05/23/2023
Researched and written by Bob McNulty
In Flanders Fields amongst the poppies, some 3800 miles from home, six young men from Philadelphia lie in eternal slumber. Each made the supreme sacrifice during the final weeks of the First World War as the Allies pushed the German Army through the Argonne Forest from France into Belgium.
Private Charles Joseph Flynn
Born March 4, 1890, Charles grew up in Frankford, Kensington, and Port Richmond (his family attended Nativity B.V.M. Roman Catholic Church). He was employed by the Harvey Fiber Rug Company at Allegheny Avenue and Janney Street, just around the corner from his home (3186 Weikel Street). Drafted into the army on April 25, 1918, Charles was assigned to Company G, 145th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division. He was sent overseas to France on June 15, 1918.
Charles wrote home often. His father (Miles Flynn) later remarked that his letters were always so interesting and cheerful. In his last communication, dated just a week before his death, he wrote that he had been over the top three times (near Verdun). He added that he expected the fighting to end soon, and it wouldn't be long before he returned home. That was not to be, though. Charles took part in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and was gravely wounded in battle. Transported to a field hospital, he died from his wounds on November 2, 1918, at age 28, just nine days before the war ended. Charles rests at Flanders Fields American Cemetery, Plot A, Row 1, Grave 1.
Private Edward J. Mahan
Born on March 4, 1895, Edward grew up in Frankford (his family attended St. Joachim's Roman Catholic Church). In 1917, he moved to 424 W. Berks Street, just around the corner from the Rosenau and Loeb Liberty Hosiery Mill, where he worked as a finisher. Drafted into the army on April 25, 1918, Edward was assigned to Company A, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division. He was sent overseas to France on June 15, 1918
Edward was involved in heavy fighting from September 26 to October 1, 1918, northwest of Verdun, France. He was killed in action on October 31, 1918, near Herne, Belgium, at age 23, just 11 days before the war ended. Edward rests at Flanders Fields American Cemetery, Plot D, Row 2, Grave 15.
Private Patrick DiLugi
Patrick was born in Montefino, Italy, on September 17, 1891. He emigrated to 621 Webster (now the 600 block of Queen) Street in South Philadelphia in 1909. He was unemployed when he enlisted in the Army on April 27, 1918. Granted U.S. citizenship during his basic training, Patrick was assigned to Company I, 145th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division, and was sent overseas to France on June 15, 1918.
Patrick saw action northwest of Verdun, at St. Mihiel, and on the Belgium front, where he was wounded. He died from his wounds at a field hospital on November 2, 1918, at age 27, just nine days before the war ended. Patrick rests at Flanders Field American Cemetery, Plot A, Row 2, Grave 21.
Private Francesco Schiavone
Francesco was born in Teramo, Italy, on December 13, 1894. As a young man, he emigrated to 6418 Vine Street in West Philadelphia, finding employment as a truck driver for James Mullen (5512 Vine). Francesco joined the Army in April 1918, assigned to Company E, 145th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division. He was sent overseas to France on June 15, 1918.
Francesco was killed in action on November 1, 1918, during the Meuse-Argonne offensive, at age 23, just ten days before the war ended. Francesco rests at Flanders Fields American Cemetery, Plot D, Row 4, Grave 3.
Private Arthur Raphael Segall
Arthur was born in Chorzele, Poland, on March 8, 1893. He emigrated to 413 S. 2nd Street (across from the Head House Market) in Philadelphia on January 24, 1914, boarding with his cousin, Barnett Freedman. Arthur worked as a produce salesman for Levy and Rosenfeld at 7 Mattis Street (Mattis Street no longer exists-it was near 2nd and Spruce). He joined the Army on April 29, 1918, and was assigned to Company G, 145th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division. Arthur became a U.S. citizen during basic training and was sent overseas to France on June 15, 1918.
Arthur saw action northwest of Verdun. In October, he fell ill and died of pneumonia on November 4, 1918, at age 25, just seven days before the war ended. Arthur rests at Flanders Fields American Cemetery, Plot D, Row 3, Grave 14.
Private Samuel W. Crawford
Samuel was born in West Philadelphia on April 19, 1894. By age 16, he worked as a shipping clerk at the Manufacturers Supply Company, Cherry and Juniper. He supported his widowed mother, living at 4232 Pennsgrove Street. Samuel was drafted into the Army on April 27, 1918, and assigned to Company G, 146th Infantry, 37th Division. He was sent overseas to France on June 15, 1918.
Samuel was killed in action on November 10, 1918, at age 24, just hours before the war ended. He rests at Flanders Fields American Cemetery, Plot C, Row 1, Grave 21.
Germany was ready to surrender by early October 1918, but the war's end was delayed for five weeks while all sides quibbled over Woodrow Wilson's "14 Points" Peace Plan. If not for Wilson's naive idealism, these six men, as well as thousands of others, might have survived the war.
For these six heroes from Philadelphia, their average age at death was just shy of 25. For them, there would be no wives, no children, and no grandchildren. There would be no radio, no talking movies, and no television. There would be no Lindbergh flying across the Atlantic Ocean, no jet airplanes, and no men landing on the moon. There would be no more Mummer's Parades, no Thanksgiving Day Parades, and no vacations to the Jersey shore. Instead, they gave up everything so that others could live in freedom. Those they knew and loved have joined them now; therefore, we who never knew them must never forget them or their sacrifice.
There are 411 American soldiers buried at Flanders Fields American Cemetery in Waregem, Belgium. About 10 percent of them are from the State of Pennsylvania. Amongst the 411, there are 43 unknown soldiers.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
The man who wrote this poem, Lt Col. John McCrae, did not survive the war.
Researched and written by Bob McNulty, Memorial Day 2015. for more stories, go to: https://www.facebook.com/PhiladelphiaStoriesbyBobMcNulty
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