Morning Reports for David Nemetzky - Tientsin, China: 1924-1925

The finds just keep coming this year...I'm so glad to be making up lost time from the halt on my research that COVID imposed. Fold3.com is beginning to publish the morning reports for the different Army units from 1912 through WWII. A couple of days ago, they published the first morning reports for the Medical Department - Tientsin, China; where David Nemetzky was stationed from March of 1924 through October of 1925 - his second time serving in China. 

Below are the images of the morning reports for David Nemetzky from Tientsin, Chins from 1924 & 1925. They are nothing more than entries in a log book for each day of the month, giving a brief entry for each day and any changes that happened among the personnel for that given day. There are five entries for him in the morning reports: March 1924, July 1924, November 1924 (two entries) and October 1925.

March 1924: March 31 – Staff Sgt. Nemidski Jd. for duty pp 7 S.O. 14 Hq. 8th Corp Area Jan. 17, 24 and par. 1 S.O. 35 HQ A.F.C. Mar. 30, 24.

July 1924: July 4 – S. Sgt. Nemetzky authorized to mess separately, per 3rd Ind., C.O. Am. Bks.

November 1924: November 21 – Staff Sgt Nemetzky D/S at Chingwantao left station 10 a.m.; and November 23 – Staff Sgt. Nemetzky D/S to Duty 1:15 a.m.

October 1925: October 11 – Staff Sgt. D. Nemetzky trsfd to Letter Gen’l Hosp…left the station at 11pm

I'm not sure how many of these morning reports will be published for the Medical Department. I don't know if all the locations where he served will be available, or if there are gaps in the chronology or the availability of the morning reports that are being published. Another question is the condition or readability of the images that are being (or will be) published (as a side note: the images of the monthly rosters from 1912-1939 that are being indexed and published on Family Search vary as to readability - many are readable while others are less than readable. I don't know the quality of the images of the morning reports and am hoping they are all readable). We shall see.

I think what I will do is save and publish these as they become available. I'm hoping that many of the morning reports for the places where he served will be available and that I can add this additional source of information to what I have already put together.

1912 General Court Martial of David Nemetzky

January 7, 1912: After being at sea for just over a month, the U.S. Army Transport Ship Logan arrives at Manila in the Philippine Islands. Private David Nemetzky, along with numbers of other military personnel assigned to the Hospital Corps, Infantry, and other Army regiments, are aboard. In five days, The Logan will set sail to the port at Chinwangtao, China, where these soldiers will be assigned to Tientsin, China to begin their assigned foreign tour of service. For Private Nemetzky, this transfer has been a long time coming. Following five years and nine months of his previous military service (from January of 1904 to September of 1909), he took some time to go back to New York to be with family and pursue a shirt manufacturing business venture with his brother. 

On March 30, 1911, he re-enlisted in the Army, and was assigned directly to the Hospital Corps. After spending much of 1911 at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island, New York (he also spent part of 1909 assigned there as a member of the Hospital Corps as well), transfer to foreign service was an exciting change. His orders came through in November, and on December 5, 1911, the Logan set sail from San Francisco, California, bound for the Philippine Islands.

Upon arrival in Manila, the men disembarked and reported to their stations, where they would be attached for a few days before continuing their voyage to China. For Private Nemetzky and the other Hospital Corps personnel, they would report to the Division Hospital in Manila. As a temporary detachment, there wasn't much to do, except take in the new foreign flavor of Manila. On the 11th of January, orders were given for the soldiers who were to depart to report back to the Logan and board. They all did so that evening at 6:30, but knowing the ship wouldn't sail until the next day, many stowed their gear and headed back to town to get one last entertaining evening before heading out to their assignment. 

As there appeared to be no direct orders to remain on the ship following boarding, (in addition to there being no assigned duty to tend to), Private Nemetzky did the same. He conferred with one of the sentries at the gang plank, who stated that to his knowledge, there was no order to remain on the ship and that he could leave. He, along with many others from his detachment, went to downtown Manila to enjoy themselves for one last night before heading to China. He stayed the night at the Division Hospital and returned around eight the next morning and heard that the ship wouldn't leave until five o'clock that afternoon. He continued to check back during the morning and in the afternoon...until it was too late. 

