Charles Robert Hagerstrom

Charles Hagerstrom died on August 9th, 1918 from wounds in battle. His father was William Hagerstrom, and he was the first one to find out about Charles' death. The telegram read as, "Deeply regret to inform you that is officially reported that Private Charles Robert Hagerstrom, of the field artillery, had died August 9th, 1918 of wounds received in action."

Charles Hagerstrom has a VFW Post named for him, called the Hagarstrom-Rude Post. This post can be found on Reddin Road in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. Charles Hagarstrom was in Battery B from Milwaukee, having been transferred from Troop G when the Grand Rapids Company was made into the artillery unit.

It will also be remembered that during this time period was when the Marshfield Company lost such a large amount of its effectives. Also another couple of things we can remember about this man was he had fought for our freedom in World War I and was also the first Grand Rapids boy to die in action in France.

Cody Kulas, Student
East Junior High, Wisconsin Rapids

WWI, a war where many died and many survived but all put forth the effort to serve and protect our country. World War I was one of the first wars that took a toll on our country. It made a difference in all households even if there were no family members in the war itself. The war started in 1914 and went until 1918.

Charles Hagerstrom was the first man to become a casualty of WWI, from Grand Rapids. He was born in 1898 and deceased on the date of August 17, 1918. He reported for service in Milwaukee He died in a base hospital behind St. Gilles. He was a private enlisted with the Battery B, 120th Field Artillery of the 57th Brigade.

On the date of March 4, 1918 he sailed from New Jersey to Europe. When he arrived he entered the combat zone after training at Leharve, France. His first battle arrived on the date of June 10, 1918. His battery moved into the defense position facing the enemy ready for whatever was to happen next. They approached their next battle on August 4, 1918. They were in a village at St. Gilles. Three days later he was wounded in action and was brought to the base hospital where he later tied. Two years after his death he was returned home for his funeral. Along with being the first to die from Grand Rapids, Hagerstrom was also the first WWI member to return home for his funeral.

The Daily Leader estimated that at this memorable event there were over 200 in attendance. Every former serviceman was present, entitled to march in uniform, in the procession from the Armory to Forest Hill Cemetery. Eight of Hagerstrom�s former members of the 120th field in France acted as the respectful pallbearers. Reverend C. Madsen, from Scandinavian Moravian Church, the church that Hagerstrom attended, opened the funeral with an invocation. An anthem was to follow, performed by the choir of Hagerstrom�s church, which he also was a member of.

Well the telegram that Hagerstrom�s father received the morning of his son�s death read as this: Mr. William Hagerstrom, 549 10th Street, Grand Rapids, Wisconsin. �Deeply regret reported that it is officially reported that Private Charles Robert Hagerstrom, Field Artillery, died August 9th from wounds received in action.� Making Charles Hagerstrom the first boy from Grand Rapids to die in the service of his country, so far as is known. It was said by a former member of the 120th that Hagerstrom was like the humble laborer whom the people of biblical times had rewarded for his service to God and country by burial among the kings.

Brandon Luedtke
East Junior High School