Funkhouser Memorial
Paul Taylor Funkhouser
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EVANSVILLE ATHLETES OFFER THEIR
STRENGTH TO WAR FOR DEMOCRACY.
Evansville Press, August 10, 1917

Among the Evansville boys who have filled in are about to fill Uncle Sam's
ranks are a number of the best athletes the city ever produced in all lines
of sport. If some of these fellows can hit the kaiser's line as hard as they
hit Louisville's in football: can grapple with a German who is storming their
trench as well as they can wrestle on the YMCA mat; or hurl a hand grenade
as they have a baseball or bowling ball, the chances of Germany to win the
war looks slim.

Taking up our E.H.S. football teams first, there is Clyde Baugh of the
cavalry, who played tackle many years ago.

Famous Eleven Gone

Of the famous 11 of 1913, which will always be remembered as the greatest
football team Evansville ever produced, four are now in Uncle Sam's service.
Paul Funkhouser, who made all-state high school in that year is in the
officers' reserve and has just received his commission as second lieutenant.
Alfred Davis, who played alongside him at tackle, is in the officers'
training camp.

Carl "Dotta" Robsenberger, who played guard on that famous aggregation,
has been commissioned a first lieutenant. Al Slade, one of the substitutes, and a
star pole vaulter and jumper of E. H. S. track teams, is in Cavalry Troop A.
Charley Folz, an old E.H.S. distance runner, is a member of the Infantry company.

Steve Cook, an old halfback, was made a second lieutenant in the reserve camp.

Wrestlers Enlist

Of last year's E.H.S. team, John Erskine, end, Sellman Schultz, fullback, are
in Troop A. Carl Pleak, a substitute, has joined the marines. Prentis Connor,
who played on several high school teams, belongs to a national guard artillery
company at Bloomington, Ind.

The loss of Bink Lowe, lightweight champion, Wesley Guenther, king of middleweights,
Bruce Hitch, to say nothing of Schulz, will cripple the Y.M.C.A. wrestling squad
hopelessly. All are members of Troop A. Joe Stewart, former middleweight champion,
is in the regular army.

Will Miss Jud

Harold Berges, a well-known amateur baseball pitcher, belongs to the cavalry.

Bayard Park Sunday School basketball five loses three members in Bink Lowe,
Al Slade and Clyde Baugh, while Trinity suffers too since Jud McGrew became
"Lieut. C. Judson McGrew."

McGrew will be missed too in this year's tennis tournament. Jud is no slouch
with the racket.
Even the Y.M.C.A. bowling league loses two men in Karl Hyde of the officers'
reserve and Sam Thurgood, who were selected.
[TOP]

TRANSFER FUNKHOUSER
Evansville Press, October, 1917.

Lieut. Paul Funkhouser, son of Attorney Albert W. Funkhouser, has been
transferred from Gettysburg to Camp Greene, Charlotte' N. C., where the
Montana soldiers who paraded Evansville several weeks ago went. Camp Greene
is the post where United States troops are sent for the final training before
departing for France.

Lieut. Funkhouser has been acting commander of his company for several weeks,
since his captain was promoted and the vacancy had not been filled.

Paul writes his father that the regulars, of which he is a member, had a fight
with the national guardsmen at the camp. The regulars were victorious in the
friendly scuffle.

WITH THOSE IN THE UNITED STATES SERVICE
Evansville Courier, March 15, 1918

Lieut. Paul Funkhouser writes his father, Albert W. Funkhouser, that he expects
soon to be on his way to the front.

PAUL FUNKHOUSER ARRIVES IN FRANCE
Evansville Press, April 15, 1918.

Lieut. Paul Funkhouser has arrived safely in France, according to a cablegram
received by his father, Attorney Albert W. Funkhouser, Saturday.

LIEUT. FUNKHOUSER AT CHATEAU THIERRY
Evansville Courier, June 7, 1918.

Local Young Man a Member of Outfit Whose
Machine Guns Do Deadly Execution

Lieut. Paul Funkhouser, son of Albert W. Funkhouser, of this city, probably is
in the midst of the hardest fighting in which American troops in France are now
engaged.

