Iowa City Has Two Great War Families

Iowa City boasts two great war families, the Harrison and the Vogts. Few towns of this size can boast of more than one family with such war records as these two local families have made. Each mother gave four sons to the cause of democracy and those eight, clean limbed Americans have won distinction that would be the envy of any soldier.

Don, Jack, Jim, and Noel Harrison are the sons of Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Harrison of this city. Here is their record.

Jimmie was the first of the four to get into the service. He joined the 48th Canadian Highlanders before Americans were fully awake to the fact that they were at war. All through the long months that
followed, the local soldier, who is known all over this state as a brilliant athlete, saw the most strenuous kind of service; hand to hand bayonet fights, wild charges over the top, long periods of
service in the front line trenches. Twice he was the victim of hellish Hun gas and once received a slight wound. He was awarded the British war medal for valor, was recommended for the Victory Cross, the most coveted of all war honors, and promoted to the rank of sergeant. Jimmie is 22 years old.

Don and Jack Harrison, the two older brothers, were both commissioned lieutenant's in the early months of the war. For a time they were stationed at Camp Cody and later in camps in New Jersey. Don went overseas as far as England before the armistice was signed. He was one of the few Americans to be selected for scholarships in English Universities and he took a four month's course in King's College, London. Jack was the only one of the four brothers who never got across the water. He served patiently while awaiting the opportunity that never came. Jack is 24 years old and Don is 26.

Noel, the youngest brother, age 20, enlisted with the Ambulance unit that left the University here. He saw considerable service along the fighting front in France and returned wearing the French croix
de guerre, a high tribute to his courage.

In many respects, the record of the Vogt brothers resembles that of the Harrison boys.

Edward, age 27, Harry, age 26, Robert, age 24, and Leo, age 20 are the sons of Mrs. Josephine Vogt of East Brown street. The three older boys all won the rank of lieutenant.

Harry Vogt, like Jim Harrison saw hard fighting. He participated in engagements on two important fronts in France and in the great American fights that will go down in history. Luckily he escaped
without a scratch from the rain of Hun fire.

Leo, the youngest Vogt boy, was a member of Company A, 168th regiment. He too got into the great fight.

Robert left with the University ambulance unit but was later transferred to the aviation branch of the service, where he was promoted to a lieutenancy. Although he did not see any real fighting, he was in France when the armistice was signed, ready for his first war flight.

Edward, the oldest brother was the only one of the four who did not get to France. he was in the aviation service and was so proficient that he was held on this side of the water to be a flying instructor at Kelly Field, Texas.

This is the record of eight Iowa City youths. It is one surely to be proud of. Fortunately, each boy was spared to his anxious mother at home, although one was wounded and gassed. Freely were they
given to their country by these mothers, who, are after all the greatest heroines of the story.