Search About Father Brings Results

Joan O'Neill wanted to learn more about her father. She knew a trip to Cedar Rapids might be just the ticket. And it was.

Joan, 70, who lives in Oklahoma City, had her father write down some of his memories before he died in 1981. He was 81.

While Hans Grueterich was born in Germany and fought for his country during World War I, he came to Cedar Rapids in 1922 by way of Mexico. At that time the United States wasn't accepting immigrants.

His stories and momentos Inspired Joan to write about him in a 2500-word essay titled "Would I Like to Go to Heaven?" based on what he recalled feeling when he first came to Cedar Rapids.

The essay placed second in an Oklahoma Genealogical Society contest.

But, Joan thought there had to be more to his life than she knew.

So, accompanied by her daughter, Holly Stover, 43, of Wright City, Okla., Joan came to Cedar Rapids for a week.

In Cedar Rapids, they toured the city, did some research at the library and at the Carl and Mary Koehler History Center.

And, they stopped at The Gazette because Joan thought I might be interested in seeing a couple of photographs of her father sitting in The Gazette newsroom, circa 1927.

Oh, the newsroom has changed a lot since then. Drop ceilings, suspended lighting, carpet, cubicles and computers.

But one thing we can still do is provide a connection to history.

Since I knew of Joan's visit before she arrived and since she had told me about the photos and her father's association with Gazette reporter Ray Blackmer, I did some research. I found a most interesting article Ray wrote on June 26, 1927. Joan had not seen it.

The article didn't talk so much about Han's career -- he'd been a young apprentice chef and later owned a restaurant in Chicago -- or even his journey to Mexico that led to his immigration to Cedar Rapids. (See today's Ramblin' column in The Gazette.)

No, the story talked about how Hans and Ray, who had become friends, sat down for a cup of coffee and got to know each other. And during that long conversation, Hans talked about his service in the Germany Army. He was machine gunner during the German's final attempt to take Paris in June, 1918.

Ray, a veteran of the same war and later disabled after a gas attack, listened patiently as his new friend described everything about the war from his perspective. His comrades were scared, but brave. They followed orders, as do all good soldiers. Hans was wounded and left the front after the other eight men in his group had been killed. He was lucky to be alive.

Finally, Ray revealed that he had fought in that same battle. He worked in communications for the American troops there.

"It was on July 17 that I was in the front lines on liaison (telephone) duty," Ray wrote. "I took part in a counter attack that was as near as we can figure the one that Hans Goodrich had told me about. I was so scared that I do not remember much about it except I know I went over the top . . . I never will forget that afternoon and I don't believe Hans will either.

"Hans says he will never go back to Germany. He has his first naturalization papers and will be able to get his others in the fall. I consider him one of the best friends I have and admire him for his fighting ability."

Joan says her father did not want to fight.

He credited his survival to that wound that took him away from the front.

And he only went back to Germany once, because a family member was ill.

Otherwise, Hans Gruetrich, born in Germany, rechristened Hans Goodrich after he came to Iowa, was a true American.