George Edward Long biography

Ref; George Edward Long - Facts (ancestry.com)

Posted on fold3 website by pweishau750 on 23 Jul 2016

George Edward Long born 8/21/1894 kia 10/8/1918

by Bill Weishaupt

revision 7/23/2016

George Edward Long was born in Angola, New York on Aug 21 1894 to parents Joseph Opitz and Hattie Hanson. His father Joseph was adopted by Johann Long when his grandmother Theresa Opitz remarried. His brother and sisters were Jennie (Smith),…

George Edward Long was born in Angola, New York on Aug 21 1894 to parents Joseph Opitz and Hattie Hanson. His father Joseph was adopted by Johann Long when his grandmother Theresa Opitz remarried. His brother and sisters were Jennie (Smith), Walter, Emma (Schoetz) and Frances (Neubeck).

In the early years in Angola New York, George was always a member of the Nickel Plate Railroad crew and we see him in pictures on the railroad with brother Walter and friend Al Smith. From his letters, we know that he also worked at the Lyth Tile Plant and sister Jennie packed his dinner pail when he worked there Thanksgiving night in 1916.

World War I had started in 1914 and on June 5, 1917 George registered for the draft. On his draft registration he described himself as medium height, medium build, blue eyes and light hair. He also recorded that he was a self-employed farmer and that his sister (our grandmother Jennie) and aunt Mayme Gstalter (Froehley), (who is not a real aunt) depended on his support.

On Thursday September 27, 1917, at age 23, George left Hamburg at 6 am on a train for the Army and Division Headquarters at Camp Dix, New Jersey. Father Joseph had died three months earlier. He was a Pvt. in Company L 309th Infantry - he said "the cords on our hats are blue - always blue for Infantry". He was transferred to Company M, 327th Infantry at Camp Gordon, 7 miles outside Atlanta on November 13th, 1917. About his trip south he said; "All you can see is hills and pine trees and the Negroes riding their donkeys and picking cotton", also; "It was dark when we passed Camp Wadsworth S.C. but could see the lights and camp fires burning from the train". On April 22nd, 1918 he was sent on a 70 hour train trip to Camp Upton, New York by way of Washington and New York City. On April 27th he wrote to his sister Jennie not to tell mother that he expected to sail soon so that "she will not have a chance to worry". He left the States during the first week of May, 1918 for active service in the American Expeditionary Force in France. His letters from France were reviewed and censored and he mentioned he wished he could tell the things he saw.

He wrote numerous letters to his family throughout this time frame and on September 29th, 1917 he asked Jennie "how is my dog Dollie, I miss her". Later on, it seems Dollie adopted June Smith (Jennie's daughter) in George's absence because we have many pictures of them together. They were writing back and forth every week, yet he was still eager for mail; "Why don't you people write more often. We all watch the mail man and gather around him like bees when he calls off the names." Also, he spoke of a distraught boy at Camp Dix named Winter from Hamburg who slit his throat.

George wrote on Dec 4, 1917 from camp Gordon; "I signed the Bible roll call when in Camp Dix and received a little Bible. Am suppose to read a little of it every day. They say that over in the trenches when the soldiers get the signal to go over the top of the trenches into no mans land they all get down and pray." At one time he mentioned being arranged in a squad of one Corporal and seven men.

In two of his December, 1917 letters to Jennie he wrote; "Well we can not get a furlough for Christmas. Some down hearted fellows in camp now. A good many had their plans for the trip home but all busted up now." "Well I am sorry to have to tell you I can not get a furlough for Xmas to come home. The paper said it was on the account of southern railroads having too much work and by handling all the troops going home would put another burden on them. I would liked to have come home the worst way for a few days but no chance at all I don't believe."

On Jan 3, 1918 he wrote; "There is a French Officer and Canadian Sergeant here instructing in the bayonet and trench work. Both have seen over two years of service over across and they sure tell some awful things about the war. The French Officer told us that the infantry does a very little shooting it is mostly all bayonet charges and if we go across and don't know how to use our bayonet we have as much chance as a snow ball in hell coming back home alive." He also wrote; "done our first shooting with the new Enfield gun. They sure are one nice firing rifle but they have an awful kick to them and if you don't hold them tight against your shoulder you know the result believe me." On Mar 17, 1918 he wrote; "I am going to grenade school two hours every day learning how to throw bombs. Eight men from each platoon has to know how to handle them. They say it is the best job in the infantry but the dangerous life sometimes. A bomber does not have to carry a rifle he is supplied with a pistol and carries his bag of grenades so that will be some relief to get out of lugging a gun if I land the position."

