PHOTO

Alan Schweissinger    schweisr{at}yahoo.com       Son

Scott Schweissinger  alohascooter{at}yahoo.com  Grandson

Rachel Schweissinger  u2rent{at}sbcglobal.net      Gdaughter

Charles Albert Schweissinger Jr. - Los Angeles, CA

Army Rank: 1^st Lieutenant (1918).

Assigned Unit: 6^th Bn., 20^th Engineers, Co. E (17^th Co.)

Army Serial Number:

Inducted:

Promoted:

Army Discharge: 1919

Remarks:  Overseas Jan. 24, 1918 – 1919

  Torpedoed on the Transport Tuscania Feb. 5, 1918

  Lifeboat Survivors - Port Ellen, Islay, Scotland Feb. 5, 1918

  University of California Graduate (1912)

  Address: 625 Loomis St., Los Angeles, California (1918)

  Address: 754 East 14^th St., Los Angeles, California (1920)

Wife’s Name: Anna Lamont McFadden

    (b. May 24, 1894 CA) (d. May 23, 1978 Sacramento, CA)

Fathers Name:  Charles Albert Schweissinger Sr.

Mothers Name: Johanna Schweissinger

  (b. May 28, 1857 Germany)

Sister: Ethel Schweissinger

Civilian Occupation: Structural Engineer

Born: March 24, 1888 Waco, Texas

Died:  April 25, 1974 California

Cemetery: Santa Ana Cemetery, Orange County, California

Plot:

My father, 1st Lieut. Charles Albert Schweissinger, 20th Engineers was aboard Tuscania, when he landed in the water he was too weak to crawl onto the raft because of sickness. This raft & an adjoining one stayed at sea all night because they knew how rocky the coast was & effected a safe landing at daylight. He spent 6 wks in Edinburgh because of the flue, I suspect it was H5N1 influenza. I too, have a long photo of the 20th standing in the snow in D.C. before they left for France & some newspaper clipping from the L.A. Times, but little else. My father told me he was saved on Friday the 13th, and that the loss of life was over 600 which was obviously incorrect. I have always been more interested in WW2; however after reading about the Great Influenza of 1918, WWI has sparked my interest. I’m sure many men were sick with h5n1 influenza when they left America or got sick on board. This was a senseless war & cost many lives, I compliment you on all the work you have put in on this sad story.

Alan Schweissinger

July 21, 2007

My Grandfather, Charles Albert Schweissinger was aboard the Tuscania when it sank. He was adrift in a lifeboat and landed in Scotland where he was treated. My Father recently gave me the book "Crusade and Pilgrimage" and it provides some information on the Tuscania and the Gold Star Mothers group. Thanks for the wonderful website. I know "Papa" would be very proud to know that he and his crew are still remembered and honored this way.

Scott A. Schweissinger
April 22, 2007

I am very happy to have access to historical information regarding the SS Tuscania incident. This website is an invaluable source in learning more about what Charles A. Schweissinger Jr, my grandfather, experienced on that night.

Rachel Schweissinger

July 12, 2007