WALTER L. HOUGHTON (d. 1976)

Walter L. Houghton, 80, of 633 S. 19th St., Manitowoc, died Thursday
afternoon at Holy Family Hospital, Manitowoc.
Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Jens Funeral Home,
Manitowoc. The Rev. Dale Tutje will officiate with burial in Evergreen
Cemetery, Manitowoc. Military graveside rites will be accorded Mr.
Houghton by VFW Post 659 of Manitowoc.
Mr. Houghton was born March 6, 1896, at Manitowoc, son of the late
Walter C. and Henrietta Holtger Houghtong. He attended Manitowoc
schools. He entered the U.S. Army Jan. 22, 1915, in World War I,
serving in Company I, 364th Infantry, in Germany where he was in the
battles of Fismes and Chateau Thierry. He was taken prison of war and
was in prison camp in Germany. He was discharged as a private April
20, 1919. Mr. Houghton married Anita Rosinsky June 9, 1920, at
Manitowoc. He was employed at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Inc., as a
mechinist for 43 years, retiring in 1960. He was a member of Machinists
Union Local 516 and VFW Post 659.
Survivors include his wife, two sons (private), and two daughters
(private), nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Three sisters
preceded him in death.
Friends may call at Jens Funeral Home from 6 to 9 o'clock this Friday
evening and Saturday until the time of services.
Herald Times Reporter, Friday, May 14, 1976 p.3
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MISSING BOY IS NOW LISTED AS WOUNDED
Although receiving no further word from the war department, other
than the telegram last week announcing that their son, Walter L.
Houghton, who left here with Company H and later was sent to France,
had been missing in action since Aug. 4, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Houghton,
Sr., had their hopes revived that their son probably was still alive
by a casualty list published in a Milwaukee paper last night listing
"Walter L. Houghton, of Manitowoc, wounded; degree undetermined."
Why this name should appear under thin heading in the casualty list
when no further word had been received from the war department was
puzzling to his parents here. They had already directed inquiries to
the war department and the Red Cross at Geneva, Switzerland to find
out if the local young man might not be in a German prison camp.
Manitowoc Herald News, Thursday, October 10, 1918, Page 5
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RED CROSS MESSAGE SAYS WALTER HOUGHTON, OF THIS CITY, MISSING,
IS PRISONER, GERMAN CAMP
A message received through the Red Cross at Geneva, Switzerland, and
transmitted from Washington, D.C., to this city this afternoon stated
that Walter L. Houghton, son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Houghton, North
Fourth street, this city, is a prisoner in a German camp. Young Houghton
was recently reported "missing in action" by the war department. It
added that the date was August 4, over two months ago. This message was
received some days ago and immediately efforts were made through the
local Red Cross to trace Houghton, to find out if he was in a German
prison camp. The message today is a big relief to his parents here.
Manitowoc Herald News, Saturday, October 12, 1918, Page 5
*********
GET CARD FROM SON IN GERMAN PRISON CAMP
Walter Houghton, Jr., who Left with H and who was Captured by Germans
Aug. 4 Wires from Camp that He is Well
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Houghton, No. Fourth street, whose son Walter
Houghton, Jr., who left here with Company H, and who was taken prisoner
over 3 months ago, in the fighting on the west front, and is now, in a
German prison camp, have at last heard from him. A card came last night,
by special delivery, from the German camp in which Houghton gives his
name and complete address with the added information that he is well and
enjoying good health. From the information in the card it is evident that
the camp is near Linburg, Germany, but there is a red ink notation,
"Do not reply to Linburg. Await further information." This card was dated
September 2, so that it was more than two months in getting here. It
probably was delivered to the Red Cross and by then transmitted to
Switzerland, then to France and finally to this country. Houghton was a
member of Company F, 128 US Infantry, Thirty Second division. This
division was in the thick of the fighting the first week in August, in
the Siossons-Rhiems pocket and young Houghton was no doubt taken prisoner
in the fierce hand to hand fighting with the Germans, that characterized
the American attack in that sector. At first he was reported "missing in
action" by the war department under date of August 4. Then his parents
here got busy and through the local Red Cross, working with the Red Cross
at Geneva, Switzerland, traced their son to a German prison camp. The card
from young Houghton, received last night, assures his parents that he is
well, and relieves them of any further anxiety.
