Hugo Schroeder

Hugo Schroeder, Camp Funston, Kansas

Last year, project staff was put in contact with Hugo Schroeder’s daughter, Velma Schroeder Rohan, by the Jefferson Barracks POW-MIA Museum staff. The organization had been working with Velma, who was trying to obtain the Purple Heart and Prisoner of War Medals that her father was entitled too. Velma brought in a small collection of items from her father's World War I service to the Missouri History Museum. These items have been digitized by Over There project staff and will be available on our website soon. Information on Hugo Schroeder's military service is below:



Hugo Schroeder at the hospital recovering from
his injuries.

Hugo Schroeder was born in New Haven, Missouri on August 6, 1895. He was inducted into the Army on September 19, 1917.  Schroeder completed his training at Camp Funston, Kansas. On April 25, 1918, he deployed to France with Company "C" 140^th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division. Schroeder's unit saw action in the Toul Sector and at Meuse- Argonne.  He was wounded during the Battle of Argonne. A bullet went through his right leg, below the knee and amputation of his leg was necessary.  When Schroeder was injured, he lay in a downpour of rain for nearly 24 hours.  Germans, who were passing through the battlefield, began killing any American soldiers still alive.  Schroeder, the son of German immigrants, somehow was able to convince them to spare his life. He was taken to a German prison camp at Rastatt, Germany.  Schroeder was eventually released and taken to a hospital in Lyon, France.  Here the doctors had to amputate his leg.

Excerpts from newspapers that described Schroeder's experiences during the war and in the hospital at  Fort Sheridan.

When Schroeder returned to the United States, he received medical care at the Military Hospital in Ft. Sheridan, Illinois.  Above, is an interesting story about his time in this hospital.  Schroeder was discharged from the Army on November 6, 1919.  He tried his hand at several businesses after leaving the Army. In the 1920s he owned a shoe repair business. In the 1930s Schroeder was a farmer and in the 1940s he opened an orchard on Olive Street in St. Louis. Schroeder remained in St. Louis until his death in 1980 at the age of 85.

Excerpt from Hugo Schroeder's Discharge Certificate

Sources:

Hugo Schroeder Collection, Velma Rohan Schroeder, Private Donor