John Menkens was the first Potter County, South Dakota, boy to lose his life in the service of his country during WWI.

Pvt. in Machine Gun Battalion; Co. B 113 M G Bn (Machine Gun Battalion) ; entered service 21 Sep 1917; trained at Camp Funston (Fort Riley, KS); went overseas in June of 1918; KIA - died of wounds received in battle on 30 Sept. 1918.

Buried first in France. His body was returned to the US. Departure March 21, 1921, from Antwerp Belgium and arrived at Hobokan NJ, on Apr 3, 1921. Then on 16 April 1921, his remains arrived at Lebanon, SD, for re-burial in the Lebanon Cemetery. Services were held at the Castle Grand Theater, once a great building in Lebanon.

Dahnke-Menkens American Legion Post 188 at Lebanon, SD, was named after Carl Dahnke and John Menkins who were both killed in action during WWI.

Sources: ++United States, World War I American Expeditionary Forces Deaths, 1917-1919++

Potter County In The World War 1917-1919

Records located at the Dakota Sunset Museum at Gettysburg, South Dakota, and at the SD State Archives.

Menkens - draft registration

Menkens - draft registration part 2.jpg

John Menkens (1886/1890-1918)