Harry M. Bouser - U.S. Navy

Harry M. Bouser ca. 1917

Harry M. Bouser, a resident of Carthage, Missouri, was 26 years old when he enlisted in the United States Navy in April of 1917.  Bouser was assigned to the U.S. Transport Service and served on three different transport vessels throughout the war. Bouser was part of the crew of the USS President Lincoln when it was torpedoed in May of 1918 on its journey back to the U.S. from France. Bouser floated on a raft for 18 hours before being rescued.

Project staff recently had the opportunity to review and scan letters, photos and postcards related to Harry Bouser’s service. Below are some of the photos in the collection and an account of the sinking of the USS President Lincoln.






Harry Bouser was a cook on board the USS President Lincoln when it was torpedoed in the Atlantic.  The USS President Lincoln was a former German passenger cargo steamship of the Hamburg-American Line. She was trapped in U.S. seaports when the war started in 1914. The U.S. Navy seized and converted her to a transport ship in April 1917. The USS President Lincoln made five trips to France and transported about 23,000 American soldiers. She was on her fifth and final journey home when the German submarine U-90 hit her with three torpedoes. Out of the 715 persons on board, 689 survived the sinking of the USS President Lincoln and were rescued and taken back to Brest, France.

Coupon for service while aboard USS President Lincoln

In a letter written to a family member of a fellow seaman in 1974, Bouser described his ordeal on the USS President Lincoln.

"About 9 am May 31, 1918, three torpedoes in quick succession struck and exploded in under water compartments of the Lincoln.. in 18 minutes she was below the choppy sea. Out crew saved without injury about forty sick and wounded soldier passengers. Loss to the crew, 3 officers and 23 enlisted men. I, like your dad, spent hours on a raft. I was alone on mine. The German submarine U-90 that we learned had fired the torpedoes, cruised among our lifeboats and rafts seeking our Commander Percy Foote, U.S.N. They came first to my raft. I was hauled partly on board...however, as we moved slowly ahead, we came to a lifeboat in charge of Lieut. Edourd Izac. He had bright gold braid on his sleeves and I was in an old working suit with none. I was let slide back to my broken raft and Lieut. Izac taken prisoner of war to Germany."

Harry M. Bouser, ca. 1917

Carthage Evening Press, n.d.

Also included in this collection are several photographs of Harry M. Bouser, two Navy postcards, and a letter that Bouser wrote home, shortly after one of his trips overseas.

Sources:

Documents and photos courtesy of Jan Van Camp, a descendant of Harry M. Bouser.

Soldiers' Records: War of 1812---World War I, http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/soldiers/, accessed  October 8, 2014.

USS President Lincoln (1917-19180)--Sinking, 31 May 1918, http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-p/p-lncn-l.htm