On Feb 10, 1918 he wrote; "We had a big review last Wednesday afternoon. Also one yesterday morning. The Wednesday review was sure one fine sight, the whole Company had to parade about thirty five thousand soldiers were in line I think. We all had to be dressed in our O.D. suits and carrying our blanket roll, gun and bayonets. It took about two hours for the line to pass the review stand."

He wrote to sisters Jennie and Frances, brother Walter, Mayme Gstalter, Mayme's nephew Dr George Gstalter who went to school with brother Walter, to mother Hattie and to his friends Al Smith (our future grandfather) and Sam Lyth. His father, Joseph Long, had died in June, prior to George being drafted into the service. He was worried in some letters about Jennie getting the farm house fixed and painted with money he had left; "I would have done it myself if I hadn't had to leave".

And on Jan 14th George wrote; "So they won't let Walter (George's brother) off long enough to come down with mother. Well that is sure hard luck ain't it. I asked the Company Clerk the other day for a ten day furlough and he said he could not issue any furlough."

On Apr 22nd he wrote; "They gave passes to the regiments ahead of us (at Camp Upton, NY) ten days ago and most all of them failed to come back on time some have not returned yet. And this morning the 325th was ordered to shipping port and they had to leave with over 800 men missing. So they have killed our chance I think. Oh, but the fellows are all sore about not being able to go home first. It sure isn't right by not letting us go home first."

On Apr 27th in his last letter before leaving the US, he wrote; " I tried my hardest to get a 40 or 48 hour leave but nothing doing. It sure is awful when they won't let a fellow see his people before going acrossed I think, we expect to leave late tonight or tomorrow morning for somewhere but I don't know where. So if you don't hear from me again in a few days you will know where I am. I sure would have liked to see some of you people the worst way. Tell mother not to worry about me if she knows that I am expecting to sail soon but if she don't know it already I wouldn't tell her if I was you then she will not have a chance to worry." George was to never see any of the family again.

In a letter marked "somewhere in France" on May 26, 1918 George writes; "My third week overseas and this is my first opportunity to find enough time to write you a few lines but have all been in my thoughts every day. The ride coming over on the boat was grand and sure did enjoy it all the way over. I did not get sea sick at all. The first week over here was pretty hard on most all of us cause we had to do so much hiking with the heavy packs and the weather is so very hot too." The last letter still existing was to sister Jennie and was dated June 15th 1918. He writes; "with lots of love to all. Give my best regards to all the fellows around the old Nickel Plate."

On August 24th, 1918, Allied Commander-in-Chief French Marshal Foch and American Commander-in-Chief General Pershing discussed the strategy for the Meuse-Argonne offensive. There was intense disagreement on the issue with Foch wanting to divide the American Army and Pershing wanting to preserve the unity of the First Army. Pershing struggled to secure for Americans the right to "fight under their own officers, and if they died, to die in the shadow of their own flag". The resulting objective of the American troops was the Sedan-Carigan Railroad, the primary German supply line and it remained the ultimate objective of the Meuse-Argonne battle.

The American First Army was to attack between the Meuse River and the Argonne Forest. It required the secret transportation over inadequate highways of approximately half a million men comprising fifteen full-strength Divisions. Necessarily it meant night movements by marching, by rail and by trucks. The plan for the attack by the Americans called for advance by three Army Corps, in order from left to right - First Corps, Fifth Corps and Third Corps. There was a total of nine Divisions in the attack, each with Infantry, Artillery, Machine Guns, Trench Mortars, Hospitals, Medical personnel, Signal Corps, Engineers and Supply Trains.

The American First Corps was commanded by General Liggett, head quartered at Rarecourt and deployed three Divisions in line on September 26, 1918; 35th (General Traub), 28th (General Muir) and 77th (General Alexander). General Pershing held three Divisions in general reserve, one of them being the 82nd, commanded by General Burnham.

