249 Birthdays...and counting

The Marine Corps will hit 249 tomorrow.  It's tradition that I send out an annual message of celebration to the many Marines I've "collected" and I've been mulling over what I wish to impart in the message this year. Here it goes.  

It seems fitting that today, the day before, is my 23rd year of federal service, 19 of which was as a Marine Corps historian.  In those years, one filled with many proud moments, I hold one achievement above all.  The commemoration of the centennial of Marines in the First World War, it was my soul focus aside from my day-to-day work.  

Adding another 10 years to my life

I served as the series historian for the six commemorative histories published (several articles as well), participated in the staff rides for both the 5th and 6th Marines when they went to Belleau Wood, edited an updated version of McClellan's history, compiled my own published work, assisted with the 100th anniversary celebration of the 6th Marines, participated in the recreation of a 100 year old formation photo of the 2d Battalion, 6th Marines in Quantico and organized and coordinated the WWI symposium that saw more than 150 people in attendance including general officers, scholars, WWI reenactors, collectors, and families!

To say that the Marines of WWI remain close to my heart is an understatement.  Even now, nearly five years since I left employment of the Corps, these Marines (in particular) remain very near and dear.  So much so, that I spent part of my vacation this year tromping around Belleau Wood, Blanc Mont and St. Mihiel, as well as a bit of the Rhine where the Marines participated in the occupation. 

 Why?  So I could tell their tales and bring them back to life, even for a a little bit.  Therefore, for the Marines reading this as part of my annual birthday message, let me tell you about one of your own that I visited while in France.

Strand behind his mother

As planning for my trip to Europe commenced, there was never any question that we'd (because I went with dear friends, one of whom is a retired Marine Colonel) go to Belleau Wood.  I am a firm believer that every Marine, past and present, should make the pilgrimage one day.  In addition to Belleau Wood, I suggested Blanc Mont (because, Lejeune, of course) and the Colonel suggested Verdun (because, Verdun!).  We were also planning a visit to Koblenz, where the Marines headquartered the Rhine River Patrol.  It was during this stage another dear friend asked if we could visit the St. Mihiel cemetery and pay our respects to a Marine, Corporal Clarence Strand.   Without hesitation, we all said YES!

Clarence H. Strand, was born 6 April 1892 in Newman Grove, Nebraska where he was raised on the family farm.  Strand enlisted on 14 June 1917 and underwent recruit training at Mare Island, California.  After recruit training he was assigned to the 8th Regiment which was at Fort Crockett, in Galveston, Texas.

After being transferred to Quantico in 1918, Strand was promoted to Corporal on 3 May 1918 while with a replacement battalion.  He shipped over to France and joined the 75th Company, 6th Regiment on 3 August.  Corporal Strand was killed in action on 14 September 1918 as part of the battle for the St. Mihiel Salient.  

Mrs. Sophia Strand, 1930

Corporal Strand was interred in the St. Mihiel American Cemetery outside Thiaucourt, France, where he remains today surrounded by farmland and lovingly cared for by the staff of the American Battle Monuments Commission. In 1930, as part of the Gold Star Mothers pilgrimage, Mrs. Strand visited her son one last time.  She died the next year.

There are many visitors to the cemeteries of the ABMC each year.  Many of the graves have been adopted by locals who attend to the graves, adorning them throughout the year, visiting as if they were one of their own family.  It is, at the time of this writing, unknown if Cpl Strand has been adopted by a local family and most certainly unknown if anyone has made a point of visiting him since his mother in 1930 before last month.  

Corporal Clarence Strand grave

As many know, I have a penchant for stopping in the random cemetery and wandering in search of Marines.  To that end, I carry small USMC flags to leave behind at the grave to let all who see that a Marine rests there.  So, as I packed my bags to go to Europe last month, I made sure to include one of my last flags (need to reorder) and hope that it didn't break in transit.  

Because October isn't the high tourist season, the cemetery was quiet and we were the only visitors.  The superintendent came out thinking we were a family he was planning to meet, but was pleasantly surprised to know we were there to visit Cpl Strand.  He walked us out to the grave and I told him what I knew of the Corporal as I placed the flag into the ground.  

