Joseph H. Hirth

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CHICAGO, IL, U.S.A.

U.S.ARMY

PVT, QUARTER MASTER, CO B, 18TH INFANTRY

JULY 1930, CHICAGO, IL

PVT Joseph H. Hirth was born in 1896. He died in the first week of July 1930 from complications of mustard gas poisoning from serving his country in the U.S. Army in WWI. He was 33 years old when he lost his life. His death impacted my mother’s life at such a young age. He suffered for 11 years as his body deteriorated. My mom said her father was a wonderful man, a truck driver by trade, and would take her mashed potatoes and gravy on Sundays in his truck. It was her favorite food as a child. She sat next to her dad and honked the horn at everyone. My mom said he was a kind man. These recollections are contributed by Joseph Hirth’s granddaughter, Dawn M. Rajsl Barajas

Joseph Hirth sailed from Hoboken, NJ on the USS Finlandia in September 1917. He fought in France. Like many soldiers, PVT Hirth was gassed in combat. He returned to the United States on March 20, 1919 on the SS Matsonia. According to the 1930 census, Mr. Hirth was married and had a daughter. He was last treated at Edward Hines Jr. Veterans Administration Hospital, Hines, IL released in March 1930, he passed away 4 months later. The family lived in Chicago, IL.

Joseph’s portrait is also on Poster 3