The ship embarked at 2:30 that afternoon. He arrived back at the dock at nearly three o'clock to find that the ship had already left. He met a dock employee and offered to pay him $25 to get a launch or tug boat to catch up with the Logan so that he could catch the ship. Unfortunately, the ship was too far out by that time. Had he arrived at the dock 10 or 15 minutes earlier, he could have done so, as there was another soldier who had missed the ship and was lucky enough to hire a small launch to get him aboard. As it was, Private Nemetzky was left behind, his gear on its way to China without him.

To be fair, there was no clear communication as to when the ship would depart. The times of departure of the Logan were changed, and even the newspapers that published the times of arrival and departure gave conflicting statements. Despite his own best efforts to be early to the launch, he missed the boat due to a lack of clear communication and relying on hearsay of those whom he was acquainted with, as well as believing that since he didn't see anyone he knew on the ship when he checked back during the morning of January 12th, he assumed that others he knew were still back in town enjoying themselves.

He wasn't alone in this predicament. There were several soldiers assigned to the 15th Infantry who had also missed the ship. No doubt they would also face charges of going AWOL, as he would soon face as well. As he had missed the boat, and had nowhere else to go, he reported back to the Division Hospital. He explained that he had tried to hire a launch boat to catch up with the transport, but was unable to do so. He later learned that the Logan was scheduled to leave at 12 noon, and that if he had stayed aboard when he first arrived on the morning of the 12th, he would have sailed to China with the rest of his detachment.

Following this failure to remain on board, he was charged with AWOL, placed under arrest and confined to the Division Hospital. He was tried by General Court Martial on March 18, 1912. At the court martial, Private Nemetzky was asked how long he had served in the Army. At this point, he had served for seven years. His two previous discharges (in 1908 and 1909) he was discharged with 'Excellent' character. His first discharge in 1907, he was given a 'Good' character due to his previous court martial in 1904. He was asked why he hadn't followed through with the order to board the Logan and remain either on board or remain in the vicinity. He explained that he checked with the sentries, he talked with others (those whom he did not directly report to), he saw other solders he knew leaving and spending the evening in town, and that he checked back and was told the transport wouldn't leave until later in the day on the 12th.

He was found guilty of AWOL. He was sentenced to four months of hard labor and a $10 reduction in pay. The reviewing authority, noting the circumstances of this case, reduced the sentence to two month and $10 reduction in pay. He served his sentence at Cuartel de Espana in Manila. Following completion of his sentence, he was given orders to take the next available transport to China, which he did. He arrived in China on June 20, 1912 and was stationed at the Army Hospital in Tientsin, China. He served there until January of 1914, when he was transferred back to Manila with orders to return to the United States for discharge. He returned to the United States on March 16, 1914, and was discharged on March 24, 1914, with 'Excellent' Character and Service 'Honest and Faithful'.

He would later return to China in March of 1924, again by way of Manila. This time, however, there was no going AWOL, no missing the boat, no being casual about knowing the time of departure. Also, by this time (1924) he was a Staff Sergeant, so any court martial would mean a reduction in rank, something I don't think he would want to have happen. His second tour in China would last until October of 1925, when he was assigned back to the States. 1924-1925 would be his last tour of foreign duty in the Army.

General Court Martial Order, April 3, 1912

1904 Court Martial of David Nemetzky

Last month, I posted on the early days of David Nemetzky in the Army (1904-1909). After two years, the easing of COVID has brought the reopening of the National Archives, and the increased availability of records that are held there. This past weekend, I received copies of two General Courts Martial for David Nemetzky; one in 1904 (this post) and one in 1912 (to be the next post). The General Court Martial that he faced in 1904 was due to his desertion from the Cavalry in  April of 1904.

He enlisted in the Cavalry on January 14, 1904 at New York City (705 6th Avenue) and was sent to Fort Slocum, New York, just north of The Bronx on the coast of Long Island Sound. David Nemetzky was 5'3" He was one of 90 Cavalry recruits who arrived at Fort Slocum during the month of January. In February, he and 60 other Cavalry recruits left fort Slocum and were assigned to Camp George H. Thomas in Georgia, arriving there on February 11th. 