So, for you Marines who've made it through this post, written in honor of your 249th birthday, I offer "Happy Birthday, Marine!"  Tomorrow I will join 101 year old Major John "Jack" Elliott, USMC (ret) at the National Museum of the Marine Corps for cake--he of course will be the oldest Marine present--and I will toast each of you and those who came before, and since.

Happy birthday, Marines!

Major Gaines Mosely

 I know what got me started down the path as a historian of Marines in the First World War--a photo of a Marine on a boat that was floating up the Rhine River.  Rhine River Patrol. What was that?

My intellectual curiosity got the better of me and many years later it resulted in my creating a book about Marines in WWI, serving as the WWI expert for the Corps, ushering several commemorative histories of WWI battles through the publishing process, and organizing a three-day WWI symposium.   All this effort simply because of this photo of then-Captain Gaines Moseley, although at the time, I didn't know his name. 

I was in the middle of final edits on my book when Gaines Moseley's granddaughter came out of the shadows and told me what she knew of him and gave me a name to include before the book was printed.   So let me tell you about Major Gaines Moseley.

Born in Aiken, South Carolina, on 12 May 1875, Gaines Moseley enlisted in the Marine Corps on 25 May 1897 and went through recruit training at Port Royal, South Carolina (today's Parris Island).  By October 1899 he was a Corporal on the USS Brooklyn, and in October 1900 he was promoted to Sergeant.  While at sea, he served in China, Philippines and the Spanish-American War.  He was promoted to First Sergeant on 5 October 1903.

In November 1906, he was deployed to Cuba with the 1st Regiment and served there til January 1909 when he was assigned to Marine Barracks at the Washington Navy Yard in DC.  Our paths cross here as my first job with the Marine Corps was in the Marine Corps Historical Center which occupied the former Marine Barracks in the Navy Yard.  

Moseley continued service at the Navy Yard as part of the USS Dolphin as the NCOIC of the detachment, and then transferred to the USS Delaware until December 1911 when he was transferred to Marine Barracks Charleston, SC.  In August 1912, Moseley deployed once again--this time with the 1st Provisional Regiment that was headed to Nicaragua via the Panama Canal.

Service in Nicaragua complete in January 1913, Moseley was sent to the Recruit Depot at Norfolk, Virginia until December 1914 when he was again on ship--this time the USS Louisiana which was sent to the Dominican Republic.  The ship's detachment was landed and eventually became the 47th Company.

In May 1917, as the Corps rushed to form up two regiments for service in France, the 47th Company returned to the United States and joined the 5th Regiment.  On 13 October 1917, Moseley was commissioned a Second Lieutenant with the 47th Company in France.  Just a few months later, on 5 February 1918, Moseley skipped over First Lieutenant and promoted to Captain.

Fighting through Belleau Wood, Captain Moseley took over command of the 47th Company when company commander Captain Philip T. Case was wounded (his second in the same battle) on 22 June 1918.  July saw the company engaged at Soissons; September in St. Mihiel.  On 4 October, while in the midst of the Blanc Mont battle, Captain Moseley was wounded by gunfire (muster roll and casualty roll conflict as to actual nature of wounds received).
Moseley returned to the company in November 1918 and made the march to the Rhine River with his company. 

As the commander of an "assault company, Moseley displayed exceptional courage in carrying his line forward during a heavy artillery and machine gun barrage" and for this he was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Cross and the Navy Cross.  These were in addition to the third Silver Star citation (today's Silver Star medal) for actions in the same battle.  The first two Silver Star citations were for actions performed at Belleau Wood in June. 

A Marine with years of sea duty was a natural selection for service with the Rhine River Patrol.  This is where we cross paths once again and my interest in WWI Marines and those on the Rhine is first

ignited.  My research into these Marines led me to an article by Al Barnes published in Army History Magazine.  Al, also a native upstate New Yorker, and I have collaborated numerous times on many subjects and I convinced him to write an article for Marine Corps History about the Marines at the end of the war.  He graciously did and I introduced him to Gaines' granddaughter, who I've regrettably lost touch with since.  

