June 11 - Drill and manual of arms, Gert came in eve with E. [Likely Eppe] Niewoonder, machine.

Wednesday, June 12 – Half-holiday and Al [Likely his brother Al Meyer] , Anna [Likely his sister Anna (Meyer) Smit], and more with H. [Likely Harry] Niewoonder.

(L – R) Emma (Meyer) Pasman, Anna (Meyer) Smit, Alice (Meyer) Vander Veen, Gertrude Meyer (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

Thursday, June 13 - Drill and exercise.

Friday, June 14 - Drill and exercise.

Saturday, June 15 - First day on rifle range till 12:00 noon.

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Sunday, June 16 - Inspection all day but nothing doing. Gert and Henry [Likely his brother Henry Meyer] came in on the three o’clock car had supper and walked in the woods and brought them to the car at 11:00 PM.

Monday, June 17 - Drill and exercise in the morning and inspection in the afternoon.

Tuesday, June 18 - Range and drill in afternoon shot in back and broke needle. At 6:00 PM Gert, Alice [Likely his sister Alice (Meyer) Vander Veen], Jake [Likely his brother-in-law Jake Vander Veen], and Niew at night.

Alice (Meyer) and Jake Vander Veen (Photos courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

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Wednesday, June 19 - Drill in the morning and range in the afternoon. Ma [Likely Jennie (Bos/Meyer) Jonkman], Anna [Likely his sister Anna (Meyer) Smit], Emma B [Likely his sister Emma (Meyer) Pasman], Lizzy came in afternoon and gas drill after supper.

Emma (Meyer) Pasman (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

Thursday, June 20 - Range in morning, gas and drill in PM. Kazoo singing school at night at YMCA 44.

Friday, June 21 - Drill in morning and range in PM.

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Saturday, June 22 - On range till 10:00 AM and Gert, Grace [Likely his sister-in-law Grace (Boot) Meyer who married Andy Meyer],

and Ann J. came out to camp and had to go back at 8:00 PM no girls or ladies around after

8:00 PM or before 8:00 AM.

Grace (Boot) Meyer (Photo courtesy of the Charles Micheals Collection)

Sunday, June 23 - We beat it at 8:00 AM for Kazoo in Eckema’s auto got there at 9:15 AM had a fine time and got back at 2:00 AM.

Monday, June 24 - Exercise in the morning and gas in the PM and Kalamazoo friends in evening.

Tuesday, June 25 - Rifle pit in morning and drill and pack exercise in PM.

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Wednesday, June 26 - Drill in AM and issued clothing in PM Gert, Alice [Likely his sister Alice (Meyer) Vander Veen],

and Rev. Diephuis [Pastor at Second Christian Reformed Church - Kalamazoo, Michigan] came in PM and I and

Gert went to Battle Creek after supper.

Second Christian Reformed Church, Kalamazoo, Michigan16 (Photo courtesy of the Michigan State Library Collection)

Thursday, June 27 - We had our picture taken in boxing positions I was 13 row from south and 9th from rear then we took a 10 mile hike got good and wet and got in at 5:00 PM.

Friday, June 28 - Drill and exercise.

Saturday, June 29 - Inspection and one hour extra drill for not shaving and went to Kalamazoo at 4:30 PM and got caught by M.P. came back at 7:00 PM.

Sunday, June 30 - Muster call and then my first pass for Kalamazoo got there at 12:00 PM had a fine time and got back in camp at 5:00 AM.

16

http://mmm.lib.msu.edu/results.php?subject=++Michigan++++Kalamazoo

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July Monday, July 1 - Drill and exercise in morn and grand review in PM in at 4:00 PM.

Tuesday, July 2 - Drill and exercise.

Wednesday, July 3 - Drill and exercise.

Thursday, July 4 - Home at 9:00 AM back at 2:00 AM.

Friday, July 5 - Hike in AM and review in PM

Saturday, July 6 - Inspection and home in PM.

Sunday, July 7 - Inspect and clean barracks, pass to home in PM.

Monday, July 8 - On fatigue duty on garbage wagon and went home after 9:00 PM and got back at 4:00 AM.

Tuesday, July 9 – Morning, Camp quarantined no body allowed in or out, drill in morning and inspection in PM.

Wednesday, July 10 - Drill and exercise in AM and rain in PM so we couldn’t drill.

