THE GREAT WAR AND THE PANHANDLE-PLAINS REGION A CASE STUDY by Michael R. Grauer A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree MASTER OF ARTS Major Subject: History West Texas A&M University Canyon, Texas August 2018 Approved: _______________________________ _________ Chairman, Thesis Committee Date _______________________________ _________ Member, Thesis Committee Date _______________________________ _________ Member, Thesis Committee Date _____________________________ Head, Major Department Date _____________________________ Dean, FAH College Date _____________________________ Dean, Graduate School Date ii ABSTRACT Using artifacts from the Panhandle-Plains Historical Society’s collection of World War I weapons, uniforms, equipment, souvenirs, and other militaria, I curated the primary exhibition focusing on the Great War at the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum in 2017. Because the exhibition format precludes extensive contextual analysis of these artifacts, this thesis offers the exhibition as a case study in public history, examining the process and research and, ultimately, the consequences and results of the exhibition presentations. Moreover, this thesis attempts to record the names and lives en bref of a handful of the 7,000 soldiers, sailors, Marines, and nurses, from the Panhandle-Plains region who served in The World War and whose artifacts and archives comprise the bulk of the museum’s World War I collection. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many people helped with the exhibition and the subsequent thesis resulting therefrom. I would like to thank Carol Lovelady, director of the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, for her support of the exhibition. I would also like to thank Becky Livingston, then-curator of history for her “Doughboys and Home Folks” exhibition and her help with the graphics on “The Great War and the Panhandle-Plains Region.” Warren Stricker, director of the museum’s research center, curated the exhibition, “A Snapshot from Home,” and, most importantly for this thesis, was ever willing to help pull archival materials, to scan photographs, and generally to show incredible patience with my nearly daily requests or new stories about the war. The exhibits staff at the museum truly outdid themselves with the installation of “The Great War and the Panhandle-Plains Region,” and I know all of them were extremely proud of the effect of their work on every visitor to the exhibition. That exhibits crew is: Kenny Schneider, Micah Hanbury, Seth Hanbury, and Andrew Miller. WT history faculty Byron Pearson and Bruce Brasington were especially encouraging given our mutual interests in the Great War. Dr. Pearson in particular showed unbelievable tolerance with respect to my obsession with the subject. I particularly appreciate his willingness to pull me up short when I needed it. iv Doran Cart, senior curator, and Jonathan Casey, director of the archives and Edward Jones Research Center, at the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, endured my incessant visits and questions and offered vital suggestions of texts, sources, and archives. Their encouragement helped spur me to finish what I started. Lastly, I should like to thank my family, especially my children (Matthew, Hannah, and Sarah) who, when Dad at age 55 decided to go back to graduate school, never blinked and were always encouraging, even if they didn’t quite understand why. And, for her reassurance, support, and a good swift kick in the ass when I needed one, I am most grateful to Leslie Baker. iv DEDICATION "I go to my fathers. And even in their mighty company, I shall not be ashamed." -- J. R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, 1955 My Fathers Revolutionary War David Dewey, Continental Army Lemuel Rucker, Continental Army Civil War Andrew M. Dewey, Grand Army of the Republic Thomas Kelly, Grand Army of the Republic Harrison Hess, Grand Army of the Republic James Hess, Grand Army of the Republic World War I John A. Dewey, National Army of the United States World War II William Bonner, United States Army Acle A. Dewey, United States Navy Carl “Chuck” Grauer, United States Navy George P. “Butch” Grauer, United States Coast Guard v Korean Era Richard L. Grauer, United States Navy John H. Reed, United States Army Vietnam Era Ronald K. Grauer, United State Marine Corps Frank A. Reed, United States Army Timothy J. Grauer, United States Marine Corps Post-Vietnam Era Richard J. Grauer, United States Marine Corps vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter I. INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................1 II. FRAMING THE EXHIBITION .........................................................................5 III. CONTEXT .........................................................................................................10 IV. CONTEXTUAL ARTIFACTS...........................................................................33 V. INDIVIDUALS.................................................................................................103 VI. CONCLUSIONS……………………………………………………………...199 vii APPENDIX Leaves 1. Carlander’s reminiscences of Edgewood Arsenal……………….…..……......223 2. Carlander’s reminiscences continued…………………………………………224 3. Letter from Pvt. Robertson to George Robertson…………………………….226 4. Captain Betts to George Robertson…………………………………………...227 5. Roll Call of Panhandle servicemen.……………………………….………….228 6. Roll Call of West Texas State Normal College KIA…………………………231 viii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Pershing to Goodnight letter………………...……………………………….…233 2. William H. Younger Jr. identification………………...…………………….….234 3. Armour Packing Company map………………………………………………..235 4. W. H. Younger Jr.’s spurs……………...………………………………………236 5. Gilbert C. Matthews’s gas mask and bag………………………………………237 6. Photograph of Dick Isaacs……………………………………………………...238 7. Edgar Lee West’s ditty bag…………………………………………………….239 8. Photograph of Lt. W. H. Younger Jr., Nantes, France…………………………240 9. Trench art vase………………………………………………………………….241 10. W. H. Younger Jr.’s saddle cover………………………………………………242 11. Photograph of William C. Burgy’s installation………………………………...243 12. Photograph of Royce P. Gaut in uniform……………………………………….244 13. Photograph of Royce P. Gaut and James R. Gaut………………………………245 14. Photograph of Cal Farley in U.S. Army uniform/Farley in wresting singlet…...246 15. Photograph Army Camp, Columbus, New Mexico……………………...………247 16. Photograph of J. C. Studer and Sons……………………………………….…...248 17. Walter Rumans’s bronc busting belt……………………………………….…...249 ix 18. Photograph of Thomas H. Knighton……………………..…………….……….250 19. Photograph (detail), Company F, 110th Ammunition Train, 35th Division……..251 20. Photograph of Ray C. Campbell in uniform……………………………..….….252 21. Photograph of Ada and Roshell Terry……………………………………..…...253 22. George E. Storey’s gas mask and bag and detail…………………………..…...254 23. Photograph of Robert A. Duncan…………………………………………..…..255 24. Photograph of Cletus P. Atwood…………………………………………..…...256 25. Photograph of Leota Elkins……………………………………………….…....257 26. Photograph of Guy Carlander at Edgewood Arsenal………………………..…258 27. Photograph of George F. A. Robertson Jr…………………………………..….259 ix LIST OF TABLES Tables 1. Kansas City Board of Trade grain receipts, 1921…………………………….261 2. Kansas City Stock Yards cattle receipts, 1871-1890…………………………261 3. Kansas City Stock Yards cattle receipts, 1918……………………………….262 4. Kansas City Stock Yards cattle prices, 1926…………………………………262 x CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Perhaps no artifact brings the effects of World War I slamming home to the Panhandle-Plains quite like the March 21, 1918 letter from General John J. Pershing, Commander-in-Chief, American Expeditionary Forces, to Charles Goodnight, thanking Goodnight for the buffalo wool socks the former Texas Ranger, Indian fighter, and pioneer rancher had sent the general in January 1918. From pioneers to preschoolers, people of the Panhandle-Plains region stepped up to do their part to make the world safe for democracy [Fig. 1]. Furthermore, no artifact illustrates better the character of those who served in U.S. armed forces during the War than the identification card of Clarendon-born 1st Lieutenant William H. Younger Jr., of the 129th Field Artillery, 35th Division [Fig. 2]. This former teacher challenges each viewer with his steely-eyed gaze. His remaining hair close- cropped on a well-formed head; his jaw set; his mouth a grim line of determination. From his photograph, he is no longer of the classroom; he is a warrior. Lt. Younger brooks no fools or shirkers. When Lt. Younger’s two grandsons, both career U.S. military men, held their grandfather’s identification card, they wept. They never knew him; but came to know him through our exhibition. This is the essence of public history. 1 Around the world it was called The War to End all Wars, The World War, and The Great War before 1935, because no one could fathom a second world war. Thirty- six belligerent nations fought in the Great War. Over 9 million service men and women died directly from the war and there were over 37 million casualties worldwide. When the Great War ended, more than 4 million Americans had served in the United States military during the war years. Half of those participated overseas. Secretary of War Newton D. Baker said: "over 25 per cent of the entire male population of the country between the ages of 18 and 31 were in military service." The United States suffered over 350,000 casualties, including 120,000 deaths. Over