An Evansville soldier will finally be recognized for his sacrifice nearly a century ago.
On a monument in northern France to the First Infantry Division soldiers killed in that unit’s final battle of World War One, there are eighty names.
Soon, there will be eighty one.
In the chaos that filled the final days of World War One, Evansville native Chester Schulz’ name was not recorded among those killed in fighting near the Belgian border. His family would not learn of his fate for four months.
Posey County resident Nancy Hasting discovered the omission in 2014 when she visited the First Infantry Division monument at Wadelincourt, near the town of Sedan in northern France. Hasting is the great niece of Chester Schulz.
She began communicating with the First Division Memorial Association, which is part of the Society of the First Infantry Division. That group maintains all the monuments in the U.S. and around the world that are dedicated to First Army Division soldiers killed in action since the unit was formed during World War One.
Hasting says, “I think all of my family would be proud to know that I’m pursuing getting him the recognition he deserved.”
Hasting learned this week that the First Division Memorial Association has accepted her claim that Chester Schulz’ name should be included on the First Division monument at Wadelincourt. They are arranging to have it added in advance of the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One in 2018.
WNIN will continue to follow the story of Chester Schulz and his mother Gertrude, who put Evansville in the national spotlight by organizing the first convention of the War Mothers of America during World War One.