It would have been immediately after arriving that drill would have commenced. This would have included learning how to mount and ride a horse. During drill, it was noted that for the most part, he drilled with quiet and well behaved horses. However, in March and April of 1904, he received injuries while learning to ride a horse due to drilling with what was called 'a hard mouthed horse'. The first injury occurred on March 1, 1904. In his own words: 'My first accident, was when I was in the bull-ring with 2nd Lt [J.A.] Shannon, taking mounted exercise, and I had to get off the horse and as soon as I got off the horse, the horse started to run away and I tried to catch him and just as I tried, the horse raised on his hind legs and kicked me fracturing my 7th and 9th ribs.'

2nd Lt. J.A. Shannon, who testified on behalf of David Nemetzky, stated that: 'He always appeared to try to do his duty very well. I drilled him as a recruit; he seemed to have a great deal of difficulty in learning to ride, he seemed to try very hard to learn to ride, but did not get along very well, and was several times thrown very badly. He was kicked in the riding hall one day and had to go to the hospital and stayed there some time, I saw him thrown twice at drill on the plain in one day, the last time he was thrown against a tree and seemed to be pretty badly hurt.'

The first injury, in which he suffered two fractured ribs, resulted in his being hospitalized for 15 days. On March 18th, he was again hospitalized until the end of the month with lumbago (lower back pain), no doubt the result from being kicked by this ill-tempered horse. The second injury occurred on April 4, 1904, when he suffered a sprained right wrist. He was again admitted to the hospital on April 5th and released back to duty the next day. He again reported to the camp hospital on April 13th for the same injury and released back to duty two days later.

Private Jackson Wright, another witness for the defense, testified that following being thrown from his horse, 'Sergeant Davis threatened to strike him, this was just after he came out of the hospital, and it was impossible for him to sit on the horse he had, as he was very rough, he fell off and Sergeant Davis told him to mount again and he replied: that it was impossible for him to do so, and he could take him to the guard-house first.' (probably not the smartest thing to talk back to your Sergeant, but when you're hurt and frustrated, I can't blame him.)

By April 17th, he had enough of the Cavalry and of learning to ride a horse. He made his plan and put it into effect. Private David White, testifying for the prosecution, explained that on the evening of the 17th, he saw David Nemetzky heading towards the canteen around 6:30 pm, dressed in a blue overcoat and forage cap. This was under the guise of requesting permission from the 1st Sergeant to speak to the troop commander. By the next morning, he was gone.

First Sergeant Edward Davis testified that he took an inventory of David Nemetzky's belongings on April 18th and found that his uniform, hand book, several rounds of .30 caliber ball ammunition, socks and other military items were left in his locker. The First Sergeant stated that he believed that he had deserted after looking in his locker and finding his military items still there, but finding that other personal apparel and items were missing. The First Sergeant testified that he was of good character and had never expressed any dissatisfaction or intention to desert.

Private Nemetzky stated his reason for leaving: 'I was unable to learn to ride,- that was the reason I left the troop. I tried to bear it as long as I could but every time I tried to get on a horse an accident occurred to me. I had had no other reason for leaving. I had no fault to find with anybody, every body treated me the best way possible...I tried my best as long as possible and couldn't get along nohow; the fact is, I never could do my duty.' He also stated that he asked about the possibility of being transferred from the Cavalry to the Infantry. 'I asked the 1st Sergeant, also I asked the clerk, and I asked several soldiers but all told me there was no chance of it. The Surgeon asked me if I would like to go to the infantry and I said I would like to go.'

One question I have always had when he left was: 'Where did he go?' He explained that he first went to Chattanooga, Tennessee (about 20 miles north of Camp Thomas, Georgia). When he arrived in Chattanooga, he was given civilian clothing by a merchant who was of the same nationality as David Nemetzky (he was from Poland, having immigrated to the U.S. as a young child). From Chattanooga, he traveled to Atlanta, Montgomery, Mobile and then to New Orleans. He stated that he tried to find work but was too weak to work (no doubt still injured). He surrendered to civil authorities in New Orleans on May 21, 1904, two days after arriving there. 

Following his surrender, he was turned over to military authorities the next day and imprisoned at Jackson Barracks, Louisiana. When asked why he surrendered to civil authorities, he stated that he didn't know there was a military post around. He also explained that he did not intend to desert but was going to return. No doubt he needed a break and time to get away from the frustrations he was facing, but desertion is not the way to go.

