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		Private 1st Class Joseph Francis Lorenz United States Army 150th Machine Gun Battalion, 42nd Rainbow Division
		The Beginning of a Doughboy
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Joseph Francis Lorenz was born in the United States, the fourth child of immigrant parents Franz Josef and Rosa Elisabetha (nee Heidler) Lorenz. This is a short history of Joseph's life, and a tribute to him and others like him, some first generation Americans, who fought and died for this country in the Great War.

Born May 15, 1896 in Cincinnati, Ohio
Died November 21, 1918 in France

Many thanks to those who wrote down or told their memories for me to share,

Rose Lorenz Bertsch, Luella Lorenz Cochran Davis, Josephine Lorenz Lightner, Pauline Bertsch Minke, Hugh Bertsch, and Katherine Bertsch Compagno

Judith Lightner Baker, January 2003

Special gratitude and acknowledgement to Frank and Rosa's descendents and their spouses who have been or are currently in the service of our country.

Four generations have served in the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines. Some saw action in the Mexican border wars, World War I, World War II, and Operation Enduring Freedom in the Middle East. Some were part of the broad number of military during the time of the Korean conflict, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War.

Private 1st Class Joseph Francis Lorenz
United States Army, 150th MGB, 42nd Rainbow Division
(son to Frank and Rosa)

1st Lieutenant Luella Lorenz Cochran
United States Army Nurse Corp, AEF Europe
(daughter to Frank and Rosa)

Private 1st Class Frank M. Cochran
United States Marines, USS Pio Pico
(son-in-law married to daughter Luella)

Warrant Officer Anthony (Anton) Lorenz
United States Navy, Yangtse River Patrol and USS Cascade
(nephew to Frank and Rosa, called "son")

Staff Sergeant William Adolph Bertsch
Battlefield commission to 2nd Lt. United States Army, WWI

2nd Lieutenant William Adolph Bertsch
United States Air Force, WWII
(son-in-law, married to daughter Rose)

1st Lieutenant Hugh Cecil Bertsch
United States Army
(grandson to Frank and Rosa, son of William and Rose Lorenz Bertsch)

1st Lieutenant Joseph Francis Bertsch
United States Army, AEF Europe
(grandson to Frank and Rosa, son of William and Rose Lorenz Bertsch)

Captain Charles James Bertsch
United States Army Signal Corps, Alaska
(great-grandson to Frank and Rosa, son of Joseph and Margaret Bertsch)

Commander John Compagno
United States Navy, Medical
married to great-granddaughter Katherine, daughter to Hugh and Olga)

Captain Karl Minke
United States Army, South Pacific
(grandson-in-law, married to granddaughter Pauline Bertsch, daughter of William and Rose)

Corporal Anthony Frank Lorenz
United States Army, Co. B, 28th Infantry, Co. C, 48th Infantry
(son to Frank and Rosa)

Spec 3rd Class Ralph Joseph Lorenz
United States Army, Army Signal Corps
(grandson to Frank and Rosa, son of Anthony and Eva)

Chief Petty Officer, Michael John Lorenz
United States Navy, Submariner
(great-grandson to Frank and Rosa, son of Ralph and Jane Lorenz)

Seaman Deborah Jean Lorenz
United States Navy
(great-granddaughter to Frank and Rosa, daughter of Ralph and Jane Lorenz)

Private Trenton Troy Tetting
United States Army
(great-great-grandson to Frank and Rosa, daughter of Deborah Lorenz Tetting)

Staff Sergeant Dale Leonard Baker
United States Air Force, Korea
(grandson-in-law, married to granddaughter Judith, daughter to Walton and Josephine Lorenz Lightner)

Lieutenant Christopher Michael Baker
United States Navy, Aviator, Far East, Middle East
(great-grandson to Frank and Rosa, son of Dale and Judith Lightner Baker)

Lieutenant Angela Jaime Baker
United States Navy, Aviator, Far East, Middle East
(great-granddaughter-in-law, married to great-grandson Christopher Baker, son of Dale and Judy)

Staff Sergeant John Carlton Kester
United States Army, Ohio National Guard
(married to granddaughter Luella Lightner, daughter to Walton and Josephine Lorenz Lightner)

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