Pvt. Gustave Jessen

Pvt. Gustave Jessen

United States Army • 105th Ammunition Train

World War 1 – 1917-1919

Gustave Jessen, undated photo

Gustave Jessen served in the U.S. Army from 4 October 1917 to 10 April 1919 when he was honorably discharged. Gustave born 23 August 1888 in Waseca, Minnesota, and died 12 June 1958 at White, South Dakota.

Jessen served with the 55th Field Artillery Brigade’s 105th Ammunition Train, Company D, which was part of the 30th American Division. The 55th was largely comprised of soldiers from South Carolina, however Jessen was one of approximately 24 South Dakotans in the brigade.

The 55th was among 700,000 of the American Expeditionary Forces landing in France. They served on the front from August 1918 until the Armistice.

Company D was a part of the Motor Battallion (as opposed to the Horsed Battallion or Medical, Ordinance or Veterinarian detachments or the mobile ordnance repair shop.) Prior to leaving for Europe, it was noted that the ammunition train should be motorized with a “complement of ammunition trucks, repair trucks, supply trucks and like impedimenta.” Among the vehicles that were supposed to be assigned to the group were six motor cars, 50 motorcycles with side cars, 108 cargo trucks, six baggage and ration trucks, five artillery repair trucks, three equipment repair trucks, four light repair trucks, eight supply trucks, eight tank trucks, 36 artillery caissons, and two spare guns. These assets did not materialize. At one time the train had nine three-ton Packard trucks and 26 two-ton ammunition trucks and only one motorcycle. During Jessen’s service with Company D, they fought in the Toul Sector (25 August-11 September, 1918), St. Mihiel Offensive (12 September-16 September), Meuse-Argonne Offensive (26 September-8 October, 1918), Woevre Sector (11 October- 8 November 1918) and the Second Army Offensive (9 November 1918-11 November 1918).

After the conclusion of fighting, the 105th Ammunitiion Train, along with the 115th FA Regmient (except Battery A) left St. Nazaire, France, on the ship “Queen of the Netherlands” on 13 March 1919 and arrived at Charleston, South Carolina, on 27 March 1919. Jessen would have mustered out of the service at Camp Jackson, Columbia, South Carolina.

Pvt. Gustave Jessen, United States Army • 105th Ammunition Train, World War 1 – 1917-1919

Pvt. Jessen's brick is located within the Coast Guard square at the White Area Veterans Memorial in White, South Dakota.