Stories from the Archives:

New recruit Harry Erlich,   c. 1918

Harry Erlich WWI Veteran -

Born in Russia...Emigrated...  

Drafted...Commended.   

Harry Erlich was born in Staszow Poland (then part of Russia) in 1896. When he was in his teens, his family could see the progroms on the horizon and they sent Harry and his siblings to the United States to join his grandfather in Chicago.  Harry was a slight boy, 5'2" tall, and went on to become a tailor. With WWI engulfing Europe Harry, despite the fact that he was not a citizen, received his Draft Notice with orders to report at 7 a.m. on August 27th, 1918 to 1432 N. Leavitt Street, Chicago, Illinois for induction. The Draft Notice concluded with the statement: " From and after the day and hour just named you will be a soldier in the military service of the United States."

Complete Draft Notice

Aug 24, 1918 Draft Notice: From the President...

 

One month later he was on a ship for Europe where he served with the Army Expeditionary Forces. He spoke several european languages and by the end of the war he was a corporal and spent his final 8 month overseas assigned to Prisoner of War Enclosure Escort Company 218 at Camp Montoir, France, overseeing German prisoners. He received a letter of appreciation from Col. Conley, Director, Bureau of Prisoners of War noting "the trying nature of the assignment and that in spite of exceptionally difficult conditions, he had performed his duties efficiently, successfully, and cheerfully, with the same spirit which made possible that wonderful success of the America Army in the greatest war of history." 

Harry also received an individual copy of General Pershing's General Orders No. 38-A addressed to: "My Fellow Soldiers" and thanking them for their willingness to answer the call to arms, be tested, and defeat the forces of autocracy.  That his part had been important, whether keeping lonely vigil in the trenches or storming the enemy stronghold, and turned the tide of threatened defeat into overwhelming victory.  The General went on to thank him for his splendid service to the Army and the nation."

Harry Erlich, 1917	Hary Erlich, 1917, taken in Chicago.
Harry Erlich portrait, c. 1917-1918.	Two unidentified German soldiers, c. 1918, probably obtained while at POW camp.

German prisoners at hospital, c. 1918, a nurse is pictured in center of the second row.

Harry returned to the United States and was formally mustered out of the Army at Fort Dix, New Jersey on 18 October 1919.  Harry did not discuss his experiences with his family.  His grandchildren, Beth and Jason Meyer of San Diego unexpectedly discovered a folder with all his service records and some photographs that had been locked away by their mother in a cabinet 30 years after he passed away.

 

Jill Batchley of San Diego donated WWII Enlisted Uniforms with white hats and scarf worn by her father, PharmMate2/c Carl Ferris Thornton, Jr., a box of Navy insignia including NNC shoulder boards, pins and insignia worn by her mother who served in the Navy Nurse Corps, and an enlisted sweater, discharge documents, certificates, medals patches, and photographs.

Virginia Belmain of Poway donated Deep Sea Diver's Knife in bronze scabbard, made by the Morse Diving Equipment Company, Inc. of Boston, and an early 1900s era 5"x7" folding box and bellows camera, with case and six double sided negative holders.  The camera came with a collection of glass negatives and 27 envelopes of 3 ¼"x5 ¾" negatives dating from 1915 to 1927, and assorted camera accessories.

 

Mark Bennettlease of Oceanside donated a copy of a 1960s NTCSD Anchor featuring Recruit Company 60-675.

Robert Breglio of Coronado donated a 7 volume set of the "Naval Documents of the American Revolution" covering the period 1774-1777.

Brandon Curtis of San Diegodonated Collection of Southwest Asia personal artifacts including uniform items, body armor, medical first aid items, misc. equipment, and a AT-4 Rocket Launcher Tube.

 

AM136 AT-4 Rocket Launcher Tube, inert, without rocket.

Top to Bottom: Boonie Cover (Desert), 'H' Bandage, Light Balaclava face mask (Desert), Decompression Needle, Two black tourniquets, and pair of fire retardant gloves, from Afghanistan service.

 

George Duli and Kim Bryant of San Diego and El Cajon donated their family's artifacts including three WWII uniforms belonging to EMC George Duli, Technician 3rd Grade Helen Jones, and T-Sgt Robert W. Kreuiter, and artifacts from EMC George Duli, USN, who served from 1938-1958, including a 1939 Stewart R. Brown Black Bakelite USN flashlight with ring clip, documents, an unopened USS Nashville deck of cards, a 1951-1953 Navy Liberty map of Hawaii identifying approved serviceman's beaches, a collection of 16mm film, and a record of Naval Recruit Training happenings dating from the mid 1950s.

 

David Hendrick of Lemon Grove donated his USCG uniform worn during his service aboard the USCG Cutter USS Curier stationed in Rhodes Greek as a radio transmitter ship of the Voice of America in the 1964-1966.  His uniform is part of a special exhibit abour the USCG Cutter Curier and its Voice of America Mission.

Darren Hughes of San Diego donated a collection of books and magazines from Vietnam and the Gulf War.

Greg Kane of Vista donated a WWI 3'x5' Poster: "To Make the World A Decent Place To Live In - Do Your Part - Buy U.S. Government Bonds - THIRD LIBERTY LOAN."

This poster is somewhat faded, the original background color behind the soldiers was a vivid red color.  Photo donated by Greg Kane of Vista, CA.

Sally King of Santee donated copies of Navy records, photographs and diarys of Everette Rogers who served as a PhM1/c in WWII and was later commissioned a LTJG in the Medical Corps.

Clay Maxam of Moab, UT donated a 1898-1902 Spanish War Veteran Lapel Pin.

 

1898-1902 Spanish War Veteran Lapel Pin donated by Clay Maxam of Moab, UT.

Autographed photo by Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz of his signing the Japanese Surrender Document in Tokyo Bay September 1945 presented to Rear Admiral E. S. Miller

 

Peter Miller of Sun City, CA donated two framed photos, one of Admiral Nimitz signing the Japanese Surrender in Tokyo Bay, 1945 and personnaly inscribed to Rear Admiral E. S. Miller by C. W. Nimitz, Fleet Admiral, USN.  The second photo is of the Atomic Bomb Test Explosion at Bikini Atol, 1946.  E. S. Miller was aboard the USS Lowry (DD-770) which was part of the support team during the test.

Eric Roth Frisco CO donated the artifacts of Col. Morton F. Roth, US Army, Civil Engineer Corps, USMA 1957, including books, plaques, documents, photographs and uniforms.

Dennis Schoville of Alpine donated 70 books on military subjects to our Military History Library.

John Van Ells of San Diego donated a Japanese photographer's photograph of General MacArthur landing at Atsugi Air Station in August 1945.