This Military Service Page was created/owned by
1LT Theodore Jensen
to remember
Jensen, Joseph Blaine, Pvt.
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Contact Info
Home Town Brigham City, Utah
Last Address 2916 35th Street Sacramento, California
Date of Passing Aug 25, 1960
Location of Interment Newburg Cemetery - Fortuna, California
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Biographical note: After severe attacks with mustard gas, Blaine suffered chronic stomach problems the rest of his life.
MEMORIAL PAGE
For the Squad mates of Pvt. Joseph Blaine Jensen, Battery C, 146th Field Artillery Battalion, 66th Field Artillery Brigade, 41st Infantry Division, A.E.F., U.S. Army
WORLD WAR ONE
Blaine Jensen’s Army records were destroyed in an Archives fire in 1973, So I can find no official record of what medals or ribbons he earned, Probably also destroyed were the records of his squad mates of Battery C. Idaho national guard record shows him as fighting in 4 major battles, so deserves Victory medal with 4 bars. Maybe medal for Mexican campaign and Purple heart. French general sent unit commendation letter to his CO after batle of St. Mihiel, so maybe should have some French medal.
On his death, Blaine left behind His war diary, the two French texts he used to teach himself French, and numerous photos from the war, including several of unidentified squad mates of his from C Battery during their battles across France and into Germany between 1918-1919.
Those have all been donated to the World War One Museum in Kansas City, Missouri. However I have copies of all the photos and his war diary pages, and would like to find living members of his squad mates’ families who might want them.
One document was not destroyed by the fire, the final pay voucher of the men of Battery C from June 26, 1919, the day they were released from the Army because of the end of the war. It lists all their names and dates and places of their enlistments.
If anyone seeing this memorial has clues as to where their families are today, please email me at profetedjensen14@gmail.com or phone at 406-534-6019 so I can send the photos or more to their family members. I would also appreciate if if his famoly could send photo of a squad mate's ribbons if they have one, to help me see what medals Blaine should have had.
Blaine’s son and Vietmam vet Theodore W. Jensen Jan 2016
Battery C, 146th Field Artillery. 66th Field Artillery Brigade, 41st Division, A.E.F..
John G. Harem Enlisted 1917 in Terrry, Montana b. 27 June 1890 in Norway, d. 3 May, 1961 Dewitt Hasbrouck Enlisted 29 Mar 1914 in Nampa, Idaho, d. 26 Apr 1981 Clarence O. Harbert Enlisted 26 July 1917 in Denver, Colorado b. 29 Oct 1893 Bryan A. Huff Enlisted 2 Jun 1915 in Sand Point, Idaho. d. 18 Aug 1972 Lee W. Johnson Enlisted18 Apr 1917 in Sand Point, Idaho Earl D. Johnson d. 24 July 1958 Enlisted 28 May 1917 in Boise, Idaho Joseph Blaine Jensen Enlisted 19 Jun 1916 in Twin Falls, Idaho. b. 7 Apr 1897 in Brigham City, Utah.
May have fought and been shot in abdomen as an Idaho guard infantryman In Pershing Mexican Campaign. Served as Battery C’s liaison and French Interpreter and commander of 30 Americans with French Battery of 240 mm guns. for several weeks. Came home with chronic stomach pain from mustard gas. d. 25 Aug 1960 in Sacramento, CA bur. in Newburg Cemetery, Fortuna, Humboldt County, CA.
Aften W. Kidd Enlisted 17 Sept 1917 in Twin Falls, Idaho Fought as Sgt. in WW II also. d. 1983 in LA County, CA ,l buried Westminster Memorial Park Cemetery in Westminster, Orange County, CA. Ray R. Liddiard Enlisted 5 Jun 1917 in Boise, Idaho, d 1972 Severin D. Larsen Enlisted 1 Nov 1917 in Garfield, Utah . b Apr 1889 in Hunter, Utah. d 16 Sept 1950 in Hunter, Salt Lake Co, Utah, died in VA Hospital. Never married. No family. bur. Elysian Burial Gardens, Mill Creek, SL Col Utah .
Other Comments:
The families of the following squad mates of Joseph Blaine Jensen have been found and photos and other info provided as of 2016:
Dewitt Hasbrouck
Earl D Johnson
World War I/Champagne-Marne Campaign
From Month/Year
July / 1918
To Month/Year
July / 1918
Description Champagne-Marne, 15 - 18 July 1918. In the four great offensives from 21 March to 13 June 1918 the Germans gained considerable ground, but failed to achieve a decisive advantage at any point on the front. Furthermore, success was bought at a price in manpower and material which they could ill afford. Their more then 600,000 casualties were irreplaceable, whereas the Allied loss of some 800,000 men was soon more than compensated for by new American units arriving at the front in ever-mounting numbers. By July 1918 Allied troops outnumbered German on the Western Front. Other factors also contributed to the decline of German morale, notably the pinch of the blockade and the effectiveness of the Allied propaganda, which was distributed widely by air at the front and in German cities behind the lines. But Ludendorff refused to consider peace negotiations, and planned two more offensives for July which he hoped would bring victory. The first of the new drives was designed to capture Rheims, to make more secure the supply of the Merge salient, and to draw in Allied reserves. The second and larger offensive, destined never to be launched, would strike once again at the British in Flanders.
When the two-pronged German assault on either side of Rheims began on 15 July the Allies were prepared for it. Plans for the attack had leaked out of Berlin, and Allied airplanes had detected the unusual activity behind the enemy front. Foch had time to draw up reserves, and Petain, the French commander, skillfully deployed his troops in defense-in-depth tactics. Consequently the German drive east of Rheims fell far short of its objective. The attack west of the city succeeded in pushing across the Marne near Chateau-Thierry, but was checked there by French and American units. Among the A.E.F. units involved in this action were the 3d, 26th, 28th, and 42d Divisions, the 369th Infantry, and supporting elements (in all about 85,000 Americans). It was here that the 38th Infantry of the 3d Division gained its motto, "Rock of the Marne."
By 17 July the Champagne-Marne offensive had petered out and the initiative passed to the Allies. The German people had built up great hopes for the success of this Friedensturm (peace offensive); its failure was a tremendous psychological blow to the whole nation.
Marne near Chateau-Thierry. Among the A.E.F. units involved were the 3d, 26th, 28th, and 42d Divisions, and the 369th Infantry(in all about 85,000 Americans). It was here that the 38th Infantry of the 3d Division gained its motto, "Rock of the Marne.