Sonksen, Frederick Willie (1888-1918)

SONKSEN, THOMSEN, PETERSON

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:00

Stratford Courier
November 28, 1918

GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY

PRIVATE FREDERICK WILLIE SONKSEN
Killed in Action in France
October 29, 1918

PRIVATE DUANE HAROLD HINMAN
Died of Disease in France
October 20, 1918

PRIVATE IRA E. DALLY
Died of Disease in France
October 2, 1918

Stratford has again been called upon to mourn the death of several of her beloved soldier boys. Last week messages came announcing the death of three of our brave soldier lads, who have made the supreme sacrifice and given up their lives for their county.

The messages conveying the sad news of their deaths came Friday and Saturday and caused a pall of gloom and sadness to pervade the entire community. Three young men, the ? of the community, the hope of a nation, who willingly went when called to fight for their country, for right and to make the world safe for us all, have laid down their lives on war's bloody altar. Three of our homes have been saddened by these three deaths and it is difficult for the fathers and mothers, the sisters and brothers, to become reconciled to the calamity that has befallen them.

And yet, every man of them died a hero - a hero that might live in peace and comfort. It is a costly sacrifice, and just how costly we, who have not been called upon to give of our life blood for humanity's sake, will never know. To lose a son at any time is anguish in the extreme, but to lay that life upon the altar of freedom in a faraway land is well nigh unendurable grief. But the memory of each brave son may be cherished by those near and dear to them for they know that each one died in doing his duty in his country's service. And though the bereavement at this time may be an anguish which no words of human beings can assuage each mother and father and sister and brother can well feel proud that their son and brother died a hero's death, and a martyr to the cause of liberty.

The last days of the fighting "over there" before the armistice was signed, were terrific without doubt. Every parent who really knew that their son was near the firing line was prepared for the inevitable should it come, but these messages coming after the armistice was signed, after all hostilities had ceased and after the country had celebrated long and happily the successful culmination of the great war, these sorrow laden messages seem so much harder to receive than ever before.

The first message came Friday evening conveying the news of the death of Private Frederick Willie Sonksen. The message read as follows:

Washington, D.C., 6:33 p.m.
Paul Sonksen, Stratford, Iowa.
Deeply regret to inform you that Private Frederick W. Sonksen, infantry, is officially reported as killed in action October twenty-ninth.
HARRIS, the Adjutant General

This one was followed in a few minutes by another which announced the death of Private Ira E. Dally. A copy of this message could not be obtained but the statement was made therein that he had died in a hospital in France, the cause of his death being bronchial-pneumonia.

The message announcing the death of Duane Hinman came here Saturday evening. Following the other two so closely the sad news it contained added to the overwhelming feeling of grief and sorrow. This message was forwarded here over the telephone and it stated briefly that he had died in one of the hospitals in France. His parents knew that he had been confined to the hospital there suffering with influenza and measles but were not prepared for the news of his demise.

Life Sketch of Private Sonksen

Private Frederick Willie Sonksen was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul [Dora Thomsen] Sonksen, prominent farmers of south of Stratford. He was born on the farm May 4, 1888 and until he went with the increment of drafted men who left here July 26, 1918, he had always made his home with his parents on the farm. On the day of his death he was 30 years, 5 months and 25 days old. He leaves heart-broken parents, a grief-stricken grandmother, two sorrowing brothers, Julius and John, and a saddened sister, Miss Melinda, to grieve over his passing. Besides these there are many friends of his own age who were proud of his friendship who mourn the death of a general favorite.

Private Sonksen was a member of K Company, 316th Infantry and was killed in action. So far as it is now known he is the first and only soldier boy from Stratford to be killed while on the firing line.

Stratford Courier
November 20, 1919

WAS WITH PRIVATE SONKSEN WHEN HE WAS KILLED

Charles M. Shaffer of Sioux Rapids arrived here Saturday and spent the day visiting with his friend Rudy Hubner and with the Paul Sonksen family. Mr. Hubner and Mr. Shaffer were privates together in France. Mr. Shaeffer was also a member of the same company as Willie Sonksen, who was killed in battle there and he was with him at the time of his death. Both were in a shell hole in front of an outpost about 4:30 on October 29, 1918 and it was just getting dusk when a patrol of five Germans rushed in on them. They were ordered by the huns in the American language to hold up their hands and almost at the same instant they fired on the boys. Private Sonksen was the only one hit. The bullet entered through to his brain and in twenty minutes a sergeant who went out to investigate found him dead. This is the first news as to the manner in which he met his death that has reached Stratford friends. Private Shaffer was taken prisoner and while in a German prison met Howard Vaubel another Stratford boy.

Stratford Courier
September 1, 1921

REMAINS OF PRIVATE WILLIE SONKSEN INTERRED SUNDAY P.M.

The remains of Private Frederick Willie Sonksen, Co. L., 316 Inf. 79th Div., arrived at Hoboken, New Jersey, from France on August 24, 1921 and on August 31st were sent to Stratford arriving here the morning of September 2, 1921.

Private Sonksen was called into the service and left Webster City July 26, 1918, with his comrades in the full bloom of young manhood for Camp Gordon, Georgia, a southern replacement camp. There he was stationed but a few weeks before being sent to France. In about three months from the day he left home, on the night of October 29th, 1918, the second night he was on duty on the lines, the Germans sent a silent patrol through the woods, and Private Sonksen was one of the brave men who paid the supreme sacrifice for his country - killed in action on the battle lines in the Argonne Forest.