George was in the 82nd Division, 327th Infantry Regiment, Company M which was assigned to the right flank of the First Corps during the offensive in October (replacing the 35th Division). The 327th Infantry Regiment was known as the "Bastogne Bulldogs" with the motto of "Honor and Country". On October 7, 1918, the First Corps was situated in the Argonne Forest on the left flank of the US First Army with the French Fourth Army to their left and the Fifth Corps to the right. The First Corps deployed the Divisions left to right - the 77th, 28th and 82nd. His exact location south of Cornay, France on October 7th is recorded on page 283 of the source reference "Over There" which is on the eastern edge of the Argonne Forest south of Cornay mid-way between Cornay and Châtel-Chéhéry. This is the area of Hill 223 to the south and Hill 180 to the north.

The phase of the Meuse-Argonne Battle from October 1st to the 11th was reckoned by General Pershing as the period of the heaviest strain on the Army and upon himself. The weather was cold and rainy - colder and wetter in France than any place he had ever served. The damp, raw climate contributed to depression among the troops. In the attack from October 4th to 8th, the First Corps was successful, the Third and Fifth less so. The fighting had been "extremely severe" on the whole front. There were now twenty-seven German Divisions, facing the First Army, with seventeen in reserve. An Army private returning to the battle line wrote; "I arrived at the Argonne on October 7th. The place smelled badly from the dead….., life in the trenches, plugging through the mud and water up to the waist, sleeping in wet, damp dugouts is unspeakable….., you have to live on a cracker and a glass of water for two or three days……". By October 8th the Germans were forced out of the Argonne Forest, ending the menace to the American left flank.

The new York Times dateline October 7, 1918; " The reply of president Wilson to the Austro-German peace proposals will be a rejection, in the convinced opinion of Washington. When his answer is delivered, the president will act as spokesman, not only for the United States Government, but also for all the nations allied in the fight against the Central Powers. Exchanges have been in progress today between Washington, London, Paris, Rome, and Havre."

The New York Times on October 8th carried a news report dated October 7th, "Pershing Carries Argonne Heights - A furious battle has been in progress all day for the positions of the north end forts of the Argonne, The Americans attacked from the east and south this morning. After a day of bitter fighting they have driven the Germans from the heights west of the Aire Valley and commanding the Argonne Forest from our line to the end of the jungle at Grand Pre. Our attack was aided by a heavy mist, which enabled us to get upon the German positions before being seen This precipitated a large amount of hand-to-hand fighting. The mist later developed into a cold rain, which still continues."

Granduncle George was killed in combat. He suffered shell wounds, on October 7, 1918, south of Cornay, France during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, dying in a hospital on Friday October 8, 1918. His Company M had 514 members and suffered 168 casualties. German forces on the Meuse River and in the Argonne forest fell back before advancing American and French forces, which continued until the end of World War 1 with the signing of the Armistice on November 11th. The area to the north-west of Verdun and north-east of Cornay is the present day location of "monuments and mass graves marking the site of World War 1's longest battle". "Verdun and the Argonne Forest were the scenes of grim battles in World War 1."

The village of Cornay is a small village located in north east France. The town of Cornay is located in the department of Ardennes of the French region Champagne-Ardenne. The town of Cornay is located in the township of Grandpré part of the district of Vouziers.

In the appendix is a detailed timeline for Pvt George Long and his service in France with the American Expeditionary Forces.

October 28; German sailors mutiny at port when asked to sail and fight a hopeless navel battle. October 30; Turks sign armistice November 9; Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates. November 10; A German republic is founded. November 11 1918; At eleven o'clock on the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, the war ends as Germany and Allies sign an Armistice. "All quiet on the Western Front" as Germany signed The Treaty of Versailles.

June Smith, daughter of George's sister Jennie (Long) Smith was born 24 Jan, 1919 in the home at 89 Commercial Street in Angola, New York. She was the only descendant of the Long family - Jennie, Walter, Emma, George and Frances. Her middle name "Georgia" was chosen in memory of her Uncle George Long who died four months before her birth. As a child she grew up at 89 Commercial Street with her mother and Aunt Frances. Her dog was named Dollie, a train station dog who belonged to her Uncle George before he left for France. Dollie adopted June in his absence. Her father Al Smith would be dead one month later on March 22, 1919.