Thursday, July 12 - Drill till 10:00 AM then it rained and we came in in the PM we packed up and waited in eve 7.00 PM we loaded our bags slept in barracks on bunks.

Friday, July 13 - Breakfast and police grounds then outside and wait till 3:00 PM then we leave Camp Custer at 5:30 PM we truck Detroit and from there to Canada. Red Cross treats at Detroit and we change engines. Canada is very level country 9.30 we hit St. Thomas and change engines stop 10 min. 12.00 PM we change engines, at Niagara N.Y. at 6.00 AM.

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Saturday, July 14 - We change engines again at Syracuse, NY and have breakfast. Very much fog out from Syracuse, next is Utica, NY out from there a farmer treats on a pail of fresh milk in between Utica and Revena, NY rock cliffs and canal and locks and many mountains we have dinner and stop at Revena and walk for 10 minutes and then we load on.

Went through tunnel just outside Kingston, NY solid rock and over the dry docks at 4:00 PM we see the large trestle over the Hudson River a mile long and we ride along the river all the way lots of mountains and two more tunnels we stop at Cornwall and our next stop is New York City two more stops in between and then we unload and load on a ferry for Long Island, NY and from there we stop in station till mid night and then in train for Camp, sleep on train after riding a mile and then unload at 7:00 AM for Camp Mills we get in there at 9:00 AM have breakfast about 10:00 AM we load for the rest of the day.

Encampment of National Guard soldiers at Camp Mills, New York training for service in World War I (Public Domain)17

Monday, July 15 - 30 min drill and issued clothing and nothing much else but loafing.

Tuesday, July 16 – Inspect and we go to Hempstead, NY at night.

Wednesday, July 17 - Rifle inspection and rain the rest of the day.

Thursday, July 18 - Drill and exercise and went with Jake V. to Hempstead.

17

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Camp_mills_ny.jpg

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Friday, July 19 - Drill in PM and go with J.V. in night.

Saturday, July 20 - Inspect in AM and pack our barrack bags and by 3:00 PM we are all set. 6:00 PM we load our bags and in eve I and Jake for the last time go to Hempstead.

Sunday, July 21 - Get up at 4:30 AM, breakfast at 5:30 AM and roll our packs 9:30 AM. We leave Camp Mills at 10:15 AM we arrive by the boat at 12:00 PM we arrive at our overseas boat. Red Cross dinner at 12:30 PM get on boat at 1:00 PM we lay around all afternoon and lay in harbor all night at 9:15 PM.

Monday, July 22 - We leave New York City harbor PM 3:00 we sight our first sub. We have very rotten grub.

Tuesday, July 23 – 9:45 we sight another sub which Cruiser gets. We are on the old tub freighter Nevasa, an English boat. We ride on side of the boat “City of New York.” We have 15 boats in our convoy, very nice weather. I slept outdoors every night.

H. M. H. S. (Her Majesty’s Hospital Ship) Nevasa Troop Ship18 (Public Domain) 18

http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Ships/HMTroopshipNevasa.html

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‘City of New York’ ship renamed in in 1913 in World War I as the Plattsburg Troop Ship19 (Public Domain)

Wednesday, July 24 - Boat drill at 10:00 AM and 3:30 PM every day. I am assigned to Life Boat No. 14, we sight a sailing vessel about noon it starts to cloud up in the evening and it gets some cooler.

Thursday, July 25 - Lot cooler and clouded and quite waves. Began clearing at eve but still very cool.

Friday, July 26 - Very nice day but big waves and many very seasick our old tub rocks like an eggshell very cool all day and it rains about 2:00 AM.

Saturday, July 27 – (Morning) A kind of drizzle all day and still a rough sea. Rifle inspect in AM and continued colder.

19

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_City_of_New_York

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Sunday, July 28 - Very cold and sea gets still rougher in PM, we have a little music in the hole and we hear we are about due north of Ireland about 800 miles out of the way.

Monday, July 29 - We sight another strange boat about 11:00 AM but it passes on after the cruiser inspects it, at 1:30 PM I go on guard and I am off at 9:30 AM.

Tuesday, July 30 - It is a kind of rainy out and we still run north east. Very little or nothing to eat for supper and in the night the sea gets very rough and it is the same in the morning.

