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→World War I service: replaced village of Artois with village in Artois. Artois is not a village but the land around the city of Arras, that gave it its name.
 
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{{Short description|American soldier (1896–1917)}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
| name = Merle Hay
| name = Merle David Hay
| image = Merle David Hay In art - "The first three!" Give till it hurts - they gave till they died LCCN00652854 (cropped).tif
⚫
| image =
| caption =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1896|7|20}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1896|7|20}}
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| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial = West Lawn Cemetery, [[Glidden, Iowa]]
| placeofburial = West Lawn Cemetery, [[Glidden, Iowa]]
| birth_place = [[Carrollton, Iowa]], US
| birth_place = [[Carroll County, Iowa]], US
| death_place = [[Artois]], France
| death_place = [[Artois]], France
|
| nickname =
⚫
| allegiance = {{Flag|United States}}
| nickname =
⚫
| branch = {{Army|US}}
⚫
| allegiance = {{Flag|United States of America|1912|size=35px}}
| branch = [[United States Army]]
| serviceyears = 1917
| serviceyears = 1917
| rank = [[Private (rank)|Private]]
| rank = [[Private (rank)|Private]]
| unit = Company F, [[16th Infantry Regiment (United States)|16th Infantry Regiment]], [[1st Infantry Division (United States)|1st Infantry Division]]
| unit = Company F, [[16th Infantry Regiment (United States)|16th Infantry Regiment]], [[1st Infantry Division (United States)|1st Infantry Division]]
| commands =
| commands =
| battles =
| battles = [[World War I]]{{KIA}}
}}
}}
[[File:Merlehayboulder.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Merle Hay memorial boulder in Des Moines, Iowa]]
[[File:Merlehayboulder.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Merle Hay memorial boulder in Des Moines, Iowa]]
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== Early life ==
== Early life ==


Merle Hay was born on a Carroll County, Iowa farm to Harvey and Carrie Hay. He was the oldest of 3 children. In 1909, the family moved to another farm near [[Glidden, Iowa|Glidden]]. Before his service with the [[United States Army]], he was a farm implement mechanic.<ref name= "The Glidden Graphic p. 1">{{harvnb|The Glidden Graphic|1917|p=1}}</ref>
Merle Hay was born on a [[Carroll County, Iowa]] farm to Harvey and Carrie Hay. He was the oldest of 3 children. In 1909, the family moved to another farm near [[Glidden, Iowa|Glidden]]. Before his service with the [[United States Army]], he was a farm implement mechanic.<ref name= "The Glidden Graphic p. 1">{{harvnb|The Glidden Graphic|1917|p=1}}</ref>


