My Facebook feed includes a daily morning post from the American Battle Monuments Commission, the agency --- established in 1923 --- that administers, maintains and operates 25 American cemeteries on foreign soil that contain the remains of 125,000 Americans, most of whom died during World War I and World War II. There also are 26 separate memorials, monuments and markers not directly associated with physical remains.
That daily post recognizes soldiers among the 125,000 who died on specific dates, today (Oct. 27) an Iowan, Nicholas Kaloudes, private, 349th Infantry Regiment, 88th Division, whose death occurred during 1918. He is buried in Plot E, Row 26, Grave 24, and the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in France.
I turned to other sources, thinking I might find out more but found only his draft registration card, filled out in Waterloo on June 5, 1917. Nicholas was 21 and single at the time, a native of the Greek island of Samos who identified himself as a laborer and the sole support of his mother. He was described as being of "medium" height and build with brown hair and brown eyes. He signed with an "x," suggesting that he was illiterate.
There was nothing more, although someone with time and patience might tease out other records. But it's sufficient to honor a young man who gave up his life while in service to his adopted country.
No comments:
Post a Comment