The United States was involved in a World War in 1917.
The U.S. entered World War I on 6 April 1917. That same day the General Secretary of the International Committee of the North American YMCA determined that the YMCA would help provide services for the military forces, to assist in maintaining and promoting their morale and welfare. They provided recreation, library services, Bible study, and religious services to soldiers in training camps and on troop trains in the United States and Europe.
Willshire did its part to help the YMCA war effort.
WILLSHIRE
Willshire, town and township, ranked among the best doners in the Y.M.C.A. War Fund Campaign. This district contributed the handsome sum of seven hundred and fifty dollars. (The Celina Democrat, Celina, Ohio, 30 Nov 1917; NewspaperArchive.com.)
Celina Democrat, 30 Nov 1917
Other news from Willshire in 1917:
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Geissler, Dale and Fanny Cowan and Miss Besse Cpaulding [sic] were at Camp Sherman for a visit with Clarence Geissler, who will soon leave for France. (The Celina Democrat, Celina, Ohio, 30 Nov 1917; NewspaperArchive.com.)
Possibly a result of the War:
Due to the coal shortage the Celina public library will be closed evenings until further notice. (The Celina Democrat, Celina, Ohio, 30 Nov 1917; NewspaperArchive.com.)
Celina Democrat, 30 Nov 1917
MAIL EARLY-SHOP EARLY
Mail your Christmas packages a week or 10 days earlier than usual this year. That is the advice the American Railway Association Special Committee on National Defense sends out…To take care of the unusual traffic…because of the thousands of soldiers away from homes, is going to require every available baggage and express car as well as some high-class refrigerator cars…Postmaster Schunck looks for the biggest rush in the history of the Celina Post Office… (The Celina Democrat, Celina, Ohio, 30 Nov 1917; NewspaperArchive.com.)
The following letter from serviceman Albert C. Heffner (1888-1945) to John C. Carlin was published in the 16 November 1917 edition of the Celina Democrat. Originally from Chattanooga, Ohio, Albert resided in Celina in 1917, where he was employed as a piano dealer. Albert, age 29, registered for the WWI draft on 5 June 1917. He was single and described himself as medium height and weight with blue eyes and blonde hair. [1]
Celina Democrat, 16 Nov 1917
DISCIPLINE GOES AGAINST THE GRAIN
Fort Omaha, Neb.
November 11, 1917
Mr. John C. Carlin, Celina, Ohio.
Friend John: How’s everything in Celina. You know I promised to write you when I left Celina and I have never written for the reason that I didn’t know until a day or two ago where I would be located.
I like the army life fine so far as I have gone, although I haven’t been in it long enough to tell much about it.
I really think it is better for a fellow to enlist, rather than wait for the draft. If a man enlists he has the advantage of choosing his service which I believe means a whole lot.
While at Columbus I could see from 75 to 300 fellows enlisting every day. There are not very many fellows from Ohio enlisting. Most of the fellows I met were from Pennsylvania, New York, W. Virginia, and some more states in the east.
They feed us on the regular army ration of 14c a meal, but there always is enough on the table for anyone. Sometimes a fellow don’t like the way the feed is cooked up, but that is something that might happen if a fellow is staying at home. There are a couple of restaurants around here, so a fellow can always buy what he wants.
This is a balloon signaling outfit here. I haven’t been here long enough yet to get assigned or any regular job, but I probably will have to get busy tomorrow a.m.
The worse fault I find with army life is the discipline. After a fellow has been used to doing pretty much as he pleases all his life, this strict obedience to order goes against the grain, but there is nothing to do but obey, unless a fellow wants to get in the guardhouse, and that is full most of the time, too.
Well, John, since I will have a permanent address for a few months, I would appreciate receiving the Democrat starting with last week’s issue.
Let me hear from you John, when you have a little extra time.
With best regards to all, I am
Sincerely yours,
A.C. Heffner
South Barracks,
Fort Omaha, Nebraska
Albert enlisted in the Regular Army at Columbus, Ohio, on 27 October 1917. He served in several Balloon Companies during World War I: the 1st Balloon Squadron, Fort Omaha, Nebraska, until 15 March 1918; in the 64th Balloon Company until 12 July 1918; in the 66th Balloon Company AS until 13 January 1919; and in 52nd Balloon Company until his honorable Discharge on 28 January 1919. He also held the rank of corporal and later sergeant. [2]
Albert returned to Celina after the war and married Ethel Olson. He and his brother-in-law Jake Bauer were salesmen in a music store. [3]
Albert is buried in row 9 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Ohio.
Albert & Ethel Heffner, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)
Albert Heffner military marker, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)
[1] “U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” Ohio, Mercer County, Albert Carl Heffner, no. 1340; Ancestry.com.
[2] Official Roster Ohio Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, World War, 1917-1918 (Columbus, Ohio : FJ Heer Printing Co., 1926), 7271; Ancestry.com.
