Milo Vanek was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He served in the Army in Hawaii at Schofield Barracks. After the war, he was a member of the Territorial War Memorial Commission.
Mrs. Ygloria
Mrs. Ygloria, wife of a pastor at Ewa, served as volunteer interpreter at the Y.W.C.A. hostess house set up across from Fort Armstrong, where Hawaii’s National Guard was being mobilized in 1918.
Mrs. W. F. Frear, president of the Y. W. C. A., explained how the inspiration for the hostess houses came from a visit to Fort Armstrong, “Scores of Filipino women, distracted and disconsolate over the departure of their men, crouched with their babies and paper bags of provisions in the tall weeds, peering through the cracks in the fence, awaiting the leisure of their new-made soldiers.”
The hostess houses and volunteers like Mrs. Ygloria gave comfort and support to the families dealing with the departures of their sons and husbands.
Miss Etta B. Agee
Miss Etta B. Agee was a volunteer hostess at the Y.W.C.A. hostess house set up across from Fort Armstrong, where Hawaii’s National Guard was being mobilized in 1918.
Mrs. W. F. Frear, president of the Y. W. C. A., explained how the inspiration for the hostess houses came from a visit to Fort Armstrong, “Scores of Filipino women, distracted and disconsolate over the departure of their men, crouched with their babies and paper bags of provisions in the tall weeds, peering through the cracks in the fence, awaiting the leisure of their new-made soldiers.”
The hostess houses and volunteers like Etta Agee gave comfort and support to the families dealing with the departures of their sons and husbands.
Miss Alice Hastings
DEPARTMENT OF CIVILIAN RELIEF cared for families in Hawaii made destitute by losses in the war.
Miss Alice Hastings became territorial secretary in October, 1919, and upon the resignation of Judge Whitney, she was made director of civilian relief. (Page 161, Kuykendall)
Gideon Potter
By Jill Byus Radke
Gideon Potter was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on August 18, 1897 to Alexander and Margaret Potter. Alexander Potter moved his family to Hawaii around 1901. Initially, Alexander worked as a gardener on a pineapple plantation in the ewa district. By 1920, he was a gardener at Moanalua Gardens working for SM Damon.
Gideon and his brother, Albert, attended Honolulu School for Boys where Gideon portrayed “Nadir, a Solider” in the 1913 school production of “The Amulet.” Gideon was also one of four boys at Honolulu School for Boys to be “prefects” with special privileges, according to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
Gideon enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary forces on November 21, 1916. At that time, he listed his occupation as an “accountant.”
He was part of the 72nd Battalion, B.C. Regiment, as a private when he was killed in an attack south of Passchendaele on October 30, 1917.
Here’s a little excerpt about the battle and the day he was killed (from “Canada at War”):
October 30, 1917: The exhausted soldiers of both Divisions are replaced with fresh battalions and the battle continues. The 3rd Division, now hanging on in shell holes, is given the formidable task of capturing the remaining length of Bellevue Spur. The battalions spread into three groups for a full frontal attack, but heavy German opposition and artillery fire crush their efforts. Individual feats of bravery again save the day, and they manage to capture two major German defences at Source and Vapour Farms. Again the 3rd Division is short of its objective, but it secures additional ground and is now on drier land. Heavy losses are suffered in this attack, particularly by Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) and the 49th Battalion.
The 4th Division also launches a three-pronged attack from the stronghold it had established partway up Passchendaele Ridge. They have great difficulty determining where they are to attack: All landmarks shown on reference maps had been obliterated; roads, trees and most buildings were reduced to dust. Nonetheless, the attack goes according to plan. Although suffering heavy casualties, they capture a series of fortified buildings – Vienna Cottages and Crest Farm – both near Passchendaele.
Another statement about that regiment from its history:
The battle of Passchendaele saw the Regiment advance, before dawn, up a gully waist deep in mud in the pouring rain to capture its objective – which British generals had assessed as requiring a full Division of 15,000 soldiers.
When the veterans returned to Vancouver they brought with them sixteen battle honours. This recognition of courage did nothing to dispel the fact that, of the 3,791 officers and men who served as Seaforths during the war, 2,515 of them became casualties.
Read more about them..
Gideon Potter is buried at Passchendeck Ridge. His burial record says, “Actual grave unknown. A memorial is erected in his honor.”
Edward Canfield Fuller
Edward Canfield Fuller, born September 4, 1893, was an officer in the United States Marine Corps and the son of Major General Ben Hebard Fuller (Commandant of the United States Marine Corps from 1930 to 1934). Born in Hamilton, Virginia, Fuller was a member of the U.S. Naval Academy class of 1916 and was commissioned in the Marine Corps after graduating. Captain Fuller was killed in action with the 6th Marines in the Battle of Belleau Wood, France on June 12, 1918. For “fearlessly exposing himself in an artillery barrage in order to get his men into a safer position,” he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by the U.S. Army.
The USS Fuller (DD-297), launched December 5, 1918, was named after Edward Canfield Fuller.
“The memory of certain officers and men of the Navy and Marine Corps who made the supreme sacrifice in the war will be preserved in the named of new naval vessels. Destroyers have been named for the following who lost their lives in service against the enemy: In memory of Capt. Edward C. Fuller, U. S. Marine Corps, who was killed while fighting gallantly In the Boise de Belleau.”
Source: Brooklyn Daily Eagle Almanac, American Almanac Collection (Library of Congress), v. 34, 1919
Edward Fuller is one of the men and women honored by the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium. He is also one of those listed on a special plaque near the entrance to the memorial honoring the 101 sons of Hawaii who died in the war.
Photo above is courtesy of the USNA Lucky Bag.
Officers at Camp Fremont
Former Hawaii National Guard Officers at Camp Fremont, California, August 17, 1918. Sitting (from left): Capt. Wm Hampton, Major S.L. Johnson, Captain Lewis Abshire Standing l to r: Lts. L.T. Lyman, R.D. King, A.C. Betts, W.A. Anderson, E.S. Cushingham, Harry Brown, H.P. O'Sullivan, O.W. Gibson (US-PD, Territory of Hawaii, Historical Commission)
Henry C. Hodges
MG Henry C. Hodges
MG Henry C. Hodges, US Army Photo
MG Henry C. Hodges commanded the 39th Infantry Division, 1918-1919. He also commanded the Hawaiian Department from March-May of 1919.
Duke Kahanamoku
Duke Kahanamoku
Duke Kahanamoku's WWI Draft Record, Courtesy of the National Archives
Mrs. Hoapili
Mrs. Hoapili was a representative of Kaumakapili Church to the Women’s Work Council.
Source: Hawaii in the World War, page 272.
Mrs. A. B. Ingalls
Mrs. A.B. Iola B. Ingalls
The war effort on the home front took many forms beyond shore defenses and bootcamps. Support also came in the form of fundraising, volunteering and producing the goods needed to feed the troops and fight in the war.
In October 1916, Mrs. A. B. Ingalls gave a benefit recital which netted $170 for French War Orphans (approximately $3480 in 2010 dollars).
She is one of approximately 10,000 men and women of Hawaii who served in the Great War.
John Kana
John Kana
Was a cook in the U.S. Navy. He died on January 15, 1920 in Hull, England.
John Kana is honored on the plaque outside the War Memorial Natatorium for giving his life in service of his country.
Thomas P. Williams
Thomas P. Williams
Date and place of death not known at this time
Other Information:
Listed on the plaque outside the War Memorial Natatorium for giving his life in the Great War.
World War I in Hawaii 