Erwin H. Short
Bio and Photo Courtesy of Andrew Pestle
Erwin H. Short was born in Moscow, Idaho, on August 9th, 1895. A family genealogy shows that he was the youngest of 8 children, and that his father was a veteran of the 1st Oregon Cavalry Regiment during the American Civil War. Erwin graduated high school in about 1913 and subsequently completed one year of college education. It was shortly following America's declaration of war against Germany that he chose to enlist in the Regular US Army on May 25th, 1917.
Following basic training, Erwin was assigned as a Private to Battery "E" of the 5th Field Artillery Regiment, American 1st Division, and sailed overseas aboard the SS Lenape on August 7th, 1917. The 5th Field Artillery became one of the earliest AEF artillery units to arrive in France and soon received training on the French Schneider 155mm howitzer. Erwin experienced significant fighting throughout 1918, and his unit would ultimately receive campaign credit for Cantigny, Saizerais, Montdidier-Noyon, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, and the Meuse-Argonne.
Erwin received an unspecified wound during his time in France but later travelled into Germany for Rhineland occupation duties. This undated photograph depicts him in Germany after the war, possibly in the community of Kadenbach. Erwin was promoted to Wagoner on May 1st, 1919, and the 1st Division Archives show that he received a general citation for his bravery throughout the war. He arrived back in the United States aboard the USS Finland on September 4th, 1919, and received an honorable discharge on October 24th. His service number was 124888.
Erwin returned to Oregon after the war and eventually settled in the community of Roseburg. He became a police officer for the city and retired from the department in the 1950's. Erwin also married in 1930 and had two daughters with his wife Esther. He remained active in his community; becoming a member of the Laurel Masonic Lodge, Shriners, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, and the First Christian Church of Roseburg. In 1956 he was also awarded the Citizen of the year Award for his involvement in the American Legion Baseball Program. Erwin thankfully lived a long life, dying at the age of 87 years on November 1st, 1982. He is now buried with a civilian gravestone beside his wife in the Roseburg Memorial Gardens Cemetery of Roseburg, Oregon.