But back to Captain Moseley.  He served as the commanding officer of the SS Mosel and Preussen on the Rhine through August 1919 when he was returned to Quantico with the 47th Company.  In October 1919, he was assigned duty as the commanding officer of the Sea-Going Depot at Parris Island.  This was ideal duty for a Marine with so many years and experience as a seagoing Marine.  Captain Moseley remained at the Sea-Going Depot until August 1923 when he was sent to Haiti with the 1st Brigade and served as the Brigade Transportation Officer for the next two years.

Upon returning to the United States in September 1925, Captain Moseley was assigned to the Receiving Ship at New York until he was retired on 11 January 1928, having completed nearly 31 years of service to the Marine Corps.   His medals and decorations are listed as: Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, three Silver Star citations, Spanish Campaign Medal, China Relief Medal, Philippine Campaign Medal, Cuban Pacification Medal, Nicaraguan Campaign Medal, Dominican Campaign Medal, Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal (Dominican Republic), World War Victory Medal, two French Croix de Guerre with Bronze and Silver Star, French Fourragere, and Belgian Order of Leopold II (Chevalier) and the Purple Heart.  In retirement, he was promoted to Major for having been commended in battle.

Gaines Moseley served the Corps as a bachelor for the majority of his career, not marrying until 1923 at the age of 48.  He and his wife had one daughter.  He lived until 30 March 1960 when he passed away in Portsmouth, Virginia, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. 

No matter how much I've read or studied the Marines of World War I, they will continue to have a special place in my heart.  Major Gaines Moseley, you are remembered! 

Corporal Henry Pruitt

I doubt there's anyone out there who hasn't heard, or sung for that matter, the Beatles' "Birthday" song.  It's catchy and if you're a GenXer like me, you probably know it from "Sixteen Candles" when "Farmer Ted" sings it to Andy in the auto shop during the highschool dance.

In my book, your birthday is the one day of the year you can do what YOU want; if you're lucky, someone throws you a party, someone sends you a card or a gift in honor of the day you were born.  However, sometimes they are a day of sacrifice.  Such is the case of Corporal John Henry Pruitt.

John Pruitt was born 4 October 1896 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  Not yet 19, he enlisted in the Marine Corps on 3 May 1917, just weeks after the United States declared war on Germany.  Pruitt went through recruit training at Mare Island, California, before being assigned to the 78th Company, 6th Regiment in July 1917, which was forming at Quantico. 

Private Pruitt fought in the initial battle of Belleau Wood.  It wasn't a bullet that took him out of action, but gas.  He was gassed on 14 June and was sent back to the hospital to recuperate.  Chemical warfare in WWI was a nasty business and killed many; Pruitt was lucky.  He survived.

 

 

 Due to the gas, Pruitt missed the battle of Soissons (4 days of combat); a bloody battle that was far more deadly than Belleau Wood (21 days of combat).  Pruitt returned to the 78th Company on the 4th of August, and just 11 days later he was promoted to Corporal.  

 

September came and so did the battle of St. Mihiel.  Another bloody battle for the Corps and its Marines.   Pruitt came through without wounds or injuries.  However, Corporal Pruitt distinguished himself by gallantry in action on15 September 1918, in aiding in the capture of an enemy machine gun, and was awarded the Silver Star citation (today's Silver Star medal) for his actions.  

With the arrival of October, the Marines were once again thrown into a nasty fight against the Germans.  This time, Blanc Mont, so named for the white chalky soil.  The battle is detailed in the excellent work of Pete Owen and John Swift entitled A Hideous Price: The 4th Brigade at Blanc Mont 2-10 October 1918.

