Intelligence officer
112th Infantry, 28th Division
This soldier was returned to the U.S. in Sept. 1921 and buried here.
ABEL, LOUIS RAYMOND (1881-1918). Lieutenant and intelligence officer, 112th Infantry, 28th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, United States Army. A Brooklynite by birth and an electrical engineer by trade, Abel applied for a passport in 1905 on which he stated that he would return to the United States in about three years. A resident of Lebanon, Connecticut, he described himself as 5′ 10½" tall with gray eyes, brown hair, Roman nose, broad forehead, light complexion and oval face. He was an electrical engineer in the contracting business living in Brooklyn at the time of the 1910 census; his house on 86th Street was mortgaged. According to his great-grand-daughter, his electric contracting business took him to many cities in the Northeast. His great-grand-daughter states that he was working in Boston for two years prior to his induction into the Army.
Abel enlisted at New York City and was sent abroad in May 1918. As per his Military Service Record for the State of Connecticut, he was married with one child and was affiliated with the Baptist religion. That document indicates that Abel had served with the 13th Regiment, Heavy Artillery National Guard in Brooklyn, was a Freemason and was employed as an electrical engineer. During World War I, he was a first lieutenant and intelligence officer with responsibility for reconnaissance behind German lines. He wrote this letter to his brother on September 14, 1918, thirteen days before his death.
My dear brother Eugene,
As the war goes on and as I come out of each engagement still alive, I think often of those at home and wonder if I will ever see them again.
You all are in my thoughts continually when I have time to think of other things besides the continual shellfire and fighting.
You may readily believe brother of mine that we think of nothing but shells, gas, and bullets and bayonets when we are in action and when a man says differently you can believe he has never been under fire. All one thinks of is where the next shell is going to land.
It gives one a great feeling of comfort to know that there is a competent doctor near at hand and enough stretcher bearers and ambulances to carry one to the rear when hurt. I have been gased once and was ill for a short while but did not go out of action. I also got a scratch from a machine gun bullet but it is all O.K. now. Have been troubled with diarrhea for several weeks but am getting better. That is a common complaint here. So many dead bodies both horses and men and the doctors say the flys (sic) carry the germs to the food we eat. With the coming of cold weather the flys will disappear and we will be rid of this I am sure.
Many of our fine boys have gone never to return. And of my first Scout Platoon of 28 men I had 20 casualties and only 8 men were left after our advance at the Marne and I now have a new Platoon of 40 men and have lost a few of these.
My work takes me in front of the advance and the lines reconnoitering in the Boche lines for enemy positions. It is awe inspiring work especially in the darkness of night. The best times are the darkest nights when it is stormy.
I recently lay several hours with four men in a ditch partially submerged in water and mud while the Boche were all around me. I thought I was a gone goose that night.
My nerves have been sorely tried and many officers and men have lost out completely due to nervous strain making them useless.
I sincerely hope all is well with you and yours. Love to all and may the God who watches over us all bring us together again.
Lovingly your brother
Louis
Abel was killed in battle in Argonne, France, on September 27, 1918. His mother was notified of his death by telegram on November 3, 1918. His body was returned to the United States and he was interred on September 25, 1921. Section 141, lot 23506, grave N, Front Right Corner.
112th Infantry, 28th Division
This soldier was returned to the U.S. in Sept. 1921 and buried here.
ABEL, LOUIS RAYMOND (1881-1918). Lieutenant and intelligence officer, 112th Infantry, 28th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, United States Army. A Brooklynite by birth and an electrical engineer by trade, Abel applied for a passport in 1905 on which he stated that he would return to the United States in about three years. A resident of Lebanon, Connecticut, he described himself as 5′ 10½" tall with gray eyes, brown hair, Roman nose, broad forehead, light complexion and oval face. He was an electrical engineer in the contracting business living in Brooklyn at the time of the 1910 census; his house on 86th Street was mortgaged. According to his great-grand-daughter, his electric contracting business took him to many cities in the Northeast. His great-grand-daughter states that he was working in Boston for two years prior to his induction into the Army.
