Dannenbring, Fred 1894-1918

DANNENBRING, WALTER

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-volunteer
Date: 7/24/2013 at 23:03:47

Source: Hawarden Independent (4-21-1921)

An impressive funeral was held in Ireton Monday afternoon when the remains of Fred C. Dannenbring, another of Sioux county’s war heroes who made the supreme sacrifice, were laid away in their final resting place in the Lutheran cemetery. The remains reached Ireton Saturday morning and were accompanied by Corporal Smeizer of Ft. Crook, Nebraska. They were taken directly to the undertaking parlors where they rested until Monday afternoon when brief funeral services were conducted by Rev. J. E.Rich Schmidt, pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Ireton. While these services were in progress a company of ex-service men numbering more than one hundred, composed of American Legion members from Ireton, Hawarden, Maurice, and Alton, under the command of Lieut. Johns of Maurice, were drawn up in company front before the undertaking parlors and stood at attention while the casket containing the remains of the deceased comrade was placed in the hearse. Members of the American Legion acted as pall bearers and the firing squad from Alton acted as a guard of honor. The long funeral procession then moved to the cemetery where Rev. Schimdt gave an eloquent, patriotic discourse at the grave. Following this the firing squad fired three volleys over the grave and taps was sounded by buglers while the ex-service men again stood at attention.

Fred C. Dannenbring was born in Washington township, Sioux county, Iowa, September 6, 1894, and grew to young manhood in this community. He had been manger of his widowed mother’s farm for several years prior to the entry of this country into the war. No doubt he could have sought exemption from service but he sought none and in February 1918, he answered the call to the colors. He was at Camp Dodge, Iowa, but a few weeks , then at Camp Sevier, South Carolina a short time, and in May went overseas as a member of Co. K. 119th infantry 30th Division. By the middle of the summer, when the war had reached its crest, he was at the front. He was wounded in action but towards the end of September he returned to the unit.

He was wounded in action but towards the end of September he returned to the front on the sector between Cambrai and St. Quentin. On September 27th, he wrote his last letter to his mother. A long silence told the family that something had happened. The first news to be received was from an Australian lieutenant who found Fred's knapsack on the battlefield. Later the family received various reports from the War Department from which it appears that he fell in action on Sept. 29th outside the village of Bellicourt where he found his first grave with thirty-six of his fallen comrades. Later his remains were transferred to another cemetery in France and finally were brought home for final interment.

After the report of his death was confirmed a memorial service was held at the Ireton Lutheran church on Feb. 23, 1919. At the service Monday afternoon hundreds of his old friends, neighbors and comrades were present to pay a slight tribute to one who gave all for his country. Besides his mother, Mrs. Dora Dannenbring, there are two brothers and four sisters, August Dannenbring of Dell Rapids, S.D., Mrs. Michael Lang of Craig, Mrs. Harry Stief of Hawarden and John, Anna and Mary at home.

NOTE:
Fred’s parents were Dora (Walter) and August Dannenbring.