THE Government called for 150,000 Class A men for service April 26th, 1918, Jones County’s number being twenty-seven. Victor Shimanek was one of the boys, from this city, who reported at Anamosa for duty. He was sent to Camp Dodge with the contingent from this county, where he remained only a short time, being transferred to Camp Travis, Texas. Here he received most of his training as a soldier and was sent to Camp Merritt, N. J., from where he departed overseas the 17th of June. His regiment landed safely in Liverpool, where they celebrated July 4th with thousands of other American boys.

In a very short time he was sent to France to take part in the fighting and had his first encounter with the enemy September 12th, in the St. Mihiel Sector. Here he remained in the front line trenches for a month and the last letter received by relatives in this city was dated October 11th, at which time he had been sent back of the lines for a much needed rest. With his company, D, 358th Inft., he took part in the Sedan drive, and it was during the heavy fighting around this sector that he fell in action November 2nd. Victor, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Shimanek, was born in this city August 3rd, 1891, and reached his twenty-seventh birthday last August. His entire life, with the exception of the seven months in the army, was spent in this community, part of the time in this city and the balance on the farm near here where the home was made. Before entering the service he was employed by the Iowa Creamery Co., of this city, which position he willingly resigned to answer his country’s call. He made the supreme sacrifice and gave his all to his country, but his name represents a golden star in the service flag of our city, which will forever be remembered.

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Last updated on Friday, 16-Apr-2021 16:55:22 MST