Framingham Heroes Who Have Walked Silently Among Us: Private Earl F. Blake, US Army, WWI

**Readers desiring a quick review of the US participation in WWI can find a summary in the blog at:

https://storiesyet2btold.blogspot.com/2025/03/framinghams-world-war-one-ww1-unsung_16.html**

Image: Ancestry.com

Earl Forest Blake was born in Framingham on 31 January 1898. His father and mother, Edwin and Isabel lived in South Framingham. His parents were both originally from Maine. Edwin was employed as a laborer. Not much is known about Earl's early life. Like many of his peers, it's unlikely he attended public school. We do know he enlisted in the Massachusetts National Guard on 29 March 1917. His unit, Company E of the 6th Massachusetts National Guard was federalized on 30 March 1917. The US declared war on Germany on 06 April; Earl "mustered-in" on 07 April (Army Serial Number 64559).

Soon thereafter,the 26th Infantry Division was established. The 26th was known as the “Yankee Division” due to its New England National Guard roots (primarily the 5th, 6th and 9th MA National Guard Infantry Regiments).The Division had two Infantry Brigades (51st and 52nd), with four total infantry Regiments. The 101st and 102nd Infantry Regiments were assigned to the 51st Brigade; the 103rd and 104th to the 52nd brigade. Earl was one of 100 Massachusetts enlisted men who were assigned to the predominantly Connecticut National Guard 102nd Infantry Regiment. Because of this, his initial training took place in New Haven, CT not Framingham. The 26th was assigned to the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) from 27 October 1917-07 April 1919.

Yankee Division Patch  

 Image: Public Domain 

Earl, arrived in France on or about 27 October 1917 aboard the troop ship ADRIATIC.

ADRIATIC
Image: greatships.net

The 102nd's first significant clash with the enemy took place on 28 February 1918 in the Chemin-des-Dames sector of France. The Chemin-des-Dames (literally "the ladies path") is a 20 mile long ridge line that lies between the Aisne and Ailette Valleys. Its location and underground quarries made it ideal for the building of defensive fortifications. The German attack included both conventional and poison gas artillery shelling.

Soldier and Horse in Gas Masks

Image: The National Archives

Earl was awarded a “Silver Star for his Victory Medal" for his actions on 15 April 1918 in the Toul Sector of the line. His citation indicates it was for "extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy." He was also the recipient of the French Croix de Guerre. This medal was created in 1915 to recognize French soldiers and Allied units for acts of valor and combat bravery. Of note: at that time, the US Silver Star Medal did not exist (it was not established as an individual medal until 19 July 1932).The Citation and Star for the ribbon was its WWI equivalent. US Veterans having received the Citation and Star were automatically qualified for the Silver Star Medal.

 Victory Medal w/Silver Star 

     

French Croix de Guerre

Earl and the 102nd Infantry Regiment also participated in the following significant Allied offensives: 

Champagne-Marne -  15-18 July 1918

Aisne-Marne -     18 July-25 July 1918

St. Mihiel -      12-15 September 1918

Meuse-Argonne -   26 September-11 November 1918                       (Armistice Day)

Troop Ship AGAMEMNON Arriving in Boston 07 April 1919

Image: Pictorial History of the 26th Division

Earl would depart Brest, France on 31 March 1919 aboard the troop ship AGAMEMNON. The ship arrived in Boston on 07 April 1919. He was discharged from the Army on 29 April 1919.

25 April 1919 Boston Victory Parade for the Returning Yankee Division

Image: Leslie Jones Collection, Boston Public Library

Welcome Home Program for Boston Victory Parade

Image: The Massachusetts and City of Boston Committee of Welcome 

In 1920, Earl found gainful employment as a lineman for a local electric company. In 1936, he lived on Hillcrest Street in Framingham. By 1942, he had moved to Franklin where he worked as a lineman for the Union Light and Power Company. At that time, Union Light was the primary electrical provider for Franklin. This was before the creation of major regional providers like New England Electric (eventually National Grid).

Earl passed away on 14 November 1959. His final resting place is in Mount Hope Cemetery in Roslindale, MA.

Sources

"American Armies and Battlefields in Europe," Center of Military History, United States Army, 1938

“Framingham, An American Town,” by Stephan Herring, 2000 

The Framingham History Center

"To Conquer Hell, The Meuse-Argonne, 1918," by Edward G. Lengel, 2008

The Library of Congress 

Massachusetts National Guard, Historical Services Directorate

The National Archives  

National Museum of the United States Army  

The National WWI Museum and Memorial 

"My Experiences in the World War, Volume II,” by General John J. Pershing, 1931 

"A Pictorial History of the 26th Division United States Army," by Albert E. George and Capt. Edwin H. Cooper, Ball Publishing Company, Boston, 1920

“Report of the Commission on Massachusetts' Part in the World War," Jesse F. Stevens, 1929

Framingham Heroes Who Have Walked Silently Among Us: Sgt. Hank Bosse, US Army WWI

**Readers desiring a quick review of the US participation in WWI can find a summary in the blog at:

https://storiesyet2btold.blogspot.com/2025/03/framinghams-world-war-one-ww1-unsung_16.html**

Henry Joseph “Hank” Bosse was born on 14 January 1896 in Spencer, MA. By 1910, his family lived on Danforth Street in Framingham. At 14,he worked in the Saxonville Mills.

Saxonville Mills/Roxbury Carpet Company late 1800s-early 1900s

Image: Framingham History Center

By June of 1917, Hank was employed as a machinist for a company in Worcester. On 20 September 1917, like many of his peers caught up in “war fervor,” he enlisted in the Army. On 09 November 1917, Private Bosse (Army Serial Number 1905102) was assigned to the Headquarters Company of the 327th Infantry Regiment. This regiment had been recently established (05 August 1917) in the growing Regular Army. It was stationed at Camp Gordon, Georgia. The 327th was attached to the 164th Infantry Brigade of the 82nd “All American” Infantry Division. The “All American” moniker was chosen to recognize the fact that the division was made up of soldiers from all 48 states rather than a unit formed from specific states or regions (like the famed 26th “Yankee” Division which hailed from New England).

WWI 82nd All-American Division Shoulder Patch

Image: Public Domain

**Of note, in 1942 the 82nd Infantry Division became the 82nd US Airborne Division. This storied division would fight in the Sicily Campaign, the Normandy Invasion, Operation Market Garden (German-occupied Netherlands) and the Battle of the Bulge.

WWII 82nd Airborne Patch

Image: Public Domain

Hank arrived in France on 01 May 1917 aboard the passenger liner/troop ship S.S. GRAMPIAN. 

 

S.S. GRAMPIAN (foreground) 

Source: Halifax Herald April 13, 1915

The 82nd would play a significant role in American Expeditionary Force (AEF) Operations until the war’s end. In particular, the 327th distinguished itself in the St. Mihiel (12-16 September 1918) and Meuse-Argonne (26 September-11 November 1918) Offensives. The regiment is credited in official Army histories for being the first American unit to pierce the heavily fortified Hindenburg Line in a section known as “Kriemhilde Stellung“ in October 1918. 

Watch this remarkable 3D, ABMC Visualization:

While Hank was assigned to the Headquarters Company, he was not in an administrative position. His duties during the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives would have included serving as a Signaler/Runner and/or in the Pioneer or Intelligence Sections. The Signaler/Runners would frequently move between the front lines and command posts to deliver time-sensitive written orders and ensure the command had the most current “situational awareness.” This task was frequently undertaken under heavy enemy small arms, machine gun and/or artillery fire. Pioneer/Intelligence tasks could include clearing obstacles and mapping terrain.

For his courage and resilience,Hank was awarded the Silver Star Citation for his WWI Victory Medal for bravery during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive (26 September-11 November 1918). His citation reads…

“On the morning of October 8th, 1918, during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive Sgt. Bosse after two runners had been wounded in an attempt to get a message to the Battalion Commander, personally took the message through heavy machine gun and artillery fire.He remained on duty during the entire twenty-five days of the offensive, always showing a disregard for personal danger and inspiring the highest confidence and courage in his men.”

 Victory Medal with Silver Star for Bravery

The AEF spent only 200 days in combat operations (25 April 1918 to 11 November 1918).The 82nd Division detached from the AEF on 18 May 1919, having sustained over 8,000 casualties. During its combat service, Hank’s 327th Infantry Regiment sustained 2,363 battle casualties: 331 Killed in Action, 73 who Died of Wounds and 1,959 soldiers Wounded in Action. 

Hank returned from France on the troopship WALTER A. LUCKENBACH in May 1919. He was discharged from the Army on 28 May 1919.

 

Image: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command 

Upon his return home, Hank launched into a baseball career. He was a right-handed batting and throwing outfielder. He would spend from 1920-1929 playing minor league, professional baseball for several clubs,to include:

-The Pittsfield Hillies (Eastern League)

-The Asheville (North Carolina) Tourists (South-Atlantic League)

-The Springfield Ponies (Eastern League)

-The Brockton Shoemakers (New England League)

1928 Pittsfield Hillies Team (Hank is number 2)

Image: RetroSportsArt on Ebay

In 1926, Hank married Ms. Idell Brock of Franklin Street, Framingham. As indicated in their wedding announcement, the couple would quickly set out for Asheville, North Carolina for Hank’s next stop on the baseball merry-go-round.

 Bosse-Idell Brock Wedding Announcement

Image: Boston Globe, 12 May 1926

In his 13 seasons (A and B Leagues combined) he hit for a respectable .280 average. His Pro/Semi-Pro playing days ended in 1934 when he was 38 years old.

Hank and Idell eventually settled in Boston. He would hold several different jobs in his senior years, including machinist, Works Progress Administration (WPA) laborer, porter and watchman. Idell was employed as a bookkeeper. Hank passed away in 1968 at the “Chelsea Soldiers Home,” which is now known as “the Massachusetts Veterans Home at Chelsea." His final resting place is in Lawrence, MA.

Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery

Images: American Battle Monuments Commission

Sources

"American Armies and Battlefields in Europe," Center of Military History, United States Army, 1938

“Framingham, An American Town,” by Stephan Herring, 2000 

The Framingham History Center

"To Conquer Hell, The Meuse-Argonne, 1918," by Edward G. Lengel, 2008

The Library of Congress 

Massachusetts National Guard, Historical Services Directorate

 

The National Archives 

 

National Museum of the United States Army  

 

The National WWI Museum and Memorial 

"Official History of 82nd Division American Expeditionary Forces, All American Division," written by Divisional Officers designated by the Division Commander, Bobbs-Merrill, 1920

"My Experiences in the World War, Volume II,” by General John J. Pershing, 1931