Company K: Up Close and Personal

Company K: Up Close and Personal

February 10, 1941 the local National Guard Company was inducted into the United States Army as Company K. It consisted of 118 men who marched from the Armory to the Rock Island Depot to go to Camp Claiborne in Louisiana on March 1 for intensive training. They had no idea that it would turn into a four-year wartime commitment. Imagine the reaction by the men and their families.

Who were these men in Company K? Where did they live? What were thier ages and weights? Were they married? How were some wounded? What was prison camp like?

Hear "Company K: Up Close and Personal" on Sunday, September 16, 2 PM. LaVon Eblen and Steve Livengood will give a presentation at the American Legion Memorial Building (the Armory). It is open to everyone and there is no fee.

Letters home, newspaper articles and geneaology records provide stories about the men and their experiences. Follow them from Louisiana to Ireland, Scotland and England to North Africa to Italy and other spots around the globe. Many completed their service years in prison camps in Italy, Poland and multiple German locations.

Last June 24th, a welcome home march was held with a volunteer representing each of 118 men. Because they were scattered throughout the world at war's end, they came home from various locations at different times. Now you can learn about the men.

"Company K: Up Close and Personal" kicks off the season of regularly scheduled programs sponsored by Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise (ARISE) held at the American Legion Memorial Building. New topics will be presented in October and November, and January through May, 2019.

For more information contact Livengood or Eblen. View the website at www.ariseAtlantic.org or see Facebook: Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise.