Contributed by Jett (#47754513):
WALTER A. BUCHHOLZ - Holland, MN - Private, 358th Infantry A.E.F.
Born in 1892 in Grange Township, Pipestone County, MN. He was drafted and enlisted as a Private in Company A, 358th Infantry. He was uneasy about going to war against the Germans, since his family were of German heritage. He hoped that he would not be sent to the front, as he might need to fight and kill old-country relatives.
Sure enough he was sent with his unit directly to the front and fighting in France. During the beginning of the St. Mihiel Offensive on September 26, 1918 Private Buchholz was caught in an artillery barrage and seriously wounded by metal shrapnel which cut through the back of his helmet and inflicted serious wounds into the back of his neck, his upper back and right shoulder.
As his unit moved on - he was left wounded and helpless on the battlefield, which was soon overrun by the enemy. At this time in the war the German Imperial Army was in desperate situation, and could hardly care for their own wounded and feed their soldiers. As a result some Germans were told by officers to kill wounded Americans they found alive. Luckily Private Buchholz was able to speak fluent German, and was able to tell the enemy who found him of his family. They seem to have had had mercy for him and took him as a prisoner of war. He was kept without any treatment for his wounds for over three months. He was finally released from captivity and reached a field hospital with infected wounds on November 21st, 1918. He spent the rest of the year in field hospitals in France. He was eventually transferred by hospital ship to Ft. Snelling, MN in January 1919, and honorably discharged in June 1919. Walter Buchholz returned to Holland, MN where he spent the rest of his life bearing the physical and mental scars of war along with several shrapnel fragments in his back.
WALTER A. BUCHHOLZ - Holland, MN - Private, 358th Infantry A.E.F.
Born in 1892 in Grange Township, Pipestone County, MN. He was drafted and enlisted as a Private in Company A, 358th Infantry. He was uneasy about going to war against the Germans, since his family were of German heritage. He hoped that he would not be sent to the front, as he might need to fight and kill old-country relatives.
Sure enough he was sent with his unit directly to the front and fighting in France. During the beginning of the St. Mihiel Offensive on September 26, 1918 Private Buchholz was caught in an artillery barrage and seriously wounded by metal shrapnel which cut through the back of his helmet and inflicted serious wounds into the back of his neck, his upper back and right shoulder.
As his unit moved on - he was left wounded and helpless on the battlefield, which was soon overrun by the enemy. At this time in the war the German Imperial Army was in desperate situation, and could hardly care for their own wounded and feed their soldiers. As a result some Germans were told by officers to kill wounded Americans they found alive. Luckily Private Buchholz was able to speak fluent German, and was able to tell the enemy who found him of his family. They seem to have had had mercy for him and took him as a prisoner of war. He was kept without any treatment for his wounds for over three months. He was finally released from captivity and reached a field hospital with infected wounds on November 21st, 1918. He spent the rest of the year in field hospitals in France. He was eventually transferred by hospital ship to Ft. Snelling, MN in January 1919, and honorably discharged in June 1919. Walter Buchholz returned to Holland, MN where he spent the rest of his life bearing the physical and mental scars of war along with several shrapnel fragments in his back.
Contributed by Jett (#47754513):
WALTER A. BUCHHOLZ - Holland, MN - Private, 358th Infantry A.E.F.
Born in 1892 in Grange Township, Pipestone County, MN. He was drafted and enlisted as a Private in Company A, 358th Infantry. He was uneasy about going to war against the Germans, since his family were of German heritage. He hoped that he would not be sent to the front, as he might need to fight and kill old-country relatives.
Sure enough he was sent with his unit directly to the front and fighting in France. During the beginning of the St. Mihiel Offensive on September 26, 1918 Private Buchholz was caught in an artillery barrage and seriously wounded by metal shrapnel which cut through the back of his helmet and inflicted serious wounds into the back of his neck, his upper back and right shoulder.
As his unit moved on - he was left wounded and helpless on the battlefield, which was soon overrun by the enemy. At this time in the war the German Imperial Army was in desperate situation, and could hardly care for their own wounded and feed their soldiers. As a result some Germans were told by officers to kill wounded Americans they found alive. Luckily Private Buchholz was able to speak fluent German, and was able to tell the enemy who found him of his family. They seem to have had had mercy for him and took him as a prisoner of war. He was kept without any treatment for his wounds for over three months. He was finally released from captivity and reached a field hospital with infected wounds on November 21st, 1918. He spent the rest of the year in field hospitals in France. He was eventually transferred by hospital ship to Ft. Snelling, MN in January 1919, and honorably discharged in June 1919. Walter Buchholz returned to Holland, MN where he spent the rest of his life bearing the physical and mental scars of war along with several shrapnel fragments in his back.
WALTER A. BUCHHOLZ - Holland, MN - Private, 358th Infantry A.E.F.
Born in 1892 in Grange Township, Pipestone County, MN. He was drafted and enlisted as a Private in Company A, 358th Infantry. He was uneasy about going to war against the Germans, since his family were of German heritage. He hoped that he would not be sent to the front, as he might need to fight and kill old-country relatives.
Sure enough he was sent with his unit directly to the front and fighting in France. During the beginning of the St. Mihiel Offensive on September 26, 1918 Private Buchholz was caught in an artillery barrage and seriously wounded by metal shrapnel which cut through the back of his helmet and inflicted serious wounds into the back of his neck, his upper back and right shoulder.
As his unit moved on - he was left wounded and helpless on the battlefield, which was soon overrun by the enemy. At this time in the war the German Imperial Army was in desperate situation, and could hardly care for their own wounded and feed their soldiers. As a result some Germans were told by officers to kill wounded Americans they found alive. Luckily Private Buchholz was able to speak fluent German, and was able to tell the enemy who found him of his family. They seem to have had had mercy for him and took him as a prisoner of war. He was kept without any treatment for his wounds for over three months. He was finally released from captivity and reached a field hospital with infected wounds on November 21st, 1918. He spent the rest of the year in field hospitals in France. He was eventually transferred by hospital ship to Ft. Snelling, MN in January 1919, and honorably discharged in June 1919. Walter Buchholz returned to Holland, MN where he spent the rest of his life bearing the physical and mental scars of war along with several shrapnel fragments in his back.
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