Gold Star Honor Roll; A Record of Indiana Men and Women who died in the service of the United States and the Allied Nations in the World War

Indianapolis: Indian Historical Commission, 1921. Presumed First Edition, First printing. Hardcover. Fair. 750 pages. Illustrations. Index. Cover has wear and soiling. Front and rear boards have some weakness--heavy book--and have been restrengthened with glue. This is part of the Indiana World War Records series. When the Indiana Historical Commission decided early in 1919 to issue a series of publications recounting the history of Indiana's part in the World War, it was agreed that the first volume should be dedicated to the Gold Star man and women of Indiana. Believing that the first honor should be paid to those heroes who had laid down their lives for their country's honor, it was decided to give special attention to their records, and to prepare a volume worthy of their sacrifices. A careful check was made from the daily casualty lists published in the U. S. Official Bulletin, beginning with the first name printed, that of James B. Gresham--who was not only the first man for Indiana, but the first of the Americans to fall in battle after the United States entered the war,--on through the entire lists. The name and address of every man and woman from Indiana reported as having been killed in actions, died from wounds, died of disease, or from other causes, was copied and classified according to the county in which they had lived. Newspapers were also checked. Also, an examination was made of the casualty lists sent out the the Adjutant General in Washington to the state Adjutant General of Indiana with a view of including any additional names that had been omitted from the earlier examined sources. Lists were verified by local county committees who were also asked to fill in individual questionnaires. Special efforts were made to obtain a photograph in every case, but not every entry has an associated photograph. The chief regret in assembling a memorial volume of this kind is the physical limitation that prevents giving greater space to the individual records of these heroes. Three Hoosiers are given special recognition at the start of the volume. First is James Bethel Gresham, the first American to give his life on the battlefields of France after the armed forces of the United States began military operations against Germany. The second is Commodore Charles Grimes Bowman, the highest ranking Naval Officer from Indiana who died wile in service during the World War. The third was Colonel Albert Leas Hall, the highest ranking Army Officer from Indiana who died wile in service during the World War. The Gold Star list then proceeds with the dead from Adams County through Whitley County.