Wednesday, July 31 - I am on K.P. with Mart and the waves go right over our boat still rough all night but better in AM. We meet American US destroyers (H-42 and H-89 and 4 others H-40 H-23 H-27).

better in AM. We meet American US destroyers (H-42 and H-89 and 4 others H-40 H-23 H-27),

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August Thursday, August 1 - Cruiser goes back, but weather is some better.

Friday, August 2 - We are out of the Atlantic and in the North Channel we have a very nice day and a lot warmer. Sub chasers and observation balloons guard us all the way in at noon we see land on our left for the first time since we left NY.

Saturday, August 3 - About 2:00 AM we stop for a while and then we move on lead by a pilot boat it is very narrow and shallow here, one boat at a time.

At 7:00 AM we sight our first houses and church spires and the weather is rather rainy. We land on dock 46 in Liverpool, England at 8:20 AM there the English band welcomes us we leave boat at 10:00 AM and load on train of Lancshire, England and Yorkshire, England Railway and at 2:25 PM we stop at Brimingham, England and have a good hot cup of coffee. We get in Winchester, England at 6.00 PM and then we have a two mile and half hike to Camp Morn Hill get there at 8:15 and in barracks and then we go for supper. I change my first American money for English coin. Winchester is a very old town, we came up the same road Caesar built 2000 years ago and past a castle or the next largest in the world and also the burying place of 20 kings, a very historical town. The engines and railroads are very small.

North Channel20

Sunday, August 4 - We rest all day down to the YMCA and attend service in the evening.

20

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Sea#/media/File:Irish_Sea_%E2%80%93_relief,_ports,_limits.tif

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Monday, August 5 - At 7:15 AM we leave camp and at 9:00 AM we get on the car at Winchester there is also the next largest Cathedral in the world, except Rome, and this is also very old and some nice sites as we come down Caesar’s old trail once more.

At 9:30 AM we leave the train at South Hampton Dock and we have our dinner there and at 7:.00 PM we leave for France and about one hour and thirty minutes when our boilers blow up, killing one and injuring six more of crew. We get on the boat Napotin Portland and come back to harbor at some time

Tuesday August 6 - We unload back at South Hampton at 10:00 AM and have our dinner there and after that we load a hospital boat for the U.S.A. Red Cross nurses and back to a Rest Camp for the night waiting for another boat. About 2 ½ miles N.W. of South Hampton, England. We lay around and have inspect, body at 10:00 AM. At South Hampton we see two hospital boats come in one day with about 900 wounded on each boat for two days.

Wednesday, August 7 - We have dinner and at 3:00 PM we once more leave for South Hampton. A 9:15 PM we got on the boat at St George, England. We leave about 20 of our men at South Hampton England on account of being quarantined for measles.

Thursday, August 8 - We arrive in France about 4:00 AM and have a little grub at 5:00 AM and leave harbor at 7:30 AM at 10.00 AM we get to our rest camp have inspect body and rest the rest of time.

Friday, August 9 - Inspect body in AM, hear guns snap all night and we rest for the for noon and in the PM we dig trenches a soft job. At Retreat we get orders to get ready to move and at 11:00 PM we leave for the car and at 2.30 AM Saturday, August 10 we leave harbor in box cars and ride all day and part of Saturday night just about all women labor in fields in France. We come to within 15 miles east of Paris, France.

Saturday, August 10 - Sat 83 in one box car about 20 feet long and 10 feet wide we sleep the best we can sitting down most anyway.

Sunday, August 11 - We stay on the track and lay over for or until 10:30 AM and then we get orders to get ready to march we leave the cars and go through the town of Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire, France and at 117 | P a g e

11:30 AM we reach our destination, an old, very old house or houses one very large and the other one smaller we sleep in the top floor of the smaller one about 1 ½ miles N.E. of town. We are about 150 miles from the firing line at this point.

(Map courtesy of Google Maps)

This old hamlet is a very nice place but it seems as if the four long years of war toke all pleasure out of here also this is Sun but it looks like a regular working day out here, the farmers are gathering in the grain worse than in U.S. A. I thought it was bad there but this has it beat.

Monday, August 12 - We lay around and rest out all morning and in PM we go swimming the first time this year and in the eve we go down and wash some clothes and go in swimming. They are planting cabbage here on the 12th of Aug but the weather is very hot and we hardly get enough grub to live on this

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is a very nice place around here and we also get our Barrack bags once more we are in quarantine for measles we have to stay in, no drinking water.