George was re-buried in Angola, three years later on Sunday September 25, 1921 with Military Honors. Services were held at his home, the Congregational Church and at grave side by members of the Newcomb-Long Post 928 who escorted their comrade. He is buried in lot N156 at Forest Avenue Cemetery. Angola funeral director Jay Addison reports that the funeral bill was $32 of which $10 was paid at that time by "Jake" Long, his brother Walter, leaving an outstanding balance in 1995 of $22.

The Newcomb-Long American Legion Post 928 in Angola was named in the honor of George and his friend Ray Newcomb who also was killed in combat. On Feb 3, 1918 George wrote; "I got a letter from Ray Newcomb the other day and he said that they were all packed ready to move to some place but he didn't know where. He was in Virginia when he wrote the letter." The 1910 census for the Village of Angola records George Long age 15 and Ray Newcomb age 13 as friends living next to each other on Gowans Road.

The reference source "History of Buffalo and Erie County" recognized George Long among "our heroic dead" as one of the "Gold Star Men" who were awarded gold stars on their Town and County service flags. He was listed on the "roster of soldiers, sailors and marines who gave their lives in order that all the world might be made safe for Democracy." George never married.

German cousin Anton Leo Weishaupt fought with the German Army and died in France in 1918 while German Uncle George Long (adopted name Long; family name Opitz) fought with the US Army and died on the other side of the trenches in France in 1918.

Two attempts failed to retrieve copies of his WWI Military Personnel Records from National Personnel Records Center in St Louis The response indicated that records do not exist and most probably were destroyed in a fire on July 12, 1973. The only information available was his social security Number (1908398) and that he served in the United States Army from Sept 26, 1917 to Oct 8, 1918. A third inquiry revealed a separate burial file that survived the fire.

According to the American Battle Monuments Commission there are 26,255 Yankees dead from World War I, buried in 4 cemeteries in France. There are 30,426 American dead from World War II buried in 6 cemeteries in France.

In 2010 a book containing George Long information was send to the Evans Historical Society. It contains notes, pictures, letters and family history.

Sources;

Daniel J. Sweeney, History of Buffalo and Erie County in the World War, History 1914-1919, copy with Bill Weishaupt (Committee of One Hundred, Finley H. Greene, Chairman. Under authority of the City of Buffalo, July 4, 1919), George E. Long (b. 1894) - page 722 & 723.

James G. Harbord, American Army in France, at the Largo, FL Library (Little Brown and Company; Boston; 1936), George E. Long (b. 1894) - pages 175, 414, 416-419, 429, 435, 436, 444, 445.

Frank Freidel, Over There, at the East Orange County, FL Library (Little Brown and Company; Boston & Toronto; 1964), George E. Long (b. 1894) - pages 239, 283, 290 & 316.

George Long's personel letters - dated between September 29, 1917 and June 15, 1918. Letters to sister Jennie Long and friend Al Smith, George E. Long (b. 1894).

World War I draft registration cards - ordered by state, county draft board, aphabetical by name. Registration date of June 5, 1917 for all men between the ages of 21 and 31 (National Archives and Records Administration, South East Region, 1557 St Joseph Avenue, East Point, GA 30344 - phone (404) 763-7383), George E. Long (b. 1894) - 2674, No. 62.

Newspaper The Saratogian, Thursday, November 14, 1918, page 6.

Newspaper New York Times, Tuesday, October 8, 1919, page 8.

Doughboy Center; The Story of the American Expeditionary Forces The Meuse-Argonne Offensive: Part I the 91st Div: Overview and Chronology.

Evans Historical Society and 1857 Museum; George Long Biography Book and Historical Photo Collection of Angola, NY and the Nickel Plate Railroad in Angola NY, 8351 Erie Road Angola, NY 14006 716-549-6139

National Archives, National Personnel Records Center, 1 Archives Drive, St Louis, MO 63138-1002 ph 314-801-0800; WWI Burial Files of Pvt George Long.;