Person:Emil Kaufman (1)

BURIAL: Oak Hill Cemetary, San Jose, Contra Costa, California

BIOGRAPHY: Before entering the army, Emil was a farmer near Woodland, Yolo County, California. Emil served in WWI with Company "C", First Battalion, 308th Infantry Regiment of the 77th Division and was with the Lost Battalion in the Argonne Forest. The men were lost for six days, during which time they were without food or drink. Emil served as a scout and had many narrow escapes from being a victim of potato mashers and grenades. The butt end of his gun was shot off on one occasion. World War One's "The Lost Battalion" was made into a Book & 1919 Movie as well as a documentary film on A&E Cable Television.

HISTORY: COMPANY "C" FIRST BATTALION 308TH INFANTRY Consisted of: Capt. Leo A. Stromee (W) 2d. Lt. Gordon L. Schenck (K) 2d. Lt. Leo W. Trainor (W) Sgt. Raymond Blackburn Sgt. John Colassacco Sgt. Lionel Bendheim (W) Sgt. William Jacob Sgt. Fred T. Main Sgt. Bert B. Morrow Cpl. Joseph K. Baldwin Cpl. Joseph Bejnarowicz Cpl. Thomas Brennen (W) Cpl. Jacob Held Cpl. Jack Tucker Pvt. Otto M. Knifsund Pvt. Stanislaw Kosikowski Pvt. Clifford R. Brown Pvt. Louis Baskin Pvt. Arthur E. Benson Pvt. Henry Cassidy (W) Pvt. Percy Charlesworth (W) Pvt. Savine Coppielo Pvt. James T. Condon Pvt. Edward T. Curley (W) Pvt. John Crosby (W) Pvt. Lee H. Downs Pvt. Joseph C. Fortunato Pvt. Charles W. Frink (W) Pvt. Joseph Giganti Pvt. Albert Morris Pvt. John Murphy Pvt. Morris Richter Pvt. Harry Semenuk Pvt. John L. Voorheis Pvt. George Keim Pvt. Joseph King Pvt. Lewis O'Brien Pvt. Frank J. Kostinen Pvt. Otto R. Hatcher Pvt. Walter J. Krantz Pvt. Archie F. Larkin Pvt. Erik Larson Pvt. Frank N. Lauder Pvt. Leo J. Jacoby Pvt. Raymond Johnson (W) Pvt. Chester Lysen Pvt. Stephen Marchelwski Pvt. Cecil Lowman Pvt. George Mayhew Pvt. Joseph L. McGowen Pvt. Robert L. Mears Pvt. Olin McFeron Pvt. William Hission Pvt. Wyatt L. Holden Pvt. Dominick Indiana Pvt. Emil Kaufman Pvt. William Monk Pvt. Fred Olson Pvt. Charles Pinkstone (W) Pvt. Stacy M. Hicks Pvt. Max Lesnick Pvt. Charles Oxman Pvt. Lester Griswold (W) Pvt. John McCabe Pvt. William W. Armstrong Pvt. Louis N. Hazen (W) Pvt. Niles F. Cunningham Pvt. Constantine Vittulli (W) Pvt. Chas. Wallenstein Pvt. Benedetto Sugro Pvt. Martin Tuite Pvt. Joseph H. Puniskis Pvt. Fred A. Mandell (W) Pvt. Lars Olson Pvt. Andrew Payne (W) Pvt. Roy L. Marion Pvt. Lucien St. Cartier (K) Pvt. John Hinchman (K) Pvt. David Gladd (K) Pvt. Eugene McGrath (K) Pvt. Samuel Feuerlicht (K) Pvt. John Damcott (K) Pvt. Joseph Castrogiovanna (K) Pvt. John Reynolds (K) Pvt. Catino Carnebucci (K) [Source: http://sites.hsprofessional.com/johnrcotter/lost_battalion~ns4.html] See Also: http://www.homestead.com/prosites-johnrcotter/lost_battalion_heroes.html

HISTORY: A&E Cable Television did a movie about this and you can find out the info on: http://www.aetv.com/tv/shows/battalion/ Howard has a copy of this video (Thanks to Jay Walter - who recorded it for him).

