LaPorte Genweb Home
Page updated on May 27, 2008
If
you wish to add a name to our Veteran listing, please contact
laportecountyin@yahoo.com
Please note Disclaimer and Sources at bottom of this
page.
New Listing - Add your Veteran and his story to the list below.
Banks, George - Unassigned Recruits- U.S. Colored Troops
Banks, George Enlisted 10-15-1864
Full name: George
Washington Banks
born 2-9-1848 in Indiana Son of William F.Banks (Civil War
Vet 102nd USCT) and Elizabeth C.Belton-Banks (married 1-10-1844 Rockingham
County).
Died 3-6-1865 - Buried- Laporte -at Patton Cemetery The Af.
American Banks family settled in Laporte in 1835 (John Banks settled first,
then his brothers/family followed between 1836-1850).
Daron, Paul C, Corporal, Son of Victor and Paulina Daron. DOB Feb 5, 1888, Michigan City, Indiana. Enlisting US Army on Dec. 3, 1917 at Ft. Thomas, KY. Went overseas on April 6, 1918 and assignd to Co., G, 4th Infantry. Killed in action on July 23, 1918 at Foret de Fere, Frnace. Buried in American Cemetery, No. 608, Section H, Plot 7, Grave No. 359, Seringes-et-Nesles, Aisne, France.
Gillham - Chronology Of Important Events for George Gillham
Gray, Harmon , Rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He was the son of Dr. J. Lucius and Orianna Hamon Gray ang born on June 1, 1896 in LaPorte County, Indiana. He enterd the First Officers Training Camp on May 15, 1917 at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. Overseas in September of 1918 and was there assigned to Company C, 9th Infantry. He was wounded in action July 19, 1918, battle of Soissons and died on the following day. The body was returned to LaPorte County for burial.
Zita A. Russell Hart - burial at Pine Lake Cemetery
- Name: Zita A. Russell Hart; Address: 1011 Jackson St., LaPorte, Indiana
Next of Kin: daughter: Kathryn H. Sheehy
NOK Address Mount Pleasant, S.C.
- Born: July 31, 1916 At: Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada: - Death Date
September 27, 1988
Buried: September 30, 1988 Grave: 2 Lot: 381 Section:
S. Cherry Hill - Branch of Service U.S. Army, Nurse Corps War Served: WW II
Rank 1st Lieut.
Enlisted: December 14, 1943
Discharged: December 11,
1945 Type of Stone (Both Wyllis and Zita have government- issued stones) Flag
Holder: WW II
Edward W. L. Ritter - Graves in Netherlands taken
care of with Tender Loving care.
Edward W. L. Ritter: recipient of the
pruple heart and other commendations was killed in action.
In 1943 Edward
lived in La Porte on 102 Erie Street: - Edward W.L. Ritter with his wife Mrs.
Catherine and their two sons Edward and George Ritter.
Edward was born on
April 16, 1912. As staff sergeant in the 36 inf. 3 Armored. Division, He served
in the U.S Arrmy during WW II. While fighting in Germany he was killed in
action in the environ of Dessau.
He was a short
time missing in action. Date of death listed as April 21 1945. Later found; his
remains were buried for a while in Zwickau, his body was permantly burried on
the US Cementery of Margraten in the Netherlands. In 1949 my father adopted his
grave. At that time I was 7 years old. After my father past away the grave of
Edward was taken over by me. I feel lucky and proud that my wife, my son (who
has also adopted another grave) and I visit the grave of Edward several times a
year to leave some flowers on his grave. contributed by and grave tended to by
the family of May Augenbroe,
Laurentiusstreet 56 6467 CA Kerkrade,
The
Netherlands. Email them at: maugenbroe@home.nl
The La Porte Herald
Argus, Monday, May 14, 1945, page 1: - Staff Sergeant
Edward Ritter was killed in action in Germany on April 21, according to war
department information received by his wife who, with their two sons, resides
at 102 Erie street. Sgt. Ritter entered service Jan. 21, 1944, and had been
overseas for eight months. He received his training at Camp McClellan, Ala.,
and Camp Meade, Md. In civilian life he was employed at the Kingsbury Ordnance
plant. Mrs. Ritter is working at present at the La Porte corporation. 
