Ancestors contributed to war efforts

Dressed in WWI pants and leggings and a WWII shirt, Bruce “Bo” Johnstone brought the war to life as part of a recent Union County Ohio Genealogical Society meeting. About 20 men and four nurses from Union County fought in the Marines in WWI from 1917 to 1919. One woman, Jessie Southwick, joined when she was visiting a cousin in New York and heard the Navy was looking for women to serve.
Southwick’s uniform along with the uniform of Frank Fox, who served during the Rainbow Division era, was on display at a recent meeting about war service history.
Bruce “Bo” Johnstone shared how, in 1870, the government reorganized the army and the State of Ohio passed the Ohio National Guard in 1877.
The First Regiment was organized and changed from E Company to Company D and Mr. Curry was the 1st Captain and then became the Commander of the Unit.
During the Spanish-American War in 1916, President Wilson sent National Guard units to guard the U.S./Mexican borders.
Company D of the 4th Ohio National Guard had 200 men. General Beightler headed the unit in 1915 and Col. Herman Doellinger joined in 1919. The Mexican border was good training for the units before WWI because they started using radios, cars and trucks in their training. Compared to what they had before to use, the Europeans were far ahead of our forces in training. The First Division was the first sent into France.
They protected the border from June 1916 until March 1917.
Once they got home, war was declared on Germany on April 1917 and they were activated again and sent to Camp Perry as the 42nd Rainbow Division.
The Rainbow Division was made up of units from all over the United States. In 1920, they were reorganized as the 166th 37th Ohio Division.
Johnstone from the Union County Historical Society shared a 1919 photograph showing soldiers standing in front of the Armory (which is now the Victory Center).
WWI had the YWCA and WWII gad the USO for entertainment.
The Home Guard Unit, men trained to protect if there were any natural disasters or in cases of whatever was needed, had uniform buttons with the Seal of Ohio on them. Johnstone displayed a Home Guard uniform that belonged to Mike Huber, who was with the newspaper at the time, and a purple heart that belongs to William Goff.
Southwick was discharged in 1920 and married Dwight Scott
Meetings for The Union County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society will be held in Kennedy Hall of the First Presbyterian Church from January through March due to renovations at the Marysville Library.
Other genealogy programs will be discussed during 2007.
Dr. James Freed will discuss DNA in April. The Pioneer Banquet will be held in May.
Larry Ohlsman will discuss Ole Village on January 16. To learn details about upcoming Union County Ohio Genealogical Society meetings, call Marie Bouic at 937-644-8117.

Edited by UCP staff.