Frederick William Jacobs (18 Jan 1896 – Jul 1918)
Frederick William Jacobs was born Jan 18, 1896 to Frederick and Mary Jacobs of Luckey, OH. Father Frederick was born about 1863 in Ohio, mother Mary was born about 1871 in Switzerland. Frederick was one of twelve children born to Frederick and Mary. The 1900 census shows the following children living with Fred and Mary Jacobs in Troy twp. Wood Co., OH: Lawrence, Stella, Clarence Elsie Dewey, Frederick W. (age 4) and Arthur Other siblings were Harry, Irvin, Frieda, Eunice and Dorothy. The Frederick Jacobs family belonged to our congregation. In the 150 years of Zion we have been very blessed to avoid the ultimate tragedy of war except for one occasion. That occasion being the death of Frederick W. Jacobs in July of 1918 when he was serving during World War I.
Fred enlisted in the army in Feb. of 1918 at the age of 22 years. 2 months, in Toledo, OH, he was born in Luckey, OH At the time of his enlistment he was living at 1939 Case St. Toledo, OH and was single. His enlistment division was “National Army LB 1.” Fred received his training with Company 8 Training Battalion Corp. Until 21 Apr 1918. He was then assigned to Company F 332 infantry National Army until 4th of July 1918. At that time he was transferred to Company K 325 Infantry where he was serving until his death. At the time of death was a private. He served in the American Expeditionary Force of World War I at St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne Defensive Sector. The Meuse-Argonne battle was the largest frontline commitment of troops by the U.S. Army in World War I, and also its deadliest. The prelude to the Meuse-Argonne attack was planned by Colonel George Marshal who managed to move US units to the front after the St. Mihiel salient fighting. The big September/October Allied breakthroughs (north, centre and south) across the length of the Hindenburg Line – including the Battle of the Argonne Forest – are now lumped together as part of what is generally remembered as the Grand Offensive (also known as the Hundred Days Offensive) by the Allies on the Western front. The Meuse-Argonne offensive, shared by the U.S. forces with the French 4th Army was the biggest operation and victory of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in World War I. The French and British armies’ ability to fight unbroken over the whole four years of the war in what amounted to a bloody stalemate is credited by some historians with breaking the spirit of the German Army on the Western Front. The Grand Offensive, including British, French and Belgian advances in the north along with the French-American advances around the Argonne forest, is in turn credited for leading directly to the Armistice on November 11. He died of wounds 17 Oct 1918 at the age of 22 2/12 years.
Upon his death Mrs. Mary F. Jacobs, mother, was notified and later received his Bible that he always carried in battle. In the Bible was a note asking to have his Bible returned to his mother, Mary Jacobs. At the time of his death he had earned the rank of Private.
Above is a copy of Fredrick W. Jacobs Military Registration Card. On the bottom left of the copy is Fred’s actual signature.