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Andrew A. Krapfl – World War I
Bernard (Ben) Krapfl – World War I

Andrew Krapfl was born on August 28, 1891 and his brother Ben was born on September 1, 1887. Both were born in Petersburg, IA and their parents were Mathias and Josephine (Nurre) Krapfl. Both parents had been born in Iowa. The family moved to a farm two miles northwest of Templeton in 1902.

Andrew and Ben were inducted into the US Army on February 26, 1918, and much of their duty was done together even though they were in distinct units. Andrew was assigned serial number 2156962 and Ben was assigned 2156971. After initial training at Camp Dodge near Des Moines, they both became part of Company D, 42nd Engineer Battalion of the 20th Engineer Regiment. This was one of many “forestry” units that were trained to provide lumber for trenches and dugouts, bridges and roads, prisoner facilities and many other items including coffins.

Final training was conducted at Camp American University in Washington, DC. By May 8, 1918, the brothers and their unit were transported to Hoboken, NJ and put aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. The ship sailed on May 10 along with 12 other troop carriers and a cruiser. The ship arrived in Brest, France on May 22, 1918 and the 42nd Battalion was marched to Camp Bougen. The USS Abraham Lincoln left for the return trip to the US and was sunk by a U-boat during that voyage.

A day after reaching Camp Bougen, the 42nd Battalion was notified it would be dispersed to other units. Part of Company D was sent south to the Landes, France area. The remainder of Company D were sent to the Vosges. The section that Andrew was a part of is undetermined but the mission of both groups seems similar. Sawmills were built and lumber produced.

Ben, however, was re-assigned to Detachment 681st Demolition Group, 351st Infantry Regiment of the 88th Infantry Division. Demolition would include bomb disposal and mine clearing activities. The 351st Infantry went into the trenches in Alsace in northeastern France on October 12, 1918. That night the Germans attacked and the unit experienced its first casualties. After that point, there was little action aside from periodic skirmishes that were repulsed.

After the November 11 Armistice, the 42nd Battalion was re-assembled and assisted in the work to reconstruct France villages destroyed during the war. By May 17, 1919, both brothers were in Bordeaux, France boarding the “K.I. Luckenbach” for the voyage home. Both were also promoted to Private First Class that day. The ship arrived in Hoboken, NJ on June 1, 1919. The unit was required to march eight miles to Camp Merritt for processing. They were then returned to Camp Dodge and both were discharged on June 9, 1919.

Andrew returned to the family farm and, on February 7, 1922, married Helena Riesselman in Halbur. Ben worked as a carpenter in Manning until 1923. Ben never married. After their parents retired, both brothers farmed along with two of their sisters. By 1948, they retired and moved to Carroll. Andrew died on September 23, 1956 at age 64. Ben died on November 18, 1969 at age 82. Both brothers were buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Carroll.