 

From Owen and Swift--they tell it better: On 3 October 1918, Cpl Pruitt along with the rest of the the 78th Company "were fired on from two machine gun positions. Corporal John H. Pruitt led three volunteers forward. Pruitt plunged right into one position, shooting the gunner between the eyes with his Springfield. He killed the gunner of the second weapon with another shot. Corporal Pruitt and his Marines discovered a bunker nearby with a large group of Germans now trapped below ground. More than 40 Germans, including three  officers, surrendered to Corporal Pruitt and his team."   For this action, Cpl Pruitt was later awarded our nation's highest honor, the Medal of Honor.  

However, in actions still vague and not well documented, Cpl Pruitt earned two additional Silver Star citations for this battle.  The 6th Regiment suffered from small-arms fire and direct artillery fire from the north.  It was this artillery fire that wounded Cpl Pruitt on 3 October 1918.

Pruitt was removed from the battlefield and died the next day from his wounds, 4 October 1918.  Cpl Pruitt made the ultimate sacrifice on the day of his birth, he was just 22 years old. 

Initially buried in the Argonne American Cemetery, Cpl Pruitt was returned to the United States and buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

 

Cpl Pruitt was awarded the French Croix de Guerre and the Italian Cross of Military Honor in addition to his three Silver Star citations, and Army (and additionally the Navy) Medal of Honor.  After the war, the Navy named a destroyer (DD-347) in his honor as well.  

 

World War II veterans were a great generation, but I would argue not the only greatest generation.  Any generation that is willing to put on the uniform of our nation and sacrifice themselves on the alter of freedom is the greatest.  

 

Corporal Pruitt, the sacrifices you made are remembered, on this day--the occasion of your birth 123 years ago and the occasion of your death 102 years ago.

 

1918 Flu Pandemic and the Marine Corps [Part Three/Final]

 Statistical Review:^[1]

In an attempt to determine the number of Marines killed by the influenza pandemic, an extensive review of monthly muster rolls and hospital registers was completed.  Starting with a listing of those Marines who died from non-combat wounds, each name was searched utilizing the monthly muster rolls, available through ancestry.com.^[2]  Names of those who died from accidents, cancer, heart attacks, venereal diseases, and other non-flu or non-flu related illnesses were excluded.  For each name found, their rank, date of death, location at death and specific illness was recorded, when available.  Once the list was established, a review of the available Navy hospital registers, also available through ancestry.com, was conducted to locate additional names or clarifying information for those where no diagnosis was listed in the muster roll.^[3]  Some muster rolls and hospital registers were not digitized, therefore the actual overall number of those who died is undoubtedly different from what was calculated herein. It is further acknowledged that the numbers determined by the review of the muster rolls and hospital registers does not match the official numbers given in the various reports by the Secretary of the Navy and Navy Department in 1918 and 1919.  However, the following statistical breakdown is provided based on the calculated numbers from the muster rolls and hospital registers in good faith.

By rank:  The influenza pandemic struck nearly every rank of officer and enlisted Marine, and impacted the enlisted ranks far more than the officers.  From the listing compiled, just 21 officers were killed by the flu and the highest ranking officer to die was Brigadier General Charles A. Doyen.  No lieutenant colonels or colonels are recorded as killed by the flu.  Four quartermaster clerks, first lieutenants, captains and majors died from the flu or flu-related illnesses. 

Of the enlisted, the privates suffered the most casualties; more than 420 privates were struck down by the flu or related illnesses, and yet not one sergeant major died.  All told, over 530 enlisted Marines died.  Based on the end strength of the Corps (1,503 officers and 51,316 enlisted), the death percentage breaks down as 1.4% of officers and 1.04% of enlisted died of the flu,  However, of the total Marines were killed by the flu and flu-related illnesses, 96% were enlisted and 4% were officers.  The large number of privates killed by the flu is in keeping with the unique characteristics of the 1918 pandemic, instead of claiming only the very old and very young alone, the 1918 flu claimed those aged 25-34 in significantly higher amounts—the prime ages of those of men enlisting in the Marine Corps.[4]

By date: Across the entire Marine Corps, the peak of the influenza pandemic in 1918 was in the months of September, October and November.  October saw the most deaths of just over 200, followed by September at just over 180 and November with more than 140.  The largest loss of life occurred on 24 September 1918 with 28, followed by 26 September with 23.

