Edward F. German
World War I
Edward German was born June 17, 1895, in Princeville, IL, to Max and Mary German. He was the oldest of seven children, having four sisters and two brothers.
Between 1910 and 1912, the family moved to Osmond where Edward's youngest sister Isabel was born, but at some point, Edward himself moved to Humphrey because it was there, in 1917, that he registered for the draft.
At that time, he was 21 years old and was working as a farm laborer. According to his registration card, he was of medium height and medium build, with dark brown hair and dark brown eyes.
I have conflicting information about which unit Ed served in, but maybe he started in one and then switched to the other I don't know enough about military units to know.
One record states he served in Co. K, 355th Infantry Regiment, 89th Division.
I have printed information about that unit before, for another Osmond veteran, but here is some information relating to that unit: The soldiers moved to the front near Beaumont on Aug. 4, 1918. The 1st Battalion of the regiment was the first
unit from the division to occupy any of the active front and on the night of Aug. 7-8 was subjected to a severe gas shell bombardment. The unit continued on the front lines conducting raids, patrolling the enemy wire, capturing prisoners, and gathering information for the upcoming St. Mihiel offensive.
On the morning of Sept. 12, after a fierce artillery barrage, the regiment captured the villages of Euvezin, Bouillonville, Beney, and Xammes and a large number of prisoners. The unit was relieved on Oct. 8 by elements of the 37th Division and given a much needed rest and were moved to the Argonne sector in preparation for another push.
On Nov. 1, a new offensive was begun, then the unit took up positions on the front lines to continue the advance taking Barricourt, Beaufort, Laneuville, Luzy, and Cesse before the armistice was signed on Nov. 11. On Nov. 24, the regiment assumed occupation duties in the German town of Saarburg. In April 1919, the unit was ordered back to the United States and embarked on the SS Leviathan, which entered New York Harbor on May 22.
According to his military papers, Ed was actually discharged April 11, 1919, probably because he was wounded in the battles of St. Mihiel Salient and Argonne-Meuse. He was awarded the Purple Heart with cluster.
After he was discharged, Ed moved to Osmond and married Ione Grunke on June 18, 1922. He worked as a clerk in Eirenberg's Grocery Store from 1921 to 1930 where, according to an entry from "Who's Who in Nebraska, 1940," he then became manager of Eirenberg's in Pierce. His obituary stated that he owned and operated German's Grocery at Pierce from 1939 to 1970.
Edward was a member of the Osmond Volunteer Fire Department for 10 years, and was also a charter member of Osmond American Legion Post 326 and its first commander.
After he moved to Pierce, he joined Tomek-Otto Post 72, and in 1928, he helped secure the first Veterans Administration hospital in Nebraska. In June 1985, he was recognized for 38 years of membership and service to the Pierce County Veterans Service Committee.
Not only was Edward a patriot with many years of service to his country and his community, but according to the centennial book, his son, Robert, was a Veteran of World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam era, and one of Ed's grandsons served in the Vietnam era.
Ed German died Sept. 19, 1985, at the age of 90. He is buried in St. Joseph's
Cemetery at Pierce.
This picture was found on Edward's Find A Grave page.