Abel enlisted at New York City and was sent abroad in May 1918. As per his Military Service Record for the State of Connecticut, he was married with one child and was affiliated with the Baptist religion. That document indicates that Abel had served with the 13th Regiment, Heavy Artillery National Guard in Brooklyn, was a Freemason and was employed as an electrical engineer. During World War I, he was a first lieutenant and intelligence officer with responsibility for reconnaissance behind German lines. He wrote this letter to his brother on September 14, 1918, thirteen days before his death.
My dear brother Eugene,
As the war goes on and as I come out of each engagement still alive, I think often of those at home and wonder if I will ever see them again.
You all are in my thoughts continually when I have time to think of other things besides the continual shellfire and fighting.
You may readily believe brother of mine that we think of nothing but shells, gas, and bullets and bayonets when we are in action and when a man says differently you can believe he has never been under fire. All one thinks of is where the next shell is going to land.
It gives one a great feeling of comfort to know that there is a competent doctor near at hand and enough stretcher bearers and ambulances to carry one to the rear when hurt. I have been gased once and was ill for a short while but did not go out of action. I also got a scratch from a machine gun bullet but it is all O.K. now. Have been troubled with diarrhea for several weeks but am getting better. That is a common complaint here. So many dead bodies both horses and men and the doctors say the flys (sic) carry the germs to the food we eat. With the coming of cold weather the flys will disappear and we will be rid of this I am sure.
Many of our fine boys have gone never to return. And of my first Scout Platoon of 28 men I had 20 casualties and only 8 men were left after our advance at the Marne and I now have a new Platoon of 40 men and have lost a few of these.
My work takes me in front of the advance and the lines reconnoitering in the Boche lines for enemy positions. It is awe inspiring work especially in the darkness of night. The best times are the darkest nights when it is stormy.
I recently lay several hours with four men in a ditch partially submerged in water and mud while the Boche were all around me. I thought I was a gone goose that night.
My nerves have been sorely tried and many officers and men have lost out completely due to nervous strain making them useless.
I sincerely hope all is well with you and yours. Love to all and may the God who watches over us all bring us together again.
Lovingly your brother
Louis
Abel was killed in battle in Argonne, France, on September 27, 1918. His mother was notified of his death by telegram on November 3, 1918. His body was returned to the United States and he was interred on September 25, 1921. Section 141, lot 23506, grave N, Front Right Corner.
Intelligence officer
112th Infantry, 28th Division
This soldier was returned to the U.S. in Sept. 1921 and buried here.
ABEL, LOUIS RAYMOND (1881-1918). Lieutenant and intelligence officer, 112th Infantry, 28th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, United States Army. A Brooklynite by birth and an electrical engineer by trade, Abel applied for a passport in 1905 on which he stated that he would return to the United States in about three years. A resident of Lebanon, Connecticut, he described himself as 5′ 10½" tall with gray eyes, brown hair, Roman nose, broad forehead, light complexion and oval face. He was an electrical engineer in the contracting business living in Brooklyn at the time of the 1910 census; his house on 86th Street was mortgaged. According to his great-grand-daughter, his electric contracting business took him to many cities in the Northeast. His great-grand-daughter states that he was working in Boston for two years prior to his induction into the Army.
Abel enlisted at New York City and was sent abroad in May 1918. As per his Military Service Record for the State of Connecticut, he was married with one child and was affiliated with the Baptist religion. That document indicates that Abel had served with the 13th Regiment, Heavy Artillery National Guard in Brooklyn, was a Freemason and was employed as an electrical engineer. During World War I, he was a first lieutenant and intelligence officer with responsibility for reconnaissance behind German lines. He wrote this letter to his brother on September 14, 1918, thirteen days before his death.
My dear brother Eugene,
As the war goes on and as I come out of each engagement still alive, I think often of those at home and wonder if I will ever see them again.
You all are in my thoughts continually when I have time to think of other things besides the continual shellfire and fighting.
You may readily believe brother of mine that we think of nothing but shells, gas, and bullets and bayonets when we are in action and when a man says differently you can believe he has never been under fire. All one thinks of is where the next shell is going to land.
It gives one a great feeling of comfort to know that there is a competent doctor near at hand and enough stretcher bearers and ambulances to carry one to the rear when hurt. I have been gased once and was ill for a short while but did not go out of action. I also got a scratch from a machine gun bullet but it is all O.K. now. Have been troubled with diarrhea for several weeks but am getting better. That is a common complaint here. So many dead bodies both horses and men and the doctors say the flys (sic) carry the germs to the food we eat. With the coming of cold weather the flys will disappear and we will be rid of this I am sure.