Cosne-Cours-Sur-Loire, France (Public Domain)

Tuesday, August 13 - We have body inspect and drill in the morning in PM we go down to a public wash house (where people come for miles around to do their washings) and do our washing some system these people have, 100 years behind in everything but not as bad as in England.

Wednesday, August 14 - We drill all day, but I do my washing in PM the weather is very hot but misty nights. The farmers work from early morn till night as long as they can see, we also have our first tobacco issued to us one bag of Bull Durham.

Thursday, August 15 - We drill a while and we get two hikes a day it is very warm and we haven’t a thing to do after supper. We get better grub now we have a good supper and dinner today we have to walk about 30 min. for water to drink from a spring. Women walk along the street here with a little goat (milch) tied on a string.

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Friday, August 16 - We have drill and exercise and hike out to a French drill field and back to Camp in AM we have dinner and in the PM at 1:30 PM our Captain takes us out swimming the water is fine and a very warm afternoon. The eve are cool and nice sleeping weather.

Saturday, August 17 - We have general inspect at 9:00 AM and we police up the grounds and lay around until 1:30 and then we assemble and a bunch of 75 boys are transferred also H. Bolhuis the rest of the PM we play ball and at 6:00 PM we have our regular retreat (otherwise we just had roll call at 9:00 PM and no retreat) also more mail but none for me. At about 7:30 we get a call and we all have to fall out with our fatigue clothes and go and get rifles, hats and bayonets for 75 men for the fellows that are to be transferred we get back about 8:45 PM we have roll call and go to bed.

Sunday, August 18 - We have reveille and lay around till noon and after dinner I and Mart and Harm go to Cosne and look around get back for supper, I get my first mail two letters of Gert.

Monday, August 19 - I am on Kitchen police all day and at 3:30 PM Harm Bolhuis and the bunch leaves us.

I get another letter of Gert [Jager] and am through work about 7:30 PM. (Harm Bolhuis was the son of Lawrence and Grace Bolhuis from Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was assigned to the 1st Division, 26th Infantry Regiment and fought in the battles of St. Mihiel and the Argonne Forest. He was wounded in Argonne, but survived his injury and was discharged on February 26, 1919.)21

Tuesday, August 20 - We drill till about 8:00 AM and then we go and get supplies about 20 of us after we get back about 10:00 AM we police up the grounds and we are through at 11:00 AM at 1:30 PM we go out bathing again and wash some clothes it is very warm. In the evening I go to the hospital and visit Lawrence Dyke in the 339th Field Hospital Corps (Lawrence Frank Dyke was the son of John and Sophia Dyke from Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was assigned to the 85th Division, 339th Infantry Regiment and the Ambulance Division and was stationed in Conse, France. He took part in the Battle of the Argonne Forest. He survived the war and was discharged on April 25, 1919.)22

21 22

https://archive.org/details/3933239.0001.001.umich.edu, page 70 https://archive.org/details/3933239.0001.001.umich.edu, page 110

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Wednesday, August 21 - We drill a half hour and then we go after more provisions we get back and hike about a half a mile and back and rest till dinner time in between hikes. In the PM we drill about 1 ½ hours and rest around the spring the rest of the afternoon fill our canteens and go back to Camp.

Thursday, August 22 - We police up in the AM and wash some clothes and in the PM we go swimming and wash our equipment at 10.00 PM I go on guard over a prisoner and am off duty.

Friday, August 23 - Guard all day, 2 hours on and 4 hours off. After 9.30 AM I go and talk with Lawrence Dyke.

Saturday, August 24 - We clean our rifles till 8.30 AM and then we go to town and get new rifles hats etc. for ourselves 58 of us boys. We leave for another camp we turn in our rifles and in PM we go after berries and meet H. Burma and set around the rest of the time.

Sunday, August 25 - We have our breakfast and then we get out our barracks bag and turn them in and then we pack and inspect two different times we have dinner at 11:30 AM and at 3:00 PM we have our supper and then we march to the station of Cosne were we get on our passenger car at 6:00 PM we get on and at 11:30 we start we don’t make much time because we have a very long.