Edward
Ritter Grave Stone in Netherlands
(click on picture for a larger
image)
Additional family research on the above KIA soldier as follows:
Edward Ritter Dies in Action - S/Sgt. Edward L. Ritter,
34, son of Mrs. Anna Radke, 1906 Elston, was killed in action in germany, april
21, according to a message received a few days ago from the War Department.
His wife, the former Catherine Franks of Chicago,
received a message about 10 days ago reporting him missing in action. A later
telegram said he had been killed in action the day he was reported missing.
Mrs. Ritter and two little sons, Edward Jr., and George, reside at 109 Errie,
in LaPorte.
Before entering service in January, 1944, Sgt.
Ritter was employed at the Kingsbury Ordnance plant. He had been overseas since
June, 1944.
Mrs. William Holtz, 1304 Buffalo, is a sister of Sgt. Ritter.
News-Dispatch, Michigan City, IN, 15 May 1945, p. 1, c. 3. And here is one for
his son which shows she remarried a man by the name of Russell York so the
Catherine Ritter d. 1951 was not here:
LaPorte - George E. Ritter, Sr., 62, LaPorte, died at 1
a.m. Tuesday (June 4, 2002) in La Porte. A private family service will be held.
Cremation will take place and burial will be in Pine Lake Cemetery. There will
be no visitation.
He was born July 25, 1939, in LaPorte
County, to Edward L. and Catherine E. (Frank) Ritter. On Aug. 3, 1957, in
LaPorte, he married Lorena Scott, who survives. Survivors also include one
daughter, Gayle (Pete) Hill, LaPorte; two sons, George E. (Kim) Ritter Jr., and
Gary Ritter, both of LaPorte; one brother, Edward Ritter, Kingsbury; two
granddaughters, Andrea Ritter and Courtney Hill; twograndsons, Erik Ritter and
Andrew Hill, and good friend and care-giver, Ann Logmann, LaPorte. Preceding
Mr. Ritter was the step-father, Russell York.
For 22
years, Mr. Ritter was the owner and operator of Pine Liquor Store In Michigan
City. He had also worked at American Home Foods for 10 years and recently
worked at Rigg's Mowers & More. Memorial contributions may be made to
Parents and Friends or to the American Cancer Society. News-Dispatch, Michigan
City, IN, Wed. 5 June 2002, p.2,c.4
Benjamin Williams headstone dedication
George Washington Zinn - Confederate soldier - Daily Argus, Tuesday 31 May 1898 ------- Union Mills had a little excitement yesterday over the decoration of the grave of a Confederate soldier who was buried there. The soldier died in a northern prison during the war and the body was sent to his parents at Union Mills for burial. The authorities refused to allow the interment in the cemetery and the body was interred in the homestead dooryard. After the war prejudices had largely passed away a plat of ground was purchased adjoining the cemetery and the body transferred to it. Later the cemetery was enlarged and the addition took in this grave. Some objections were raised by others and quite a warm time was had, but it appears that most of the sympathy was with the men who did the decorating. In the south the graves of the Union and Confederate soldiers are decorated without discrimination and it is a bit of sentiment that seems peculiarly appropriate at this time when northern and southern men are soldiering side by side in the war with Spain .
Disclaimer: Not responsible for misspelled names taken from
old records.
Sources:
1. LaPorte County Indiana Veteran Cards
2.
Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana. (INRoster) Published in
1865-66 by Holloway
3. US Pension Case Files
4. Cemetery Records and
burial information on our sister site.
5. WWI Civilian Draft
Registrations
6. Local newspaper articles and obituary announcements
