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Lithuanian in the Great War

By Henry L. Gaidis

any Lithuanian immi- However, the Great War was a cata- immigrants’ dreams of return to grants who came to lyst contributing to their American- their former way of life, given the MAmerica during the early ization. When the Great War began upheavals and uncertainties relating 1900s planned on returning to in Europe in 1914 virtually all con- to events taking place in Lithuania and initially had little in- tact between Lithuanian American proper at the time. terest in becoming American citizens immigrants and their families in As the Great War began, many or establishing new lives in America. Lithuania suddenly ceased, as did the Americans had concerns about the large size of the nation’s immigrant population and its loyalties. By 1910, nearly a third of the nation’s popu- lation was foreign born or was com- prised of the children of foreign- born parents. This included over a quarter million . To help Americanize its immigrant popula- tion, the U.S. government and many political and civic organizations be- gan sponsoring and encouraging pa- triotic holidays such as the Fourth of July. Such events were enthusias- tically supported within the nation’s Lithuanian communities where many of its members were already engaged in the assimilation process. The government increased efforts to ensure that immigrants shun for- eign loyalties, develop good English language skills, and be willing and able to serve in the armed forces. Accordingly, approximately half a million immigrants from 46 different nations, accounting for about 18% of its entire troops, did serve, loy- ally, and ably, during . Today we like to think that most Lithuanians willingly volunteered for American military service, but in re- ality a large portion only answered the call to duty upon being drafted. Still, they reported to duty and served honorably. Although a num- ber of authors have made outlandish claims about the number of Lithua- U.S government poster designed to help Americanize immigrants, ca. 1917. (U.S. Library nians who served, most historians of Congress archive) place the actual number at about

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62,424 soldiers, sailors, and marines, of which 645 were killed in action and 884 died of other causes. A research project was recently completed by members of the American Legion, Lithuanian Post 154, in Baltimore, Maryland, which sought to identify Lithuanian Americans from Maryland who served. This project examined mil- itary and census records and through them identified 153 Lithuanian soldiers, sailors, marines, and coast guardsmen. Of WWI American troops in combat. (National Archives) the identified Maryland veterans, 76 were born in Lithuania, Russia, 30,000, including both volunteers even Lithuanians with . Who or Poland, while another 76 were and draftees. The immigrant popu- they were before or what divided American born. Many of the lation also contributed on the home them in the past no longer mattered. names were misspelled or Ameri- front, providing vital support to pro- They all learned to get along to- canized, but the Lithuanian back- duction of coal, oil, steel, textiles, gether while fighting or working to- ground of each person was verified lumber, clothing, food, and many gether as one people sharing a com- through either place of birth or other wartime necessities. Just to cite mon purpose. as re- one example: 10,000 of the 30,000 It is estimated that of the 4.7 ported in census records. Fifty-five Bethlehem Steel fac- million Americans who served in the served overseas, 4 were killed-in tory workers were foreign born. Great War, 116,516 died while in the action, 5 were wounded, and 2 died Many of the foreign workers in in- service, and approximately 420,000 of illnesses or other causes. Two dustries supporting the war effort were wounded or became ill from thirds of the identified Maryland were women who were entering the diseases contracted in the line of Lithuanian Americans did not labor force for the first time. Some duty. Of the recorded deaths, 53,402 serve overseas, but remained in the women volunteered to serve in the were in combat and 63,114 were , having been assigned ranks of the American military and from diseases, especially from the vital support activities, or they were served with distinction, equal to that 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic. still in training when the conflict of their male counterparts. Regard- The State of Maryland provided ended. Approximately a third of less whether an immigrant served in those who went overseas served in the military or on the home front, support roles behind enemy lines. he or she substantially contributed The number listed as serving over- to the nation’s war effort. seas was an underestimate, as it While immigrants were serving failed to count a substantial num- in the military or working in wartime ber who served in the Navy aboard industries alongside their fellow vessels protecting vital American Americans, they were becoming sea lanes beyond the nation’s terri- more American. For many, this was torial waters. About a third of the first opportunity to interact on those going overseas served were a personal level with people from involved in front line fighting in- completely different backgrounds. volving frequent hand to hand com- The sharing of a common life and bat and suffering attacks from poi- death cause led to lifelong friend- son gas or from airplanes above ships. Yankees became friends with battle fields in France, Italy, Russia, Southerners, city slickers with hay- and elsewhere. Regardless of where seed farmers, bankers with factory Pvt. Mindow Zemaitis. K.A. means “killed or in which branch of the military laborers, Englishmen with Irish, and in action”. they served, each and every one of

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would not be deterred and travelled ing intense combat. Frank lies buried to Philadelphia where he lied about in the Oise-Aisne American Ceme- his age to recruiters. On May 2, tery at Fere-en-Tardenois, France, 1917, Mindow was accepted into among his fallen comrades. U.S. Marine Corps when he was only Witold M. Sokolowsky was 15 years old. Following completion born in Vilnius and immigrated to of basic training, Mindow was as- the United States in the hopes of signed to the 43d Company, 5th U.S. finding a better life. He settled in Marine Regiment. On July 3, 1917, Baltimore and found work in various his regiment was one of the first local garment shops. Witold was in- American units sent to France. ducted into military service on Sep- Upon arrival, he took part in some tember 24, 1917, when he was 27 of the heaviest fighting during the years old. After completing basic war. His regimental battle honors in- training, Private Sokolowsky was as- clude the Toulon-Troyon Sector, signed to Company C, 313th U.S. Aisne, and Chateau-Thierry, names Infantry Regiment, 79th Division. Pvt. Zemaitis grave marker in France. that live in American military history. On July 8, 1918, Witold and his unit One year later, on June 13, 1918, were sent to France. There he fought these veterans contributed to the na- while only 16 years of age, Private gallantly in the Avon Court Sector, tion’s struggle, and some gave all Zemaitis was killed in action in hand Meuse-Argonne and the Troyon for God and Country. to hand fighting with German sol- The contribution of Lithuanian diers in the Chateau-Thierry Sector. immigrants to the Great War can He lies buried in the Aisne-Marne best be understood through individ- American Cemetery at Belleau, ual stories. As noted above, of the France. He was the youngest of the six Lithuanian American casualties 6 Maryland Lithuanian Americans from Maryland, four were killed in who gave their lives for their action, one died from disease, and adopted country during the Great one from other causes. Space pre- War. cludes providing much detail about Frank Zitaitis was born in Kau- each of the identified heroes, but it nas and, like many of his fellow is fitting that we at least recount countrymen, must have fled his then briefly each man’s story. Russian occupied homeland in the Mindow (Mindaugas?) Leonard hopes of finding a better life in Zemaitis was the youngest of our America. Very little is known about fallen heroes, and was the first to be Frank’s life, but he appears to have Unknown soldier grave marker. killed in action. He was born on Sep- immigrated to America with, or tember 8, 1901, in Lithuania, and seeking to join, his sister Barbara brought to the United States as an Narbutus and her husband. At the infant along with his older brother time he joined the U.S. Army, on by his immigrant parents. The family September 8, 1917, Frank was re- settled in Baltimore, Maryland, siding in a boarding house in Balti- where his father obtained work in a more. After completing his basic medical equipment factory. Here his training, he was assigned to Com- sister was born. Young Mindow was pany I, 38th U.S. Infantry Regiment, raised in the local Lithuanian Com- 3rd Division. His unit was sent over- munity. We don’t know when or why seas, and on March 30, 1918, it took he developed his patriotic American part in heavy fighting in the Aisne, fervor, but when war was declared Chateau-Thierry Sector, Cham- he immediately attempted to join the pagne-Marne, and Aisne-Marne. On U.S. Army. He was initially not ac- July 22, 1918, Private Zitaitis was cepted, as he was way under age. He killed in action in Aisne-Marne dur- WWI commemorative medal.

