- Writing parking tickets with a friendly smile (4/23/24)2
- Mayor Ford, Kiwanis light up Capaha Park's diamond (4/16/24)1
- The rise and fall of Capaha Park's wooden grandstand (4/9/24)
- Death of Judge Pat Dyer, prosecutor of the famous peonage case here in 1906 (4/2/24)2
- A third steamer Cape Girardeau was christened 100 years ago (3/26/24)
- Cape Girardeau christens its namesake (3/19/24)
- The humanist philosophy of Lester Mondale (3/12/24)1
The boys in Dr. Schuchert's band
Scott Shivelbine emailed me recently to suggest I do a blog about members of the Schuchert Band -- now the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band -- answering Uncle Sam's call during World War I. He thought it would make an excellent topic for Memorial Day. To spur my interest, he even sent me a World War I-era photo of the band (above), as well as a history of the organization researched and written by Karen L. Walker in 1992 as part of her master of music education degree requirements. The history has proven helpful in researching this blog.
Still, if you hold with the strict meaning of the day, this patriotic gesture on the part of the bandsmen doesn't fit. Strictly speaking, Memorial Day honors those who gave their lives for their country. All of the bandsmen returned to their homes, some at the close of the war and some earlier. But that outcome was far from certain when they joined the Missouri National Guard en masse in June 1917.
In a June 21, 1917, article in the Cape Girardeau Daily Republican, it was noted that a Major Linxweiler would meet with the band members that evening after a concert in Courthouse Park to inform them of their military options, and that it was likely they would be "mustered into service" in the Missouri National Guard. It was hoped that the band would continue as the regimental band for the local state militia unit.
The story noted, however, that not all of the Cape Girardeau band members were prepared to enlist. Some preferred to wait here with their families until they were drafted into the federal service. Because of this, Dr. C.E. Schuchert, the bandmaster, recruited willing musicians from other towns to fill out the ranks.
Whether it was Major Linxweiler or some other National Guard officer who met with the musicians isn't known, but whoever it was failed to demonstrate the high qualities Uncles Sam expects of his officers. A story in The Republican published June 22, 1917, tells of the drunken officer's disgraceful performance.
The following month, the bandsmen were sworn into the federal service. This article lists the men by name and identifies their home towns.
The band and Company L, made up of local men, departed for Camp Clark in Nevada, Missouri, the evening of Aug. 13, 1917.
While Schuchert and his men had gone eagerly into service with the assurance they would remain together, that's not how things ended up. Karen Walker's history of the band explained that the it was sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in early October 1917, and remained there until February of the following year. At that time, the band was broken apart, and members assigned to other units.
As Walker points out, it's difficult to know what happened to each member of the band using only articles in the newspaper. But in recent years, the Missouri Secretary of State's office has offered researchers an online database of World War I veterans. The free database is searchable by name. Typically, an entry will give the vet's name, his age at the time of enlistment, date of enlistment, and an extremely abbreviated account of his military service.
Using that database, I have compiled a bare-bones accounting of the boys in Schuchert's band. Most of the abbreviations are easy to decipher. For some I've added an explanation in parenthesis.
INDUCTED AT CAPE GIRARDEAU JUNE 21, 1917
SCHUCHERT, Clarence E. of Cape.
HQ (Headquarters) Co. 6th Inf. to; CAS (casualty) Band 140th Infantry to discharge.
Rank: Bandleader.
Remarks: 25 percent disability.
BENTLEY, Albert E. of Illmo.
HQ Co. 6th Inf. Mo. NG (National Guard) HQ Co. 140th Inf. to 14 Feb 1918; HQ Co. 128th Field Artillery to discharge.
Rank: Musician; May 1919.
Overseas 20 May 1918 to 22 Apr 1919.
BLEDSOE, Carl P. of Illmo.
Band HQ Co. 6th Inf. Mo. NG HQ Co. 140th Inf. to 14 Feb 1918; HQ Co. 128th Field Artillery to 1 Mar 1919; Co. H.
Rank: Musician; Sept. 1918.
Overseas 20 May 1918 to 4 Aug 1919.
Remarks: Central Records Office ASC to discharge.
CLAYTON, Ethelbert A. of Caruthersville.
