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Harry Carl Froehlich

West Virginia
Veterans Memorial

Remember...

Harry Carl Froehlich
1889-1918

". . . he left a host of friends who held for him the highest admiration . . ."

Charleston's Roll of Honor

Harry Carl Froehlich was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on August 2, 1889, the eldest child and only son of Henry C. and Mathilda Froehlich.

Harry was educated in Cincinnati, graduating from Walnut Hills High School. He studied at the University of Cincinnati and the Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati.

In 1911, Harry, an accomplished piano player, came to Charleston, where he became associated with the William Mason School of Music. He became an instructor who also played pipe organ and violin. He was a member of the Charleston Symphony orchestra and on occasion played in the Mason Orchestra.
Mason School of Music
Mason School of Music,
Stan Bumgardner Collection,
WV State Archives

Harry was also with the local picture theater as well as being in charge of the Steinway Piano Company store in Charleston. On September 18, 1917, he was married to Edith Kay of Charleston, and the couple soon moved to North Carolina because of her ill health.

Harry enlisted in the service in May 1918 and was sent to Camp Jackson for training. After four weeks of training, he was promoted to corporal. His unit, the 321st Infantry, 81st Division, was sent to France in August 1918 and immediately sent to the front. Harry often played piano in the villages where the regiment was stationed, providing entertainment to the audience that gathered.

On November 11, 1918, the 321st Infantry was fighting in the vicinity of the Argonne Forest. Shortly before the armistice, Harry's unit was ordered to move forward to attack the Germans north of the forest. During the fighting, Corporal Harry Carl Froehlich was killed.

Honor...

West Virginia Archives and History welcomes any additional information that can be provided about these veterans, including photographs, family names, letters and other relevant personal history.


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