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Leonard Thomas Meshke - New London, Wisconsin

Army Rank: Private (1918).

Assigned Unit: 107^th Supply Train, 32^nd Division, Company D

Army Serial Number:

Inducted:

Promoted:

Army Discharge: 1919

Remarks:  Overseas Jan. 24, 1918 – 1919

  Torpedoed on the Transport Tuscania Feb. 5, 1918

  Member of the Tuscania Survivors Association (1938)

  Address: New London, Waupaca County, WI (1900) (1938)

  Address: Mukwa Township, Waupaca County, WI (1910)

  Address: Harrison, Lincoln County, WI (1920)

  Address: Tulelake, Siskiyou County, California (1935) (1936)

  Address: Fort Klamath, Klamath County, Oregon (1982)

Wife’s Name: Addie Frankland

  (b. Jan. 4, 1905 Illinois) (d. Nov. 16, 1985 Klamath Falls, OR)

  Married: Jan. 24, 1926

Fathers Name: Paul Ignatius Meshke

  (b. March 21, 1863 Germany) (d. March 27, 1939 New London, WI)

Mothers Name: Victoria Knapowski

  (b. Sept. 23, 1870 Germany) (d. Nov. 21, 1914 New London, WI)

Brothers: Edward, Adolph, George, John, Lewis, and Andrew

Sisters: Julia, Helen, Frances, Mary, and Katherine

Civilian Occupation:

Born: Nov. 19, 1894 New London, WI

Died: Dec. 23, 1982 Klamath Falls, OR (age 88)

Cemetery:

Plot:

My Grandfather was in the 32nd (Red Arrow) Division and was aboard the Tuscania with other New London Wisconsin boys. I have done a bit of research on the sinking of the S.S. Tuscania several years ago when I was in college. Shortly after the sinking, the New York Times printed a story about it and over several days, as information was available, also included a manifest of survivors.

As I feverishly scrolled through the news pages on micro-fiche, I found my Grandpa's name "Leonard Thomas Meshke." I must admit, it sent a chill down my spine and brought to life, in a personal way, that dreadful night during the World War. When he was alive, he told me that at the time of the torpedoing, he was playing checkers with a buddy who flipped the edge of the board and said, "we've been torpedoed!" As Grandpa raced upstairs, he had discovered the superstructure had crushed the life boat he was assigned to. To further compound the situation, he did not know how to swim! I remember him telling me about the lifeboats that dropped their human payload into the dark, icy February sea. He also recounted the rough sea state and how the small destroyer would hit the stricken Tuscania and crush those who misjudged the timing of their jump onto the destroyer. He was among the last to be taken off the ship.

Leonard Meshke, a 23 year old doughboy from New London Wisconsin, survived the war and lived 88 years. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think about him fondly. People of his like and generation gave so much to this country---his memory, and the memory of his comrades, must remain fresh and never be allowed to fade. I will always admire him with respect and thankfulness for he was truly a part of the "Greatest Generation."

Elliot Fager
April 8, 2002

Great site, My wife's great uncle, Leonard Meshke was a survivor of the Tuscania disaster.

Bob Mellberg        rmellberg{at}charter.net
June 13, 2007

Good job Elliott.

Leonard Fager      Len_fager{at}yahoo.com
December 10, 2007