Memorial Day: Honoring Armstrong Employees Who Died in World War I


Posted on by Dr. James McMahon
Armstrong Court of Honor
Court of Honor, Armstrong Flooring Plant, Dillerville Road entrance. World War I memorial, right side. Photograph by the author.

The Armstrong Archive of Armstrong World Industries contains a vast array of documents, photographs, and objects that document the history of the company from its founding in 1860 to the present. Following the end of World War I and again after World War II, the company erected plaques at various locations honoring those who served as well as those who died in both wars. Plaques at the Lancaster Floor Plant location along West Liberty Street formed the nucleus of a Court of Honor that grew to include monuments in 1986 to honor Korean War and Vietnam War veterans. In 2004, benches honoring those who have served and continue to serve joined the memorial. The Court of Honor was moved from its original location to its present location off Dillerville Road in 2005.

As we approach the Memorial Day holiday, Part I of this two-part series will highlight efforts by Armstrong to honor those who served and gave their lives in World War I. Part II will highlight efforts to honor those who served and gave their lives in World War II.

Armstrong WWI Memorial
World War I memorial plaque on granite base, Court of Honor, Armstrong Floor Plant, Dillerville Road entrance. Photograph by the author.
Armstrong WWI Plaque
World War I memorial plaque, Court of Honor, Armstrong Floor Plant, Dillerville Road entrance. Photograph by the author.

Lancaster Floor Plant Honor Roll

During World War I, Armstrong Cork Company published a newsletter called “In Trench and Turret” containing home front news as well as letters and photographs from employees from all Armstrong plants serving in the armed forces. Following the end of the war, the Lancaster Floor Plant erected a bronze honor roll plaque mounted on a granite block to honor those “Who Served in the Military or Naval Forces During the World War 1914-1918.” Listed alphabetically, the plaque included the names of 154 men from the Floor Plant, including the names of four men who were killed in action. The information below is taken from the American Battle Monuments Commission website. Photographs are from and the “In Trench and Turret” publication.

Frank L. Fagan
Frank L. Fagan. Sergeant, U.S. Army, 58th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division. Date of Death: September 30, 1918. Burial: Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Plot E, Row 2, Grave 12.
Haskell P. Kendig
Haskell P. Kendig. Private First Class, U.S. Army, 8th Field Signal Battalion, 4th Division. Date of Death: October 3, 1918. Burial: Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Plot A, Row 42, Grave 32.
Jacob N. Kiehl
Jacob N. Kiehl. Private, U.S. Army, 47th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division. Date of Death: October 19, 1918. Burial: Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Plot A, Row 11, Grave 21.
Samuel W. Myers
Samuel W. Myers. Corporal, U.S. Army, 23rd Infantry Regiment, Company A. Date of Death: June 8, 1918. Burial: Greenwood Cemetery, Lancaster, Mifflin Section.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Armstrong General Manufacturing Honor Roll

Although no other World War I era memorial plaques or monuments have survived from other Armstrong manufacturing facilities, the “In Trench and Turret” publication includes the names of 12 more men who worked in various Armstrong facilities around the country, including three more in Lancaster, who also lost their lives in the war. All are presumed to have been killed in action except as noted in each entry.

Lancaster: Martin S. Cover. Private, U.S. Army, 151st Machine Gun Battalion, 42nd Division. Date of Death: July 28, 1918. Burial: Oise-Aisne American Cemetery Plot A, Row 10, Grave 9.

Lancaster: Thomas Samuel Deisley. Private, 79th Division, 304th Engineers, Company D. Date of Death: September 10, 1918 (Pneumonia). Burial: Riverview Burial Park, Lancaster, Reinterred June 1921.

Lancaster: Harry Heins Eschbach. Corporal, U.S. Army 28th Infantry, 1st Division, Medical Detachment. Date of Death: May 28, 1918. Burial: Fairview Cemetery, Boyertown, Berks County.

 

Pittsburgh

Henry Rufus Archey
Henry Rufus Archey. Private, U.S. Army, 30th Infantry Regiment, Company E. Date of Death: October 13, 1918. Burial: Christ Our Redeemer Catholic Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County.
Walter Stanley Bigley
Walter Stanley Bigley. Private, U.S. Marine Corps, 5th USMC Regiment, 2nd Division. Date of Death: June 8, 1918. Burial: Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, Plot A, Row 5, Grave 59.

George L. Davison. Corporal, U.S. Army, 28th Infantry, Company C. Date of Death and Place of Burial are unknown. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beaver Falls

Robert Woodruff Culmer
Robert Woodruff Culmer. Private, U.S. Army, 110th Infantry Regiment, Company B. Date of Death: September 27, 1918. Burial: Grandview Cemetery, Beaver Falls, Beaver County.

Victor A. Jewell. Private, U.S. Army, 110th Infantry Regiment, Company B. Date of  Death: July 15, 1918. Burial: Grove Cemetery, New Brighton, Beaver County.

Elmer Lindsey. Service Record, Date of Death, and Place of Burial are unknown. 

Paul Zalmanek. Polish Legion & Czecho-Slovak Forces in France, 21st Regiment, 2nd Company. Date of Death and Place of Burial are unknown.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Camden

George Henry. Died of Spanish Influenza, Camp Dix, New Jersey. Date of Death and Place of Burial are unknown.

 

Cincinnati

George W. McDonald. 32nd Infantry Regiment. Date of Death: 1918 (Pneumonia). Burial: Saint Joseph New Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio, Reinterred 1921.

 

Please keep these 16 men and all those who gave their lives in defense of our country in your thoughts this Memorial Day Weekend. Part II of this blog will appear on Friday, May 28.

From Archives Blog