September 27, 1918 - World War I Draft Registration
Norman Arthur Elberfeld in the U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
Name: Norman Arthur Elberfeld
County: Hamilton
State: Tennessee
Birth Date: 13 Apr 1875
Race: White
Draft Board: 1
Age: 43
Occupation: Y. M. C. A. Work
Employer: U. S. Y. M. C. A. War Activities - Camp Shelby, Mississippi
Nearest Relative: Grace Catlow Elberfeld (wife)
Address: c/o Mrs. L. C. Huneke, ?? Chattanooga
Height/Build: Medium height, medium build
Color of Eyes/Hair: Brown eyes, black hair
Disabilities: None
NOTES: Mrs. L. C. Huneke was the sister of Grace Catlow Elberfeld (Norman's wife). Alice Catlow married Lou Charles Huneke.
Name: Norman Arthur Elberfeld
County: Hamilton
State: Tennessee
Birth Date: 13 Apr 1875
Race: White
Draft Board: 1
Age: 43
Occupation: Y. M. C. A. Work
Employer: U. S. Y. M. C. A. War Activities - Camp Shelby, Mississippi
Nearest Relative: Grace Catlow Elberfeld (wife)
Address: c/o Mrs. L. C. Huneke, ?? Chattanooga
Height/Build: Medium height, medium build
Color of Eyes/Hair: Brown eyes, black hair
Disabilities: None
NOTES: Mrs. L. C. Huneke was the sister of Grace Catlow Elberfeld (Norman's wife). Alice Catlow married Lou Charles Huneke.
Notes on Camp Shelby:
History
Camp Shelby was originally activated in 1917 as a training camp for World War I troops. During World War I, elements of the 37th Division, Ohio National Guard, were stationed at Camp Shelby, as well as the famed "Cyclone Division," the 38th, of Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia. The 38th Division got its nickname as a result of a tornado that occurred during their World War I training at the camp. With the Great War (later named World War I) on the horizon, local area businessmen and civic leaders in 1917 petitioned the U.S. Army to build a training site in the DeSoto National Forest, just south of Hattiesburg. Had it not been for the friendship of a local physician, Dr. W. W. Crawford, and his close friend and fellow doctor, Dr. George Austin McHenry, of adjacent Stone County, their mission may have failed.
McHenry had served during the Spanish American War as a captain and developed a close relationship with Leonard Wood, who in 1917 was a General and Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army. He was assigned to establish 16 training sites throughout the nation. McHenry was a second cousin to then Vice President Thomas Marshall's wife.
Old records indicate Dr. McHenry and Dr. Crawford met with General Leonard Wood in Atlanta and first proposed the idea of a training site in the woods south of Hattiesburg and north of the village in Stone County now known as the McHenry Community. Later a delegation from Hattiesburg sponsored by the Commerce Club (a forerunner of the Chamber of Commerce) made a trip to Washington, D.C. They were T.C. Hanna, E.L. Robbins and Judge N.C. Hill. They presented a thorough proposal citing spacious area, good climate, railhead facilities, ideal geography and other economic factors (and close friendships) and were successful in securing the site.
General Leonard Wood, although a non-combatant surgeon was awarded our country's highest military honor, the Medal of Honor, for his service in the Indian Campaigns that endured from 1861 until 1898. During the uprising of the Apache Indians in 1886, the young surgeon volunteered to carry vital dispatches through a heavily infested hostile area. He made a journey of 70 miles in just one night on a horse only to have to walk an additional 30 miles the next day. Later in his career, while pursuing Geronimo's band, he volunteered to command a detachment of infantry in hand-to-hand combat with the Apaches, as the unit was without an officer. It is only fitting that one of America's great hero's was the decision maker that gave birth to Camp Shelby.
After its approval by the Secretary of the Army, work started on the new camp in July 1917. More than 4,500 civilian contractors were hired; and they built 1206 buildings, including a hospital and warehouse. The soldiers lived in tents.
The first troops were 6,000 National Guardsmen from Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia. They formed the 38th Division, which later saw action in France. These troops named the new camp in honor of Isaac Shelby, Indian fighter, Revolutionary War hero and first governor of Kentucky. Shelby was a militia-man and was known as a crack-shot with a muzzle loader rifle. He distinguished himself in battle against the Chickamouga Indians and was promoted from Lieutenant to Captain to Major and finally to Colonel. During the American Revolution he commanded an expedition that defeated a superior British force at the Battle of King's Mountain. He later moved to Kentucky, married, fathered 11 children, became an educator and politician. He was elected Kentucky's first governor in 1792.
