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Submitted: 12/18/12 • Approved: 12/21/12 • Last Updated: 8/13/15 • R155791-G155790-S3
Thomas was born May 31, 1895 in Columbus, Franklin, Ohio, and died Nov 25, 1973 in Columbus, Franklin, Ohio. S/O Thomas E Hann Sr. (B:1871-OH), and Mary
Stevens (B:1870-OH). His siblings included: Hattie, Clarence, William, and Edith. (On the headstone under his name is "RAINBOW VETERAN"-*)
Margery was born Jan 6, 1898 in Hillsboro, Highland, Ohio; close to Cincinnati), and died Oct 23, 1965 in Columbus, Franklin, Ohio. D/O Joseph Swisshelm (B:1868-OH) and Mary Margaret Duncan (B:1873-OH). Her siblings included: Hazel, Gertrude, Josephine, and Franklin. (On the headstone under her name is "RAINBOW AUXILIARY"-*)
(Thomas was a member of the Ohio National Guard. They were activated on May 26, 1917; and sent overseas to fight in France during World War I. He served until May 1919 when he received an Honorable Discharge.)
(*) On April 6, 1917, the United States Congress declared war on the German Empire and entered the Great War. Individual states competed with each other for the honor to be the first to send their National Guard units into combat. Secretary of War Newton D. Baker authorized the organization of a Division made up of National Guard units from 26 different states and the District of Columbia.
Douglas MacArthur, who at the time was a Major working at the office of the Secretary of War, is credited with saying “The 42nd Division stretches like a Rainbow from one end of America to the other.”
The 42nd (Rainbow) Division was activated in August 1917 and arrived in France that November. During its time in France the Rainbow Division participated in six major campaigns and suffered over 50% casualties.
After the end of WWI, the officers of the Rainbow Division formed the Rainbow Division Veterans Association.
Thomas E Hann Jr. and Margery E Swisshelm were married Sep 5, 1921 in Franklin County, Ohio. Their children included three daughters: Helen, Mary J, and Betty Jane.
Contributed on 12/18/12 by jchamler51
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Record #: 155791