Teply – Page 5 – Family Nibbles

51 – Ben Teply – WWI – St Mihiel Salient

The battle of St. Mihiel was the first major operation of an all-American force.

By 1918, the war in Europe had become a bloody stalemate.

In 1916 alone, battles at Verdun and the Somme each resulted in nearly one million killed and wounded.

On April 27, Colonel Reeves of the 353rd held a secret meeting with the company commanders.

“We’re going over soon; make your plans accordingly.”

The US declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917.

The Selective Service Act of 1917 was enacted one month later on May 18, 1917. It called for a draft to raise a million man army.

We’ve been talking about Teply lifestyle from 1890 to 1917, what I called the generation of Frank and Anna Teply.

They certainly lived many years thereafter, but these are the years from their early 20s to their 50s.

Newspaper stories also reported on the health, sickness and accidents in the community.

Frank and Anna and their sons had a few noteworthy health scares.

But considering the times, they were all lucky to come through this time period as an unscathed family.

That was about to change in the next few years.

Teply lifestyle wouldn’t be complete without looking at some recreation.

Fishing, hunting, ice skating, etc.

Let’s continue our look at the Teply’s lifestyle by focusing on their farm and work.

Before Facebook and text messages and TV, people visited each other.

Old newspapers are full of stories of social visits and “Sundaying”.