He was imprisoned at Jackson Barracks from May 22, 1904 until June 17, 1904, when he was returned to Camp Thomas. His trip back to Camp Thomas was very eventful, and even resulted in a verbal commendation. Captain Anderson testified to the following event: 'The Sergeant [from Jackson Barracks in charge of the prisoner] who brought this man from Jackson Barracks to this post, had a man by the name of Campbell with him as guard. Campbell got drunk just before reaching Newman, Ga., created a great deal of disturbance in the car, threatened to shoot the Sergeant and to desert. The Sergeant turned him over to civil authorities at Newman, Ga., and he was confined. The Sergeant reported the Nemetzky had behaved himself in a very quiet and proper manner during this disorder, and in that way had assisted materially in disposing of this man Campbell; and desired especially to commend the accused for his good conduct during the time.' He arrived back at Camp Thomas, Georgia on June 18, 1904.

The closing statement of the defense reads in part: 'the extenuating circumstances are such as to cause the hope that the court will exercise leniency in this case, should the prisoner be found guilty of the crime of absence without leave (he pleaded not guilty to desertion but pleaded to AWOL).' The closing statement concludes with an explanation that Nemetzky was unfamiliar with the rules and regulations regarding transfers and requesting leave. 

The general court martial was held on June 23, 1904. Following the testimony of the witnesses for the prosecution and the defense, and the testimony and statements of David Nemetzky, he was found guilty of desertion. His sentence was 'to be dishonorably discharged [from] the service of the Untied States, forfeiting all pay and allowances due him and to be confined at hard labor at such post as the receiving authority shall direct, for six months.' However, the court unanimously 'respectfully recommend that clemency be extended by the reviewing authority...This recommendation is made because the evident good character of Private Nemetzky while serving as a soldier at this post, and because it is believed by these members of the court, that this soldier was driven to desert on account of his inability to learn to ride a horse and the hardships resulting from this inability, and not from any desire to shirk his duty.'

On July 2, 1904, the reviewing authority agreed with the court's unanimous recommendation and granted clemency. The sentence was reduced to two months hard labor at Camp Thomas, Georgia and forfeiture of $10 per month for two months. On July 7, 1904, he requested transfer to the Coast Artillery Corps. His transfer was approved and the Order was issued in July 26, 1904. Following completion of his sentence and release from confinement, he was transferred to the 99th Company of the Coast Artillery Corps, stationed at Fort Morgan, Alabama. He arrived there on September 14, 1904.

As mentioned in my post from March, he was still suffering from complications from his injury following being kicked by a horse during drill, and these complications would continue to plague him. Shortly after his arrival at Fort Morgan in September of 1904, he was hospitalized until late April of 1905, when he was transferred to the Hospital at Washington Barracks, D.C., for observation and treatment. Following three months at Washington Barracks, D.C., he finally recovered and was able to resume (or begin) his duties as a soldier.

1950 Census and the Dodge Family

It is finally April of 2022, and the 1950 Census has been released. For the past several years, I have waited in anticipation of finding my family in this Census. I have gone through numerous city directories, Census enumeration district maps, and other records pre- and post-1950 to find out where I need to search for everyone in the 1950 Census. Right now, the National Archives website has a somewhat searchable index that has been made available through artificial intelligence hand recognition. This has helped me find most of my Dodge family in the 1950 Census.

Halfway through the 20th Century and the world has changed. We have the clichés of 'America on the move' and 'post-war boom', but the Dodge's have long since moved from Buena Vista (and Leadville), Colorado, to the towns and cities and found economic security in their lives. A lot has changed for the family since the 1940 Census. Lives and circumstances have changed. My great-great aunt Frances Nemetzky is now a widow; her husband passing away in 1947 (and having divested herself from her business several years earlier). Her brother, Dwight (whom the family had lost contact with), was still living in Lemon Cove, California, with his wife Ruth. They would divorce shortly after this time. Grandpa Jim (my great-grandpa) passed away in December of 1949. Grandpa was working for Union Pacific and Alfred, his brother, was in High School. My grandpa's cousin, Edna (Newitt) Criswell, is now divorced. Her brother Keith has remarried (his first wife passed away in 1944), and is still living in San Francisco. Berenice is still living in Glendale, California, and working as a Nurse, while Don & Virginia have continued to live in Colorado Springs.