HISTORY: http://www.si.edu/resource/faq/nmah/cherami.htm In the video you will learn about: "Cher Ami" who was a registered Black Check Cock carrier pigeon, one of 600 birds owned and flown by the U.S. Army Signal Corps in France during World War I. He delivered 12 important messages within the American sector at Verdun, France. On his last mission, "Cher Ami," shot through the breast by enemy fire, managed to return to his loft. A message capsule was found dangling from the ligaments of one of his legs that also had been shattered by enemy fire. The message he carried was from Major Whittlesey's "Lost Battalion" of the 77th Infantry Division that had been isolated from other American forces. Just a few hours after the message was received, 194 survivors of the battalion were safe behind American lines. See Also: http://birds.cornell.edu/ppw/pigeonstories.htm

Here is briefly the Story of Cher Ami During World War I, a pigeon named Cher Ami, which means "dear friend" in French, saved the lives of many members of what has become known as the "Lost Battalion," part of New York’s 77th Division of the U.S. Army. During a battle in France, the battalion was cut off from the rest of the Allied troops. The soldiers found themselves surrounded by the enemy. Suddenly, they were being fired on by their own artillery who didn’t know they were there They tried sending a message to their fellow troops by pigeon. The message read, "Many wounded. We cannot evacuate." But the pigeon carrying the message was shot down. They sent out a second bird with a message that read, "Men are suffering. Can support be sent?" That pigeon was shot down, too. One homing pigeon was left—Cher Ami—the battalion’s last hope. The final message was, "Our artillery is dropping a barrage on us. For heaven’s sake, stop it" The men watched as Cher Ami was released. They saw him fly up and then saw him shot down. Miraculously, in a moment’s time this bird was airborne again. Hopes soared. But, as he flew over enemy fire, Cher Ami had a leg shot off. A bullet hit his breast. Still, this bird kept flying. Though severely injured, Cher Ami finally got through to U. S. forces with the life-saving message. The shooting stopped. Many lives were saved. At the end of the war, Cher Ami and more than 40 other pigeons were sent back to the United States and honored for their brave service. They were well cared for until they died. Cher Ami’s preserved body can be seen in Washington, D.C., at the Smithsonian Institution "Cher Ami" was awarded the French "Croix de Guerre" with Palm for his heroic service between the forts of Verdun. He died in 1919 as a result of his battle wounds. "Cher Ami" was later inducted into the Racing Pigeon Hall of Fame in 1931 and received a gold medal from the Organized Bodies of American Racing Pigeon Fanciers in recognition of his extraordinary service during World War I. "Cher Ami" is also on display at the National Museum of American History, Behring Center, in the Armed Forces History Hall.

SOCIAL-SECURITY: From Social Security Death Index: Social Security Number: 557-28-5011 The state listed in the birth locality field is where the Social Security Number was issued. The zip code listed in the death locality field is the last place of residence. Death Residence Localities ZIP Code: 94086 (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, California)

SOURCE: Abbrev: Marriage Memory Book ID-I775 Name-Emil KAUFMAN Sex-M Birth - in Of Wisconsin Residence- 6 MAR 1920 Woodland, Yolo, California Marriage- Mae Gladys LUEBOW born- 19 MAY 1902 in Pine Grove, Lake, California Married- 6 MAR 1920 in St. John's Lutheran Church, Sacramento, Sacramento, California Title- Roses on Your Way Publication- C. R. Gibson & Company, New York City Text- Marriage certificate filled out for Emil Kaufman & Marie Luebow on 6 Mar 1920. Repository Name- Nash, Dorothy M. Olympia, WA 98513 Page- Memory book marriage certificate filled out for Emil Kaufman & Marie Luebow.

MILITARY: WWI Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 - California - Sacramento City - 1 - Draft Card K (Emil Kaufman)

MARRIAGE:

  Married: abt 2 Nov 1925 in Ukiah, Mendocino Co., CA
  Marriage License: abt Nov 1925 in California
  Event: Separation noted in Advocate Newspaper. Unknown 15 Jan 1930 in Mendocino Co., CA

NOTES:

  Name: Emil KAUFMAN
  Sex: M
  Birth: 9 June 1889 in California
  Death: 11 Apr 1973 in El Dorado Co., CA
  Census: 1930 (with wife Letha V.) Little Lake, Mendocino Co., CA
  According to items in the Advocate News of Mendocino Co., CA, the Kaufman's married in 1925 at Ukiah;
  separated 1930 and at that time they did not have any children.
  Apparently they reconciled as I found a birth and death record for their daughter
      Mary Lou Kaufman born 18 Dec 1932;
     died 11 July 1980 Sonoma Co., CA
     (see Mary Lou Curtis - CA Death Index

Address: Name: Last Residence Address 1: 94086 Sunnyvale City: Santa Clara State: California

1.   The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. U.S. Social Security Death Index. (This data is only accurate as of 30 Sep 2000).