Gertrude (Black) Mohan Huether
GERTRUDE BLACK
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The 15 November 1918, the Boston Globe reported on the following battle:[1]
"On the morning of Oct 2, 1918, a large raiding party composed of troops of the 101st Infantry, under the command of Capt. Arthur A. Hansen, 101st Infantry, executed a particularly dangerous raid on the Bois de Warville. They accomplished their dangerous mission, clearing the woods of snipers and enemy parties which has been causing serious casualties within our lines, returning with 49 prisoners and with but three casualties. The division commander congratulates Capt Hansen on his leadership and his prompt carrying out of his mission, and makes special mention of the following named officers and men for their participation in this action."
One hundred fifty three members of the 101st Infantry are listed, including Private Arthur Mohan, Co G.
Given the fact that Arthur was one of the soldiers who strung wire in No Man's Land, a very dangerous job, and that he was awarded a "divisional citation for meritorious conduct as a runner during a raid into enemy's lines at Bois de Warville" on 2 October 1918, it isn't hard to believe that Arthur continued to take risks in doing his part to defeat the enemy.[2] It was probably during this battle on October 2 that Arthur was seriously wounded. He died 23 October 1918 of wounds received in action.[3]
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Among the commemorations of the soldiers killed in World War I, the book “The Gold Star Record of Massachusetts” was published in 1929."[4] Arthur's entry reads:
Mohan, Arthur Michael; died 23 Oct., 1918, of wounds received in action (Belieu [Belleau] Bois). Enl. 11 Aug., 1917, Co. G, 5th Inf., Mass. N. G. [National Guard] (Co. G, 101st Inf., 26th Div.). Had served in British Army early in World War. Overseas 7 Sept., 1917.
Born 25 Sept., 1896, at Stoneham, son of Thomas Henry and Mary (Greene) Mohan (both born in Ireland); brother of Thomas James and John Joseph Mohan. Married Gertrude Frances Black. Currier.
Awarded Divisional citation for meritorious conduct as a runner during raid into enemy's lines at Bois de Warville 2 Oct., 1918.
Arthur was buried 24 October 1918, in the American Cemetery, Souilly, Meuse (France).[5] Three years later, his remains, along with thousands of those killed in the war in France, were returned to the United States.
Gertrude was a war widow and had given birth to and buried two children by the time she was 20 years old.
By the time Arthur's remains were returned, Gertrude had continued on with life. On 11 June 1919, she married Andy F. Huether in Boston.[6] Andy was 22 and was a printer. Gertrude was 21. They lived at 17 Monument Square, Boston, Massachusetts. Andy had served as a private in the U.S. Marine Corps in World War 1. He enlisted 6 April 1918 and was discharged 26 May 1919.[7]
They were living in St. Louis, Missouri, at the time of the 1920 census.[8] Gertrude and Andy were the parents of four children, Norma, born 13 Feb 1920,[9] Charles, born 9 May 1923,[10] Myrna, born in 1927,[11] and Lois, born in 1932.[12]
On 29 November 1952, Gertrude died.[13] Cause of death was a collapsed left lung due to pulmonary edema with chronic severe heart failure of unknown cause. She was 54. She was buried beside Andrew at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.[14]
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Floating Hospital
The Floating Hospital for Children was a fully furnished hospital ship that cared for sick children, especially those whose families lived in poverty, from 1894 to 1927. At the time, not much was known about the treatment of sick children, but the thinking was that fresh summer air, especially ocean air, was a healthy part of their treatment. Mothers and children would board the ship in the morning, sail out of Boston Harbor, and return after a day-long voyage. While on the ship, hundreds of children received free care by volunteer nurses and doctors.