His body was buried near the place where he fell and in 1919 was disinterred and placed in the Romagne, Argonne, American cemetery.

Frederick Willie Sonksen was the next eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Sonksen of this place. He was born and grew to manhood on the old home farm southeast of Stratford May 4, 1888 and at the time of his death was 30 years, 5 months, 25 days old. He was baptized in the Lutheran faith and had always lived a clean and upright life being a true believer in his creator. Home was the [illegible] spot on earth to him and there he lived until he was called into the service.

He leaves to mourn his passing, his father and mother, one sister, Mrs. Eddie Peterson, two brothers, Julius and John, his aged grandmother, Mrs. Severt Sonksen, many other relatives and a host of friends. Two brothers, who died in infancy, have preceded him in death.

Funeral services over the remains of Private Sonksen were held Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock. The relatives and ex-service men met at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Sonksen south of town and drove into town. When they reached the paving in south Stratford, the ex-soldiers and the band formed in a line of march to go to the church. First in the line came the East Marion band of twenty pieces, followed by the color bearer, Morris Carlson, and the color guards, John Hamilton and James Erickson. The firing squad came next in charge of Sargent Elmer Swanson. The members of the firing squad were: Jesse Burton, Arthur Isaacson, Garrett Johnson, Lorandus Lund, Eric Leksell, and Earl Patterson. Following them came ex-service men as flower bearers in four ranks. They were: George Peterson, J.G. Strand, Gunnar Herman, John Longhenry, Russell Swanson, Howard Vaubel, Lawrence Rodine, Martin Jacobson, W.O. Clanahan, Ralph Segar and Floyd Carlson. The flower bearers were in charge of Crop. Urban, escort to the body of Private Sonksen from New York.

A soldier of the civil war, Andra Chamberlain, of Stanton, Nebr., also marched with the flower bearers. Following the flower bearers came the ministers and the hearse, the pallbearers walking three on each side of the hearse. They were Phillip Rehnblom, August Johnson, Albert Olson, Clifford Lander, Rudy Hubner and Lester Thompson. The mourners and relatives followed and all proceeded to the M.E. church which had been decorated for the funeral in the national colors and with pretty house plants. The church was not nearly large enough to hold the many friends who came to pay their last respects to Stratford's martyr to the cause of righteousness and freedom. For his was an honorable death and while the sting of it may hurt those who held him so near and dear, they can well feel proud of a son and a brother who had given his life as a supreme sacrifice for his country.

Very beautiful services were held in the church in charge of Rev. F.W. Wilson and H.I. Pharo of Gilmore City. The church choir rendered several pretty selections. After the services at the church the funeral cortege made its way to the South Marion cemetery where the remains were laid to rest in mother earth. More than 160 cars went to the cemetery. After the regular service at the grave the firing squad fired a salute of three volleys and the East Marion band played very softly, the "Star Spangled Banner." Then [illegible] around by Sam Carlson and thus a hero was laid away, amid tears and heartaches and beautiful flowers; a man who had lived a just life and who had died in the service of his country.

The American flag which came on the casket with the body of Private Sonksen, was given to the ex-service men of this community by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Sonksen.

Although Stratford was called upon to sacrifice a good many of her young men during the world war, Private Sonksen was the only one of them to lose his life in active service on the firing line.

Relatives from out of town who attended the funeral were: Mrs. Carl Witt, Emil Witt, Walter Witt and Mr. and Mrs. Carl Witt of Lamberton, Minn.; Miss Elizabeth McMichael, Jeffers, Minn.; Mrs. Albert Richards and Wm. Thomsen of Springfield, Mo.; Wm. Fedderson, Davenport; Miss Melinda Oldsen, Wall Lake; Mr. and Mrs. Amos Peterson, August Peterson, Chris Peterson, Denison; Wm. Stegeman, Lorenz Hollander, Pete Peterson, Schleswig. Corporal Urban, of Camp Grand, Ills., was the escort who came with the body.

Card of Thanks
We appreciate more than words can tell the kindness shown by the ex-service boys, the M.E. church, the choir, the East Marion band, the ministers in charge, and our friends, and for all the floral remembrances, while caring for the remains of our son and brother, Private Willie Sonksen. MR. AND MRS. PAUL SONKSEN AND CHILDREN.

Stratford Courier
September 8, 1921

FREDERICK W. SONKSEN POST, AMERICAN LEGION, ORGANIZED

Local ex-service men held a meeting Tuesday night and organized a post of the American Legion here. The organization was perfected and application has been made for a charter.

By unanimous vote the local legion was given the name of the Frederick W. Sonksen Post, in memory of the only Stratford soldier boy who was killed in active service in France.

The following officers and committees were appointed:

Post Commander, Rudy Hubner
Vice Commander, Albert Olson
Post Adjutant, E.S. Coulter
Finance Officer, C.L. Rodine
Historian, Vernie Olofson
Chaplain, M.C. Carlson

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE - Elmer Swanson, Eric Leksell, Harry Newberg and Russell Swanson.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE - M.C. Carlson, Justin Anderson, Arthur Isaacson, W.O. Clanahan, C.L. Rodine, Howard Vaubel.

FINANCE COMMITTEE - John Longhenry, George Peterson, Floyd Carlson, Elmer Swanson, M.C. Carlson and Gunnar Herman.