WWI Memorial
Oakland Tribune - Sun - Apr. 17, 1921
As the United States entered World War I in 1917, Piedmont’s men were called to serve. Seven Piedmont men died in World War I. Albert Farr designed their memorial made of marble. It was originally placed in the grove of redwood trees to the east of the commercial center where it was the site of Memorial Day observances, but has since been moved to the entrance of the Veterans’ Building.
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Egbert William Beach
Henry Augustus Butters
Otto Julius Carlsen
Hunter McClure
Frank Jay Field
Thomas Edward Graves
Carl Castlemayne Jones
Oakland Tribune - Wed - Nov. 2, 1921
PIEDMONT'S WAR MEMORIAL TO BE UNVEILED NOV 11
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Elaborate Monument Erected as Tribute to City's Heroic Dead.
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PIEDMONT, Nov. 5.
All citizens of Piedmont are urged to attend the dedication ceremonies at the unveiling of the Piedmont war memorial on Highland avenue, at 2:30 p.m.. November 11 as an important feature of the observance of Armistice day. The memorial is a concrete structure, with a semicircular seat and a terrace at the top of a flight of steps. Upon a slab of marble; protected by a tile roof, are carved the names of Piedmont. men who lost their lives in the war. The structure is overshadowed by two cypress trees.
Here are the names that appear on the slab: Egbert William Beach, Henri Augustus Butters, Otto J Carlson, Hunter McClure, Frank Jay Fields, Thomas. Edward Graves and Carl Castlemayne Jones.
Beach was a lieutenant with Company B, First Engineers, and was killed at Cantigny. April 27. 1918. He was 29 years old and was born in San
Francisco. He graduated from the University of California in 1916 and was an electrical engineer. He was the son ff Mr. and Mrs Ransom E. Beach, 110 Sunnyside avenue.
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Butters was a second lieutenant in the British army, He was 24years old and was killed in the battle of the Somme, August 31, 1916. He was with the field artillery. He was the son of Henry Butters, Sr.. who was a resident of Piedmont at the time of his death. Butters has two sisters and a half brother living-They are Mrs. R. A. Bray, 323 Bonita avenue, Piedmont; Mrs. Charles Teague and Mrs. A. Gray of Fresno, and David S. Edwards, 319 Bonita avenue, Piedmont.
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KILLED WITH NINETY-FIRST.
Carlson was with the Ninety-first Division, 363d Infantry. Signal Corps, and was killed in the Argunne, September 26, 1918, He was a native of Denmark. His body was brought home from overseas and was buried in Oakland last Monday. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. Carlson, formerly lived in Piedmont, but are now living at 3722 Laguna avenue, Oakland.
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Fields was a first-class machinist's mate in the naval reserve. He was preparing to go overseas when he was stricken with the "flu" and died. He was 28 years old. His mother, Mrs. Lottie Fields, lives at 3768 Piedmont avenue.
McClure was with the Twenty-first Engineers and was killed in the Argonne, September 26, 1918. He was born in Rome. Ga. He had lived at the home of his aunt. Mrs. G. H. Harris, 128 Bonita avenue, Piedmont.
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AIR WRECK VICTIM.
Graves was a lieutenant in, the aviation service. He was killed at Bolling Field, Washington, D. C., during the preliminary test of an aeroplane. The plane crashed to the earth from a height of 2000 feet. Graves was an instruetor. The accident happened a few days before Graves was to have started on a transcontinental flight to San Diego. He was 23 years old and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Graves, 21 Dormidero avenue, Piedmont.
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Jones was a member of the Ninety-first Division. He belonged to Company K, 363d Infantry, and was killed in the Argonne on September 27, 1918. He was 26 years old. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jones, 906 Rose avenue, Piedmont.
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The dedication will be held under the auspices of Piedmont Post of the American Legion, and. Commander George W. Baker of the post will act as master of ceremonies. An invitation has been extended to General George Barnett of the United States Marine Corps to, deliver the dedicatory address. A detachment of soldiers from the Presidio and a detachment from the University of California will be present, as well as representatives of Piedmont Council of the Boy Scouts and of the police and fire departments.
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The idea of erecting a memorial to Piedmont's dead war heroes orig Inated with the Piedmont Women's Guild, After contributing all the war bonds in the treasury of the organization to the project, the members turned the work of raising the funds ofer to the local post of the American Legion. The memorial was recently finished at a cost of 31150. The site occupied by the memorial was deeded to the city from the commercial center lands, and sidewalks and parking are being put around the structure by the city.
Past and present of Alameda County, California by Baker, Joseph Eugene, 1847-1914
Publication date 1914:
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Soon after the war commenced the Red Cross Society of Alameda County was organized at Oakland. At the first meeting $2,000 was raised or pledged. On May 26th, $1,000 was sent to the Kansas soldiers. On July 2d the Oakland council appropriated $100 for the Red Cross service. By the middle of August the Red Cross Society had raised a total of $15,000 for the soldiers, of which $6,991 was cash and the balance mostly supplies. In July the Red Cross tent at the camp was in charge of Mrs. C. J. Martin. At all times the volunteers were well treated by the society and generally by the ladies of this whole community who brought or sent them flowers, fruit and delicacies and otherwise tried to soften the rigors of camp life. No sooner had Camp Barrett been occupied than the Christian Commission erected there a large tent where religious services could be attended by the volunteers. Later the Red Cross Society secured the old Howe house in Piedmont and converted it into a convalescent hospital for the soldiers. Several score of sick men were cared for at this necessary institution. In a short time Camp Barrett became unsanitary as it did not have suitable drainage, and the soldiers were obliged to leave that vicinity and pitch their tents elsewhere; all moved to a position across the track of the Laundry Farm road.​
Honor Roll:
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World War I
Egbert Williams Beach • Henry Augustus Butters • Otto Julius Carlsen • Frank Jay Field • Thomas Edward Graves • Carl Castlemayne Jones • Hunter McClure
World War II
George David Anderson • John R. Anderson, Jr. • James M. Aver • Joseph G. Baker • John A. Beidman, Jr. • Geary Bundshu • Estiban B. Calbite • Thomas W. Carlson • Arthur Chamberlin, Jr. • Winslow K. Chase • William H. Chickering II • William A. Cluthe • Gordon H. Craig • Joseph DeGraftenreid • Theodore R. Doe • Jack M. Emery • John D. Fay • James Curtis Fisher • Kenneth A. Flinn • Leonard W. Franklin • Theodore Gregory • James H. Hall • Stuart M. Hawley, Jr. • Bruce A. Jackson • A. Karl Kempkey • Robert D. Durkjian • William Bruce Lyon • Hall MacBride • Robert Meltzer • Roger Mortensen • Thomas G. Murphey • John J. Niosi • Frank L. Pollard, Jr. • Guy L. Putnam, Jr. • Preston Richardson • Robert H. Rutley • Alexander H. Small • John A. Soens • Theodore Sweetland • Lawrence C. Taylor • Lawrence S. Timpson, Jr. • Frederick M. Van Horn • James Wainwright, Jr. • John Thomas Wallace • David C. Waybur • Otis Whitney • William G. Windeler • Jean Witter, Jr. • Theodore Wittschen, Jr.
Korea
Bruce Landsdell Hawley • Calvin K. Penberthy • Robert Roy Williams
Vietnam
Thomas J. Steimer • Kendal W. Thompson • Chris C. Vurlumis
Oakland Tribune - Fri - May 8, 1959