HQ Co. 6th Inf. Mo. NG HQ Co. 140th Inf. to 19 Feb 1918; HQ Co. 130th Field Artillery to discharge.
Rank: Musician; Oct. 1918.
Overseas 19 May 1918 to 23 Apr 1919.
CREWS, Lester of Cape
HQ Co. 140th Inf. to 4 Mar 1918; 162nd DEP (depot) Brig. to discharge.
Rank: Sergeant; Dec. 1918.
DANKS, H.E. of Cape.
HQ Co. 6th Inf. Mo. NG HQ Co. 140th Inf. to 23 Jan 1918; HQ Co. 128th Field Artillery to discharge.
Rank: Sergeant; June 1919
Overseas 20 May 1918 to 22 April 1919.
DANKS, Thomas A. of Cape.
HQ Co. 6th Inf. Mo. NG HQ Co. 14th Inf. to 13 Feb 1918; HQ Co. 128th Field Artillery to discharge
Rank: Sergeant; Sept. 1919.
Overseas 20 May 1918 to 22 Apr 1919.
FOSTER, Ernest B. of Cape.
HQ Co. 6th Inf. Mo. NG HQ Co. 140th Inf. to 23 Jan 1918; HQ Co 138th Field Artillery to discharge.
Rank: Sergeant; Sept. 1919.
Overseas 20 May 1918 to 22 April 1919.
FOSTER, Moses F. of Cape.
HQ Co. 140th Inf. to 15 Oct 1917; HQ Co. 128th Field Artillery to discharge.
Rank: Corporal; Nov. 1919.
Overseas 20 May 1918 to 22 Apr 1919.
HARRISON, Arthur W. of Cape.
HQ Co. 140th Inf. to discharge.
Rank: Sergeant; July 1919.
Overseas 25 Apr 1918 to 28 April 1919.
HUNTER, Walter E. of Kennett.
HQ Co. 140th Inf. to discharge.
Rank: Corporal; April 1919.
Overseas 24 Apr 1918 to 28 April 1919.
KAISER, Oscar C. of Cape.
HQ Co. 6th Inf. Mo. NG HQ Co. 140th Inf. to 14 Feb 1918; HQ Co. 128th Field Artillery to discharge.
Rank: Musician; Nov. 1919,
Overseas 20 May 1918 to 22 April 1919.
KASSEL, Chester W. of Cape.
HQ Co. 6th Inf. Mo. NG HQ Co. 140th Inf. to 15 Oct 1917; HQ Co. 128th Field Artillery to discharge.
Rank: Corporal; Sept. 1919.
Overseas 20 May 1918 to 22 April 1919.
KASSEL, Elmore W. of Cape.
Band HQ Co. 6th Inf. Mo. NG to 15 Oct 1917; Casualty Detachment 140th Inf. to 22 Jan 1918; HQ Co. 128th Field Artillery to discharge.
Rank: Musician; Sept. 1919.
Overseas 20 May 1918 to 22 Apr 1919.
Remarks: HQ Co. 140th Inf.
KEMPE, Walter of Cape.
HQ Co. 6th Inf. Mo. NG HQ Co. 140th Inf. to discharge.
Rank: Musician; Nov. 1919.
Overseas 25 Apr 1918 to 28 Apr 1919.
KING, James E. of Kennett.
Band 6th Inf. Mo. NG HQ Co. 140th Inf. to 4 Nov 1917; Bakery Co. 317 to discharge.
Rank: Sergeant; Feb. 1919.
Overseas 10 Jun 1918 to 2 Apr 1919
LASSWELL, Gus of Kennett.
HQ Co. 6th Inf. Mo. NG Mo. NG HQ Co. 140th Inf to 15 Oct 1917; Casual Detachment 140th Inf. to 4 Mar 1918; HQ Co. 162 D B to 14 Aug 1918; COTS Camp Pike, Ark. to discharge
Rank: Sergeant; June 1919.
Remarks: Never assigned to active duty as an officer.
LESSEM, Rurie L., of Cape.
HQ Co. 6th Inf. Mo. NG to 13 Sep 1917;
HQ Co 140th Inf. to 3 Mar 1918;
162nd Depot Brigade to discharge.
Rank: Band; May 1919.
