Military related information:

American Legion drum and bugle corps. Cropped from photo with his friend Lee Reuter (Circa 1930's).

Service Number -1390137

Company L

30 November 1918 Company Roster; Listed as Dropped November 3rd.

1919: Enroute to USA: Saint Aignan Casual Co #444 (Illinois)

Listed in Adjutant General 1917 roster of Illinois National Guard WWI service: Second Infantry, Company L, Chicago. Federalized as 132nd INF, Company L. Private, Enlisted 31 May 1917, Mustered 3 August 1917, Reported for Duty 25 July 1917.

Company L Muster Roll Sep-Oct 1917 Camp Logan, Houston, Tx: Enlisted 31 May 1917. Listed as Private First Class- Muster Roll Nov-Dec 1917 Camp Logan, Houston Tx: Listed as Corporal. Promoted from PFC to Corporal per SO#95 dtd 15 Nov 1917. - Muster Roll Jan-Feb 1918 Camp Logan, Houston Tx: Listed as Corporal. - Company Roster November 1918 A.E.F.: Listed as Dropped 3rd. - Muster Roll Mar-Apr 1918 Camp Logan, Houston Tx: Listed as Corporal. - Muster Roll May-June 1918 A.E.F.: Listed as Private. Reduced from Corporal to Private per RSO#134 dtd 28 Jun 1918. - Muster Roll July 1918 A.E.F.: Listed as Private. - Muster Roll Aug 1918 A.E.F. France: Listed as Private. - Muster Roll Sep 1918 A.E.F. France: Listed as Private. - Muster Roll Oct 1918 A.E.F. France: Listed as Private. - Morning Report October Gun Shot Wound (GSW) left hand. - Company Roster November 1918 A.E.F.: Listed as Private. Dropped Nov 3rd.

WWI Victory Medal with battle Clasps

Purple Heart October 1918 Personnel Report

Post War Occupations / Bio:

1920 United States Federal Census
Name: William Kroll
Age: 21
Birth Year: abt 1899
Birthplace: Illinois
Home in 1920: Chicago Ward 35, Cook (Chicago), Illinois
Springfield Avenue
Residence Date: 1920
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Son-in-law
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Della Kroll
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Department Manager
Industry: Mail Order House
Employment Field: Wage or Salary
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members Age Relationship
Rose Mann 40 Wife
John S Mann 39 Head
William Kroll 21 Son-in-law
Della Kroll 19 Daughter
Florence Mann 14 Daughter

1930 United States Federal Census
Name: William H Kroll
Birth Year: abt 1900
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age in 1930: 30
Birthplace: Illinois
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1930: Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA
Map of Home: Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Street Address: North SPRINGFIELD AVE.
House Number: 1637
Home Owned or Rented: Rented
Home Value: 30
Radio Set: Yes
Lives on Farm: No
Age at First Marriage: 19
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Germany
Mother's Birthplace: Germany
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Agent
Industry: Insurance Co
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker
Employment: Yes
Veteran: Yes
War: WW
Household Members Age Relationship
William H Kroll 30 Head
Della I Kroll 29 Wife
William Kroll 9 Son

1940 United States Federal Census
Name: William Kroll
Age: 40
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1900
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Illinois
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1940: Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Street: Springfield Avenue
Farm: No
Inferred Residence in 1935: Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Residence in 1935: Chicago
Occupation: Insurance Salesman
House Owned or Rented: Rented
Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 30
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 8th grade
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 40
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work
Weeks Worked in 1939: 52
Income: 1200
Income Other Sources: No
Household Members Age Relationship
William Kroll 40 Head
Della Kroll 39 Wife
William J Kroll 19 Son

Was a member of Melin-Romer Post #728 American Legion; was at one time the drum major of the drum and bugle corps.

WWII Draft Registration:

Death Information: Date; Age; Cause; Burial Location 

United States, Veterans Administration Master Index (see above)
Name: William Kroll
Event Type: Military Service
Service number 1390137
Enlisted 25 July 1917
Event Date: 21 Mar 1919 Discharged
Event Place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States
Event Place (Original): City of Chicago, Illinois
Residence Place: Chicago, Illinois
Birth Date: 28 May 1899
Death Date: 3 Dec 1968

Miscellaneous:

Died in VA hospital in Portland OR.  Born in Chicago (according to his death certificate).  Must have remarried as certificate has Jean listed as wife. He or his cremains are in Willamette National Cemetery.  

Assume he moved to Oregon sometime after WW II. Barbara Metzger remembers him from her childhood - "He was a resident of Tigard Oregon but died in the VA Hospital in Portland... no memory of his wife, except her name Della. -- but is what I picked up as a child because I only remember him from when we lived in Chicago and not after we moved to Oak Park in 1947 nor in the times we were in Portland do I have any memories of visiting him.....maybe my dad did."

Research in process