Untitled Biography of Col. Gerlach

This document is an apparent draft of a biography of Col. Frank Gerlach. It is undated and is found in the Frank Gerlach file.

Transcription

Transcription Notes

• The notation [sic] has been added where possible mistakes have been made.
• The notation [redacted] has been added where text has been mechanically overwritten.

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Colonel Frank C. Gerlach is a veteran of two wars, having served in the Spanish American War as Captain of Co. D. 8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and in the World War as Colonel of Infantry, commanding the 145th and 146th regiments

Colonel Gerlach is president of the 37th Division Battle Monument Commission. During last September and October the commission accompanied the Pilgrimage Party of of the 37th Division Veterans Association to France and Belgium, at which time the Memorials erected by the state of Ohio, to commemorate the achievements of the division were dedicated. At Eyne, Belgium a memorial bridge was erected over the Scheldt river, at which place the division forced a crossing of the river a few days before the Armistice. At Montfaucon, France, a small Memorial Hospital was erected to commemorate the divisions part in the Argonne Forest Offensive.

In 1894 he enlisted in Company D of the Eighth Regiment of Ohio National Guard. He was promoted to Captain of the company, and when the Spanish-American War came on in 1898 he commanded his company during its service in Cuba, participating in the Expedition to Santiago de Cuba.

After the war he continued an officer in the National Guard, [redacted] serving on the Mexican Border during the Winter of 1916-1917. When America entered the World War he was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the 146th Infantry. Colonel Gerlach and his command participated in of the greatest battles of the war, that of the Argonne Forest, and subsequently held a portion of the lines near Verdun. From there they were ordered to Belgium, and just before leaving for that front he was transfered [sic] to the command of the 145th infantry of the same brigade. In Belgium his regiment participated with the French and Belgium forces and made a successful crossing of the river at the village of Eyne. In that campaign he was promoted to the rank of Colonel.

Colonel Gerlach was one of the soldiers cited in [redacted] military orders and awarded the Belgium War Cross, the French Croix de Guerre and the American Distinguished Service Medal. He had been home only a few months when he was appointed postmaster of Wooster, and served for four years. [redacted] He is the commander of Buckeye Camp No. 51 United Spanish War Veterans, Past commander of Wooster Post No. 68 American Legion. Past president of the 37th Division Veterans Association. Past president of the 146th Infantry Association. A Knight Templar Mason and Shriner.
[line of redacted text]
An honorary member of the Wooster Rotary Club. He is active in all civic affairs [redacted] For many years he was affiliated with the drug business but in recent years has been an officer and director of the Wayne Building and Loan Co. at Wooster.