Members of Arthur W. Kirchhoff American Legion Post #288 were recently brought closer to a man none of them knew – Kirchhoff himself.

Past Post Cmdr. Cliff Ripke in November received photos of Kirchhoff's grave from friends Terry and Karolyn Collins, of La Crosse, Wis. Buried at Oise-Aisne Cemetery in Fere-en-Tardenois, France, the Hartley teen was killed in 1918 near Sergy while serving during World War I.

As far as Ripke is aware, nobody from Hartley has ever been to Kirchhoff's grave or seen photos of it.

"I just thought it was really nice to see where he was," Ripke said. "It was really interesting."

Ripke met Terry Collins in the Air Force during the 1960s and they stayed in touch over the decades. Collins frequently tours military cemeteries during his travels abroad while visiting his daughters in Europe, which gave Ripke an idea.

Maybe his friend could visit Kirchhoff's final resting place and send back some photos?

Collins was on board right away. Ripke had hoped to get photos back from the gravesite prior to the American Legion's centennial celebration in 2019, but it didn't work out. The global pandemic shelved the visit another year, but Collins was able to make it work in November.

"He's been to a lot of the cemeteries in Europe, but he hadn't been to this one," Ripke said. "He said next time I go, I'll try to check it out if it works."

Ripke had a special placard made up to place next to Kirchhoff's grave. He and his fellow Legion members were over the moon when Collins sent back photos of his visit.

"It was really cool to see," Ripke said.

Kirchhoff was born Sept. 21, 1898 on a farm near Plessis. He resided there with his parents, John and Minnie, until they moved to Hartley, where he made many friends thanks to his "kind disposition and brave deeds," according to a short biography provided by Ripke.

Kirchhoff was a member of the ninth grade when he enlisted with Co. E. after war was declared and served with the 168th Infantry, Rainbow Division. He received his training at Sheldon for a short time in 1917 before his company left for Des Moines, where he remained briefly before sailing to England and arriving there Nov. 9, 1917.

On Dec. 20, 1917 they reached France and drilled until March of 1918. Kirchhoff was in the trenches several times with the Rainbow Division during great battles that summer.

Pvt. Kirchhoff was a member of the patrol that was the first to enter Sergy, where he was killed on July 28, 1918. He had volunteered to become a member of the Second Battalion Scouts and served with the group throughout the Lorraine Campaign and the Battle of Champagne.

"Kirchhoff was a loyal soldier who always did his duty," states his biography.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Terry Collins snaps a photo of Kirchhoff's grave.

Kirchhoff is buried in Plot B – Row 11 – Grave 21, Oise-Aisne Cemetery. The hallowed ground serves as the final resting place for 6,012 American war dead, most of whom lost their lives while fighting in that vicinity in 1918.

Ripke plans to put up a photo display of Collins' visit somewhere inside the Hartley Legion building soon.

"There was a time when I wondered if maybe we should try to bring [Kirchhoff] back, because they do that from time to time," he said. "But I got to thinking that he's been there resting for 100 years, and we better just leave him. He's there with his buddies who he served with."