Robb Centre News - October 2020

ROBB CENTRE NEWS GEORGE S. ROBB CENTRE FOR THE STUDY OF THE GREAT WAR AT PARK UNIVERSITY MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

Corporal Howard R. Votaw

BY ASHLYN WEBER

leaving Park College, Howard lived in Chicago, Illinois with his aunt, working at one time as a traveling salesman, later for Darling & Co., U.S. Stockyards in Chicago. Howard enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on July 28, 1917 as a Private with the 120th Company, 1st Replacement Battalion, stationed at the U.S. Marine Corps Barracks in Quantico, Virginia; by fall of

The George S. Robb Centre is first and foremost an entity dedicated to remembering veterans of World War I, a period often forgotten by the masses. Though we specialize in the Valor Medals Review, an investigation into minority servicemembers who may have been denied the Medal of Honor, we would like to share a few more stories closer to home. A new series run by the Robb Centre, in coordination with the Park University Fishburn Archives and Special Collections, takes a look at

1918, he was a Corporal with the 97th Company, 6th Regiment, AEF in France. Corporal Votaw fell in the Argonne Forest, Argonne, France, on October 4, 1918; his body was returned to the U.S. and buried in Neoga Memorial Cemetery, Neoga, Illinois in 1921.

The Neoga, Illinois, American Legion Post 458 is named for Corporal's Votaw and Ralph Swank, both killed in action in France during World War I.

the ten Park College Alumni who were killed in action during the War. Born on August 12, 1891 to Lyman and Olive Buchanan

OCTOBER CALENDAR

Votaw, Howard Russell was the youngest of three children. Raised in the small town of Neoga, Illinois, his parents operated a profitable furniture business and were active in local affairs, including the Neoga Presbyterian Church. After graduating in a class of 9 from Neoga High School in 1908, Howard attended Park College in Parkville, Missouri, graduating in 1912. After OCTOBER 2020, VOLUME 2

13th: 245th Birthday of the U.S. Navy 15th: USS Cassin v. U-61 24th: Vittorio-Vento Campaign begins

PAGE 1

The Destroyer USS Cassin

BY TIMOTHY WESTCOTT, PH.D.

The previous six months had brought land victories at Lexington, Concord, Boston, Fort Ticonderoga, and Bunker Hill. The Continental Army had proven its might, but there were no similar sea victories. The Second Continental Congress, meeting at the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall), in Philadelphia, had earlier in the fall of 1775 appointed a committee to arrange a strategy for stopping vessels departing ports with stores and ammunition. Following debate, on 13 October, the Congress,

Resolved, That a swift sailing vessel, to carry ten carriage guns, and a proportionable number of swivels, with eighty me, be fitted, with all possible dispatch, for a cruise of three months, and that the commander be instructed to cruise eastward, for intercepting such transports as may be laden with warlike stores and other supplies for our enemies, and for such other purposes as the Congress shall direct.

Thus, was born the Continental Navy. However, the notion of continuing a permanent navy only lasted until August 1785, when the Congress of the Confederation sold the sole remaining ship. Nearly a decade later, with the passage of the Naval Act of 1794, was the current U.S. Navy established with the construction of six heavy frigates.

Furthermore, not until 1972, under the leadership of Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, then Chief of Naval Operations, was the U.S. Navy authorized to celebrate its birthday on 13 October, coinciding with the resolution of the Second Continental Congress. Happy 245th birthday to our U.S. Navy veterans and active duty sailors!

Commemorating the U.S. Navy’s birthday, provides an opportunity to feature the first U.S. naval victory in the Great War. Following the Congressional declaration of war in April 1917, the USS Cassin (DD-43) was deployed to Queenstown, Ireland, to escort American troop convoys to ports in England and France. During routine escort service south of Mine Head Lighthouse, Monagoush, Ireland, on Monday, 15 October 1917, crew members sighted the German submarine U-61 and pursued the submarine. Early that afternoon, a torpedo struck the port stern of the Cassin .

Standing on the port stern, Gunner’s Mate First Class Osmond Kelly Ingram (1887-1917) [pictured on page 1] ran to the location that the Cassin stored her depth charges and began hurling them overboard. The torpedo struck above the waterline, igniting the depth charges, and flung Ingram overboard, killing him. The explosion injured nine other sailors, but no others were killed. Though Cassin’s rudder had been blown off and stern extensively damaged, she circled. Approximately an hour after being struck, the Cassin’s crew fired four rounds at U-61’s conning tower, which discouraged her from further engagement.

Ingram was born in Oneonta, Alabama, and had served in the U.S. Navy just short of ten years when he became the Navy’s first enlisted sailor killed in World War I. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor. In 1919, the USS Osmond Ingram (DD-255) was named after him, representing the first Navy ship to be named for an enlisted

sailor. He is buried at sea.

OCTOBER 2020, VOLUME 2

PAGE 2

Vittorio-Vento Campaign

Adopt-A-Book Program

BY JOSHUA WESTON

BY TIMOTHY WESTCOTT, PH.D.

