We're In The Army Now

BLEDSOE, CARTER, MARCHELLINO, STEVENSON, GRANT, KRUEGER, BROWN, SHOOK, BENTON, LEE, WILSON, JACOBSON, SKEELS, JOHNSON, WHERRY, DOWNEY

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 7/16/2010 at 13:56:09

Grinnell Herald (Grinnell, Iowa) May 14, 1918

WE'RE IN THE ARMY NOW

Poweshiek County Boys Depart for Jefferson Barracks at St. Louis, Mo.

LARGE CROWD SAYS GOODBYE AT DEPOT

M. & St. L. Train Was Decorated With Flags--Cheering Recruits Fill Three Coaches

To the tune of "We're in the army now, we're not behind the plow," sung by three coach loads of prospective soldiers, the 16 men from Poweshiek county and the Jasper county quota entrained for Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, last evening. The M. & St. L. train had been gaily decorated with flags at Marshalltown and the three coaches reserved for the soldiers were filled with lusty young fellows who did not seem a bit downcast that they were going to the wars.

Twenty minutes before the train arrived, the whistles announced its coming and soon a large crowd was gathered at the depot. The college band was there and furnished appropriate music for the occasion. The men were given the enthusiastic sendoff they deserved and as the train pulled out from the station, the impressive strains of "America" and the screeching of all the whistles in the city let them know that the city was with them to the finish.

The following are the men Poweshiek county sent:
Percy Bledsoe, Hills.
Leland Carter, Montezuma.
Guiseppi Marchellino, Grinnell.
Leomond E. Stevenson, Deep River.
Harry A. Grant, Grinnell.
Oscar R. Krueger, Grinnell.
Leslie O. Brown, Ottumwa.
Lewis P. Shook, Montezuma.
William A. Benton, Newton.
Carl L. Lee, Milwaukee.
John D. Wilson, Nwton.
Frederick C. Jacobson, Moline.
Ernest Skeels, Des Moines.
Carl I. Johnson, Moline.
Grant O. Wherry, Guernsey.
Harry F. Downey.