The Legacy of the Ludington Guard

This post was contributed by DJ Walker, a UW-Stout Applied Social Science student and a member of the 1st Battalion 128th infantry regiment of the Wisconsin Army National Guard.

Creating the Ludington Guard

Original muster roll for the Ludington Guard, 1876

In 1876, Civil War veterans living in Dunn County held a reunion in Menomonie. During this reunion some community members, led by Sherriff Thomas J. George, decided to organize a militia company. In October 1876, Sherriff George and the district attorney circulated a paper to gather signatures of interested men in the county.
The following December, elections for the company officers (the common way militia units selected their officers at the time) were held, and members selected Sherriff George as their captain. The company was certified by Judge Robert Macaulay as meeting the standards of Wisconsin militia law. The company became the Ludington Guards in honor of the then-current Wisconsin governor.

Called to duty in the Spanish American War

Members of Company H in Puerto Rico, 1898

    On April 28, 1898, H Company was mustered into Federal service following the U.S declaration of war against Spain. At the time, the company was led by Captain John Ohnstad (the founder and first coach of the Menomonie High School football team). On May 14th the company left with the Third Wisconsin for Chickamauga GA in preparation for war. The company did not go to Cuba, but instead was sent to Puerto Rico where they engaged in the Battle of Coamo on August 9, 1898. Company H and the Third Wisconsin pushed the Spanish forces into Aibonito, where the very last battle of the Spanish-American War was fought.

    During the course of the war, no H company soldiers died in direct combat. However, seven men died of disease in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Following several months in Puerto Rico after the war concluded, surviving members of H company arrived in Menomonie and were mustered out of Federal service. Many were on hand at area train stations to receive the bodies of their fallen brothers at arms, when they returned to the Menomonie area in Spring 1899.

The following Men Gave their Lives in Service to their Country 

1.       Sergeant George H. Edwards, Age 26: Coamo, Puerto Rico on Aug. 31, 1898

2.       Private Charles V. Cummings, Age 22: Coamo, Puerto Rico on Nov. 9, 1898

3.       Private Frank Roberts, Age 27: Charleston S.C. on July 31, 1898

4.       Private Charles Sunderlin, Age 19: Coamo, Puerto Rico on Sept. 8, 1898

5.       Private Eugene J. Turner, Age 21: Coamo, Puerto Rico on Sept. 8, 1898

6.       Private Edward Wachter,  Age 22: Coamo, Puerto Rico on Sept 18, 1898

7.       Private Charles Wagner, Age 18: Coamo, Puerto Rico on Oct. 6, 1898

Serving at the Mexican Border

 Following the Spanish American War, the company re-organized and elected its next set of officers. H Company resumed its normal training routine until the Mexican Border Crisis in 1916. From June until December of 1916, Company H was again called into Federal Service. This time, they were assigned to the Mexican border under the direction of Captain Nathness. Company H mustered out of Federal Service at the Mexican border in December 1916.

World War I Service in Europe

The ensuing break in service did not last long. The company was recalled into Federal service on March 26, 1917. Initially, the unit guarded several bridges in Wisconsin and the docks in Superior, WI, but it was soon called to combat in World War I. Company H became a part of the 128th infantry regiment in Waco, Texas and arrived in France in March 1918 to begin preparation for serving on the front line. They first encountered German soldiers in the Alsace-Lorraine region in June 1918. Then in July 1918, they became engaged in the Battle of Chateau-Thierry. Following that engagement, they fought at Juvigny in early August. Finally, Company H fought for 20 straight days in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. It was during this offensive that Company H’s war ended with the November 11th Armistice.  For the next several months, Company H served as part of the Army of Occupation in Germany. During the war, dozens of members of the company lost their lives. In April 1919, surviving members of the company departed Europe. They arrived in Menomonie in May 1919 and were released from federal service.

This plaque honoring fallen members of Company H stands on Main Street in Menomonie

Continuing to Serve Today

In 1921, Company H became Company A of the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry Regiment. Company A is still in existence today. Company A members are based in Menomonie and continue to serve both at home and abroad. Company A is still a part of the 1st Battalion of the 128th Infantry.