Yesterday's dispatches mentioned the name of Capt. Mendenhall as participating
in the machine gun fighting against the Germans at Chateau Thierry, where the
United States forces made such a brilliant record. Lieut. Funkhouser is a member
of the same outfit and so it is practically certain is in the midst of the hot
fighting which is adding luster to the name of America and its forces.

The elder Funkhouser is proud that his son is with an out fit making such an enviable
record, but is torn by anxiety for the fate of his son at the same time.

LIEUT. FUNKHOUSER IS IN PRESENT FIGHTING
Evansville Journal-News, June 7 1918.

Lieut. Paul Funkhouser is among those brave American fighters who are giving the
Boches a taste of Yankee fighting at Chateau Thierry and about which Evansville
people have been reading such glowing accounts. Lieut. Funkhouser is in Capt.

Mendenhall's machine gun crew. All Evansville will congratulate Attorney Albert W.
Funkhouser, the lieutenant's father, on the record his boy is making, and join in
the hope that he will come forth unscathed from the ordeal.

EVANSVILLE IN BIG BATTLE
Evansville Press June 8,1918.

FUNKHOUSER

Lieut. Paul Funkhouser, son of Attorney and Mrs. Albert W. Funkhouser,
920 Washington Avenue, is believed by his parents to be in action at the
battle of Chateau-Thierry.

Mrs. Funkhouser read in the papers Saturday of the battle in which Capt.
Mendenhall's troops are taking active part.

"Who is Paul's captain?" she asked Papa Funkhouser.

"He went across with Capt. Mendenhall's company," her husband answered.

"Then he is in the big battle now going on," the mother said.

And if ever a cloud of anxiety passed over her face, the sunshine of pride quickly
drove it away.

"I'm so proud of Paul that there's little room left for fear, she said.

"Of course we are very anxious about him - oh, so proud of the brave deeds
of his company.

"We received a letter from him Saturday morning written May 19, in which he
tells of a promotion to judge advocate of the special court martial of his
battalion. He writes that he was very busy, having two cases to try. He said that
he had been asked not to tell anything, so his letter was brief."

YOUNG OFFICER IN REGULARS IN ZONE OF BATTLE
Evansville Press, June 28, 1918.

Lieut. Paul Funkhouser, 23, son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert W. Funkhouser, 920
Washington Avenue, was the first Evansville boy to volunteer and get a
commission in the regular army.

When the first officers' training camp was opened at Ft. Benjamin Harrison,
May, 1917, Funkhouser was attending Indiana Law School. He took a chance and
went to the camp. Some of the men selected did not show up and Funkhouser was
allowed to enter. He was one of the youngest men in the camp, but was not there
long before he was put in charge of some of the men. At one time he was an acting
captain.

When the commissions were awarded Funkhouser was given a second lieutenant's
commission in the regular army, and was the only man from Evansville assigned to
the regulars.

He was sent to Gettysburg, Pa., with the 59th Infantry, and later went to Camp
Greene, N.C. At Camp Greene, Funkhouser was trained as a liaison officer, and
later placed in charge of a machine gun detachment of the Seventh Machine Gun
Battalion.

At the battle of Chateau Thierry, in which the American troops distinguished
themselves, Funkhouser is believed to have been engaged. His commander was
mentioned in dispatches at that time.

WITH THE COLORS
Evansville Journal-News, June 1918.

Word has been received from France that Lieut. Paul Funkhouser, with the Seventh
Machine Gun Battalion, Third Division, has been appointed special judge advocate.
Lieut. Funkhouser is now working on two courts martial, and in a letter to his father,
Attorney Albert W. Funkhouser, he writes that he is busy much of the time with
similar cases.

LETTER FROM FIGHTER AT CHATEAU-THIERRY
Evansville Courier, June 30, 1918.

Lieut. Paul Funkhouser Speaks Modestly of
the Work Praised by Allied Commanders

A letter from one of the participants in the engagement by the Americans at
Chateau-Thierry has been received in Evansville.

