Osmond's Veterans Remembered

World War I

Pvt. Erwin H. Nicolaisen was a member of Company M, 355th Reg. Infantry, 89th Division in World War I. He entered the service April 27, 1918, traveling

to Camp Funston, KS, and, after spending about three weeks there, he was sent to Camp Mills, Long Island. In June of the same year, he sailed for England.

On July 12, he landed in France and by the forepart of August was in the trenches where he fought until Nov. 11, 1918, when the armistice was signed. He was at the front without relief for 98 days. While stationed with the American Army of Occupation in Saarburg near Trier, Germany, he contracted influenza and developed pneumonia, and died Feb. 6, 1919, at the age of 28.

The body of Private Nicolaisen was sent to the United States and arrived in Osmond Oct. 30, 1920, more than a year and a half after his death, although no mention was given as to why it took so long.

When word had reached in Osmond that his remains would reach Hoboken, NY, on Oct. 25, preparations were im- mediately begun to pay fitting tribute to

the departed soldier, and A. W. Marek left for Omaha to accompany the casket from there. When the train arrived that Saturday night, an immense crowd was at the depot to show their respects and love “for the memory of him who is with us no more.”

The body was taken to the city hall where it remained under military guard until the time of the funeral which was held the next day with full military honors. Although the weather was inclement, the hall was filled to capacity with those wishing to pay their last respects. At the cemetery, the Plainview firing squad discharged the soldier's salute of three volleys. Osmond was especially grateful to the Plainview delegation, which, in spite of the almost impassable condition of the roads, came over and assisted in the solemn rites of the day.

Pvt. Erwin Nicolaisen was laid to rest in the Osmond city cemetery beside his parents. His mother, Anne, died in 1903 and his father, Ingwer, in 1914, so both had passed away before he enlisted. He was not married, but was survived by a sister, Mrs. Elmer (Nicoline) Record.

It is interesting to note that his father, who was born in 1846 in a part of Denmark which is now Germany, was a soldier in the Germany Army in his youth.