 

Figure 1: Numbers of Marines Killed by Influenza, May to December 1918

 

By location or unit: As one would imagine, the largest concentration of Marines saw the largest number of deaths from the influenza pandemic. The locations with the most Marines in one place in the Continental United States were the recruit depots of Parris Island and Mare Island, the Overseas Depot and Officers Training Camp at Marine Barracks Quantico, and the various Philadelphia posts.  Of all posts and stations of the Corps, Quantico suffered the largest overall loss of lives at 125.  Whereas, Parris Island and Mare Island experienced 43 and 17 deaths respectively.  The city of Philadelphia was slow to react with measures to control the spread, in fact despite the already raging outbreak, the city went ahead with the Fourth Liberty Loan drive on 28 September 1918 where 200,000 gathered.[5]  Therefore, it is not surprising to find that 48 Marines died while stationed in Philadelphia at the Marine Barracks, the Depot of Supplies and surrounding area.  

Overseas units were impacted dramatically as well; including the fighting regiments which lost 19 Marines of the 6th Regiment and 16 of the 5th.  The First Marine Aviation Force suffered 20 Marines dead from their squadrons in the Calais region, but also those men training in England with the Royal Air Force. 

The port of Brest, France, saw the deaths of nearly 50 Marines, many of whom were fresh off troop transport ships.  Not all who departed the eastern seaboard on the troop transports made it to Brest as mentioned earlier, the Henderson saw at least 24 Marines die in transit, but this was outdone by the Von Steuben, which lost more than 30 Marines in transit.^[6]  While there were Marines stationed at far flung reaches of the globe, very few were killed by the flu.  For instance, in the Philippines, a single Marine died; whereas in Cuba three died, and Haiti and the Dominican Republic a combined six Marines succumbed to the disease and related illnesses.

 

Figure 2: Deaths of Marines in United States and Non-American Expeditionary Forces

 

 

In Conclusion:

When one compares the numbers of overall deaths against those of the Army and Navy, the Marine Corps appears to have made it through the pandemic relatively lightly.  For instance, as previously mentioned, at Camp Devens, Massachusetts, the camp suffered 66 deaths alone on 23 September 1918; however, the worse day across the entire Marine Corps was the next day with 28 deaths.[7]  Yet, when one examines the deaths in percentages of the entire branch of service, the Corps does not fare as well.  In 1918, the Navy’s end strength was around 530,000 officers and enlisted; the flu took the lives of 4,158 equating to roughly .78% of the end strength.[8]  The Marine Corps’ end strength for 1918 was roughly 53,000 men and officers and the flu killed (by the count of the author) 560 or just over 1%.[9]  It leaves one wondering how this could be considering that the Navy provided the Corps all medical personnel and facilities, with the exception of those with the American Expeditionary Forces.  Further, given the extent of the pandemic across all military posts and ships, and its relative ease of spreading, it is perplexing how the Marine Corps did not suffer more deaths from the flu.

It is unfortunate that the records of the Marines who were impacted by the flu pandemic are not more readily available with remote access.  Private diaries and letters retained in private and archival holdings, and official records retained by the National Archives may yield additional information and are worthwhile exploring once the quarantine due to COVID-19 is lifted.

Today, the Marine Corps, along with the rest of the world, is once again fighting a pandemic, but it has history to learn from, medical advances to rely upon and technology that can share information and spread news faster than the disease itself.  Marine Corps units across the globe have implemented social distancing, closed physical activity centers, shuttered barber shops, ceased all non-essential travel for Marines and civilians, implemented maximum telework for all, and even curtailed planned training and exercises.  With these measures, it appears that the Marine Corps (and the rest of the United States) has learned many of the lessons from the 1918 flu pandemic, and is taking an active part in the fight against COVID-19.  At the time of writing, 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade was slated to conduct a transfer of authority with Joint Task Force-Civil Authority as Task Force Northeast covering the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 1.[10]

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Government Documents

Department of the Navy, Annual Report of the Secretary of the Navy for the Fiscal Year 1918.