Many of our fine boys have gone never to return. And of my first Scout Platoon of 28 men I had 20 casualties and only 8 men were left after our advance at the Marne and I now have a new Platoon of 40 men and have lost a few of these.
My work takes me in front of the advance and the lines reconnoitering in the Boche lines for enemy positions. It is awe inspiring work especially in the darkness of night. The best times are the darkest nights when it is stormy.
I recently lay several hours with four men in a ditch partially submerged in water and mud while the Boche were all around me. I thought I was a gone goose that night.
My nerves have been sorely tried and many officers and men have lost out completely due to nervous strain making them useless.
I sincerely hope all is well with you and yours. Love to all and may the God who watches over us all bring us together again.
Lovingly your brother
Louis
Abel was killed in battle in Argonne, France, on September 27, 1918. His mother was notified of his death by telegram on November 3, 1918. His body was returned to the United States and he was interred on September 25, 1921. Section 141, lot 23506, grave N, Front Right Corner.
112th Infantry, 28th Division
This soldier was returned to the U.S. in Sept. 1921 and buried here.
ABEL, LOUIS RAYMOND (1881-1918). Lieutenant and intelligence officer, 112th Infantry, 28th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, United States Army. A Brooklynite by birth and an electrical engineer by trade, Abel applied for a passport in 1905 on which he stated that he would return to the United States in about three years. A resident of Lebanon, Connecticut, he described himself as 5′ 10½" tall with gray eyes, brown hair, Roman nose, broad forehead, light complexion and oval face. He was an electrical engineer in the contracting business living in Brooklyn at the time of the 1910 census; his house on 86th Street was mortgaged. According to his great-grand-daughter, his electric contracting business took him to many cities in the Northeast. His great-grand-daughter states that he was working in Boston for two years prior to his induction into the Army.
Abel enlisted at New York City and was sent abroad in May 1918. As per his Military Service Record for the State of Connecticut, he was married with one child and was affiliated with the Baptist religion. That document indicates that Abel had served with the 13th Regiment, Heavy Artillery National Guard in Brooklyn, was a Freemason and was employed as an electrical engineer. During World War I, he was a first lieutenant and intelligence officer with responsibility for reconnaissance behind German lines. He wrote this letter to his brother on September 14, 1918, thirteen days before his death.
My dear brother Eugene,
As the war goes on and as I come out of each engagement still alive, I think often of those at home and wonder if I will ever see them again.
You all are in my thoughts continually when I have time to think of other things besides the continual shellfire and fighting.
You may readily believe brother of mine that we think of nothing but shells, gas, and bullets and bayonets when we are in action and when a man says differently you can believe he has never been under fire. All one thinks of is where the next shell is going to land.
It gives one a great feeling of comfort to know that there is a competent doctor near at hand and enough stretcher bearers and ambulances to carry one to the rear when hurt. I have been gased once and was ill for a short while but did not go out of action. I also got a scratch from a machine gun bullet but it is all O.K. now. Have been troubled with diarrhea for several weeks but am getting better. That is a common complaint here. So many dead bodies both horses and men and the doctors say the flys (sic) carry the germs to the food we eat. With the coming of cold weather the flys will disappear and we will be rid of this I am sure.
Many of our fine boys have gone never to return. And of my first Scout Platoon of 28 men I had 20 casualties and only 8 men were left after our advance at the Marne and I now have a new Platoon of 40 men and have lost a few of these.
My work takes me in front of the advance and the lines reconnoitering in the Boche lines for enemy positions. It is awe inspiring work especially in the darkness of night. The best times are the darkest nights when it is stormy.
I recently lay several hours with four men in a ditch partially submerged in water and mud while the Boche were all around me. I thought I was a gone goose that night.
My nerves have been sorely tried and many officers and men have lost out completely due to nervous strain making them useless.
I sincerely hope all is well with you and yours. Love to all and may the God who watches over us all bring us together again.
Lovingly your brother
Louis
Abel was killed in battle in Argonne, France, on September 27, 1918. His mother was notified of his death by telegram on November 3, 1918. His body was returned to the United States and he was interred on September 25, 1921. Section 141, lot 23506, grave N, Front Right Corner.
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