Missouri Women in the War

Red Cross worker, SHS C0848

In commemoration of Women's History Month, Missouri Over There project staff have compiled a list of primary sources from across the state that highlight the many ways Missouri women took part in World War I.

Dr. Powers & the Influenza Outbreak at Camp Dodge

Images Courtesy of The Powers Museum

Everett Powers, the tenth child of Dr. John and Maria Powers, was born on June 2, 1869 in Labaddie, Franklin County, Missouri. After receiving his medical degree, Dr. Powers established an ear, eye, nose, and throat specialty practice in Carthage, Missouri in 1902. Dr. Powers served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during World War I. He was stationed at Camp Dodge, Iowa where he witnessed and wrote about the influenza outbreak firsthand.

Spirit of the American Doughboy

One of the unmistakable landmarks in Bolivar, Missouri is the statue of a World War I soldier on the courthouse lawn. Named “The Spirit Of The American Doughboy,” the statue was designed by Ernest Moore Viquesney. Dedicated on November 11, 1925, it honors Polk County men who served in the war.

 

 

The Diary of Captain Clarence James Minick

Captain Clarence James Minick

Born to George and Sarah Minick on January 14, 1893, in Orrick, Missouri, Clarence James Minick, known as “Jim” to his friends and family, was one of many to take part in the Mexican Border Service and World War I.  While little is known about Minick’s Mexican Border Service, he took special care to reproduce his World War I story.  Though Minick’s collection at the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial (in Kansas City, Missouri) includes documents and photographs that aid in recreating his view of the war, the one artifact that best summarizes his experience overseas is a diary.

St. Louisan, John Franklin Hardesty, Led Plot to Free Americans From German Prison

Villingen, Germany  Prison Camp Identification Card

John Franklin Hardesty (1887-1953) was born in Winfield, Lincoln County, Missouri. He earned a Bachelor of Science and doctorate of medicine degree from St. Louis University in 1914. In June 1917, Hardesty entered the U.S. Army Medical Corps and volunteered to serve as a surgeon with the British Army during World War I. Hardesty transferred to the 51st Division of the British Army, or the “Seaforth Highlanders” and was captured as a prisoner of war at Amiens in March 1918. He was imprisoned at Ratstatt and Villingen Prisoner of War camps for eight months. Shortly after Hardesty’s capture, his parents received a letter from Major Johnson of the British Forces. Hardesty had been serving with Major Johnson's Battalion when he was captured. An excerpt from the letter is below.

“On 22nd inst. This Battalion was heavily attacked by the enemy. Your son, who had just returned from a few days’ leave in Paris, was on duty in his aid post in our trenches. There was severe fighting and of course your son was kept very busy with many wounded. In their final attack the Germans came on in overwhelming numbers regardless of loss and what was left of the battalion had to give ground a bit. This meant the enemy captured the trench in which the aid post was situated.”