WORLD WAR I

HARRY B. DOREMUS

U.S. ARMY CAPTAIN

NOTE: I was searching for veterans information at the library the other day I came across a 1948 “16 th Anniversary book about the Doremus American Legion Post 55 Drum and Bugle Corps. The Doremus Drum and Bugle Corps had won 2 or 3 National titles and was always in competition for a state crown. Finances would sometimes get in the way of them competing at the national level. This was a tremendous accomplishment for a small town like Hackensack going against areas like Chicago, Saint Louis, San Francisco and New York. Keep in mind during the period between World War I and
World War II, there was no T.V. Music was heard on the radio but to experience a great show you would go to see Drum and Bugle Corps perform. These were young and older men, many of them veterans, who were very talented. I read an old article from 1922 that mentioned Harry B. Doremus leading his men during World War I and I just thought he was from somewhere else or that the name of the Bugle Corps was a generic or common name they use for all corps. While talking to my dad the other day, who is 78 years old, I asked how they named the Drum and Bugle Corps and he said after
Harry B. Doremus of Hackensack who was killed during World War I. I still wasn't convinced so I punched up on the internet Harry B. Doremus and a reference to
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS recipients came up and this is what I found:

Doremus, Harry B.
Captain , U.S. Army
114 th Infantry Regiment, 29 th Division, A.E.F.
Date of Action: Oct. 27, 1918

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Harry B. Doremus, Captain , U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Verdun , October 27, 1918. Having been ordered to establish liaison between his company and the support unit on the right, Captain Doremus led his detail to its objective under heavy machine-gun fire. The successful completion of his work saved a most serious situation, but in the performance of his duty he was killed.

General Orders No.21, W.D., 1919

Home Town: Hackensack N.J.

Written by:
Bob Meli
October 14, 2007