cr ft m sonry - Onondaga and Oswego Masonic District Historical ...

from the Boxers routed the French, the attack being made from behind a well fortified wall 40 x 30 feet. The fighting was intense
during the entire day with 554 casualties in their own outfit.
With ammunition running desperately short, Colonel (Emerson H.) Liscomb (aka Liscumb) called for volunteers to secure the
necessary shells from the dead and wounded. Klein was on of the four men who crawled forward through the deadly enfilade to
within 150 feet of the enemy’s entrenched position to secure seven cartridge belts. In distributing the ammunition to members of the
command, he had to cross a dyke of water about 30 feet wide. He became exhausted and all would have been lost had not a fellow
soldier pushed his gun toward his near prostrate hand and pulled him out. This act kindled the spark and the whole line of assailants
surged forward and carried the crest of the Chinese position. Colonel Liscomb’s last words before dying from wounds received in
this conflict were to recommend that the men who had volunteered should be decorated. Klein was a member of the Home Guard
that accompanied the Colonel’s remains to the port where he was placed aboard a gunboat for the United States. Klein thereafter
received the Distinguished Service Cross and was admitted to membership in the Legion of Valor on 5 Dec 1936.
http://www.homeofheroes.com/valor/1_Citations/00_dsc-prewwi/dsc_03china.html
Also awarded Distinguished Service Crosses for the 13 Jul action at Tientsin were:
ABBOTT, GEORGE F., Corporal, U.S. Army, Company G, 9th Infantry, for distinguished gallantry in action. Home: Worcester, MA
DAVIS, ALBERT, Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company B, 9th Infantry, for distinguished service in the battle. Home Town: Whitehall, MI
FRAZIER, JOSEPH, First Lieutenant, U. S. Army, 9th Infantry, for extraordinary heroism in action. Lieutenant Frazier displayed
conspicuous gallantry and absolute disregard of personal safety in rescuing, under a terrific enemy fire, the colonel (Emerson H.
Liscomb) of his regiment, who had fallen mortally wounded. Home Town: Grand Center, MO
WALDRON, WILLIAM H., Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 9th Infantry, for extraordinary heroism in action, in rescuing while under a
heavy fire three of his men from drowning, all of whom fully accoutered had fallen into a deep ditch, when Lieutenant Waldron also fully
accoutered, jumped in and saved them. Home Town: Welch, WV.
After Peking fell on 4 Aug 1900 to foreign powers, the 9th Regiment was assigned to the island of Samar in the Philippines. Klein
again brushed death while swimming on a sand bar at Catabolong in the changing tide. His personal life is studded with similar
close disasters – nearly drowning in the Erie Canal at the age of twelve; in a coma ten days with a fractured skull following a bicycle
fall; six major operation, including a spinal cord tumor; encephalitis and pneumonia following influenza in 1922 for a period of ten
weeks.
With all of this, Bro. Klein outlived his three doctor and celebrated his eighty-eighth birthday on 7 Apr 1962, and his fifty-eighth
wedding anniversary in the same year.
1917:
World War I
28 May Purchase of a $1000 Liberty Bond.
01 Oct A committee was appointed to communicate with members serving in the armed forces.
Gold Masonic rings and traveling certificates were presented to our members attached to the 4th Ambulance Company: Arthur T.
Gwynn, Glenn R. Benson, A. S. Perry, I. B. Hale, I. C. Blint, D. S. Earll, J. Miller, and F. W. Swift.
Union Company No. 1919, K. of C. stated they were willing to be of assistance to any member of the Masonic Fraternity at any time,
have been officially designated by the War Department to work in conjunction with the Y.M.C.A.
25 Oct Communication was received from Grand Lodge requesting all lodges to aid in the contribution of $1,000.000 to the War
and Relief Fund. A committee was appointed.
12 Nov Syracuse Masonic lodges voted to purchase a suitable service flag on which stars were to be added.
28 Feb War Relief Fund $1000.
30 Mar Harold J. Reck was raised to Master Mason in short form by special dispensation due to his being called for immediate
action in the U. S. war service.
A list of honored members of this lodge who served with distinction in World War I was made. This included 67 brethren and their
branches of service in most instances. All were presented with engraved rings and traveling certificate.
1918:
01 Apr Carl C. Hayward was Passed and Raised in short form by special dispensation, being called to active duty.
20 May $75 in thrift stamps and $25 in War Savings were purchase.
27 May K. M. Prehn was presented with a Masonic ring and traveling certificate.
10 Jun A letter was forwarded from William H. Miers, Secretary of the Fraternal Society for new Jersey, stating that James Swift
was ill at the Base Hospital, Camp Dix, NJ.
15 Jun The First and Second Degrees were conferred on William H. Goetell in short form.
17 Jun Special Communication was held to confer the Master Mason Degree on William H. Goetell in short form.
01 Jul War Relief Fund: $1000. There is a list that was in existence naming the 444 members of Salt Springs Lodge who
contributed $5 to $25 to the Grand Lodge War Relief Fund.
22 Jul W. H. Kittel was called to service and passed to the Degree of Fellowcraft in short form. E. Klein, J. R. Price, and W. H.
Kittel then received the Third Degree.
12 Aug E. H. Hymes was given all the Degrees in short form.
12 Sep A letter was read from H. D. Snyder indicating he had reached France without mishap.
16 Sep Word was sent from A. C. Burchard announcing his safe arrival in France. Fred E. Samuels was appointed to correspond
with him.
23 Sep R. W. C. Joss reported he had seen Brother D. M. Prehn, U.S.N., and he was doing well.
07 Oct $1,000 donated to the Fourth Liberty Loan.
04 Nov H. D. Snyder wrote from France requesting letters.
Dispensation received from the Grand Master permitting acting upon application of C. G. Grieb, USA enlisted, age twenty, Company
A, S.A.T.C. stationed at Syracuse University. This was later cancelled (25 Nov 1918), following the armistice.
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