Harry Haferkamp - Augusta, MO - Graves Mentioning a Cause of Death on Waymarking.com

County of cemetery: St. Charles County
Location of cemetery: MO-94 & Jackson Rd., N of Augusta
Number of graves: 912

Tombstone Text:

" ... I have another story about Grandpa Arthur. It’s kind of a sad story…grandpa’s teammate, Harry Haferkamp was killed in World War I. The bat that I have, although my grandpa used it, is Harry Haferkamp’s. His name is inscribed in the handle. Mom said that Harry gave his bat to Arthur, and he said, “Arthur, I don’t know if I’ll be coming back.”

" ... at their first organizational meeting on January 17, 1920, the American Legion voted to call itself Harry Haferkamp Post No. 262 to honor the only soldier from Augusta to die on the battlefield in WWI. He is buried in the town cemetery on Jackson Street, and I have included a closeup photo of his tombstone so you can see his portrait. " ~ Tell It Like It Was

"Harry August Herman Haferkamp was born 7-AUG 1894 in Augusta MO. Harry’s father was Theodore Johann Haferkamp (1868-1953). His mother was Alma Marie Limber (1870-1956). Harry had three sisters; Thelka Marie, Stella Bertha Ida, and Alice Ida Marie and two brothers; Alonso Theodore and Virgil Edward Wilhelm. Harry registered for the draft 5-JUN 1917. His occupation when he registered was painter. He worked for his father.

"Harry was drafted in September of 1917. Harry served in the 140th Infantry Regiment, I Battery, 129th Artillery. The D battery of the 129th had the distinction of being commanded by then Captain Harry S. Truman. The 140th Infantry Regiment was also known as the 6th Missouri, an infantry formation of the Missouri National Guard. The new regiment was assigned to the 35th Division. The regiment organized and trained in the United States at Camp Doniphan, Oklahoma. Harry departed from Brooklyn for France 25-APR 1918 on the troop ship Shropshire. Upon arriving he was promoted to Corporal and the regiment began training under British tutelage in June 1918.

"In July, the 140th had its first taste of combat in the Gerardmer sector in the Vosges Mountains, where they conducted raids on German forces. They were moved to the Saint-Mihiel sector in September where they served as a reserve for the First Army. That battle was so easy that the Reserve was never used, and the men lay in their pup tents in the soggy dripping woods, often under shellfire, without seeing the enemy. Haferkamp was killed in action on 25-SEP 1918. Recorded circumstance attributed to died of shrapnel wounds when his unit was came under artillery fire.

"The very next day, 26-SEP 1918 the regiment participated in the Meuse-Argonne offensive which lasted until the end of the war 11-NOV 1918. This was the largest battle the American Expeditionary Forces waged during the war.

"Harry’s parents were notified by the War Department of the death of their son. according to Post Dispatch. The newspaper reported Harry was the 8th overseas casualty from St. Charles County. Harry A. H. Haferkamp is buried in Augusta Cemetery in Missouri." ~ Mid America Veterans Museum

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