Washington, DC: GPO, 1918. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.3901502595062

0&view=1up&seq=13

 Department of the Navy, Annual Reports of the Navy Departments for the Fiscal Year 1919.

            Washington, DC: GPO, 1919. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924065924502

&view=1up&seq=11

Books

Crosby, Alfred W. America’s Forgotten Pandemic.  The Influenza of 1918. Rev. Ed. New York:

Cambridge University Press, 2003.

Hewitt, Linda L. Women Marines in World War I. Washington, DC: History and Museums

Division, Headquarters Marine Corps, 1974.

McClellan, Edwin N. The United States Marine Corps in the World War. Reprint. Quantico:

            Marine Corps History Division, 2015.

Journal Articles

Amerman, Annette D. “Over Here! Marines in Texas During World War I.” Fortitudine, Vol 33,

no 2 (2008): 7-8.

Byerley, Carol R. “The U.S. Military and the Influenza Pandemic of 1918-1919.” Public Health

Report, Vol 125 (2010): 82-91.

Godinho, Antonio M. “Marines in the Azores Islands in World War I: Diary of Walter S.

Poague,” Fortitudine, Vol 37, no 1 (2012): 25-33.

Vaughan, Victor C. “Influenza and Pneumonia at Brest, France.” The Journal of Laboratory and

Clinical Medicine, Vol IV, no 4 (January 1919): 223-224.

Newspapers

Anonymous. “Mare Island.” Army and Navy Journal, 2 November 1918.

Kelley, H. L. “Spanish Influenza.” The Marine, 27 September 1918.

Websites

Ancestry.com, “US Marine Corps Muster Rolls 1798-1958,” Accessed multiple dates,

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1089/

Ancestry.com, “Registers of Patients at Naval Hospitals, 1812-1934,” Accessed multiple dates,

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9268/

Ancestry.com, “US Navy Burial Records, 1898-1932,” Accessed multiple dates,

            https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/3014/

Caperton, William B. Naval History and Heritage Command, “Personal Account by Rear

Admiral William B. Caperton of the 1918 Influenza on Armored Cruiser No. 4, USS

Pittsburgh, at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil” Accessed 5 April 2020 https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/i/influenza/admiral-william-b-caperton-of-the-1918-influenza-on-armored-cruiser-no-4-uss-pittsburgh.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “History of 1918 Flu Pandemic,” Accessed

11 April 2020, https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1918-commemoration/1918-

pandemic-history.htm

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “1918 Pandemic Influenza Historic Timeline,”

Accessed 11 April 2020, https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1918-commemoration/pandemic-timeline-1918.htm

Marine Corps History Division, “Marine Corps End Strengths, 1798-2015,”

Accessed 11 April 2020, https://www.usmcu.edu/Research/Marine-Corps-History-Division/Research-Tools-Facts-and-Figures/End-Strengths/

Naval History and Heritage Command, “U.S. Navy Personnel Strength, 1775 to Present,”

Accessed 11 April 2020, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/u/usn-personnel-strength.html

Naval History and Heritage Command, “Influenza of 1918 (Spanish Flu) and the US Navy,”

            Accessed multiple dates, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-

room/title-list-alphabetically/i/influenza/influenza-of-1918-spanish-flu-and-the-us-navy.html

Historical Resources Branch, Marine Corps History Division, Quantico, VA

13th Regiment Unit File

Charles A. Doyen Biographical File

Smedley D. Butler Personal Papers Collection, COLL/3124

 

[Note: The spreadsheet cited herein is available upon request.]

---

^[1] Ibid.

^[2] https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1089/

^[3] https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9268/

[4] Crosby, America’s Forgotten Pandemic, 86.

[5] Crosby, America’s Forgotten Pandemic, 72.

^[6] These ships made multiple trips to and from France; these figures reflect cumulative numbers of dead from all trips during May-December 1918.  Henderson experienced two outbreaks in two separate crossings, 14-22 September 1918 and 18 October-7 November 1918.

