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Louis August Gerber
1892 — 1958
Louis August Gerber as a young man.
A Soldier in World War I
Louis enlisted into the U.S. Army on 24 November 1917 at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. At the time, he resided in the family home at 2616 Potomac Street (not 1616, as stated in the newspaper notice, below). He had training in mechanical drawing and work experience as a pattern maker and woodworker. He was initially assigned to the Mechanical Repair Shops, Motor Transport Corp, at Camp Meigs, Washington, D.C. He served overseas from 4 January 1917 to 11 June 1919 (from 17 January 1918 to 1 June 1919 in France). He was honorably discharged with the rank of private 1st class from Repair Unit 301 on 12 July 1919 at Camp Zachary Taylor, Kentucky.
In May 1918, a St. Louis, Missouri newspaper published photos of Louis and his brother, Eugene Adoph Gerber, and a very short account of their activities in the Army:
Sergt. Eugene A. Gerber of 1616 Potomac street sent a letter home in which he says he expects to leave for France at almost any hour. He is with the 8th Coast Company, Signal Corps, England. His brother, Louis A. Gerber, has been with the Headquarters Detachment in France for some time. In his letter he stated that he had formed a band of which he is a bugler.
The article seems to imply that Eugene was the bugler, but family photographs and lore indicate the Louis was the brother with the musical inclination.
Louis was an officer of the Naphtali Lodge No. 25, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons (A. F. & A. M.), St. Louis, Missouri. He was Junior Deacon in 1927; Junior Warden in 1928 and Worshipful Master in 1930.