JOVE23 Posted 29 July , 2011 Share Posted 29 July , 2011 Hello all, I am doing a little family research and have come across two soldiers who were members of the American 32nd Division during the Great War. The first, my great grandfather, Valdemar W. Ove was attached to the HQ Company of the 57th Field Artillery Brigade. My great grand uncle Max Polak was in Co. K, 127th Infantry and earned the Silver Star for actions in the Bois de Gesnes on 4 Oct 1918. I was hoping that someone here had more info on either of these men, in particular a more complete AAR for my great grand uncle's actions on that day: the official citation mentions only that he "remained at his post under heavy fire." Additionally, if by chance anyone here has a picture of my great grand uncle or could visit the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and photograph his grave (Plot D, Row 20 Grave 11) I would be very grateful. Thank you in advance, Justin Ove Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Burns Posted 2 August , 2011 Share Posted 2 August , 2011 Hi Justin, Interestingly Max Polak PFC Co K, 127th Infantry is listed as being KIA on October 15, 1918 in the 32nd Division's Roll of Honor. Address is listed as 1077 12th St. Milwaukee WI his next of kin is his Father Vincent Polak. Hope this helps, Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFBSM Posted 2 August , 2011 Share Posted 2 August , 2011 Also found the following in the WWI, WWII, and Korean War Casualty Listings database on Ancestry: Name:Max PolakState Registered:Wisconsin Death Date:5 Oct 1918 Cemetery:Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery Cemetery Burial Plot:Plot D Row 20 Grave 11 Cemetery City:Romagne Cemetery Country:France War:World War I Title:Private First Class, U.S. Army Rank:Private First Class Service:U.S. Army Division:127th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division Data Source:World War I Honor Roll Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOVE23 Posted 24 August , 2011 Author Share Posted 24 August , 2011 Mark and Neil, Thank you very much for this information. Unfortunately, I have all of this already (I'm an ancestry member, too). I was hoping that someone had a unit diary of the 127th which would shed more light on Max's actions on the 4th apart from "stayed at his position despite heavy enemy fire." Thank you, Justin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOVE23 Posted 20 November , 2011 Author Share Posted 20 November , 2011 A quick update: I've obtained pages from the unit history of the 127th that deal with the Oct. 1918 time frame, but there's no mention of Max. I wonder if there are any other resources available to me that will help this search? Thanks, Justin EDIT: I am attaching the pages from the book that I was sent for your perusal. There are some interesting stories in here. Additionally, I've located a picture of Max in the Milwaukee Public Library and have sent away for a copy. Link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOVE23 Posted 23 November , 2011 Author Share Posted 23 November , 2011 Question: Is a unit history the same thing as a war diary? I would think a war diary would have some more information about the 2 days in question. My great uncle did something worthy of earning the 3rd highest decoration for bravery in the US Army and there's not a word of it in the unit history! Might I have better luck with the diary? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOVE23 Posted 15 July , 2012 Author Share Posted 15 July , 2012 Question for the pals, who have doubtless seen far more period photographs than I. How old does this fellow look to you? A cousin sent this to me and made a wild guess that it was Max, but I have doubts. Max would have been 19 or thereabouts when he enlisted. Uploaded with ImageShack.us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOVE23 Posted 15 May , 2013 Author Share Posted 15 May , 2013 Fairly important updates in my research: The National Archives has found the citation for Max's Silver Star, and grave location blanks that showed where he was initially buried. They also had a relevant map to cross-reference the coordinates given. I now know within 10 meters where Max was killed. I have also received the relevant pages from the unit war diary about the day in question, which doesn't add a whole lot to the picture. I am hoping there are some more experts on the forum that have done some digging on this battle that can paint a better picture of the engagement which claimed my ancestor's life. Here is the medal citation (large file) Here is the estimated area where my ancestor was killed and buried Here are the pages of the war diary (Page 1) (Page 2) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 15 May , 2013 Share Posted 15 May , 2013 Glad to see you are making progress! Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOVE23 Posted 15 May , 2013 Author Share Posted 15 May , 2013 Thanks for the encouragement! In case anyone wants to see the Verdun A map that my friend used to get the coordinates, I mention it and link to it in this thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOVE23 Posted 4 January , 2014 Author Share Posted 4 January , 2014 Seeing as I've found out about all I can find out about the Bois du Chene Sec, I decided to look back at his service record and see what other battles he was involved with to get a better idea of his movements during the war. He arrived in France on 18 Feb, 1918 and was involved in the following: Alsace Fismes Juvigny Verdun Bois du Chene (I am assuming this is Bois du Chene Sec where he was KIA) Does anyone have any information on the generalities of the above actions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOVE23 Posted 28 July , 2014 Author Share Posted 28 July , 2014 UPDATE: Milwaukee Public Library has finally released the WWI photos collection. Here is Max Polak. Do we think that the gentleman in the photo above and Max are the same person? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Langdon Posted 28 July , 2014 Share Posted 28 July , 2014 They are at different angles and the light's entirely different but I think more yes than no (mouth, ears...) Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Feledziak Posted 28 July , 2014 Share Posted 28 July , 2014 Looks good to me. Either way great Picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOVE23 Posted 29 July , 2014 Author Share Posted 29 July , 2014 They are at different angles and the light's entirely different but I think more yes than no (mouth, ears...) Mike Max??.jpg Strikes me how old he looks on the left, when he couldn't have been any older than 18 or 19 when that picture was taken! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 29 July , 2014 Share Posted 29 July , 2014 I believe they are the same man. Great find! Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Feledziak Posted 4 October , 2018 Share Posted 4 October , 2018 (edited) Remembering MAX POLAK ( 100 years ago ) 5th October 1918. Probably saved many of his fellow Americans that day, But paid the ultimate sacrifice - Proper HERO !! Edited 4 October , 2018 by Martin Feledziak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Langdon Posted 4 October , 2018 Share Posted 4 October , 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Feledziak Posted 24 June , 2019 Share Posted 24 June , 2019 I paid a visit to Max the day before yesterday. I will post up some photos when I can get them off my Dslr. the site remains epic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Feledziak Posted 28 June , 2019 Share Posted 28 June , 2019 Here is the cross for Max. The surrounding crosses almost appear as angels around him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Feledziak Posted 7 October , 2019 Share Posted 7 October , 2019 Remembering Max and Company K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Feledziak Posted 5 October , 2020 Share Posted 5 October , 2020 Remembering Max this day 5th October Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Feledziak Posted 4 October , 2021 Share Posted 4 October , 2021 (edited) Remembering Max. Edited 4 October , 2021 by Martin Feledziak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Feledziak Posted 5 October , 2023 Share Posted 5 October , 2023 (edited) Remembering Max today . Edited 5 October , 2023 by Martin Feledziak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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