== World War I service ==
== World War I service ==
[[File:636452248700808677-1917-merle-hay-cartoon.jpg|thumb|left|Cartoon published in the November 8, 1917, issue of the [[Des Moines Register]]; Uncle Sam brings home the body. A copy of the cartoon would be placed on a monument to Hay in Glidden. ]]
[[File:636452248700808677-1917-merle-hay-cartoon.jpg|thumb|left|Cartoon published in the November 8, 1917, issue of the [[Des Moines Register]]; Uncle Sam brings home the body. A copy of the cartoon would be placed on a monument to Hay in Glidden. ]]
When the United States entered the First World War, Hay was young enough to avoid being drafted. With his father's blessing, he voluntarily enlisted on May 9, 1917.<ref name= "Evening Public Ledger p. 7">{{harvnb|Evening Public Ledger pg7|1917|p=7}}</ref> He was among 8 men from Glidden who enlisted that day. They were first shipped to Fort Logan, Colorado, then to [[Fort Bliss]] in [[El Paso]], [[Texas]].<ref name= "The Glidden Graphic p. 1"/> He was assigned to the [[16th Infantry Regiment (United States)|16th Infantry Regiment]]. On 26 June 1917, the regiment disembarked the troop ships in [[St. Nazaire]], [[France]], as part of the [[1st Infantry Division (United States)|1st Infantry Division]]. By November 1917, he was assigned to Company F along with Corporal James Bethel Gresham and Private Thomas Enright. They were posted in the trenches near the French village of Artois. In the early morning of 3 November 1917, the [[Imperial German Army]] attacked. After an hour of fighting, Hay, along with Corporal Gresham, and Private Enright were the first three casualties of the [[American Expeditionary Force]].<ref name="Connors p.">{{harvnb|Connors|2007|p=}}</ref>
When the United States entered the First World War, Hay was young enough to avoid being drafted. With his father's blessing, he voluntarily enlisted on May 9, 1917.<ref name= "Evening Public Ledger p. 7">{{harvnb|Evening Public Ledger pg7|1917|p=7}}</ref> He was among eight men from Glidden who enlisted that day.
They were first shipped to Fort Logan, Colorado, then to [[Fort Bliss]] in [[El Paso]], [[Texas]].<ref name= "The Glidden Graphic p. 1"/> He was assigned to the [[16th Infantry Regiment (United States)|16th Infantry Regiment]]. On 26 June 1917, the regiment disembarked the troop ships in [[St. Nazaire]], [[France]], as part of the [[1st Infantry Division (United States)|1st Infantry Division]]. By November 1917, he was assigned to Company F along with Corporal James Bethel Gresham and Private Thomas Enright. They were posted in the trenches near a French village in Artois. In the early morning of 3 November 1917, the [[Imperial German Army]] attacked. After an hour of fighting, Hay, Corporal Gresham, and Private Enright were the first three casualties of the [[American Expeditionary Force]].<ref name="Connors p.">{{harvnb|Connors|2007|p=}}</ref>
[[File:First three American soldiers to die fighting in World War I, Merle Hay, Thomas Enright and James Bethel Gresham 1917 poster - "The first three!" Give till it hurts - they gave till they died LCCN00652854 (cropped).tif|thumb|First three American soldiers to die fighting in World War I, Merle Hay, [[Thomas Enright]] and [[James Bethel Gresham]] 1917 poster]]
[[File:First three American soldiers to die fighting in World War I, Merle Hay, Thomas Enright and James Bethel Gresham 1917 poster - "The first three!" Give till it hurts - they gave till they died LCCN00652854 (cropped).tif|thumb|First three American soldiers to die fighting in World War I, Merle Hay, [[Thomas Enright]] and [[James Bethel Gresham]] 1917 poster]]
Two days later, on 5 Nov 1917, Enright, Gresham, and Hay were buried near the battlefield where they had died. An inscription marked their graves: "Here lie the first soldiers of the illustrious Republic of the United States who fell on French soil for justice and liberty." Their bodies were eventually returned to their families and reburied in the United States. Hay was then re-interred in July 1921 in West Lawn Cemetery in his home town of [[Glidden, Iowa]]. The West Lawn Cemetery was later renamed the Merle Hay Memorial Cemetery. An 8-foot monument commissioned by the Iowa Legislature marks his gravesite.
Two days later, on 5 Nov 1917, Enright, Gresham, and Hay were buried near the battlefield where they had died. An inscription marked their graves: "Here lie the first soldiers of the illustrious Republic of the United States who fell on French soil for justice and liberty." Their bodies were eventually returned to their families and reburied in the United States. Hay was then re-interred in July 1921 in West Lawn Cemetery in his home town of [[Glidden, Iowa]]. The West Lawn Cemetery was later renamed the Merle Hay Memorial Cemetery. An 8-foot monument commissioned by the Iowa Legislature marks his gravesite.
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Shortly after Hay's death, the highway running from the west edge of [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]] to [[Camp Dodge]] was renamed Merle Hay Road. A memorial boulder was placed along Merle Hay Road in 1923 and remains up today amidst the commercial development along the road.<ref name="Strong p.">{{harvnb|Strong|2006|p=}}</ref> [[Merle Hay Mall]] in Des Moines was also named for Hay; the local [[Kiwanis]] club placed a memorial plaque near the entrance to the mall's [[Sears Holdings Corporation|Sears]] store in 1979.
Shortly after Hay's death, the highway running from the west edge of [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]] to [[Camp Dodge]] was renamed Merle Hay Road. A memorial boulder was placed along Merle Hay Road in 1923 and remains up today amidst the commercial development along the road.<ref name="Strong p.">{{harvnb|Strong|2006|p=}}</ref> [[Merle Hay Mall]] in Des Moines was also named for Hay; the local [[Kiwanis]] club placed a memorial plaque near the entrance to the mall's [[Sears Holdings Corporation|Sears]] store in 1979.


The first American military casualty in World War II was also an Iowa native. [[Andrew, Iowa]], native [[Robert M. Losey]], a military attache, was killed on April 21, 1940 during a German bombardment of [[Dombås, Norway]]. Captain Losey had been attempting to complete the evacuation of the American diplomatic delegation from Norway to Sweden in the wake of the German invasion.<ref name="Cleverley p. 68">{{harvnb|Cleverley|2003|p=68}}</ref>
The first American military casualty in World War II was also an Iowa native. [[Robert M. Losey]], a military attache, was killed on April 21, 1940, during a German bombardment of [[Dombås, Norway]].<ref name="Cleverley p. 68">{{harvnb|Cleverley|2003|p=68}}</ref>


