Sergeant Henry P Stroh
Henry Philip Stroh was born on February 22nd, 1884 in Nassau, New York to Philip and Marge Stroh, both German immigrants. His family, including a brother and sister, moved to Jamaica, New York, where Henry attended and completed Jamaica High School. Afterward, he began studying pharmaceuticals at Columbia University, but sadly did not complete the course. With World War One raging abroad and the United States’ recent entry into the conflict in April of 1917, Henry took up the call and enlisted in the New York National Guard on September 27th, 1917 and was assigned to Company D, 23rd New York Infantry.
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World War One
Only a few days later, the 23rd Infantry was redesignated as the 106th Infantry Regiment and federalized for future overseas service with the 27th Infantry Division. Now located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Pvt Stroh and the regiment began extensive training for the next seven months, during which Stroh was promoted to Corporal, before getting transported to New Jersey, boarding the President Lincoln, and leaving the United States on May 10th, 1918. The regiment landed in Brest, France a few weeks later, and after being issued steel helmets and gas masks, arrived at the front line on June 25th and relieved elements of the British 6th Division along the East Poperinghe Line in Belgium. By early July, Corporal Stroh and the 106th Infantry moved to the Dickebush and Scherpenberg Sectors where they conducted reconnaissance missions on enemy lines for the Ypres Lys Offensive which kicked off on August 19th, but the 106th Infantry only participated in the closing three days where they thankfully saw minimal action. Their next action, the Somme Offensive, would not render them as lucky.
Prisoner of War
The 27th Infantry Division was ordered to assault and break the Hindenburg Line, with orders for the attack to begin at 5:30 AM on September 27th. As the 106th Infantry surged forward and into the open, well entrenched German machine gunners laid deadly fire across the advance and caused heavy casualties. Sergeant Stroh was shot three times in the arm and shoulder and lay alone in a shell hole until around 11:30 AM, when German soldiers discovered him. “He was taken to a dug out and put through the third degree for the benefit of his captors…and then all of his clothes were taken save a shirt, pair of pants, blouse and wooden shoes. He was shoved on from day to day towards Berlin…” and finally arrived at Kriegsgefangenen Hospital “which was actually a stable. He was fed chiefly on soup, which consisted of little but hot water. His wounds received scanty attention, and he spent part of the time in a dungeon.” Thankfully for Stroh, the war ended not long after his journey, on November 11th, 1918, and eventually he was repatriated to US control and returned to his unit on December 14th, 1918. During captivity, he had lost 60 pounds. Sgt Stroh remained overseas for the occupation of Germany until leaving aboard the Great Northern on February 23rd, 1919 and arrived back in the United States the next month. Finally, he was discharged from the army on March 13th and returned home to the relief of his family, who were not completely sure of his whereabouts. When asked about his experiences, Henry closed with “I have certainly seen enough of war to last the rest of my life.” Settling back into civilian life, Henry married Elvina Newton in 1925 and eventually worked at the US Veterans Administration in Northport, New York for many years. He eventually passed away on February 9th, 1949 and is buried in New York where he resided his entire life.
Only a few days later, the 23rd Infantry was redesignated as the 106th Infantry Regiment and federalized for future overseas service with the 27th Infantry Division. Now located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Pvt Stroh and the regiment began extensive training for the next seven months, during which Stroh was promoted to Corporal, before getting transported to New Jersey, boarding the President Lincoln, and leaving the United States on May 10th, 1918. The regiment landed in Brest, France a few weeks later, and after being issued steel helmets and gas masks, arrived at the front line on June 25th and relieved elements of the British 6th Division along the East Poperinghe Line in Belgium. By early July, Corporal Stroh and the 106th Infantry moved to the Dickebush and Scherpenberg Sectors where they conducted reconnaissance missions on enemy lines for the Ypres Lys Offensive which kicked off on August 19th, but the 106th Infantry only participated in the closing three days where they thankfully saw minimal action. Their next action, the Somme Offensive, would not render them as lucky.
Prisoner of War
The 27th Infantry Division was ordered to assault and break the Hindenburg Line, with orders for the attack to begin at 5:30 AM on September 27th. As the 106th Infantry surged forward and into the open, well entrenched German machine gunners laid deadly fire across the advance and caused heavy casualties. Sergeant Stroh was shot three times in the arm and shoulder and lay alone in a shell hole until around 11:30 AM, when German soldiers discovered him. “He was taken to a dug out and put through the third degree for the benefit of his captors…and then all of his clothes were taken save a shirt, pair of pants, blouse and wooden shoes. He was shoved on from day to day towards Berlin…” and finally arrived at Kriegsgefangenen Hospital “which was actually a stable. He was fed chiefly on soup, which consisted of little but hot water. His wounds received scanty attention, and he spent part of the time in a dungeon.” Thankfully for Stroh, the war ended not long after his journey, on November 11th, 1918, and eventually he was repatriated to US control and returned to his unit on December 14th, 1918. During captivity, he had lost 60 pounds. Sgt Stroh remained overseas for the occupation of Germany until leaving aboard the Great Northern on February 23rd, 1919 and arrived back in the United States the next month. Finally, he was discharged from the army on March 13th and returned home to the relief of his family, who were not completely sure of his whereabouts. When asked about his experiences, Henry closed with “I have certainly seen enough of war to last the rest of my life.” Settling back into civilian life, Henry married Elvina Newton in 1925 and eventually worked at the US Veterans Administration in Northport, New York for many years. He eventually passed away on February 9th, 1949 and is buried in New York where he resided his entire life.