Description
Physical description
Membership card and badge with retaining screw.
History note
Gilbert Wien, born 29 December 1891 in Colfax, North Dakota, to Eric and Barbo Wien. As a young man he ran a threshing business and worked on the family farm. He was a bandleader, church choir director and amateur artist.
Enlisted on November 7, 1917 at Fargo, North Dakota and was sent first to Jefferson Barracks, Montana. From there he was transferred on November 28 to Camp American in Washington and was sent overseas on December 26. He was trained in gas duties and was sent to into action on March 15, 1918.
He was a member of 30th. CO.A 80 ENG. AEF, which later became 1st. CO.A Gas Regiment AEF. He was recorded as having participated in 133 actions, including the Battles of Chateau-Thierry, Belleau Wood, St.Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne.
He was gassed at some point, apparently as a result of his own gas being blown back to the release point. Their gas masks proved of little value.
He was honourably discharged on 27 February 1919 and was awarded a purple heart for his gas injuries.
On return home he married Marie Fiske on 29 November 1919. He ran a Ford dealership with his brother for some time but later returned to farming. He served as Commander of American Legion Post 228 in Colfax, North Dakota.
On his death on 29 November 1989 he had surviving two children, five grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren.
A picture of Wien plus background notes provided by the grand daughter is with the acquisition file.
A) On badge.
b) On face of membership card.
c) On reve4rse of membership card.
a) VETERAN
WORLD WAR
1917
b) WORLD WAR I ACTIONS OF
1st GAS REGIMENT
UNITED STATES
GAS 1 FLAME
REGIMENT
FOR VALOROUS SERVICE
LYS
YPRES
MESSINES
LENS - SOMME
ARMENTIERS
CHATEAU-THIERRY
MEUSE-ARGONNE
AISNE-MARNE
OISE-AISNE
ST. MIHILE
VERDUN
TOUL
1917 - 1918 - 1919
LYS - YPRES - MESSINES - LENS-SOMME - ARMENTIERES
CHATEAU -THIERRY - MEUSE - ARGONNE - AISNE-MARNE - OISE-AISNE
ST. MIHIEL - VERDUN - TOUL
c) First Gas Regiment Assn.
1972 Membership Card.
This is to certify that the person named below: is a member in good standing of this Association, is a Veteran of World War I, where he served with Honour in the Famous First Gas Regiment - a trench mortar outfit, which had more World War I front line action than any other outfit in Europe in 1917 - 1918.
MURRAY LIGON. SECY. - TREAS.
548 ST CATHERINE ST., FLORISSANT, MO.
NAME Mr. Gilbert Wien
ADDRESS 1214 7th St North
CITY Wahpeton, N. Dakota. 58075. Co. A