==Family==
==Family==


Hay's mother collapsed upon hearing of his death but in an interview two days after Hay's father, D. Hay, said that "I am proud of my boy if he has given up his life for his country." He was survived by a younger brother Basil, eighteen, and a fourteen-year-old sister Opel.<ref name= "Evening Public Ledger p. 7"/>
Hay's mother collapsed upon hearing of his death but in an interview two days later Hay's father, D. Hay, said that "I am proud of my boy if he has given up his life for his country." He was survived by a younger brother Basil, eighteen, and a fourteen-year-old sister Opel.<ref name= "Evening Public Ledger p. 7"/>


== See also ==
== See also ==
[[File:The Literary digest history of the world war, compiled from original and contemporary sources- American, British, French, German, and others (1919) (14800169483).jpg|thumb|Monument to James B. Gresham, Merle D. Hay and Thomas F. Enright, designed by [[Louis Majorelle]], erected November 1918 in [[Bathelémont]], destroyed by the Germans in October 1940]]
[[File:The Literary digest history of the world war, compiled from original and contemporary sources- American, British, French, German, and others (1919) (14800169483).jpg|thumb|Monument to James B. Gresham, Merle D. Hay and Thomas F. Enright, designed by [[Louis Majorelle]], erected November 1918 in [[Bathelémont]], destroyed by the Germans in October 1940]]

'''First killed in WWI'''
=== First soldiers killed in World War I ===
⚫
*[[Albert Mayer (soldier)]], the first [[Imperial German Army]] soldier killed, 1914

*[[Jules Andre Peugeot]], the first [[French Army]] soldier killed, 1914
*[[John Parr (British Army soldier)|John Parr]], the first [[British Army]] soldier killed, 1914
* [[Albert Mayer (soldier)|Albert Mayer]], the first soldier and first [[Imperial German Army]] soldier killed, August 2, 1914
*[[Thomas Enright]], one of the first three [[American Army]] soldiers killed, 1917
* [[Jules-André Peugeot]], the first [[French Army]] soldier killed, August 2nd, 1914
*[[James Bethel Gresham]], one of the first three [[American Army]] soldiers killed, 1917
* [[Antoine Fonck]], the first [[Belgian Army]] soldier killed, August 4th, 1914
⚫
* [[John Parr (British Army soldier)|John Parr]], the first [[British Army]] soldier killed, August 21st, 1914
'''Last killed in WWI'''
*[[George Edwin Ellison]], the last [[British Army]] soldier killed in World War I, at 9:30&nbsp;a.m. 11 November
* [[Thomas Enright]], one of the first three [[American Army]] soldiers killed, November 3, 1917
* [[James Bethel Gresham]], one of the first three American Army soldiers killed, November 3, 1917
⚫
*[[Augustin Trébuchon]], last French soldier killed, at 10:45&nbsp;a.m. 11 November

⚫
*[[George Lawrence Price]], last Commonwealth soldier killed in World War I, 10:58&nbsp;a.m. 11 November.
*[[Henry Gunther]], last soldier killed in World War I, at 10:59&nbsp;a.m. 11 November.
=== Last soldiers killed in World War I ===

* [[George Edwin Ellison]], the last British Army soldier killed, at {{no wrap|9:30&nbsp;a.m. November 11, 1918}}
⚫
* [[Augustin Trébuchon]], the last French Army soldier killed, at {{no wrap|10:45&nbsp;a.m. November 11, 1918}}
* [[Marcel Toussaint Terfve]], the last Belgian Army soldier killed, at {{no wrap|10:45&nbsp;a.m. November 11, 1918}}
⚫
* [[George Lawrence Price]], the last [[Canadian Army]] soldier killed, at {{no wrap|10:58&nbsp;a.m. November 11, 1918}}
* [[Henry Gunther]], the last soldier and last American Army soldier killed, at {{no wrap|10:59&nbsp;a.m. November 11, 1918}}


==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==
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==External links==
==External links==
*{{Find a Grave|1674|accessdate=2009-02-23}}
* {{Find a Grave|1674}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:1896 births]]
[[Category:1896 births]]
[[Category:1917 deaths]]
[[Category:1917 deaths]]
[[Category:American military personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:American military personnel killed in World War I]]
[[Category:People from Carroll County, Iowa]]
[[Category:People from Carroll County, Iowa]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]

Latest revision as of 21:21, 11 December 2024

Merle David Hay
Born(1896-07-20)July 20, 1896
Carroll County, Iowa, US
DiedNovember 3, 1917(1917-11-03) (aged 21)
Artois, France
Buried
West Lawn Cemetery, Glidden, Iowa
Allegiance United States
Service / branch United States Army
Years of service1917
RankPrivate
UnitCompany F, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
Battles / warsWorld War I †
Merle Hay memorial boulder in Des Moines, Iowa

Merle David Hay (July 20, 1896 – November 3, 1917) was the first Iowa serviceman and perhaps the first American serviceman to die in World War I, along with Corporal James Bethel Gresham of Evansville, Indiana and Thomas Enright of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[1]

Early life

[edit]

Merle Hay was born on a Carroll County, Iowa farm to Harvey and Carrie Hay. He was the oldest of 3 children. In 1909, the family moved to another farm near Glidden. Before his service with the United States Army, he was a farm implement mechanic.[2]

World War I service

[edit]
Cartoon published in the November 8, 1917, issue of the Des Moines Register; Uncle Sam brings home the body. A copy of the cartoon would be placed on a monument to Hay in Glidden.