It is from Lieut. Paul Funkhouser to his parents, Attorney and Mrs. Albert
W. Funkhouser, and was dated June 9. Attorney Funkhouser said:

"We know nothing as to his whereabouts in France from anything he has
told us, but the press dispatch some time ago mentioned his captain as being
at the Battle of Marne, at Chateau-Thierry. You will remember that the engagement
of the American machine guns begun at Chateau-Thierry on May 31, so the six
days Paul speaks of were from May 31 to June 5, inclusive."

Young Lieut. Funkhouser speaks very modestly of the work of his outfit, which
has been so highly praised by the allied commanders. He writes:

"Our first experience on the line taught all of us many things. Our outfit,
according to reports, has brought more or less praise from high commanders, and
on the whole our six days was a success, and we all feel very good on the work
accomplished. Our casualties, of course we cannot talk or write about, but the
Germans are about ten times worse off than we are. The American troops are doing
good work and it won't be long until the Huns realize that the United States
turns out some good soldiers. I am still at the "ready zone" and hear occasional
bombing. Think I experienced all the tactics known to the Hun. They have missed
me so far and I am still in the best of health."

LIEUT. PAUL FUNKHOUSER UNDER FIRE EIGHT DAYS
Evansville Courier, July 1, 1918.

Lieut. Paul Funkhouser has been under fire for eight days, according to a letter
received by his parents. He is with the Seventh Machine Gunners, American
Expeditionary Forces. His letter, dated June 7, follows:

"My Dear Parents - "Sorry that I haven't been able to write. Have
been under fire and in battle for eight days. Our outfit has won
quite a name for itself. We have had French colonel and our division
commanding officer compliment us. I am O.K. so far. Sent a cablegram
to you to let you know I am O.K. Said, 'Hello!' Don't know when you
will get it, if ever; but don't worry about me because I am O.K. We
will clean out this bunch of Dutch within a year, and, believe me,
I will be glad to get back home. Have not time to write more. Resurrected
this paper in a deserted French house. Hope you are all well. Please
write often. You might send the Courier to me.

BROTHERS ARE LIEUTENANTS
Evansville Courier, July 4, 1918.

Mr. and Mrs. Albert W. Funkhouser of 920 Washington Avenue have reason to be
proud of their sons, for both volunteered soon after the outbreak of war and
both have been commissioned lieutenants.

Albert C. Funkhouser applied for the first officers' training camp; passed
but was not called, so be enlisted as a motor truck chauffeur. He was
admitted to the officers' training camp at Camp Bowie, Tex., and was
commissioned as second lieu tenant May 18, 1918, and assigned to Company H,
144th Infantry.

Paul Taylor Funkhouser was admitted to the first officer training camp and
commissioned second lieutenant, United States Regular Army, Aug. 15, 1917.
He arrived in France in April and engaged in the recent great battle near
Chateau-Thierry. He has served on several courts martial.

Both young men have had university and legal education.

LIEUT. FUNKHOUSER SEES REAL SERVICE
Evansville Courier, July 13, 1918.

Writes Parents That He Saw All Methods of
Warfare While in Front Line Trenches

Among the Evansville men who are actually facing the Huns on the Western
front is Second Lieutenant Paul T. Funkhouser, who in a letter declares
during the eighteen days he spent on the front he saw all the methods of
warfare in existence. His letter was written on June 18 and it is probably
that he is back in the trenches by this time. His letter to his parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Albert W. Funkhouser, 920 Washington Avenue, follows:

"Came back out of the line last night, am now back a
few miles. Don't believe I have written you since the time
I wrote that we had just come out of action. We were in the
front line for two days. Have now seen all the methods of
warfare there are in existence, I believe. Spent the last
eighteen days at the front.

"Our outfit was the first American troops to enter one certain
sector; and we had one very warm time.

"I am now living in the upper floor of a very good barn;
think we will get better billets tomorrow. All that has happened
along the line has been successful for the Allies and the
American troops are doing their share. Hope to get time to
write more tomorrow. This will at least let you know
that I am in good health and spirits."

Source:
Funkhouser Memorial
c. 1920
pp. 150-163

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Christopher D. Myers
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October 1, 2000