News: Neillsville, Wis. - 128^th Infantry (Reunion - 1960)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Haugen, Hanson, Larsen, Francis, Hoag, Scott

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) June 16, 1960

128^th Infantry (Reunion - 11 June 1960)

Lt. Arthur J. Haugen attended a reunion of the Headquarters Company, 1128^th Infantry, at Fort Atkinson Saturday, June 11.  This brought together men who served together in Texas in 1917 and in World War I in France and Germany in 1918-19.

The Company, which at War strength numbered 311 men, is now able to muster 30, including the original captain of World War I, now Major Art Langhoff of Fort Atkinson.

Neillsville men who served with the Company in France included Arthur "Mother" Haugen, Floyd Hanson (now in California), Thorniel Haugen (deceased) and Cornel Larsen.

James "Buckshot" Francis, who had attended the reunion the last four years, was missed at the 1960 reunion.  He died during the past winter.  Harlow Hoag of Sparta, father-in-law of James Scott, attended the reunion from this area, but most of the remaining veterans live in Fort Atkinson, Watertown and Milwaukee. 

Arthur J. Haugen was drum major at San Antonio in 1916, made first sergeant of the Headquarters Company in 1917 when six Wisconsin regiments were consolidated into two, the 127 and 128^th.  He was commissioned in France in October, 1918.  His brother, Joe, was commissioned at Fort Sheridan and Thorniel was commissioned in France.  Joe was assigned to duty with the 26^th division, and Thorniel with the Second.  Arthur J. returned to Neillsville and was commander of the Neillsville Service Company in the early 1920’s.  He was also recognized for his bugling and for playing cornet in regimental bands.

Haugen remembers blowing bugle for reveille one morning in camp when the color sergeant failed to show up.  He pulled the flag up the pole with one hand and held the bugle in the other.  His colonel, taking notice came over and commended him for his double-duty job.  It was in the early morning of August 1, 1918, that Haugen found the body of his brother, Otto, lying on Hill 230 near Chateau Thierry.

Arthur stated blowing taps for military funerals held for returning veterans of the Spanish American War and for more than 30 (the rest of the story was missing.)