CONFLICTS OF WAR WITH SEVERAL GENERATIONS OF MY FAMILY
In my research on my family I quickly learned that my earliest immigrant ancestors arrived in America after the mid-1850's, thus avoiding many of the earlier conflicts of war that occurred on US soil.
The information I have uncovered on military service of my ancestors involved in the conflict of war is as follows:
Civil War - Johann Jacob Feucht - my 2nd great-grandfather. I am not 100% certain that MY Johann Jacob Feucht served in the Civil War. I say 'not' certain because though I have found records and newspaper accounts of "A" Johann Jacob Feucht of Detroit, Michigan registering for service I am not certain it is "MY" Johann Jacob Feucht. At the time of the Civil War, my Johann Jacob would have been 35 years old and he was already married with 2 children. There is a three year gap between child #2 born in 1861 and child #3 born in 1864 while the rest of his 10 children were born 2 years apart but that is not proof positive either. Perhaps these records do pertain to my ancestor, perhaps he registered but didn't serve, perhaps he did serve but further research is necessary. I have found several families in the Detroit area during that time with a head of household named Johann Jacob Feucht and/or Jacob Feucht so it makes the search more complicated.
Spanish American War - Rudolph Myer Schulte - my great- grandfather. At the age of 28, my great-grandfather, Rudolph Myer Schulte, enlisted in the US Navy and served aboard the USS Yosemite during the Spanish American War. He was injured in a blast of a boiler on the USS Yosemite where he had served as a fireman. He later continued his career as a Detroit Fireman. His younger brother, Theodore, is pictured here with Rudolph, both in their Spanish American War uniforms:
Rudolph Schulte with his Detroit Firefighter's Group with Rudolph on the lower row, far right:
The conflict of military service during a War was dangerous and not for the weak of spirit and obviously neither was service as a fire fighter but my great-grandfather was up to the task and served both with pride.
WWI - Elmer Meyer Schulte - my paternal grandfather. At the age of 23 my grandfather, Elmer Schulte, was called up for service in WWI soon after registering. He was sent to Waco, Texas from his home in Detroit, Michigan for training in the United States Army, Company D, 125th Infantry, 63rd Brigade of the 32nd Infantry of the Red Arrow Division. He would soon be sent to France leaving behind his new bride who he had married on Christmas Eve, 1917 just prior to shipping out:
On August 4, 1918, Elmer's 24th birthday, he was in a Base Hospital in France recovering from injuries sustained in a conflict with an enemy soldier for which he would later receive the Purple Heart.
WWII - Mylen Elmer Schulte - my father. On July 31, 1943 my father was in training in the US Army Air Corps at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. He would later serve in Guatemala where he flew fighter planes. This is a photo of the men and women in Barracks #739, Co. A, 803rd Signal Training Regiment where my father is positioned in the top row, far left side:
He flew a B24 Liberator which is depicted here:
My father's older brother, Melbourne Myers Schulte, also served in WWII in the US Navy with both brothers leaving their homes on the same day for military service. My grandmother told me it was a worrisome day when she and my grandfather took one son to one location to leave for service in the US Navy and then took the other son to another location to leave for service in the US Army Air Corps. Here are both brothers who thankfully returned home from their military service without injuries:
Copyright 2021, Cheryl J. Schulte