[7] Crosby, America’s Forgotten Pandemic, 6.

[8] “Influenza of 1918 (Spanish Flu) and the US Navy,” Naval History and Heritage Command Accessed, 11 April 2020, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/i/influenza/influenza-of-1918-spanish-flu-and-the-us-navy.html and “US Navy Personnel Strength, 1775 to Present,” Naval History and Heritage Command, Accessed 11 April 2020 https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/u/usn-personnel-strength.html

[9] “Marine Corps Fiscal Year End Strengths, 1798-2015,” Marine Corps History Division, Accessed 11 April 2020 https://www.usmcu.edu/Research/Marine-Corps-History-Division/Research-Tools-Facts-and-Figures/End-Strengths/

[10] Lance R. Bylth Email to Seth A. Givens, “FYSA: 2MEB as TF NE for COVID-19 Response,” 10 April 2020. Author’s Collection.

1918 Flu Pandemic and the Marine Corps [Part Two]

Overseas Units, Foreign Posts and Ships:

The main thrust of all Marine Corps activity in the US was to recruit, train, and form Marines into fighting units for service in France, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba and other locations around the globe.  These forces on expeditionary duty, in service with the Army in France and on Navy ships, were hit by the influenza pandemic just as their stateside counterparts were.  Some had their own preventative measures, and each suffered differently.

            The 4th Regiment, while on expeditionary duty in the Dominican Republic, demonstrated how even well-intentioned prophylactic measures could not ensure the safety of the men from the disease.  The flu struck the Dominican Republic’s northern province of Monte Cristi, originating in Haiti, in the middle of November 1918.  Slow to respond, authorities did not put a quarantine between the province of Santiago and neighboring provinces until 5 December.  As if trying to make up for lost time, a massive education campaign commenced; newspapers and pamphlets attempted to educate the military and civilian populations about the disease, method of transmission, prevention and treatment.  Schools were shuttered, and public gatherings banned; masks were not required, but strongly recommended in public areas.  Despite these efforts, the first Marine diagnosed was an officer returning on a train from Puerto Plata, which had broken quarantine regulations on 9 December.  Two days later a mail orderly, riding the same train with the officer, was admitted to the hospital; he failed to report his symptoms in timely fashion, believing them a simple cold.  A communal drinking cup in his barracks quickly spread the infection to 15 others just four days later.^[1] Despite the late start in combatting the disease, Marines losses in the Dominican Republic were limited to four.

The capital ships of the Navy were not immune from the virus.  The USS Pittsburgh (ACR-4) lost 5 of its Marines, all of which died in a span of 12 days in October 1918.  The Pittsburgh contracted the disease while in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which was recounted by Rear Admiral William B.Caperton.  Admiral Caperton reported that the flu first arrived in Rio on the SS Dannemara on 4 October 1918, and the local health authorities made no effort to quarantine the suspect vessel.  Three days later, the Pittsburgh reported just a few cases; however, on the 8th there were 32, and on the 9th there were 92 cases as it quickly spread through the ship.  Caperton reported that city hospitals were crowded and coffins were nearly impossible to locate.^[2]  All told, 647 cases were admitted to the sick list, 58 of which died.^[3] 

Ships transporting the Marines across the Atlantic were easy targets for the pandemic; often over-crowded, lacking appropriate sanitation and with men held captive for the journey, the flu spread easily.  The flu that broke out on the USS Henderson (AP-1) in September 1918 was traced back to Marine Barracks Quantico where the 13th Regiment was being formed from new recruits out of Parris Island, and 175 veterans from Haiti and Dominican Republic.  Ten days prior to embarkation upon the Henderson, the men of the 3d Battalion, 13th Regiment were examined by doctors and exhibited no symptoms.  Therefore, nearly 1,200 men and officers were loaded on the Henderson and proceeded across the Atlantic.  Despite the health inspection prior to departure, on 14 September the first influenza cases were diagnosed on the ship.  As the days progressed the numbers increased to a height of 107 new cases on 18 September; on 19 September the ship had 206 cases of influenza on the sick list.  When this voyage was complete, 5.45% of Marines inflicted died from influenza.^[4] 

