Corporal Grant E Van Gorder
Grant Edison Van Gorder was born on February 5th, 1896 in Weld, Colorado to William Van Gorder and Clara Backus. Grant attended a local high school, graduated, and was working comfortable, at least until 1917. Once the United States announced their involvement in World War One, Grant wasted no time in answering his country’s call to arms. On May 17th, 1917, Grant enlisted in the Marine Corps and completed boot camp in just a month and a half. On July 19th, Pvt Van Gorder was transferred to Barracks Detachment, San Diego, California and was quickly put on detached duty with their radio station for the next ten months. Finally, in May of 1918, he was promoted to Corporal and sent to 152nd Company of the same post to await overseas duty.
France
In August, he completed bayonet school in Quantico, Virginia, joined Co B, Overseas Depot, and left the United States aboard the USS Von Steuben bound for Brest, France. Arriving on the 27th, he settled in Pontanezen Barracks and finally joined the 55th Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment as a replacement on October 11th after their hard fighting in the Champagne Sector and Blanc Mont Ridge earlier in the month. Almost immediately, his company was thrown into the ongoing Meuse Argonne offensive, participating in the bitter fighting for Landres, St Georges, Heights of Bayonville, Foret de Jaulney, Busancy, Vaux, Foret de Limon, and operations along the Meuse River from late October until the Armistice was signed on November 11th, 1918, ending WW1 and Corporal Van Gorder’s short combat lineage.
Occupation Duty
However, the occupation of Germany lay ahead for his unit. The 55th Company began marching towards the Rhine River via Belgium and Luxembourg beginning on the 15th, crossing it on December 13th, and settling in Germany by January of 1919. For the next few months, Corporal Van Gorder moved around Germany in places such as Rossbach and Hartenfels to carry out occupation duties. In July, his company returned to Brest, left aboard the USS George Washington on the 25th for the United States, and arrived in Hoboken, New Jersey on August 3rd. Unfortunately, it is unknown when Corporal Van Gorder was discharged, but it was prior to the end of 1919.
Returning to civilian life, Grant returned to his home in Colorado and married Anna Stunkle in 1923. Later in life, he worked for The Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company, was a member of the American Legion Fresno Post No 4, the Las Palmas Masonic Lodge, and the Fresno Scottish Rite. Sadly, Grant passed away from a three week illness on January 29th, 1949 and is buried in Fresno, California where he resided for 25 years.
France
In August, he completed bayonet school in Quantico, Virginia, joined Co B, Overseas Depot, and left the United States aboard the USS Von Steuben bound for Brest, France. Arriving on the 27th, he settled in Pontanezen Barracks and finally joined the 55th Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment as a replacement on October 11th after their hard fighting in the Champagne Sector and Blanc Mont Ridge earlier in the month. Almost immediately, his company was thrown into the ongoing Meuse Argonne offensive, participating in the bitter fighting for Landres, St Georges, Heights of Bayonville, Foret de Jaulney, Busancy, Vaux, Foret de Limon, and operations along the Meuse River from late October until the Armistice was signed on November 11th, 1918, ending WW1 and Corporal Van Gorder’s short combat lineage.
Occupation Duty
However, the occupation of Germany lay ahead for his unit. The 55th Company began marching towards the Rhine River via Belgium and Luxembourg beginning on the 15th, crossing it on December 13th, and settling in Germany by January of 1919. For the next few months, Corporal Van Gorder moved around Germany in places such as Rossbach and Hartenfels to carry out occupation duties. In July, his company returned to Brest, left aboard the USS George Washington on the 25th for the United States, and arrived in Hoboken, New Jersey on August 3rd. Unfortunately, it is unknown when Corporal Van Gorder was discharged, but it was prior to the end of 1919.
Returning to civilian life, Grant returned to his home in Colorado and married Anna Stunkle in 1923. Later in life, he worked for The Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company, was a member of the American Legion Fresno Post No 4, the Las Palmas Masonic Lodge, and the Fresno Scottish Rite. Sadly, Grant passed away from a three week illness on January 29th, 1949 and is buried in Fresno, California where he resided for 25 years.