On 24 October 1917, the Kingdom of Italy and the Central Powers clashed in northeastern Italy at the battle of Caporetto, resulting in a decisive Central Power victory and a loss to the Italian army of 300,000 men. To regain morale, strengthen its units, and serve as proof of an American-Italian cooperation in the war effort, the Italian Ministry of War made a request to General John J. Pershing to send American troops to the Italian front. Pershing complied, and sent the 332nd Infantry Regiment, 82nd Division; upon arrival in France, the regiment learned they would not be fighting on the Western Front, but would be assigned to the Italian 31st Division. Their first task came in early October of 1918 in staging a series of marches designed to deceive.

Researching the lives of servicemembers, military

Each battalion, with different articles of clothing and equipment, would leave the city during daylight to be seen

by Italian and Austro-Hungarian forces; they would then circle back, mostly at night, to pull off similar movements the next day. The appearance of a much larger unit quickly frightened the Austro-Hungarian forces and had begun reviving the much-needed morale in the Italian forces.

On 24 October 1918, the Italian Vittorio-Veneto offensive had begun, and the 332nd Infantry, with the Italian 31st Division, stayed in reserve. The initial attack intended to attract Austrian reserves across the Piave River; although the Italians had a marked advantage in artillery, crossing the flooded river prevented two of the three central armies from advancing in unison, and the attack began to show signs of stalling.

After serving only three months in Italy, the 332nd saw its only action in the final hours, however, was able to take part in the last decisive movement, a sign of the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

After the signing of the Armistice in November, the 332nd Infantry remained in Italy until 3 April 1919 when the regiment embarked for the United States.

unit histories, official government publications, and general World War I history encompasses the necessity of past and present scholarship. The Robb Centre Team invites our friends and supporters to consider donating needed resources through our “Adopt-A-Book Program.”

We have calculated that the average resource cost is $50.

Donors will be recognized by a special designed book plaque placed inside the front cover.

Certain selections purchased will be featured on the Robb Centre Facebook page and Twitter account. A monthly display of selections will be exhibited in the Robb Centre and listed in forthcoming Robb Centre News newsletters and the Valor Magazines.

Donations may be completed online at http://advancing.park.edu/valormedals. Please note in the “Leave a comment” box Adopt-aBook. The Robb Centre Team greatly appreciates your support.

Recent purchases: Edward G. Lengel. To Conquer Hell: The Meuse-Argonne, 1918 .

Edmon Taylor. The Fall of the Dynasties: The Collapse of the Old Order: 1905-1922 .

Margaret MacMillan. The Road to 1914: The War that Ended Peace .

David Reynolds. The Long Shadow: The Legacies of the Great War in the Twentieth Century .

OCTOBER 2020, VOLUME 2

PAGE 3

Centre Updates

BY ASHLYN WEBER AND JOSHUA WESTON

Sponsorship Opportunities

Though COVID-19 has affected not only our research

Research Investors

operation, but vital historical societies and collections

The George S. Robb Centre for the Study of the Great War

across the country, the Robb Centre's attention has

invites research investors to join the Valor Medals Review

been steadfastly focused on finding and developing the

effort to properly recognize our servicemembers. The

narratives of our Valor Medals Review servicemembers.

research is supported by legislation (S. 1281/H.R. 2249)

With so much information available from research teams decades before us, it is startling that the stories

signed within the National Defense Authorization Act on December 20, 2019,

of minority veterans and their service have gone unfound, unappreciated, or truly unrecognized for so long. The country has taken leaps and strides none of our servicemembers could have or ever will be able to anticipate, yet in many ways, has not changed at all. At the end of this National Hispanic Heritage Month, and looking forward to November's National Native American Heritage Month, the Robb Centre is, and will continue to remain, incredibly proud of our veterans who assuredly moved aside the barriers that had historically been imposed on them.

To discuss investing in the project, please contact: Over the past month, copious amount of research and

Nathan Marticke, Chief Advancement Officer

notes on the Army’s 93rd Infantry Division have been

Park University - 816-584-6844 -

summarized into several hundreds pages, providing

nathan.marticke@park.edu.

access to information to individual servicemembers. A

Give Today! http://advancing.park.edu/valormedals

similar endeavor is underway related to the Army's 92nd

(No federal appropriations are funding the project)

Infantry Drivision.. After concluding the research on the 92nd Division, our military research of African American

Strategic Partners

servicemembers will be complete.

Partners are critical to advancing the mission of the Valor Medals Review. Endorsements, research support or other

Park University Senior Tanner Weiser joined the Robb

non-financial support of the successful completion of the

Centre staff this fall to work on the Park College Alumni

Valor Medals Review is invited.

Killed in Action collection with the University’s To discuss becoming a strategic partner, please contact:

Fishburn Archives.

Dr. Timothy Westcott, Director Park Hill Professional Studies student Isabella Tasset

George S. Robb Centre for the Study of the Great War,

joined the Robb Centre staff this fall to assist with the

Park University - 816-885-2345 - tim.westcott@park.edu

Valor Medals Review Project.

Centre Staff

Visit Us

Dr. Timothy Westcott Director Email: tim.westcott@park.edu

Website: https://gsr.park.edu

Ms. Ashlyn Weber Associate Director Mr. Joshua Weston Senior Military Analyst

Facebook: George S.Robb Centree for the Study of the Great War LinkedIn: George S Robb Centre at Park University YouTube Channel: George S Robb Centre Twitter: @CentreRobb

OCTOBER 2020, VOLUME 2

PAGE 4