(Map courtesy of Google Maps)

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Monday, August 26 - We are still riding Montbard, France, Plomeires, France, Dijon, France and Marne, France.

(Map courtesy of Google Maps)

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(Map courtesy of Google Maps)

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Ligny-en-Barrois

(Map courtesy of Google Maps)

Tuesday, August 27 - We stop and unload at about 4:00 AM we arrive at Ligny-en-Barrois, very pretty scenery around here very cold last night, but the sun is out nice and bright and it is very nice and warm.

It is just lousy with army trucks going back and forth and we lay around till 1:00 PM and we then march N.W. till about 5:00 PM the roads are very nice but very dusty and we are very thirsty and hot we arrive 124 | P a g e

at Trevéray, France (red dot on map) and are assigned to Company M, 7th Infantry, 3rd Division. Company I, 337th Infantry is all shot to pieces now. I lose track of M. Afman and we leave a lot of friends many of us we are all split up now everybody is a stranger around here.

(Map courtesy of Google Maps)

Wednesday, August 28 - We drill in the AM and in the afternoon we get our different sizes on our gas mask and have a lecture on tying and bandaging wounds and are off duty at 3.00 PM and in eve and the rest of the day we have off.

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Thursday, August 29 - We drill in AM and in PM we have lecture and learn how to fire a German machine gun we are through at 2:45 PM and have the rest of the day to ourselves that night a general and his staff give a lecture to a bunch of officers in town.

Friday, August 30 - We have a sharp battle in the AM and a few drills in the PM we have battalion drill and first aid instructions and at 6:00 PM we go out for a general (review) and are back at 6:45 PM and that finished the day the weather is rather warm today but the eve are cool I go to the YMCA and they have a little entertainment there.

Saturday, August 31 - We have inspect and muster call in the AM and we lay around the rest of the day it is a kind of a drizzle all day.

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September Sunday, September 1 - We lay around all day I am not feeling very well on account of a bad case of dysentery.

Monday, September 2 - We have drill in AM and our platoons are reorganized and I am put in the 4 th squad of the 3rd platoon automatic rifles and in PM we have a lecture on first aid and then we go on the rifle range and shoot at tin cans rapid fire.

Tuesday, September 3 - We are called out at 5:00 AM and I and one more fellow of our platoon are picked to go on special duty with the whole Region a plan and lay out for a sham battle which will take place Thursday. We get back about 5:30 PM and I am very tired tonight.

Wednesday, September 4 - On K.P. all day and at 7:00 AM we get orders to move at 8:20 PM we start and hike all night till day break and then we turn in undercover. They just marched the dickens out of us.

Thursday, September 5 - We sleep till about 9:30 AM and get our eats it is very wet and nasty all our stuff is wet and we rest till about 9:00 PM and then we start onward we march all night till 4:00 AM.

Friday, September 6 - They fall out of our rig by the dozens and when they come in at daytime they are arrested and put to work they almost march us to death we came about 45 kilometers in both nights we are in billets. Once more the roads are nasty we have to get under cover when we see an aeroplane. We are in billets in the town of Pagny-la-Blanche-Côte.

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(Map courtesy of Google Maps)

Saturday, September 7 - We lay around till about 9:00 AM then we have a check call for clothes and equipment, the day is very warm we have dinner and in the PM we take a walk out in the country and go in one fort (French) and look at another this one was built in 1879 Fort De Pagny these are N.E. of this town there are five barracks here big hills all around us, planes always in the air.

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Entrance to Fort de Pagny23

Sunday, September 8 - We lay around all day. M. Afman came over to see me in eve.

Monday, September 9 - We lay around all day (we sign pay roll Sun last) and in PM we get orders to roll packs and we move out at about 9:00 PM we walk all night.

Tuesday, September 10 - Finish walking at 5:00 AM and camp in a big woods we are not started for the front, mud over our shoe tops. We leave this woods at about 8:30 PM and walk all night and camp in woods again at 4:00 AM.

Wednesday, September 11 - Raining all time we get soaked clear through, tough life, country is very wild and lots of woods we pull out at about 8:00 PM and pull out of this town about a mile and we wait there till about 1:00 AM.

