History: Many Sheridan County Men Join Navy in 1917

On April 6 of 1917 the United States, under President Woodrow Wilson, declared war against Germany, after Germany damaged or sank several U.S. ships traveling to Britain. Patriotic fervor gripped the country, including Sheridan County, which at the time was less than 30 years old. Many young men from Sheridan County enlisted to serve their country. These two articles tell about some Navy recruits, who left Sheridan among the cheers of the townspeople.

Sheridan Post, April 10, 1917 – Cheers For Navy Boys Large Crowd Sees First Contingent Leave Seventeen Men – Many More Are Ready For Duty And Anxious To Have Enlistments Taken: Donald Donaldson. Clifford E. Allen, Coell A. Lela, Leisy, William J. Murphy. Albert E. Blrchby, Leo J. Mooney. James W. Corbin, Charles Bush, Orval H. Kline. Ralph H. Skillings, Merrill D. McLennan, Hurchall , H. Donahue, Alford L. johnson, John L. Seamster, William H. Schmltt, Howard B. Sharp, Wakefield L. Costel.

The seventeen young men named above constituted Sheridan’s first contribution to the national defense during the war with Germany. Recruits for the United States navy, they left here last Saturday after noon with Mate W. L. Walters, recruitment officer, for Billings.

At Billings they were joined with a contingent of eight men recruited there late last week and sent on to Salt Lake City, which is the recruiting headquarters for this district. From Salt Lake the men will be sent to the naval training station at San Francisco where they will be taught the rudiments of the profession which they are to follow.

The seventeen men accepted by Mr Walters were from about 30 examined by him while here. Several were rejected because of physical defects while, in two or three cases, young men successfully passed the examination but were unable to secure parental consent to their enlistment at this time.

This is interesting, these boys must have been underage.

Since Saturday afternoon a number of new candidates, as many or more than the number sent Saturday, have applied to Secretary Steele, of the Commercial club, for enlistment blanks. Mr Walters had previous to leaving, promised to return to Sheridan whenever two or more men were ready for examination.

Accordingly, Mr Steele telephoned him yesterday and Mr. Walters is here again this afternoon. He will remain as long as candidates appear for examination.

The boys departing to enter the navy were given such a sendoff as Sheridan has seen but seldom, recalling the days of the Spanish war and the departure of Company D for the Mexican border last spring

Led by the Sheridan band, a detachment of police and city officials. the men were conveyed to the depot in a dozen automobiles. They were followed or preceded by hundreds of citizens, men and women, and boarded the train and rolled away to the strains of martial music and the cheers of their fellow citizens.

Patriotic fervor was at white heat and the intensity of the people equaled that of the first meeting on Thursday night when the boys who left Saturday, and many who were disappointed in their desire to go sprang to their feet at the call for voluntary enlistment the navy. The cheers Saturday waft none the leas sincere for being a bit hunky at times, and the light of patriotism showed brighter than ever in the eyes of mothers, sisters, brothers and sweethearts, while those eyes were filled with tears.

A letter from Mr Walters was written to Sheridan immediately after arrival in Billings and in it he states that the journey was made without incident and that the boys left for Salt Lake in the best of spirits.

Mr. Walters thanks sincerely the people of Sheridan who were so willing to manifest their patriotism and who assisted so materially in getting the recruits, in arranging for their examination and their rousing send off. Sheridan has put her self on the patriotic map, he says, in no uncertain terms,coming forward as few other places of this size have.

She is to be congratulated, Mr Walters declares, both on the number and on the quality of the recruits sent from here to the Navy. The story of the successful recruiting campaign has been given the world by Mr. Walters and much beneficial publicity has resulted.

The effort to have a permanent recruiting station established here, something which the number of would be recruits shows is badly needed is not progressing very satisfactorily. The Salt Lake recruiting station replied to the telegram sent from hereby saying that no men are available at this time. The matter has not been dropped, how ever, and the Commercial Club is doing everything possible to get the matter arranged

A week later, more men stepped forward to enlist in the Navy. It is interesting to note that nearly the entire Sheridan community came forward to see the young men off with cheers, a parade, and local bands playing patriotic music.

