photo and data courtesy of Bruce A. Winslow & david schwitagable

Canton Lodge No. 60, Canton Ohio Middle West Masonic Club 89th Division Army of Occupation

 August Schwitzgebel was born on 20 July, 1895 in Canton Ohio. Son of Frederick Schwitzgebel and Margaret Ottle. He was the 6th of 11 children (Louis, Jacob, Nicholas, John, William, August, Frank, Herman, Harry, Edith (she died shortly after birth in 1908).

When the United States declared war on Germany and the Central Powers on 6 April, 1917, August was 21 years old and was employed by the New Berlin Plumbing Co. He was living at 1460 Housel Street in Canton. All of the boys through Frank registered for the draft. August was inducted into the Army on 21 January, 1918 and reported to Camp Funston, Kansas (from Trinidad, Colorado) where the 89th “Midwest” Division was being formed and trained, including infantry, field artillery, maching gun battalion, headquarters, engineers, supply, sanitary (field hospitals and ambulance) and ammunition. He was assigned to Company “D” of the 314th Ammunition Train.

August reported to Camp Funston in January 1918 and entered basic training. The Division left Camp Funston around 21 May, 1918 (after the artillery could lay down a barrage accurately and safely) en route to Camp Mills, Long Island, New York, and arrived about 27 May, where they were properly equipped with personal gear and uniforms. On 3 June, 1918, the 89th Division boarded the 9 vessels forming the convoy to take them to France. August departed America aboard the S.S. Cretic on 4 June. The convoy reached Liverpool, England on 16 June and after a few days in England the 89th Division finally arrived in LeHarve, France between 20 and 28 June. After a few days in LeHarve most of the Division moved to the Reynel Training Area and the 314th Ammunition Train went to the Artillery Training Camp near Bordeaux to train with the 164th Field Artillery Brigade.

The 89th Division, minus the 164th Field Artillery Brigade, was assigned to the Toul, France sector of the front and was trucked to the area 3-4 August 1918 and by 10 August the Division was holding the entire line after relieving the 82nd Division. The Division was intially supported by the 55th Field Artillery Brigade during the opening days of the St. Miheil Offensive until the “trained” 164th Field Artillery Brigade, along with the 314th Ammunition Train Companies “A” and “D” of the Motor Battalion traveling overland in 70 trucks arrived on 13 September followed by the Horse Battalion on 22 September.

The 89th Division was relieved by the 37th “Buckeye” Division on 9 October 1918 and the 164th FA Brigade stayed with the 37th Division which did not have a filed artillery brigade along. The 37th Division was then relieved by the 28th “Keystone” Divsion on 17 October. The 28th Division was also without field artillery so the 164tgh Field Artillery Brigade, along with the 314th Ammunition Train, remained with them until cessation of hostilities on 11 November 1918. It is to be noted that the 164th Field Artillery Brigade say 56 days of continuous service in support of three different Divisions (89th, 37th, 28th) during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. The 314th Ammunition Train was hauling shells and accessories to the front by night and cleaning and repairing its trucks and carts by day at an ammunition dump new St. Baussant. The Brigade had fired about 200,000 rounds of ammunition. Though it had been frequently shelled the casualties were kept down; with six enslisted men killed, 33 enlisted men wounded or gassed and none missing.

After the Armistice, the 89th Division was selected to form part of the German Army of Occupation (3rd Army). the 89th’s area of operation was to be the Moselle River Valley from Trier west to the Luxembourg border.

On 30 November 1918, the 3rd Army was engaged in training and preparing the troops for any contingency. In February, military schools were opened, leave facilities were established in country. In March, educational centers were established. In April, the exodus of American Divisions to the United States began. The 89th Division participated in the occupation of Germany until May 1919. Company “D” 314th Ammunition Train embarked on the U.S.S. Agememnon on 16 May, 1919 and arrived in New York City on 24 May, 1919.

Brother August was honorably discharged at Camp Sherman, Ohio, on 6 June, 1919.