William Gabrielson grew up on a farm just east of Lindsborg. He joined the US Army on Sep. 5, 1918, and served with the Signal Corps until early 1919.[1] Gabrielson never traveled overseas, making it only as far as Camp Meade in Maryland before the war ended. Here he is pictured behind an automobile in 1918, probably before heading off for training at Camp Funston.
Amidst the Draft Board tending to its business of selecting men to serve in the war, a local photographer offered to capture an image of them before they headed toward their uncertain future.[2]
Gabrielson “fell in” through the Selective Service process and took up the studio’s offer of having a portrait taken. The photograph below of Gabrielson was taken at the Albert N. Lundquist Studio located at 119 N. Main in Lindsborg.
Gabrielson trained at Camp Funston, about eighty miles northeast of Lindsborg. While there Gabrielson received letters and postcards from family and friends keeping him up-to-date with life back home. He also wrote home about his experiences, and indicates in these letters that he had the ability to travel home by train while at Camp Funston.[3]
Letter from William:
Letter to William from his brother Carl:
Postcards to William from friends and family members:
Gabrielson received his honorable discharge on January 17, 1919. His war experience affected him into the future, as his discharge papers were used to apply for and receive veterans compensation from the state of Kansas in 1923.[4]
[1] “Honorable Discharge from the United States Army,” World War I Collection, Old Mill Museum, Lindsborg, Kansas.
[2] Lindsborg News Record, August 3, 1917.
[3] World War I Collection, Old Mill Museum, Lindsborg, Kansas.
[4] “Honorable Discharge from the United States Army,” World War I Collection, Old Mill Museum, Lindsborg, Kansas.