The Sheridan Post, April 17, 1917– Twenty-Two Enter Navy That Number Added To Already Long List. Given An Ovation recruits escorted to train by band and thousands of cheering citizens. Sunday’s contingent: Samuel E. Upton, Carl Smiths, Frank S. Starins, Dewey W. Huas, Milton H Allen, William B. Eckerson, Luther C. Hendricks, Joseph A. Ridel. Charles A. Cooney, William T. King, Waiter S. Davis, H. O. Wilson, Vernon B. Winiker, Claude R. Green, Roy E. Hammond. William N. A. Houser, Andrew Sytjuberget, Ralph S. Bristow, Vaughn H. Baker, Robert I. Dunkin, George E. English, Walter Mishorek.

Wednesday’s squad: Oliver W. Barber, Herbert H. Hams. Roy W. Malcolm, William Alfred Dunning, Calvin V. West, John Barron, Milton E. Hobbs. Paul D. Spencer.

The thirty young men named above constitute Sheridan county’s second contribution to the defense of the country and, with the seventeen who left ten days ago, and all of whom were accepted by the examining officers in Salt Lake City, bring the total number enlisted from this county since the call came to almost fifty.

While thirty men were all that the naval recruiters asked of Sheridan county in the first place. And there are others who are ready and willing to go. They appeared Sunday afternoon, yesterday and today, anxious to meet the recruiting officer and be examined for the naval service. The twenty-one young men who left Sunday were given an ovation which excelled even that given the first delegation.

In spite of the weather, and it was a miserable day in Sheridan, with rain, snow and a cold wind blowing, thousands of people were at the depot. The recruits assembled at the city hall and after having a group picture taken, were placed in automobiles donated by citizens and driven to the depot.

The parade was headed by the Sheridan band, the members or which patriotically donated their services and marched undaunted through the rain and cold The cars carrying the boys were followed by scores of other autos, each filled with cltizens going to bid the boys farewell and good luck. Interest in the boys and the spirit of patriotism served to bring the crowd out.

Cars and pedestrians were packed about the depot so solidly that the ground could not be seen. The band played patriotic airs during the short wait for the train’s arrival and the recruits entered the car and were carried away amid loud cheers. While waiting for the train. The recruits were literally hemmed in by friends and relatives wishing to get close for a last word and a grip of the hand.

As with the previous squads, each man left his home city with a ten dollar gold piece, more highly prized than any ordinary ten-dollar gold piece could be because it was the parting gift of the community. The money came from the patriotic fund. There is plenty of room, by the way for more money in that fund, as the drains upon it have been heavy and the end is not yet.

One might wonder if any these gold pieces are still around, and if they were passed down in the family of the recruit.

The boys who have gone from Sheridan to the naval service will not immediately be assigned to sea duty but will first serve an apprenticeship upon land, at a naval station. After they have attained a suitable proficiency in drill and familiarity with their duties, they will go into active service. A letter from Mr. Walters, received today by Secretary Steele, says that the boys had a most enjoyable trip to Billings and left there for Salt Lake City in good spirits. On the way to Blllings, Hon. Peter Kooi, of Kooi, asked for the privilege of giving a final treat and was permitted to furnish cigars, cigarettes, ice cream and other delicacies after the regular dinner.

At Billings the squad lined upon the platform and gave cheers for Mr. Kooi and for Sheridan. They attracted so much attention that the station master finally announced, through a megaphone, the origin and the destination of the squad, commenting upon the fact that while Billings had furnished two recruits for the Navy, Sheridan had furnished nearly 50. The announcement has had its effect in stimulating recruiting in Billings, Mr. Walters declared. He again expressed his appreciation and that of his superior officers, of the fine showing Sheridan has made.

It would be interesting to know how many of these recruits returned to Sheridan after the war. But, 108 years ago this month, patriotic fervor was high in Sheridan, and several young men left their hometown to fight for their country.