On October 2, 1918, Lieutenant Ivan L. Lautenbacher of Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania, was killed on the Western Front during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive during World War I.
A local newspaper captured the grief of the community as word spread that the young officer, serving with the 316th Infantry Regiment, 79th Division, had made the “supreme sacrifice.”
From the The Call newspaper of Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania in November 1918:
DIED OF WOUNDS IN FRANCE
Another home of a local soldier boy was this week saddened by the news of his having made the supreme sacrifice for his country on foreign soil. Another blue service flag star will be changed to a gold one and the hearts of another family and a host of friends are saddened. It is on account of the death of Lieut. Ivan L. Lautenbacher, which occurred October 2nd from wounds received in action in France.
Monday evening the sad news reached town and quickly it spread from one person to another and by all, was regret expressed, as the young Lieutenant was so well and favorably known here.
No prior or later information was received by the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Lautenbacher. No details were given in the message, only the plain hard facts that the War Department regretted to announce the death of Lieut. I. L. Lautenbacher, who died on October 2nd of wounds received in action.
The death of Lieut. Lautenbacher increased the number of town boys having died in France to three. From the letter written to his parents several days before going into action, the engagement in which he received his wounds was the first time he was in battle in the front lines. It is quite likely that prior to his going he realized the seriousness of it all and from the tone of his letter, possibly had a premonition that he would receive fatal wounds.
The letter is as follows:
‘France, Sept. 23.
Dear Folks:
We are packing up to move into the trenches. From what I saw when up there the other day I shall have no opportunity there for letter writing. So this will be the last until I come back from the battle. We expect that to happen about the 25th. Hope I may come out unscathed, but if it is His will otherwise, then may it be so.
Very soon it will all be over. Everything tends in that direction. Recent reports are all in favor of it. Don’t get excited. Unless we have bad weather, all will be well. Nothing more.
Lovingly,
IVAN.’
Ivan L. Lautenbacher, son of Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Lautenbacher, was 27 years of age. He was born in Williamstown and was a resident of this town for the past eleven years. He was a graduate of the Williamstown High School and later took a business course in the Pottsville Business College. He was employed by the Morea Coal Co. for a time and later and prior to his last enlistment, was employed as mail clerk at the New York Post Office. He was a member of Co. F of the old National Guard, having served two enlistments in that service.
He was serving his third enlistment in France. Upon his return from the Mexican border he with Captain Gangloff were instrumental in recruiting the new company, Co. C, to its full strength and in procuring a number of boys from this town to enlist. He was very enthusiastic over the prospect at that time of procuring an Armory for the town and the town boys in the service.
He left with his company for camp. Later he attended an officer’s training camp at Niagara, where he was given a commission as Lieutenant. He was assigned to the 316th Infantry, 79th Division, at Camp Meade and after being there for several months, his command was sent to France on July 20th. Just a short time prior to his sailing for foreign shores, he obtained a furlough and visited his parents and many friends here.
Ivan Lautenbacher was held in esteem by friends wherever he went or remained for a time. In his own home town he was known as a bright scholar, of a kindly nature and most pleasant disposition.
He took an active interest in local entertainments and his wit and humor and his ever-readiness to joke will be remembered by his many friends long after the war has been won. He was always of a genial disposition and this with his affable mannerism were potent means in endearing him to all persons with whom he came in contact.
He loved his country devotedly and he was ever ready to risk his life in its defense and ever ready to avenge any insult, veiled or direct, made against it.
Besides the grief stricken parents, two sisters, Ruth and Kathryn, both at home, survive. Two cousins, Lieut. Herman S. Schwenk and Russel Schwenk are also in service in France, the former in the 314th Infantry, 79th Division, and the latter in Co. C, 103rd Engineers.”
Lautenbacher later received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions that day – he was also ill with pandemic influenza at the time of his wounding and death. His decoration citation reads:
“The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Ivan L. Lautenbacher, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 316th Infantry Regiment, 79th Division, A.E.F., near Verdun, France, 2 October 1918.
Although suffering from a severe illness Lieutenant Lautenbacher refused to be evacuated and remained with his organization. When his company commander was seriously wounded, he took command of the company and pressed the attack until he received wounds which result in his making the supreme sacrifice.”
His remains were brought home to Schuylkill County in 1921 and interred at the Schuylkill Haven’s Union Cemetery.
Read more about the Coal Region and World War I
A wounded Pennsylvania soldier’s letter home from France | World War I
Charles “Kelly” King | World War I soldier from Williamstown, PA
“I am more than glad it is over” – A Coal Region soldier’s experience in World War I
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