George Frederick Tanguy
•Blue Lodge: Hollywood #355 •Jurisdiction: Grand Lodge of California •Initiated: November 12, 1912 •Passed: November 26, 1912 •Raised: December 2, 1912
Military Service: •Branch: U.S. Army (Third Army) •Unit: "C" Co. 322 Field Signal Battalion •Rank: Private •Locations: France; Luxemburg; Brittany, Germany •Action: Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Muese-Argonne Offensive. Army of Occupation, Coblenz, Germany. •Masonic Club: Masonic Club of the Third American Army and Rhode Island Overseas Lodge
It is likely Bro. Tanguy joined the 25th Telegraph Battalion of Enlisted Signal Reserves in Los Angeles. The 25th Battalion was combined with the 26th Battalion from San Francisco, forming the 322nd Field Signal Battalion.
In November, 1917, the 322nd headed off to training at Camp Lewis, Washington.
On 10 May, 1918, Bro. Tanguy and the rest of the 322nd boarded the U.S.S. Wilhelmina and set sail for France.
Image courtesy of fold3.
From a letter written to the brethren of Hollywood Lodge No. 355 on 22 June, 1918: •“Cannot tell you where I am but am pretty close to the front as we hear the artillery constantly. We expect to be up in it one of these days. A few of the men in my detail have had some heavy bombardment but go [sic] through alright.“ •“This is a much larger war than the people of the Pacific Coast imagine.”
Support action of the 322nd Field Signal Battalion: June - November, 1918 •Champagne-Marne Defensive, July 15-18 •Aisne-Marne Offensive, July 18-August 6 •St. Mihiel Offensive, September 12-16 •Meuse-Argonne Offensive, September 26-November 11
Stars and Stripes - June 13, 1919:
Stars and Stripes - June 13, 1919
Stars and Stripes - June 13, 1919
“Among the very first Third Army “doughboys” to cross into Luxembourg were the telephone linemen of the 322nd Field Signal Battalion. Not exactly sure how they would be treated by the locals, the Soldiers were pleasantly surprised by warm greetings and happily reported back to their unit that the local inhabitants considered Americans to be the liberators of Luxembourg.”
On 30 November, 1918, Bro. Tanguy visited the Masonic Lodge in Luxembourg. “I visited Luxemburg Masonic Lodge Nov. 30. This lodge was organized in 1776. Temple has not been altered since 1819. We received a most wonderful reception. The country has a population of 250,000. 90 Masons in it. Only about 60 active members. “
Translation: “Jesus Christ on the Mountain. “and however I told you to love each other.” (Reproduced with special authorization of the artist).”
Postcard sent from Bitburg, Germany 6 December 1918. “Masonic Bureau for the Research of the Missing”, Boulevard de la Petrusse 22, Luxembourg.
1 December, 1918 - Luxembourg
“A Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year To Hollywood Lodge”
6 December, 1918 - Bitburg, Germany.
Brother Tanguy was part of the Army of Occupation in Coblenz, Germany from 1918 to 1919.
He was also a member of The Masonic Club of the Third American Army and Rhode Island Overseas Lodge.
Brother Tanguy departed Germany at 4:30 pm, 12 July, 1919 via train. He departed Brest, France, aboard the U.S.S. George Washington at 5:00 pm on 25 July, 1919.
Image courtesy of fold3.
They arrived in New York on 3 August, 1919.
Image courtesy of the Stanley Cundiff Collection, California State Archives
Bro. Tanguy attended the Second Annual Convention of the 322nd Signal Battalion in Manhattan Beach, CA, from 1-4 July, 1922.
Image courtesy of the Stanley Cundiff Collection, California State Archives
Bro. Tanguy eventually retired to Scottsdale, AZ.
He entered the Celestial Lodge above on 31 October, 1957.
He now rests in the San Jacinto Valley Cemetery, Hemet, CA, plot S-66.
Soft and safe, my brother, be they resting place. Bright and glorious be they rising from it.
Lest we forget…