During the War of 1812, Shelby was recalled from retirement, and at the age of 63 he organized and led in person 4,000 Kentucky volunteers in an attack against British regulars at the Battle of the Thames. The British were defeated and Congress awarded Shelby a gold medal for his heroic leadership. President Monroe offered Shelby the position of Secretary of War, but his offer was refused. Nine states have named counties in his honor and numerous cities bear his name, including one in Mississippi. He was a great American, brave soldier and effective leader; and Camp Shelby proudly bears his name.
When World War I ended in 1918, Camp Shelby was deactivated; and all but four of the 1,200 buildings were demolished. Today only one of them remains. Building 6981, an ammunition storage magazine, still stands just across from the MATES facility on Warehouse Road.
History
Camp Shelby was originally activated in 1917 as a training camp for World War I troops. During World War I, elements of the 37th Division, Ohio National Guard, were stationed at Camp Shelby, as well as the famed "Cyclone Division," the 38th, of Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia. The 38th Division got its nickname as a result of a tornado that occurred during their World War I training at the camp. With the Great War (later named World War I) on the horizon, local area businessmen and civic leaders in 1917 petitioned the U.S. Army to build a training site in the DeSoto National Forest, just south of Hattiesburg. Had it not been for the friendship of a local physician, Dr. W. W. Crawford, and his close friend and fellow doctor, Dr. George Austin McHenry, of adjacent Stone County, their mission may have failed.
McHenry had served during the Spanish American War as a captain and developed a close relationship with Leonard Wood, who in 1917 was a General and Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army. He was assigned to establish 16 training sites throughout the nation. McHenry was a second cousin to then Vice President Thomas Marshall's wife.
Old records indicate Dr. McHenry and Dr. Crawford met with General Leonard Wood in Atlanta and first proposed the idea of a training site in the woods south of Hattiesburg and north of the village in Stone County now known as the McHenry Community. Later a delegation from Hattiesburg sponsored by the Commerce Club (a forerunner of the Chamber of Commerce) made a trip to Washington, D.C. They were T.C. Hanna, E.L. Robbins and Judge N.C. Hill. They presented a thorough proposal citing spacious area, good climate, railhead facilities, ideal geography and other economic factors (and close friendships) and were successful in securing the site.
General Leonard Wood, although a non-combatant surgeon was awarded our country's highest military honor, the Medal of Honor, for his service in the Indian Campaigns that endured from 1861 until 1898. During the uprising of the Apache Indians in 1886, the young surgeon volunteered to carry vital dispatches through a heavily infested hostile area. He made a journey of 70 miles in just one night on a horse only to have to walk an additional 30 miles the next day. Later in his career, while pursuing Geronimo's band, he volunteered to command a detachment of infantry in hand-to-hand combat with the Apaches, as the unit was without an officer. It is only fitting that one of America's great hero's was the decision maker that gave birth to Camp Shelby.
After its approval by the Secretary of the Army, work started on the new camp in July 1917. More than 4,500 civilian contractors were hired; and they built 1206 buildings, including a hospital and warehouse. The soldiers lived in tents.
The first troops were 6,000 National Guardsmen from Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia. They formed the 38th Division, which later saw action in France. These troops named the new camp in honor of Isaac Shelby, Indian fighter, Revolutionary War hero and first governor of Kentucky. Shelby was a militia-man and was known as a crack-shot with a muzzle loader rifle. He distinguished himself in battle against the Chickamouga Indians and was promoted from Lieutenant to Captain to Major and finally to Colonel. During the American Revolution he commanded an expedition that defeated a superior British force at the Battle of King's Mountain. He later moved to Kentucky, married, fathered 11 children, became an educator and politician. He was elected Kentucky's first governor in 1792.
During the War of 1812, Shelby was recalled from retirement, and at the age of 63 he organized and led in person 4,000 Kentucky volunteers in an attack against British regulars at the Battle of the Thames. The British were defeated and Congress awarded Shelby a gold medal for his heroic leadership. President Monroe offered Shelby the position of Secretary of War, but his offer was refused. Nine states have named counties in his honor and numerous cities bear his name, including one in Mississippi. He was a great American, brave soldier and effective leader; and Camp Shelby proudly bears his name.
When World War I ended in 1918, Camp Shelby was deactivated; and all but four of the 1,200 buildings were demolished. Today only one of them remains. Building 6981, an ammunition storage magazine, still stands just across from the MATES facility on Warehouse Road.