In addition to caring for sick children, medical students from Harvard Medical School were onboard taking a clinic in pediatrics, and "one of the nurses gave a lecture to the mothers present, teaching them how to care properly for their children."[15]
The Floating Hospital for Children was funded by generous donations from area philanthropists and civic groups. After a fire destroyed the ship in 1927, the medical care for poor children was continued at a land-based "Floating Hospital". In 2020, the name Floating Hospital for Children was changed to Tufts Children's Hospital.[16]
[1] "Gallantry of the 101st", The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts), 15 Nov 1918, p 4, col 6; image, Newspapers (www.newspapers.com : accessed 9 Aug 2020). Private Arthur Mohan, listed 22nd from bottom.
[2] Eben Putnam, ed., "The Gold Star Record of Massachusetts," (Boston: Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1929), vol 2, p. 380, Arthur Michael Mohan; Internet Archive (https://archive.org : accessed 11 Oct 2020), image 380 of 720.
[3] War department, "Card Register of Burials of Deceased American Soldiers, 1917-1922," Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985, RG 92, National Archives, College Park, Maryland; card for Arthur M. Mohan; National Archives Catalog (catalog.archives.gov/id/109086358 : accessed 9 June 2020), Results 66 of 104, images 102 and 103 of 1752.
[4] Eben Putnam, ed., "The Gold Star Record of Massachusetts," (Boston: Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1929), vol 2, p. 380, Arthur Michael Mohan; Internet Archive (https://archive.org : accessed 11 Oct 2020), image 380 of 720.
[5] War department, "Card Register of Burials of Deceased American Soldiers, 1917-1922," Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985, RG 92, National Archives, College Park, Maryland; card for Arthur M. Mohan; National Archives Catalog (catalog.archives.gov/id/109086358 : accessed 9 June 2020), Results 66 of 104, images 102 and 103 of 1752.
[6] Massachusetts State Archives, "Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1920," database with images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 11 June 2020), entry for Andy F. Huether and Gertrude F. (Black) Mohan, 17 June 1919, vol. 10, p. 308, registered #2639.
[7] Arkansas Department of Vital Records, Death Certificates, Andrew Frank Huether, certificate #4712; database, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 December 2020).
[8] 1920 U. S. census, St. Louis (city), Missouri, population schedule, ED 295, sheet 11B, dwelling 154, family 286, Gertrude Huether; image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 April 2015); citing NARA publication T625, Roll 955.
[9] Social Security Administration, "Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 June 2020), entry for Norma Gertrude Huether Perchbacher (1920-2003).
[10] Social Security Administration, "Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 June 2020), entry for Charles Andrew Huether (1923-1998).
[11] 1940 U.S. census, St. Louis (city), population schedule, enumeration district 96-223, sheet 17A, dwelling 400, Myrna Huether; image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 April 2015); citing NARA publication T627, Roll 2190. [Year of birth calculated from this census. No other birth date or year has been easily found.]
[12] 1940 U.S. census, St. Louis (city), population schedule, enumeration district 96-223, sheet 17A, dwelling 400, Lois Huether; image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 April 2015); citing NARA publication T627, Roll 2190. [Year of birth calculated from this census. No other birth date or year has been easily found.]
[13] "Missouri Death Certificates, 1910-1966," Missouri Secretary of State, Missouri Digital Heritage (http://www.sos.mo.gov/ Records/Archives/ArchivesMvc/DeathCertificates : accessed 21 March 2008), Certificate no. 43518, Gertrude Huether; Missouri State Archives.
[14] Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 31 May 2020), memorial #81318110, Gertrude Huether (1898–1952), Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Lemay, St. Louis County, Missouri; gravestone photo by Marvin & Samme Templin.
[15] Tufts Medical Center, "History of Tufts Children's Hospital," Tufts Children's Hospital, (www.tuftschildrenshospital.org/about-us/history : 25 November 2020).
[16] Boston Globe Media Partners, "Tufts renames Floating Hospital for Children, sparking mixed reactions," Boston Globe, 22 September 2020, (https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/09/22/business/tufts-renames-floating-hospital-children-sparking-mixed-reactions/ : 25 November 2020).