BOYS WHO WENT TO FORREST ARE BACK
Men called by Draft on August 18 Last return in a Body last of the week.
Manning Monitor 1919
The first considerable number of Carroll county boys to return home in a body arrived the latter part of last week, when twenty of the thirty-three men who were called to Camp Forrest, Georgia, on August 13, pulled into Carroll. These boys were members of the 468th Engineers, Pontoon Train, and spent every minute of their time in service from the hour they left Carroll until they returned together. With them there were a number of Crawford County boys, who also went and came home at the same time, so the Carroll County boys were never in strange company.
Two members of the original contingent who left here on August 13 will not return. They are Walter E Davenport of Lanesboro and Arthur Stang of Halbur.
These boys died in the service in France, having fallen victim to the influenza scourge. Several others are now in the 605th Engineers in France, while three of four did not get across at all.
After a stay of six weeks at Camp Forrest, these boys were taken to New York, whence they sailed on September 29 for Brest. They spent most of their time in training at Bannes, France, and were scheduled for active service on November 15, at which time the French and American armies were to open a grand offensive against Metz. The surrender of the German armies in the meantime prevented their seeing active service by just four days. They left St. Nazaire February 23 and arrived in New York March 7.
Their passage to France was made on one of the ill-fated ships that carried the influenza with it, and they had the harrowing experiences of having many of their shipmates die en route across. At one time they put back for America and sailed westward for a day, when they met another ship which relieved them of their dead and they then turned about.
The names of the boys who returned last week are:
William Struve, Manning
Herman Opperman, Manning
Emil J.W. Opperman, Manning
Henry Uhlenkamp, Templeton
Albert L Bruch, Carroll
Frank E. Meyers, Carroll
Henry J. Bernholtz, Carroll
Frank Sporrer, Templeton
Anton Wegman, Breda
F.J. Schirck, Carroll
John H. Wurzer, Carroll
Louie H. Kalkhoff, Templeton
Elmer G. Bentson, Lanesboro
George Willenborg, Templeton
David S. Wiederin, Carroll
John Anthofer, Carroll
William Koenig, Halbur
George N. Wernimont, Audubon
Tony J. Knobbe, Carroll

Herman Opperman, 82, was found dead of natural causes at his home in Manning Monday, November 17, 1969. He was a retired farmer and Manning's oldest World War I veteran.

Military rites will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Ohde Funeral Home, Manning, with the Rev. Robert Rushing, minister of the Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial will be in the Manning Cemetery. Great-nephews will be pallbearers.

Mr. Opperman, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Opperman, was born October 24, 1887, in Iowa Township, Crawford County. He attended rural schools, and served overseas in World War I.

He farmed near Manning before moving into town about 12 years ago. He lived alone.

He was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars Posts at Manning.

Surviving are two nephews, Emil and Rudy Opperman of Manning; and three nieces, Mrs. Lena Ranniger, Carroll; Mrs. Amanda Pfoltner, Manning; and Mrs. Ruby AmRhein, Omaha.

Mr. Opperman was preceded in death by three brothers, John, Hannes, and William; and three sisters, Mrs. August (Annie) Gephardt, Mrs. John (Hattie) Schroeder, and Mrs. Emil (Theresa) Klindt.