In command of the 13th Regiment was Colonel Smedley D. Butler; in separate letters home to his wife, and parents, Butler recounted the trip across the Atlantic.  On 5 October, Butler wrote to his wife that the flu on the Henderson quickly turned into a vicious form of pneumonia and sickened 500 men, and when the ship arrived in Brest 250 were immediately sent to the hospital.^[5]  Even Butler himself was not immune to the disease; he reported to his parents that he “was not seriously or dangerously sick, but felt terrible and the doctors feared

I was getting pneumonia, but I did not.”^[6]  Butler went on to praise the medical staff for their “superhuman” performance to save “two thirds of the cases.”^[7] Once the men of the 13th Regiment were on solid ground at Brest, France, they were immediately pulled out of quarantine and put into action to assist other inflicted troops who arrived nearly at the same time.  Company K, 3d Battalion, 13th Regiment reported in a brief history that they were put to work pitching tents, hauling mounted field kitchens and distributing food to the ill troops.  They carried the packs of the weakest members and procured bedding for those in need.^[8]

Even the tiny outpost in the middle of the Atlantic was not immune to the pandemic.  Ponta Delgada on the Portuguese island of São Miguel in the Azores was home to the First Marine Aeronautic Company and a detachment of Marines at Naval Base #13 during the war.  While it was reported in the Annual Report of the Navy Department, and subsequent published histories, that the flu arrived in the Azores via the Japanese ship Shensi Maru in September 1918, the flu arrived two months earlier as recorded by one of the Marines.^[9]  Second Lieutenant Walter S. Poague, a naval aviator stationed in Ponta Delgada, maintained a journal and it recorded that the flu struck his unit on 7 July 1918.  “Boyton [2dLt Alan H. Boyton] has become very ill...Brewster [Capt David L. S. Brewster, commanding officer] is sick in bed and all of us feel badly in greater or less degree, I included.  Spanish influenza they call it.”^[10]  Poague was a poor example of preventative measures as he reported for officer-of-the-day duty on 16 July 1918, as normal, despite being quite ill.  After his shift was complete, he visited the doctor and was immediately admitted to the hospital of canvas tents where he stayed for two days.^[11]  Mercifully, the numbers of Marines killed by the flu was limited to four.[12]

[End part two]

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^[1] 4th Regiment, Dominican Republic, November and December 1918 Muster Rolls, Ancestry.com, Accessed 8 April 2020, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1089/ and Annual Reports of the Navy Department, 2378.

^[2] William B. Caperton, Naval History and Heritage Command, “Personal Account by Rear Admiral William B. Caperton of the 1918 Influenza on Armored Cruiser No. 4, USS Pittsburgh, at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,” accessed 5 April 2020, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/i/influenza/admiral-william-b-caperton-of-the-1918-influenza-on-armored-cruiser-no-4-uss-pittsburgh.html.

^[3] Annual Reports of the Navy Department, 2439.

^[4] Ibid., 2116

^[5] Letter, Smedley D. Butler to Ethel Butler, 5 October 1918, Smedley Butler Papers, COLL/3124; Box 5, Folder 5, Historical Resources Branch, Marine Corps History Division.

^[6] Letter, Smedley D. Butler to Thomas and Maude Butler, 5 October 1918, Smedley Butler Papers, COLL/3124; Box 5, Folder 5, Historical Resources Branch, Marine Corps History Division.

^[7] Ibid.

^[8] Brief History of Company K, 13th Regiment, Unit Files, Historical Resources Branch, Marine Corps History Division.

^[9] Annual Report of the Navy Department, 2245 and Crosby, America’s Forgotten Pandemic, 121.

^[10] Antonio M. Godinho, ed., “Marines in the Azores Islands in World War I: Diary of Walter S. Poague,” Fortitudine, Vol 37, no 1 (2012): 32.

^[11] Ibid.

[12] “1918 Flu” Spreadsheet, Author’s Collection.