23

Fort Pagny-la-Blanche-Cote » par Axel41 — Travail personnel. Sous license CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commonshttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fort_Pagny-la-Blanche-Cote.JPG#/media/File:Fort_Pagny-la-Blanche-Cote.JPG

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USA War Commander General John J. Pershing (Public Domain)24 – Saint Mihiel Battle Map25

Thursday, September 12 - It rains and very dark at 1:00 AM the big drive starts and we move on till about 6:00 AM, then we rest and sleep till about 11:00 AM and at 12:00 noon we are on the move again. We camp in open fields that night it is very cold and wet we have no shelter halves, but find some next morning we pull out again at about 7:00 AM.

Friday September 13 - We halt at 3:00 PM and pitch tents for the eve, we see two dead German on side of the road and many graves also Americans. All these towns are ruined, we make big gains all night (the first battle in the air last night two planes coming down) we stay here till about 8:00 PM and then we have to march way back to where we were last night. The kitchen couldn’t get through, we get supper at about 1:00 PM and go to sleep.

Saturday, September 14 - We lay around the biggest part of the day at 9:30 PM we start to hike and move all night till about 4.00 AM.

Sunday, September 15 - We sleep all day and have service at about 6:00 PM by our Battalion Chaplain we stay here all night.

24 25

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Map_of_battle_St._Mihiel.JPG#/media/ http://www.usaww1.com/American-Expeditionary-Force/American-Expeditionary-Force-Maps.php4

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Monday, September 16 - We are here all day and services again in the eve. Here we hear Austria ask for peace. We are in the reserve of the big drive of St Mihiel, France [Editor’s Note - Battle of Saint Mihiel started September 12 and ended September 15].

Tuesday, September 17 - It rains till about 11:00 AM and then we have our dinner, we are located about a mile S.W. of Sangey, France in some woods we pull out of there at about noon and start off in trucks all Jap drivers we stall around till about 6:00 PM when we leave we go through Bar-le-Duc, France. We stall on the road from 4:00 AM to 7:00 AM.

(Map courtesy of Google Maps)

Wednesday, September 18 - All out of gas and then we start and finally stop at about 1:00 PM we start from here and ride about three kilo and there we get dumped out from there we hike about the country looking for out Co. and we get there about 6:00 PM we pitch tents.

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Thursday, September 19 - We lay around all day.

Friday, September 20 - We lay around all day, hall water and check on clothes.

Saturday, September 21 - We drill and go on a sham battle at 8:00 PM Sat night get back about 11:30 PM.

Sunday, September 22 - We drill and keep busy getting in and out of the rain and another Sham battle Sun night at 8:00 PM we get soaking wet and mud up to our ankles, get in at 12:00 AM.

Monday, September 23 - It is still wet and we drill part of the day.

Tuesday, September 24 - Drill (in eve we have a field meet and other plays) and show in the afternoon.

Wednesday, September 25 - Drill and show in PM and we leave in PM 8:00 PM we are located one mile west of Epicore, France. March till about 12:00 AM and camp at 2:30 AM.

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Battle of the Argonne Forest Begins: Thursday, September 26 - The biggest battle of the war starts seven million men besides 700,000 on the Verdun front, we are in noble warfare here. This battle extends from Metz to the North Sea. We leave from this woods at about 9:00 AM and move to the front at about 6:00PM we camp for the night in a woods all shot to pieces and full of shell holes.

Nicolas Meyer was in the First Army, 3rd Division (Public Domain)

Friday, September 27 - It is wet and cold in AM we start out but go back and lay around.

Saturday, September 28 - We lay around all day.

Sunday, September 29 - We lay around all day and move out Sun PM at 10:00 we start and stop 6:00 AM. 133 | P a g e

Monday, September 30 - Mud up to our knees and rain and cold we sleep about 1:00 in AM and start on again then at 2:00 PM we pitch tents and go to sleep we don’t get anything to eat till Tue Oct 1st at noon last we had was Sunday night, very cold.

Battle positions of the 3rd Division that Nicolas Meyer was a part of. He likely died just east of the present day Meuse-Argonne cemetery26

26

http://www.wdl.org/en/item/16809/view/1/1/

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October Wednesday, October 2 - We stay here till about noon and move up further to the front we dig in here at night.

Thursday, October 3 - We stay here all day.

Friday, October 4 - We move out at about 4:00 AM and move on most all day at about 10:00 AM a shell bust within five feet of us but we didn’t get hurt we move on from here and dig in at night.