When the United States entered the First World War, Hay was young enough to avoid being drafted. With his father's blessing, he voluntarily enlisted on May 9, 1917.[3] He was among eight men from Glidden who enlisted that day.

They were first shipped to Fort Logan, Colorado, then to Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.[2] He was assigned to the 16th Infantry Regiment. On 26 June 1917, the regiment disembarked the troop ships in St. Nazaire, France, as part of the 1st Infantry Division. By November 1917, he was assigned to Company F along with Corporal James Bethel Gresham and Private Thomas Enright. They were posted in the trenches near a French village in Artois. In the early morning of 3 November 1917, the Imperial German Army attacked. After an hour of fighting, Hay, Corporal Gresham, and Private Enright were the first three casualties of the American Expeditionary Force.[4]

First three American soldiers to die fighting in World War I, Merle Hay, Thomas Enright and James Bethel Gresham 1917 poster

Two days later, on 5 Nov 1917, Enright, Gresham, and Hay were buried near the battlefield where they had died. An inscription marked their graves: "Here lie the first soldiers of the illustrious Republic of the United States who fell on French soil for justice and liberty." Their bodies were eventually returned to their families and reburied in the United States. Hay was then re-interred in July 1921 in West Lawn Cemetery in his home town of Glidden, Iowa. The West Lawn Cemetery was later renamed the Merle Hay Memorial Cemetery. An 8-foot monument commissioned by the Iowa Legislature marks his gravesite.

Shortly after Hay's death, the highway running from the west edge of Des Moines to Camp Dodge was renamed Merle Hay Road. A memorial boulder was placed along Merle Hay Road in 1923 and remains up today amidst the commercial development along the road.[5] Merle Hay Mall in Des Moines was also named for Hay; the local Kiwanis club placed a memorial plaque near the entrance to the mall's Sears store in 1979.

The first American military casualty in World War II was also an Iowa native. Robert M. Losey, a military attache, was killed on April 21, 1940, during a German bombardment of Dombås, Norway.[6]

Family

[edit]

Hay's mother collapsed upon hearing of his death but in an interview two days later Hay's father, D. Hay, said that "I am proud of my boy if he has given up his life for his country." He was survived by a younger brother Basil, eighteen, and a fourteen-year-old sister Opel.[3]

See also

[edit]
Monument to James B. Gresham, Merle D. Hay and Thomas F. Enright, designed by Louis Majorelle, erected November 1918 in Bathelémont, destroyed by the Germans in October 1940

First soldiers killed in World War I

[edit]

Last soldiers killed in World War I

[edit]

Bibliography

[edit]

Notes

  1. ^ Evening Public Ledger pg1 1917, p. 1
  2. ^ a b The Glidden Graphic 1917, p. 1
  3. ^ a b Evening Public Ledger pg7 1917, p. 7
  4. ^ Connors 2007
  5. ^ Strong 2006
  6. ^ Cleverley 2003, p. 68

References

  • Cleverley, J. Michael (December 2003). "The First American Official Killed In This War" (PDF). Foreign Service Journal. 2003 (December). American Foreign Service Association: 66–68. ISSN 0146-3543. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  • Connors, Michael (November 11, 2007). "The Next Page: Finding Private Enright". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  • Evening Public Ledger pg1 (November 5, 1917). "Casualty List In First Action Thrills Nation". Evening Public Ledger. Philadelphia: Cyrus H. K. Curtis. pp. 1–22. ISSN 2151-3945. LCCN 83045211. OCLC 9355469. Retrieved January 12, 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • Evening Public Ledger pg7 (November 5, 1917). "Proud to have given son to Nation's cause". Evening Public Ledger. Philadelphia: Cyrus H. K. Curtis. pp. 1–22. ISSN 2151-3945. LCCN 83045211. OCLC 9355469. Retrieved January 11, 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • The Glidden Graphic (November 8, 1917). "Glidden Boy First American Killed in France" (PDF). The Glidden Graphic. ISSN 0746-6196. OCLC 10164185. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  • Strong, Jared (2006-03-24). "Veterans cast light on memorial". The Des Moines Register. p. 3B.
[edit]
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