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WWI
Post L - Travelers Protective Association
McLean County, Illinois
(Transcribed by: Teri Moncelle Colglazier)

In the civilian war activities of McLean county, one factor which could not be overlooked was Post L of the Travelers Protective Association. This organization, composed of 600 traveling men, was devoted heart and soul to patriotic enterprises during the war. While the members carried on their usual business to such an extent as was possible in view of the strain of war, they loaned their energy as a body and as individuals to the promotion of every civilian drive for war purposes. Notably in the Liberty Loan campaigns, the commercial travelers were of value. Their experience as salesmen and their trained salesmanship, assisted in the pushing the sales of Liberty Bonds to a large figure in every district in which they worked. Many of the mem- bers of Post L acted as precinct chairmen in Bloomington in each of the Liberty Loan drives, and also assisted materially in the Red Cross campaigns, the Y. M. C. A. and United War fund efforts, and in other work of the kind. But the post was not content with its work at home, but sent into active service in the army and navy fifty-six of its members. The Travelers were represented in many different branches of the service, and all made creditable records. Two gold stars adorned the service flag of the post, representing Earl T. Smith who died at Camp Taylor, and Frank M. Thoennes, who died of pneumonia just after he had reached European shores, having gone over with the regimental band of the 106th Engineers. HONOR ROLL POST L, T. P. A. Earl T. Smith, died at Camp Taylor. Frank M. Thoennes, died in hospital in Glasgow, Scotland. D. D. Bachman W. W. Barrett Karl L. Behnke W. G. Behr Carl H. Behr C. M. Bowen E. W. Bringham L. E. Bristow E. M. Case A. S. Coomer D. L. Cox J. G. Deynzer Mark E. Ethell Fred Feldt H. L. Frost E. S. Getty T. E. Green W. E. Hartson H. C. Hawk, jr. J. B. Havens L. K. Healy W. H. lungerich Ross Johnson E. Kullberger L. H. Koos F. A. Lamke H. H. Lee H. L. Medbery Henry Monyhan Edward W. Mott E. E. Nafziger O. S. Parmele O. E. Pattison G. N. Paxton J. W. Paxton A. S. Peterson L. P. Powell H. E. Protzman H. J. Read R. K. Smith D. S. Russell V. G. Staten J. R. Stephenson Leslie Stone O. A. Thoennes E. A. Turpin C. W. Waller Joe Watchinski C. T. Waugh William C. Westphal W. W. Williams F. T. Windle M. S. Wooster L. G. Wriglit [McLean County, Illinois, in the World War, 1917-1918; by Edward E. Pierson & Jacob Louis Hasbrouck c 1921]

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