Gunnery Sergeant Albert H E Narr
Albert H E Narr was born on July 30th, 1892 in Germany. Very little is known about his life prior to immigrating to the United States in 1912. His first job would be as a servant for the Gerould family in Long Island, New York, before enlisting in the New York National Guard on June 25th, 1916 and being assigned to Company B, made up of Geneva men such as himself, which was part of the 3rd Infantry Regiment.
Mexican Border
Coincidentally, this was only 9 days after President Woodrow Wilson ordered the mobilization of the entire US National Guard as a response to the attack of Columbus, New Mexico, by the Mexican warlord Pancho Villa. The 3rd Infantry were one of those units called up for service, and left for the Brownsville, Texas area shortly after. Private Narr’s time at the border was spent patrolling and training for possible raids by Mexican bandits, but he also had the chance to experience life in an area vastly different from his town of Geneva back in New York.
WW1
After over a year without incident in Texas, Private Narr finally returned to New York, and shortly thereafter, the 3rd Infantry was redesignated as the 108th Infantry Regiment on October 1st, 1917 in preparation for service in the ongoing World War overseas. Training schedules now resumed with urgency, but only a month before the regiment shipped off to Europe, Private Narr was transferred to the 40th Infantry Regiment in April of 1918, and then the 78th Infantry Regiment on August 5th to continue stateside service. With the conclusion of WW1 on November 11th, Narr, now a Supply Sergeant, joined the 448th Reserve Labor Battalion on February 2nd, 1919, received a promotion to 1st Sergeant on April 22nd, and was discharged from the army on July 18th, 1919. Determined to continue serving his country, Narr rejoined his former unit, Company B, 3rd Infantry Regiment, and then immediately married his girlfriend Margaret Yorna on August 4th of the same year. After over five years in the National Guard, Narr accepted a 2nd Lieutenant commission on July 25th, 1921, and was the second in command of Geneva’s Company B until he resigned on February 1st, 1922.
WW2
In his early civilian life, Albert worked as a store mounter in a warehouse, but after working hard to purchase a home for his family, which now included a son and daughter, he switched occupations to become a carpenter. When the United States was dragged into their second world war on December 7th, 1941, there was a shortage of experienced servicemen in the armed forces, and Albert Narr was one of many former soldiers contacted by the government to once again help in the war effort. Narr took up the call and enlisted in the Marine Corps on March 12th, 1942, where he was given the rank of Sergeant and went through boot camp in Parris Island, South Carolina. Sergeant Narr was transferred to the Naval Ammunition Depot in Dover, New Jersey three months later to be closer to his family, and also to utilize his previous experience as a Supply Sergeant during World War One.
During 1943, Narr was promoted to Platoon Sergeant on March 1st, Gunnery Sergeant on September 4th, and there was no mention of an overseas deployment due to his age and specialty. His son on the other hand, was young, had just enlisted in the US Army in October of 1943, and went overseas during the next year. All Gunnery Sergeant Narr could do was carry on with his duties and hope his son would return home safely. On November 10th, 1944, Narr was discharged from the USMC for the convenience of the government and returned to his wife and daughter now residing in Long Island, New York. His son, Corporal Albert J Narr, returned home after the war’s end in early 1946 to their relief, ironically seeing combat before his father. Albert Narr Sr continued to reside in New York, retiring in 1956 and living a long life until his death on January 26th, 1979. He is buried in the Long Island National Cemetery.
Mexican Border
Coincidentally, this was only 9 days after President Woodrow Wilson ordered the mobilization of the entire US National Guard as a response to the attack of Columbus, New Mexico, by the Mexican warlord Pancho Villa. The 3rd Infantry were one of those units called up for service, and left for the Brownsville, Texas area shortly after. Private Narr’s time at the border was spent patrolling and training for possible raids by Mexican bandits, but he also had the chance to experience life in an area vastly different from his town of Geneva back in New York.
WW1
After over a year without incident in Texas, Private Narr finally returned to New York, and shortly thereafter, the 3rd Infantry was redesignated as the 108th Infantry Regiment on October 1st, 1917 in preparation for service in the ongoing World War overseas. Training schedules now resumed with urgency, but only a month before the regiment shipped off to Europe, Private Narr was transferred to the 40th Infantry Regiment in April of 1918, and then the 78th Infantry Regiment on August 5th to continue stateside service. With the conclusion of WW1 on November 11th, Narr, now a Supply Sergeant, joined the 448th Reserve Labor Battalion on February 2nd, 1919, received a promotion to 1st Sergeant on April 22nd, and was discharged from the army on July 18th, 1919. Determined to continue serving his country, Narr rejoined his former unit, Company B, 3rd Infantry Regiment, and then immediately married his girlfriend Margaret Yorna on August 4th of the same year. After over five years in the National Guard, Narr accepted a 2nd Lieutenant commission on July 25th, 1921, and was the second in command of Geneva’s Company B until he resigned on February 1st, 1922.
WW2
In his early civilian life, Albert worked as a store mounter in a warehouse, but after working hard to purchase a home for his family, which now included a son and daughter, he switched occupations to become a carpenter. When the United States was dragged into their second world war on December 7th, 1941, there was a shortage of experienced servicemen in the armed forces, and Albert Narr was one of many former soldiers contacted by the government to once again help in the war effort. Narr took up the call and enlisted in the Marine Corps on March 12th, 1942, where he was given the rank of Sergeant and went through boot camp in Parris Island, South Carolina. Sergeant Narr was transferred to the Naval Ammunition Depot in Dover, New Jersey three months later to be closer to his family, and also to utilize his previous experience as a Supply Sergeant during World War One.
During 1943, Narr was promoted to Platoon Sergeant on March 1st, Gunnery Sergeant on September 4th, and there was no mention of an overseas deployment due to his age and specialty. His son on the other hand, was young, had just enlisted in the US Army in October of 1943, and went overseas during the next year. All Gunnery Sergeant Narr could do was carry on with his duties and hope his son would return home safely. On November 10th, 1944, Narr was discharged from the USMC for the convenience of the government and returned to his wife and daughter now residing in Long Island, New York. His son, Corporal Albert J Narr, returned home after the war’s end in early 1946 to their relief, ironically seeing combat before his father. Albert Narr Sr continued to reside in New York, retiring in 1956 and living a long life until his death on January 26th, 1979. He is buried in the Long Island National Cemetery.