Christian Karlsen
Christian Karlsen
There were 206 people from Story City that served in the military during World War One. Of those 206, eleven men lost their lives while in service. Over the following year, the Historical Society will be paying tribute to these eleven soldiers in the Herald on the 100th anniversary of their death. The eighth soldier from Story City who died was Christian Karlsen on October 17, 1918.
Christian Karlsen was born in Nykobing, Denmark on November 29, 1892. He had been in Story City for about seven years, immigrating to the United States from his native Denmark. Christian worked for Grant Brown during most of that time as well as Jacob Jacobson and Albert Frandson. Christian was described as “an exemplary young man in every respect, well liked by all who knew him.”
In June of 1918, Christian was farming Grant Brown’s land south of the Copenhagen schoolhouse when he was called in the draft. It was announced in the June 13 edition of the Herald that he would have a public sale to dispose of six horses and several implements.
Christian was one of 52 men from Story County who was drafted in June for training at Camp Dodge. He was inducted at Nevada on June 26, 1918. Christian served overseas from August 16 until his death on October 17. His death was not known until a month later and was reported in the November 21 edition of the Herald. No particulars were given except that Christian died from pneumonia. He is buried at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial in Lorraine, France.
As we remember Christian Karlsen and all of our Gold Star soldiers throughout this year, let us not forget that they gave their all for liberty and peace.
Christian Karlsen was born in Nykobing, Denmark on November 29, 1892. He had been in Story City for about seven years, immigrating to the United States from his native Denmark. Christian worked for Grant Brown during most of that time as well as Jacob Jacobson and Albert Frandson. Christian was described as “an exemplary young man in every respect, well liked by all who knew him.”
In June of 1918, Christian was farming Grant Brown’s land south of the Copenhagen schoolhouse when he was called in the draft. It was announced in the June 13 edition of the Herald that he would have a public sale to dispose of six horses and several implements.
Christian was one of 52 men from Story County who was drafted in June for training at Camp Dodge. He was inducted at Nevada on June 26, 1918. Christian served overseas from August 16 until his death on October 17. His death was not known until a month later and was reported in the November 21 edition of the Herald. No particulars were given except that Christian died from pneumonia. He is buried at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial in Lorraine, France.
As we remember Christian Karlsen and all of our Gold Star soldiers throughout this year, let us not forget that they gave their all for liberty and peace.