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Sector until he was wounded. He fighting men are buried under a tra- tional Guard and soon was serving died on October 12, 1918, never ditional stone cross bearing the in- as a Private in Company I, Maryland having married; today we know scription “Here rests in honored Infantry. John’s demise in many ways nothing about the family he left be- glory an American soldier known is even more tragic then those who hind. He lies buried in the St. Mihiel but to God.” died on the battlefield or while hos- American Cemetery at Thiaucourt, Although not directly combat pitalized. Available documentation France. related, two other Baltimore does not document what devils he Anton Stanulis’ life, like that of Lithuanian Americans lost their lives fought before his demise or what many Lithuanians who came to while on active duty during the drove him to end his own life. All America before the First World War, Great War. Their loss was surely as we know is that on August 6, 1917, is shrouded in mystery. We know traumatic to their loved ones as John died alone in Baltimore, Mary- from surviving ship, census, and mil- those who died fighting on a battle- land, without any friends, relatives, itary records that Stanulis born field. For this reason, they were or fellow soldiers to comfort him, about 1896 in Russia. He arrived in added to the American Legion Post from a self-inflicted bullet wound. Baltimore aboard the S.S. Weimar honor roll of fallen soldiers. We have no idea what hopes and from Bremen, Germany, in May of John L. Zuckas was another dreams these heroes had for the fu- 1907. On debarkation he listed his Lithuanian immigrant who came to ture. Surely before their deaths each intended designation as Aurora, Illi- American dreaming of finding a bet- thought about going home, marry- nois. He was either traveling with or ter new life. When the United States ing and raising a family, in the land became friends with a fellow pas- entered the war, John, who was liv- of the free. They shared the same senger, Jonas Mickus, about whom ing in Curtis Bay, Anne Arundel, dreams with virtually every other we could not find any information; Maryland, was inducted into the U.S. soldier, sailor, and marine who still, we know from ship logs that Army when he was twenty-five years served or fought in the “war to end both listed Lithuanian as their native old. After completing basic training, all wars.” In their cases such dreams language. on August 2, 1918, Private Zuckas never came to pass, for they gave For reasons unknown, upon his was assigned to Casual Company, their lives for God and Country. arrival Anton chose to stay in Balti- 154th U.S. Army Depot Brigade, Final thoughts: Those Lithuan- more and reported a local address 2nd Battalion, Edgewood Arsenal, ian American Great War heroes who when he enlisted in the regular U.S. Maryland, far from the fighting rag- managed to return home to Balti- Army. Upon completion of basic ing in Europe. Unfortunately, dis- more and survive, found that their training, on September 22, 1917, Pri- tance from the front provides little lives had changed greatly. During the vate Stanulis was assigned to Com- safety in war time. While on active war years, the U.S. government had pany A, 60th U.S. Infantry, 5th Di- duty at the Edgewood Arsenal, John curtailed the normal five year waiting vision. On April 1, 1918, he was contracted pneumonia and died on period to become naturalized, promoted to Corporal and two October 1, 1918, far from the battle streamlined application procedures weeks later his regiment was sent fields of France. While his military and waived application fees for ser- overseas. On September 4, 1918, for records list the cause of his death vicemen. As a result, over 192,000 some unknown reason Corporal as pneumonia, many historians today returning World War I veterans came Stanulis was reduced in rank to Pri- would say he most likely succumbed home as American citizens. About vate. He took part in heavy fighting to the Spanish Flu pandemic that a third of the returning Baltimore in France in the Anould Sector; St. passed through Maryland at the Lithuanians became American citi- Die Sector; Villers-en-Haye Sector; time. zens in this manner and while serv- St. Mihiel; and Meuse-Argonne. On John Rosimas, another single ing their country had acquired skills the morning of November 11, 1918, male Lithuanian immigrant, was that they carried into civilian life. Armistice Day, Private Stanulis was born on April 25, 1882, in Alvitas, Many became leaders in the Balti- killed in action at Meuse-Argonne. Lithuania (then part of Russia). Like more Lithuanian Community. I don’t His remains were never identified, the earlier cited Lithuanian immi- believe the situation in Baltimore but he was surely laid to rest among grants, John voyaged across the At- was at all unique; similar experiences his fallen comrades in the U.S. mili- lantic in search of a better way of undoubtedly occurred in other tary cemetery created on the Meuse- live. On July 24, 1917, John, while Lithuanian communities across the Argonne battlefield. In such cases, living in Baltimore, Maryland, vol- land. unidentified remains of American untarily joined the Maryland Na-

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