VFW 1215 and The Mess Hall Tavern & Grill About

Rochester native, Carl J. Sonnenberg was killed in Meuse-Argonne offensive in France during World War l. He was shot by a German Sniper near Vienne-Le Chateau, Marne on September 28, 1918.

Sonnenberg was a Pvt. in Co. G, 307^thInfantry Regiment, 77^th Infantry Division. He is memorialized on the "Wall of the Missing” along with 953 other American Servicemen, at the U.S. Meuse-Argonne National Cemetery, Romagne, France. He was buried in an "Isolated” grave near Vienne-Le- Chateau and apparently his remains were never found later when the cemetery was established. There are 14,246 Identified Servicemen buried at the National Cemetery.

Carl was the son of August H. and Emilie O. Sonnenberg. (German immigrants of the 1880’s to Rochester). He was born June 4, 1889, in Rochester, attended District 30, Olmsted Rural School in Cascade Township, Trinity Lutheran Parochial school, and Northrup school in Rochester. He married Elsie Holt of Rochester on March 30, 1918, they had no children.

Carl was working as an Auto Mechanic when he entered the Army draft on June 24th 1918. He was sent to Camp Lewis, Washington, where he trained for 6 weeks before being sent to France in August. His two brothers also served in France. Frederick in the 119th Field Artillery, 32nd Infantry Division and Eckhardt in the 49th Aero Squadron.

After Post 1215 was formed in 1923 and named after Carl Sonnenberg and Guy Whitlock, who was killed at Baliaug, the Philippines, May 23, 1899, Frederick and Eckhardt served as officers. Their wives, Laverne and Anne, respectively, served as officers in the Auxiliary.

A memorial Veteran’s Headstone for Carl Sonnenberg is in Lot 300, section 3, Oakwood Cemetery, Rochester, Minnesota.