Wittenberg University - Witt Yearbook (Springfield, OH)

Page 13 text:

1 a i a ® If p W i 11 p tt b p r g p r 1319 Ensign Wheldon Arbogast r”IE was graduated from Springfield High School in 1914, went x xtwo years to Wittenberg, and it was during his Sophomore year that he enlisted in the Naval Reserves, February 10, 1918. He was called into service one month later, March 10, 1918. He received a six weeks training at Cleveland, then was transferred to an ore boat, which ran between Gary, Indiana, and Duluth, Minnesota, and here received six more weeks of training. At the end of that time a final examination was given and those receiv- ing a high per cent were sent to the officers’ training school at Pelham Bay, New York. Young Arbogast was among those for- tunate enough to pass the examination, and thus was received at Pelham Bay. During his training here of eight most strenu- ous weeks, he won a great many friends by his amiable dispo- sition. At the end of that time, those having passed the final examination were given commissions. Wheldon received his commission as “Ensign” on August 10, 1918. He received a fur- lough of ten days and upon his return to New York was perma- nently assigned to duty on the U. S. S. Herman Trasch, a cargo carrier, on September 22, 1918. They had been out about four days when the accident occurred. The vessel collided at night with the American tank steamship George G. Henry, about one hundred and fifty miles southeast of the Nova Scotian coast, and went down in seven minutes. She carried a crew of thirteen officers and seventy-six men, and only forty-one were saved. Wheldon was among those lost at sea Abrogast was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. nine