Saturday, October 5 - Our Captain gets killed and we move up to the front we stay here all day and in eve we move to the front lines stay there all day.

Sunday, October 6 - I go on patrol we get three Dutch.

Monday, October 7 - We stay all day and get relieved at night my friend Philip get killed we move out at about 1:00 AM. American aviator falls from plane today.

Tuesday, October 8 - We walk all night and rest up in a woods.

Wednesday, October 9 - We lay around till about 3:00 PM when we once more move for the front. Dead Amer. laying all around shells busting all over, a regular hell, we sleep here in an open field.

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Last Entry: Thursday, October 10 – In the AM we move in a woods on Champagne front.

Actual diary last page (Photo courtesy of Karen DeVries)

**In case this is lost or in case of accident please send these or any of my personal belongings to Miss Gertrude Jager, 1217 N. Clark Street, Kalamazoo, Michigan or Mrs. Jonkman 1837 N Pitcher Street, Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Nicolas was initially reported as missing in action. It was later determined he died in action.

Tuesday, October 15, 1918 - Died from battle wounds.

A typed copy of this diary came from Karen DeVries in Kalamazoo, Michigan in November 2015. The original copy, written by Nicolas in pencil is safely stored with family members. Chuck Micheals, in the same month, edited the document Karen sent him and added the maps and photos, corrected a few misspellings, standarised the dates noted in the actual diary and formatted it to make it easier to read.

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Appendix

Nicolas W, Meyer’s Death Notice – South Bend News, Tuesday Evening, January 28, 1919

Meuse-Argonne Offensive battle positions27 27

http://www.wdl.org/en/item/16809/view/1/1/

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Actual material recovered from Nicolas Meyer (found in Argonne Forest sometime after his death and returned to the family in 1919):

Nicholas’ diary book (Photo courtesy of Karen DeVries)

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Nicholas’ billfold (Photo courtesy of Karen DeVries)

Nicholas’ card. Maybe given to him by his girlfriend Gertrude Jager (Photo courtesy of Karen DeVries)

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About The Author

Charles Micheals is a native of Michigan and lived the first thirty years of his life there, eventually working in the grocery industry. In 1985 his wife Barbara and their four small children joined Wycliffe Bible Translators and moved to the country of Papua New Guinea (PNG) where they worked with the internationally known non-profit linguistic organization, SIL International (formerly the Summer Institute of Linguistics). Charles served in a variety of administrative roles in PNG, including several years as the Chairman of the SIL PNG Job Evaluation and Wage Review Committee and on the SIL PNG Executive Committee.

During their 15 years of service in PNG, Bible translation work was completed in 67 languages and over 100 additional Bible translation projects were started. Today, almost 180 language communities, representing 1.8 million people in PNG have access to the Scriptures in their own languages.

In 2000, Charles and Barbara moved back to the USA and Charles served for several years as the Regional Director for Recruitment for Wycliffe, living in the Chicago, Illinois area. In 2004 they moved to Orlando, Florida where Charles served for six and one half years as the Vice President for Recruitment Ministries for Wycliffe. He currently heads up Wycliffe’s Management Recruitment and Professional Department and speaks at various mission conferences and colleges each year. Barbara coordinates several Wycliffe short term mission trips each year.

Charles holds a BS degree in Food Distribution from Western Michigan University and a MA degree in Organization Management from Dallas Baptist University. He served on the Board of Directors for The Finishers Project, a non-profit mission dedicated to helping people in the second half of life find places to serve in missions. He has also been involved in helping create and develop Mission Teach, a ministry 140 | P a g e

dedicated to helping place teachers in MK (Missionary Kid) mission schools around the world and Military Believer, a growing ministry dedicated to helping military personnel who are leaving the military, find opportunities for service in global missions.

Charles has also authored a number of articles about the work of SIL in PNG and other historical articles about life in the Aiyura Valley in PNG. (http://issuu.com/cbmicheals/docs)

Both Charles and Barbara are members of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, FL and are involved in a variety of church activities there. Charles serves as an elder at the church. However, they are still members of Second Christian Reformed Church, in Kalamazoo, Michigan which is the church that commissioned them for their work with Wycliffe. All four of their children are actively supporting missions and church ministry work. Two of their four children are serving with Wycliffe around the world.

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