Manitowoc Herald News, Thursday, November 07, 1918, Page 4
**********
A letter from Walter Houghton, Manitowoc's only soldier boy that
was a prisoner in Germany says that he is still at Vichy, near Paris
and has been so well treated since his release that he is getting so
stout that it is difficult for him to button his coat. He had some
other news that was not so pleasant however. He stated that all
indications now point to the fact that he will be sent on into Germany
to rejoin his command, an order that he is not especially pleased over.
Houghton says he has had no government pay since last July owing to the
fact that he has been away from his company.
Manitowoc Herald News, Saturday, February 01, 1919 P. 1
*********
HOME AFTER 5 MONTHS IN GERMAN PRISON CAMPS
Walter Houghton, Jr. Weighed Ninety Pounds When Released
After Signing of Armistice—"War is H—l"
A prisoner of war within the enemy lines, captive for five months
in a German prison camp during part of which time he was mourned
as dead by relatives here when reported by the war department as
"missing in action" Walter Houghton Jr., Company H boy, back through
the flames of war which he declares is all that Sherman pictured it
and then some arrived in the city this morning and at the Houghton
home on North Fourth street there is a happy reunion and celebration
in honor of his return. Since early December, when he was released
from the German camp, Houghton has been at Vichey, France, with others,
receiving the last attention and "building up." When he arrived today
he was in the best of physical condition and spirits and bore no traces
of his experience. Shortage of food was the most trying experience which
Houghton had during the time he was a prisoner and while the prisoner
suffered for lack of food, they were not alone, the Germans themselves
faring little better said Houghton today. "We had barley soup, and dark
bread for breakfast, we had barley soup and dark bread for lunch and then
we had barley soup and dark bread for dinner." Said the returned soldier
who declared that the fare was not the worst thing and that the soup after
one came to like it, was good. Houghton said that he was not mistreated
by the Germans, though prisoners were kept busy and were made to work hard.
Houghton himself was for weeks detailed to peddle potatoes in the territory
about the prison camp and worked early and late. The fact that Houghton
was unable to speak German saved him from the sharp questioning which many
of the prisoners underwent at the hands of the German officers, who in some
cases subjected prisoners to severe treatment because they failed to give
information the officers had hoped to get. "During the first two months we
had rather a hard time of it, but after that the Red Cross got busy and was
able to get supplies to us and we were furnished with food and clothing and
didn't fare badly," said Houghton. With Houghton at Rasstaadt was another
Manitowoc boy, L. Brehmer of Collins, but the two later were separated.
Houghton and Brehmer are believed to have been the only two Manitowoc county
boys taken prisoner during the war. Houghton was taken by a squad of German
soldiers on Aug. 4. "I had been detailed with a lieutenant for duty in
cleaning out machine gun nests and had been ordered by the officer to return
to the lines for reinforcements. When I reached the lines our command had
moved and while I was seeking the location of our troops a squad of Germans
put in an appearance and I was a prisoner. I was taken to Montague where
about twenty-five Americans, a number of Algerians, British and French
prisoners were quartered and we were held there for two months and then we
were loaded into cars and after a journey of six days reached Rastaadt where
I remained until Dec. 6 when I was released, with others, and taken to
Switzerland and later to Vichey." Said Houghton. When he was released at
Rastaadt in December Houghton weighed only 90 pounds. After two months
Houghton was attached to the Ninety-first division and to sail for home but
it was (illegible) before the division embarked and the trip across the ocean
on the transport Sibony took nine days. The boat carried 3, 357 troops. Upon
arrival in New York Houghton was sent to Camp Mills and last Wednesday
entrained for Camp Grant where he received the discharge and left Rockford
at 1 o'clock yesterday. Houghton was a member of Company H when the command
left here July 15, 1917 for Camp Douglas and was with the command at Camp
MacArthur, Texas and at Camp Merrit, N.J., but owing to quarantine did not
cross with his command, but left in January last year and upon arrival
overseas was attached to Company F, 128th, with the Thirty-second division.
He was in the Alsace-Lorraine sector and was with his company in the Chateau-
Thierry drive until captured during the progress of that battle. For weeks
Houghton was mourned as dead by relatives here when reported missing by the
war department but later through the offices of the Red Cross he was located
and able to communicate with his parents. He has formulated no plans for the
immediate future.
Manitowoc Herald News, Monday, April 21, 1919 Page 1