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Eugene Adolph Gerber
1889 — 1972
World War I
Sgt. Eugene Adolph Gerber
In May 1918, a St. Louis, Missouri newspaper published part of this photo of Eugene and also one of his brother, Louis August Gerber, and a very short account of their activities in the U.S. 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 that it was Louis who was the musical brother.
Eugene Adolph Gerber enlisted into the Army on 5 December 1917 at Jefferson Barracks, at St. Louis, Missouri. At the time, he resided in the family home at 2616 Potomac Street. He was assigned to the 8th Construction Company, Air Service. On 13 February 1919, Eugene was promoted to sergeant 1st class and served overseas from 16 March 1918 to 11 December 1918. He was honorably discharged on 27 December 1918 at Camp Dodge, Iowa.
The name of the studio in the lower right corner of the photo would suggest that the image was taken in New York before Eugene went abroad.
Sergeant Eugene Adolph Gerber and an unidentified friend during World War I.