Post 64 Offers To Copy Files Free Of Charge For Families of Middleboro WW1 Veterans

Middleboro Gazette, July 23,2015:
........ By Bob Lessard, Historian, Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64, American Legion

........Before and during World War 1, Middleboro’s business community and supported by the citizens, established a group called the Commercial Club, which was “organized to look after the welfare of all Middleboro men in the armed forces of the United States.”

.........Portions of a letter sent to every soldier and sailor stated: “We want you to know that your town is behind you, and is proud of its representatives in the army and navy….” It continued,…“we propose to do all we can to add to your personal comfort and contentment while you are in the service, and if necessary, afterwards.”

.........“Drop us a line on receipt of this letter, to tell us if I was correctly addressed, and fill out and return the card which we sent you herewith. As we intend to maintain a sort of information bureau here at home….,” the letter said.

.........Also, the Middleboro Commercial Club told the recipient military man that “a package of things to eat and smoke were mailed. And, that the local ladies of the Red Cross were also sending a package. The letter concluded with this remark, “….your town is following your career with much interest, and with the best wishes for your health and happiness.”

.........The letter was sent on behalf of the Commercial Club by Fred N. Whitman, George E. Doane, Theodore N. Wood, James H. Kennedy and James H. Creedon, who was Postmaster for the town of Middleboro.

.........When Post 64 moved headquarters from South Main Street several years ago, a file cabinet was opened which contained hundreds of the Commercial Club soldier index cards. Plus, there were many reply thank you letters from the Middleboro servicemen. Most of the letters had been written and mailed during 1917 and 1918. It is evident that the Commercial Cub members entrusted for safe keeping all the material to the Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 American Legion membership.

.........One of those, who filled out a reply card was Private John Glass, Jr., assigned to Company D, 101st U.S. Infantry, (A.E.F.) American Expeditionary Forces. Private Glass sent a letter home to Postmaster James Creedon dated December 25th, 1017. The letter, most likely from France, was read and censored by the military before processed for mailing.

.........Handwritten in ink the letter reads:

.........“Dear Jim, Had a very enjoyable Xmas received many packages from my Middleboro friends. Every boy received the box from the Commercial Club and we were much pleased with it. For dinner we had roast turkey with all the fixings, cranberry sauce, figs, apples and nuts, also bread and coffee.”

.........“The first thing we done everybody went to church at 7:15. When we got back our packages were waiting for us on our bunks. In the afternoon six sacks of first class mail came and every man got either a card or a letter. That is the first thing we think of when we come in from drill, is mail from home,” he wrote.

..........Adding, “Say Jim, this is a great country, the weather now being very cold with the air full of snow most every day. It is a picturesque sight the houses are very old fashion with red slate roofs. Most of the roads are great for trucking especially the roads which lead to the mountain sections. On each side of the road trees stand the same distance apart on both sides.”

..........Glass also wrote, “I met Edward Kruas over here about two weeks ago. He says he likes the army was much surprised to meet him. Well Jim guess I will close hoping to hear from you also any of my other friends, I remain your friend, Jack.”

..........Private John F. Glass, Jr., was born on October 5, 1897 in Middleboro. (Editor’s note: John F. Glass, for some reason, added “Jr.” to his name in most correspondence.) He was the son of John J. and Helen Agnes (Reardon) Glass. Prior to the service he was a shoemaker with the George E. Keith Company, Walkover shoes. His picture, the only one known, is in a company brochure dedicated to employees who served in World War 1.

.........He enlisted in Massachusetts National Guard at Plymouth on June 23, 1916, where he was assigned to the 5th Infantry. He saw service on the Mexican border. He was called to active duty on July 25, 1917. He was mustered in on August 8, 1917 and transferred to Company D, 101st Infantry, 26th Division. He shipped overseas on September 7, 1917.

.........Glass was said to have been wounded on August 28, 1918. He was Killed In Action on October 26, 1918. Private Peter Letourneau in a letter home said, “John Glass was killed by a German explosive bullet hitting him in the head.” Letourneau reported that he was only but 50 feet away when this happened.

.........A notification of his death from the war department was received by his father at his home on West Street.

.........His body was never returned home. He is buried in the Meuse- Argonne American Cemetery in Romagne, France. His headstone is engraved John F. Glass, Jr. Private First Class, U.S. Army, 101st Infantry Regiment, 26th Division. He is buried in Plot G, Row 11, Grave 8.

.........On May 30, 1929, as part of the Memorial Day Services, Everett Square was dedicated to John F. Glass, Jr. There is a plaque in the square in his honor. On the same date, Town House Avenue in front of Town Hall, was re-named Nickerson Avenue in honor of Sergeant Simeon L. Nickerson for whom Post 64 American Legion is named.

......... Middleboro’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2188 is named in his memory.

.........There are 415 names of WW1 Middleboro veterans listed on the wooden tablets displayed in the lobby of town hall. Post 64 Commander Don Triner is offering to relatives of those veterans to have copies made of any of the Commercial Club material on file. There are several hundred cards on file and many letters from the 1917-1918 era.

......... Family members interested in obtaining copies from the files are asked to send a request letter to American Legion Post 64, PO Box 135, Middleboro, Ma 02346-0135. No phone calls please. Identify the WW1 serviceman and his relation to your family and a contact phone number. Copies will be made free of charge if there is information available on the individual requested.