Fred W Lange, youngest of 8 children born to John and Margaret Lange was born Sept 12, 1899 at 1110 Fulliam Ave, now 2400 Fulliam Ave, Muscatine, Iowa. Attended Hamilton School 712 Fulliam Ave til Third Grade, then McKinley School through 8th Grade. Worked for H J Heinz on Houser Farm during school vacations. Worked for Kautz Bakery in 1914. Later for Huttig Mfg. Co.

Joined army when war was declared on Germany, April 15, 1917. Served with Battery C, Iowa National Guard at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, Fort Logan H Roots, Arkansas. then with Battery C 126 Field Artillery 34 Division at Camp Cody, New Mexico.

Sailed for England June 27, 1918. Docked at Liverpool July 10, 1918. Left Southampton the night of July 14, 1918 and landed at Cherbourge, France next morning. Arrived at the Front July 24, 1918 Joined Co I 109th Infantry 28th Division for rations because the artillery had not arrived at the front.

Next morning we advance on the enemy and are shelled all day. Move about 3 miles. The next 20 days we were on the front with the infantry. We are under fire constantly and move from Chateau Thierry to Fismes from the Narne River to the Vesla River. About 30 miles. I mention this because this was the roughest time in my life.

The artillery arrives at the front and I am assigned to the regimental supply company, 108 Field Artillery 28th Division. A division is composed of 20,000 men. when asked about my abilities, I said I was a truck driver. A regiment of artillery includes 8 units, 6 batteries; Hdq Co, 1 Supply Co. Our job was to keep all 8 units supplied with their needs, food, clothing, equipment, etc. The 8 units have 1600 men and more than 800 horses,. Fronts or sectors we were on in France and Belgium were Aisne-Marne-Oise-Aisne-Ypers-Lys-Meuse-Argonne and defensive sectors.

When hostilities cease November 11, 1918, I was in Audemard, Belgium. Our Regiment fired one round from each of our 6 inch cannons. That's 24 guns. We follow the Germans as far as Thielt, Belgium through many towns and finally stay in Proven, Belgium until Jan 7, 1919. Back in France Jan 10 live in Parna, a small town near LeMans.

On May 1 we move to St Nazaire for ship to New York. While waiting in the LeMans embarkation area, I received a two week pass to visit brother Henry who was in the Air Corp at Romorantin, France. We went to see some old castles in Orleans. Then by train to Paris for 3 days. Sailed on May 4, 1919. Arrived New York May 14. Discharged May 30, 1919 at Camp Dodge, Iowa.

Worked for Roach and Musser Co as a morticer, making windows. Worked for Deircks and Frohner Grocery 1920 to 1942 - 22 years. Worked for Muscatine Schools 1942-1965 as Building and Grounds Supt 23 years. Was 4th Ward Alderman 1936-1940. Was appointed to Muscatine County Soldiers Relief Commission 1940 still active. Fred Lange and Mabel Christian were married April 23, 1921 at Davenport, Iowa by Pastor H Harms, Evangelical Lutheran Church. We have one son Richard born June 13, 1923, 4 grandchildren and 6 great grand children.

Note: At the bottom of this handwritten history is listed his brothers and sisters names. Signed Sept 25, 1981 Fred Lange

Also, any mispellings are probably mine because I am not familiar with his handwriting and because I am not familiar with some of the names of the towns. I tried to type exactly what he wrote and apologize if there is any confusion caused by my transcription.