Sons of Men - Evansville's War Record
Gold Star Biographies
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Pvt. August Carl Turpen Battery A, 68th Field Artillery December 13, 1891 - October 12, 1918

   August Carl Turpen did not live to fight across the sea, but during
his period of training and to the last moment of his life he was
convinced that "On our faithful, chivalrous endeavor victory's full-
orbed sun at last shall glow."  He was born December 13, 1891, in
Gibson County, Indiana. He attended school in that county, and when
he reached the age of sixteen he came to Evansville. Here he was a
plasterer and belonged to the Plasterers' Union, Local No. 27. On
December 10, 1908, he married Miss Mary Laswell of this city.

   He entered the U. S. service April 29, 1918, and was sent to Camp
Taylor, Ky. For a short time he served in the 23d Co., 159th Depot
Brigade. Then he was transferred to Battalion A, 68th Field Artillery,
West Point, Ky. When he contracted the influenza he was sent to the
Base Hospital at Camp Taylor. Pneumonia developed.  For a week
before his death, his mother and sister, Minnie, and brother, Downey,
were at his bedside to comfort him in his last hours. The end came at
six o'clock, October 12, 1918. Two days later his body arrived in
Evansville, and was laid to rest in Oak Hill Cemetery with military honors.
_____

Sons of Men: Evansville's War Record,
Compiled by Heiman Blatt,
Published by Abe P. Madison, 1920
p176.

cdmyers@wowway.com
October 25, 1998