Charles Behrend

• Rank: Private First Class, U.S. Army
• Unit: Company C, 309th Infantry Regiment, 78th Infantry Division
• Entered service from: New Jersey
• Died: September 25, 1918
• Buried at: St. Mihiel American Cemetery, Thiaucourt, France — Plot C, Row 8, Grave 22

Private First Class Charles Behrend was born in Camden, NJ on September 18, 1892. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Behrend, who had come to what was then Stockton Township around 1890. Albert Behrend worked in the leather industry as a morocco finisher in Philadelphia. The family lived at 1016 Dayton Avenue in the Pavonia section of Camden, referred to in modern times as Cramer Hill. Dayton Avenue was renamed North 18th Street after Stockton Township joined Camden. Charles Behrend was one of at least five children. Sadly, his mother passed away before June of 1900. When the Census was taken in 1910, older siblings Albert Jr., Lillian, and Freda were no longer at home. Charles, 17, and younger sister Elsie were working as apprentices in a yarn mill, probably the Highland Mill at North 10th and State Street.

When Charles Behrend registered for the draft on June 5, 1917, he lived at 809 Penn Street in Camden, NJ, and worked as a foreman at the Victor Talking Machine Company. He had a bad left knee, but that did not keep him out of the service. By the time he was drafted his parents had passed away.

Inducted into the Army on February 23, 1918, Charles Behrend was sent to Camp Dix, New Jersey. On April 3, 1918 he was assigned to Company C, 309th Infantry Regiment, 78th Infantry Division. He sailed for France in May of 1918, and spent his 26th birthday in the trenches before St. Mihiel. He was killed during the Battle of St. Mihiel when a high explosive artillery shell burst near him.

Private Behrend was survived by his sister, Mrs. Lillian Walker, of 925 South Paxton Street in Philadelphia.

Honor Roll Cards

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Behrend, Charles — 2,405,216 — White. Residence: 809 Penn St., Camden, N.J. Inducted at Camden on Feb 23/18. Place of birth: Camden. Age or date of birth: 25 5/12. Organizations served in, with dates of assignments and transfers: Co 4, 153 Dep Brig Feb 25/18 to Apr 3/18; Co C, 309 Inf to Sept /18. Grades, with date of appointment: Pvt Feb 23/18; Pvt 1cl Aug 1/18. Engagements: [blank]. Served overseas from 5/20/18 to 9/25/18. Killed in action Sept 25/18. Other wounds or injuries received in action: [blank]. Persons notified of death: Mrs. Lillian Walker, Sister, 925 S. Paxton St., W. Philadelphia, Pa. Remarks: [blank].

World War I Draft Registration Card

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Registration Card, Form 1, No. 26, Serial 1347. 1. Name in full: Charles Behrend. Age, in yrs: 24. 2. Home address: 809 Penn, Camden, N.J. 3. Date of birth: Sept. 18th 1892. 4. Are you (1) a natural-born citizen...: Natural Born. 5. Where were you born: Camden, N.J., U.S. 7. What is your present trade, occupation, or office: Foreman. 8. By whom employed: Victor Talk. M. Co.; Where employed: Camden. 9. Have you a father, mother, wife, child under 12, or a sister or brother under 12, solely dependent on you for support: No. 10. Married or single: Single. Race: Caucasian. 11. What military service have you had: No. 12. Do you claim exemption from draft (specify grounds): Bad Left Knee. Signature of registrant: Charles Behrend.

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Registrar's Report, No. 613, 29-3-7-A. 1. Tall, medium, or short: Short. Slender, medium, or stout: Slender. 2. Color of eyes: L. Blue. Color of hair: D. Brown. Bald: No. 3. Has person lost arm, leg, hand, foot, or both eyes, or is he otherwise disabled: No. Signature of registrar: M. A. McGinley. Precinct: 5. City or County: Camden. State: New Jersey. Ward: 2. Date of registration: June 5th [1917].

Tag: charles-behrend

John M. Peterson

John Martin Peterson (1892-1971) served the Camden Fire Department for 36 years with Engine Company 11, from his appointment in 1919 to his retirement on pension in 1956. A veteran of the First Division in France, he was twice wounded in World War I and received the Order of the Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster.

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18th Street

Eighteenth Street runs from River Avenue north to just beyond Harrison Avenue in the Cramer Hill section of Camden, New Jersey. Originally called Dayton Avenue, it was renamed shortly after the 1900 Census.

January 20, 2024