WW1 Personal Items

Cpl. Frank R. Gehres - A Company, 324th Machine Gun Battalion

This is a nice small grouping of personal items identified to Corporal Frank R. Gehres. Included are his overseas cap, a military issue sewing kit with some sewing supplies, a polished steel shaving mirror, a ditty bag and original WW1 documents (Special Order 246, 83rd Infantry Division). The Special Orders specify that for each unit of the 83rd a number of soldiers and officers were to report to Chatillon-sur-Seine for a course of instruction in the Infantry, Signal and Engineer School.

Corporal Frank Russel Gehres

Frank R. Gehres was born on February 20, 1890 in Akron, Ohio, as the son of Charles Gehres and Martha Kreischer Gehres. On November 7, 1917 at the age of 27 he joined the Army in his hometown of Akron, Ohio (service number 1950768) and like many Ohio men he would serve with the 83rd Infantry Division, being assigned to A Company, 324th Machine Gun Battalion. He remained with this unit for the duration of his military career and because of the 83rd Division's designation as a depot unit, did not see any action during WW1. Frank Gehres did serve overseas for a little over 6 months leaving the US on June 12, 1918 aboard the SS Corsican. While overseas Frank Gehres received his final promotion on July 20, 1919 reaching the rank of Corporal. He returned to the US aboard the SS Adriatic arriving in New York on January 31, 1919. Two weeks later, on February 15, he received his honorable discharge and returned to civilian life.

Frank Gehres returned to Akron, Ohio and married Todd Flickenger on June 29, 1991, together they had one daughter. He remained a resident of Akron, Ohio until his death on August 19, 1957.