WORLD WAR I
Spanish Flu Victims
During the Great War, dying on the battle field was only half the story. The United States, in approximately one and a half years time, had mobilized over 2,200,000 men and had 53,738 men killed in action. Another 63,240 men, in only a year and a half had also died, primarily
from the worldwide pandemic of the day: The SPANISH INFLUENZA.
The natural events which take people's lives every day did not stop, as shown in the death of one of the articles below.
These men are listed on the plaque at the library and in the Hudson Street Cemetery as having died while in service during World War I.
Eugene Breen Well known and liked. Died of the flu at Camp Dix.
J. Park Hart I only found this article on him, but it would appear he never recovered because by the time it made the paper, the man was deathly ill. His name is on the library plaque.
Arthur S. Nicklar The article is not sure, but the spelling and the fact that he was “colored” probably led to the confusion with the records at the time. The people of Hackensack at that time, upon putting the names on the plaque a few years later, concluded that it was Arthur S. Nicklar.
Amasa F. Gurnee Fought in some of the bloodiest battles of the war, only to die of the ravages of the flu.
Armando De Crosta-While at a boot camp training in Pompton Lakes, he drowned in the lake after eating.
Russell Hastings Was a classmate of J. Park Hart in 1918, and they both left school in the spring to join the service ambulance corps. Russell also died state side from the flu.
Ellsworth Dederick We do not know for certain what Ellsworth died of by the article we have, but we do know from the 1918 yearbook paper, the SENIOR CRITIC, that he had been a classmate of both Park Hart and Russell Hastings in their sophomore year. He was on the student council then and he was a very good athlete.
Edgar M. Welch Attended State Street School and lived on 302 Union Street in Hackensack. He was the first serviceman to die from Hackensack during WWI, and he died State side from the first wave of the Spanish Influenza (pneumonia) on January 1st, 1918 at the age of 27.
Rolfe Willis Proctor Died at Camp Dix of pneumonia, brought on by the influenza, at the age of twenty four, 18 days after the war's end.
John J. Drinkwater Died of ‘disease,' according to the article, while still in France at the war's end. What 'disease' means, I do not know. It could mean the flu or from infection.
John Jack Recher Died of pneumonia in France at the age of 27.
Campbell Carruthers3From Maywood. Died of the flu in Camp Cody, Deming, New Mexico
while his brother was on his way to the camp to see him.
Albert S. Kovar Joined the service on the first day that war was declared by the United States. Albert S. Kovar fought in the Argonne push in France, then he died in a hospital near Breat France of the Grippe.
John Hirt From Maywood. Died of pneumonia, brought on by the Spanish Influenza in Leavenworth, Kansas.
John V. Ackerman From Maywood. Died at Camp Colt, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on
October 6th, 1918 of pneumonia.
Felix Haymart-Lived in Hackensack for nine years and was well liked by many. Felix died of pneumonia while overseas on September 27th, 1918. Felix Haymart's name is on all three
World War I plaques in Hackensack.
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