When I posted my blog on the 1940 Census, I only talked about Grandpa Jim and his siblings. For this post, I will also talk about their children and show where everyone was living and doing in 1950, as well as the years leading up to 1950. From what I have found in preparation of the 1950 Census, here is where everyone is (or should be) in 1950:

James & Rachel Newitt: Tacoma, Washington. James Newitt has retired from his job at Latimer-Goodwin, where he worked since the early 1920's. HIs job brought him and his family to Tacoma in 1931. He would pass away in September of 1952. Rachel would later live with her daughter and son-in-law, Edna & Charles Patterson. Rachel passed away in 1977.

Keith & Arlene Newitt: San Francisco, California. They married in 1944, following the death of his first wife, Mary. Keith worked with Pacific Gas and Electric until he retired in 1964. They would continue to live in San Francisco until the mid 1960's when they moved to Florence, Oregon.

Berenice Newitt: Glendale, California. Berenice would live in Glendale until her death in 1982. She worked as a Nurse until she retired in the early 1960's.

Edna (Newitt) Criswell: Tacoma, Washington. She divorced Francis Cirswell in 1947. Francis left Edna after his discharge from the Navy following WWII and relocated in California. Edna would marry Charles Patterson in 1954. Charles was separated from his wife and was living in the same apartment building as Edna when this Census was enumerated.

Frances Nemetzky: San Francisco, California. Her husband, David Nemetzky, passed away in 1947. She would move to the town of Broderick (outside Sacramento) sometime around 1952-1953. Frances passed away in Sacramento in 1955.

Dwight & Ruth Dodge: Lemon Cove, California. Ruth would divorce Dwight in 1951 and she would marry one more time; this time to a Tulare County widower named Donald Maxon. They would live in Springville, where she passed away in 1961. Following their divorce, Dwight moved to Midland, Oregon, where he lived until his death in February of 1960 (just missing the 1960 Census).

Alice Dodge (with Robert -my Grandpa- and Alfred): Rawlins, Wyoming. Great-grandma would live in Rawlins until 1976, when she moved to Clearfield, Utah. Great-grandma passed away in 1989. Grandpa was drafted in 1951 and served in the US Marine Corps. After his discharge, he would continue to work on the railroad. My grandparents met in Evanston, Wyoming. They married in 1954 and moved to Ogden, Utah in 1955. They would later move to Clearfield, Utah. Grandpa worked at Hill AFB as a civilian employee. Alfred was drafted in 1953 and served in the US Army. He married his wife, Donna Lester, following his discharge in 1955 and they would live in Minot, North Dakota.

Don & Virginia DeMark: Colorado Springs, Colorado. Don ran an auto shop in Colorado Springs. They would live in Colorado Springs until they both passed away in December of 1991.

Ann & George Earl Graham - According to Grandpa Jim's obituary in December of 1949, they were living in Susanville, California. They left Colorado Springs in 1942 and spent the war years living in Salt Lake City, Utah (The Salt Lake City Directory from 1944 list them as G.E and Ann Graham and living at 1530 South Main Street. His SSN Application from August 1942 also gives this same information). I expected them in Susanville in the 1950 Census. However, searching through the enumeration sheets for Susanville (as well as the areas around Susanville), I have been unable to find them. I will have to wait for a more detailed index to come out to find them. When I do find them, I will update this post. They would later live in Broderick, California (I also searched Broderick without any success) until the late 1950's, when they moved back to Colorado Springs. Ann passed away in 1961 and George Earl passed away in 1966.

UPDATE 4/4/2022: I found Ann & George Earl Graham...They are living in Broderick, California. Their address was 520 5th Street. This is where they lived in the mid 1950's, but I didn't think they were already living here in 1950. Below is the census image for Ann & George Earl Graham. The census enumeration maps took me to the wrong place initially, but I found the correct enumeration district for the address I had for them in Broderick and I just found them today.

As a bonus...here is the 1950 Census for my grandma, Wanda Feller. She was from Randolph, Utah. In 1950, she is living in Ogden, Utah, with her older sister, Elva and her family. I knew my grandma lived in Ogden in the early 1950's and attended Ogden High School, but I didn't realize she was in Ogden in 1950.

1950 Census - Wanda Feller: Ogden, Utah

As a side note - the 1960 US Census will be released in April of 2032. The 1960 Census (from what I have found) was the first census that was mailed out throughout the US. I am already putting a list together of where my family were living in 1960, and am looking forward to the time when the 1960 Census will be released and made public.