Frank A. Kemper

World War I

Frank Kemper was born north of Templeton on October 17, 1888, to Anton and Josephine (Dultmeier) Kemper. Both his parents were German immigrants. Anton came to Carroll County in 1883 and they were married the same year. The family moved to a farm four miles south of Templeton in 1900.

Frank was inducted into the US Army on March 22, 1918 and assigned serial number 2558988. He was sent to Camp Dodge near Des Moines for training by the 163rd Depot Brigade. His initial military experience apparently did not go well as the military police suspected him of desertion on March 28, 1918. The misunderstanding was resolved as he served and was honorably discharged later.

Frank was transferred to the 11th Provisional Company, 137th Infantry Regiment of the 35th Infantry Division. This was a unit consisting primarily of soldiers from Kansas and Missouri. Training was conducted at Camp Funston, KS, a facility within the boundaries of Fort Riley. The Division moved to the East Coast in late April. Frank and his unit sailed from New York harbor aboard the “Missanabie” on May 3, 1918. The manifest has not been found but it appears they first landed in England and then taken across the English Channel to LaHavre, France. The “Missanabie” was sunk by a German U-Boat off the coast of Ireland three months later.

Additional training was conducted near Amiens before entering the front line near Metz on June 18, 1918. Frank was now assigned to Company H. They successfully repulsed a German raid on June 23 and, by July 20, conducted a raid of their own capturing several German prisoners. The Division was moved by truck to Nancy on September 1 and then went into reserve for the battle at St. Mihiel. However, they were never used. They did come under periodic shell fire but the biggest hurdle was the constant rain and mud.

By September 25, the 137th Infantry were situated facing Vauquois Hill, a natural fortress the Germans had held for over four years. The next morning, the Meuse-Argonne offensive began. After a six-hour barrage of artillery, the 35th Division attacked the Vauquois Hill and successfully captured it. The Germans counterattacked resulting in Frank and his unit enduring six days and nights of constant shelling, gunfire, gas and attacks by German aircraft as well as no food and little sleep. The unit held but casualties were high.

The 137th Infantry was relieved in early October for 10 days of rest. The regiment was moved to Verdun and went back into the front line on October 14. While the fighting was not as intense, they experienced continued action until November 6. The Armistice was declared on November 11 and the fighting ceased. During its tour of duty, the 137th Infantry Regiment suffered a very high casualty rate of 46% resulting in much debate. Most of the criticism fell on the regular Army leadership which had replaced the original National Guard officers. Frank and his unit were eventually sent to the LeMans area before sailing back to the US on April 12, 1919, from Brest, France aboard the “Manchuria.” They arrived in Hoboken, NJ on April 23 and were processed through Camp Upton on Long Island. They returned to Camp Funston where Frank was discharged on May 6, 1919.

Frank returned to Templeton and farming. His parents moved into Templeton in 1920 and Frank took over the farm south of Templeton. On September 20, 1927, he married Veronica Bierl in Roselle. They farmed until retiring to Manning in 1967. He died there on May 18, 1974 at age 85. He was buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Manning.