(LESSEM, Rurie L. of Cape. Inducted 14 Oct 1918 at _.
162nd Depot Brigade to discharge.
Rank: 2nd Lieutenant)
McBRIDE, Earl 4. of Cape.
HQ Co. 6th Inf. Mo. NG HQ Co. 140th Inf to 15 Oct 1917; Casual Detachment 140th Inf. to 4 Mar 1918; 162nd Dep Brig to discharge.
Rank: Sergeant; Dec. 1919.
PATTON, Leslie E. of Cape.
HQ Co. 140th Inf. to 15 Oct 1917; HQ Co. 128th Field Artillery to discharge.
Rank: Musician; Sept. 1919.
Overseas 20 May 1918 to 22 Apr 1919.
POTT, Clarence E. of Cape.
HQ Co. 6th Inf. Mo. HQ Co. 140th Inf. to discharge.
Rank: Sergeant; Sept. 1919.
THROWER, Arthur C. of Caruthersville.
HQ Co. 6th Inf. Mo. NG HQ Co. 140th Inf. to 15 Oct 1917; COTS Camp Pike, Ark. to discharge.
Rank: Musician; Aug. 1917.
TIBBS, Harry of Cape.
HQ Co. 6th Inf. Mo. GG HQ Co. 140th Inf. to discharge.
Rank: Sergeant; April 1919.
Overseas 25 Apr 1918 to 28 Apr 1919.
WELLS, Ernest F. of Kennett.
HQ Co. 140th Inf. to 4 Mar 1918; HQ Co. 162nd Dep. Brig. to discharge.
Rank: Sergeant; Sept. 1918.
WILSON, William B. of rural Cape.
140th HQ Co. 6th Inf. Camp Doniphan, Okla., to 14 Feb 1918; HQ Co. 128th Field Artillery to discharge.
Rank; Musician 2nd Class.
Overseas 20 May 1918 to 22 Apr 1919.
INDUCTED AT CAPE GIRARDEAU 8 JUNE 1917
KIMMICH, Robert of Cape.
Co. L 6th Inf. Mo. NG Co. L. 140th Inf. to discharge.
Rank: Private
Overseas 25 Apr 1918 to 24 Mar 1919.
Remarks: 15 percent disability.
INDUCTED AT NEVADA, Mo., 26 JUNE 1917
HEYLE, James R. of Rockville.
Band HQ Co. 6th Inf. Mo. NG HQ Co. 140th Inf. to 15 Oct 1917; HQ Co. 129 Field Artillery to discharge.
Rank: Musician; Oct 1919.
Overseas: 20 May 1918 to 20 Apr 1919.
As is evident from this list, not all the men saw overseas duty. Some, like C.E. Schuchert, didn't receive assignments when the band was split apart. Schuchert asked for a discharge and was back in Cape Girardeau by September 1918. Nov. 11, 1918, saw the end of the war, but the Cape Girardeau band members didn't start returning until the next spring. A May 5, 1919, story in The Southeast Missourian described one of those homecomings.
"The coming home of some Cape Girardeau boys after the midnight hour Sunday morning saw one of Cape Girardeau's greatest spontaneous demonstrations. Hundreds of people, scores of automobiles and the Schuchert band met the boys at the station, and until after 2 o'clock in the morning the great parade of band, marchers and automobiles acted as an escort to each boy until he was conducted to his home and 'Home, Sweet Home,' was played as he entered the doorway of the home he had been fighting for...
"Over 2,000 people, about 300 cars and the band were at the station Saturday night to greet the band boys who came home from France. The boys who came home are Elmore Kassel, Chester Kassel, Ernest Foster, Moses Foster, Albert Bentley, Thomas Danks, Carl Bledsoe, William Wilson and Leslie Patton. Alvin Kempe also came home, a complete surprise to every one, as he was not expected. William and Harry Danks were with the boys, but stopped off at Crystal City, where their parents have moved since the boys went into the service. Oscar Kaiser remained in St. Louis for a few days to visit with home folks, but is expected in Cape Girardeau soon.
"Dr. Schuchert says that it will not be long now before he has a real band. It is said that the band these boys were in, the 128th Field Artillery, was the only one that went to the front in France."
Respond to this blog
Posting a comment requires a subscription.