Melvin and Peter Myhre

Periodically, I use this page to remember some of the forgotten young American men who gave their lives in the First World War.  Private Melvin Myhre of Fosston, Minnesota, was killed in action on October 10, 1918, about a month before the armistice. He is buried in France with over 14,000 of his comarades at the at Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.  He served in the U.S. Army, 327th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Division.

The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, in which Private Myhre gave his life, was the largest battle in U.S. history, and involved 1.2 million American soldiers. Over 26,000, including Private Myhre, were killed. In addition, some 70,000 French soldiers were killed, as were between 90,000 and 120,000 Germans.

His brother, Private Peter Myhre, also died in France on November 1, 1918, only ten days before the Armistice. He is buried at the St. Mihiel American Cemetery, along with over 4000 American soldiers.

According to Polk County Minnesota in the World War, Melvin and Peter were sons of Mr. and Mrs. Mikkel Myhre.  Melvin entered service on March 2, 1918. Peter entered the service on July 26 and was taken sick about October 15 behind the front near Clermont Woods. He died at the Mesves hospital.

Their pictures shown here, are from the three-volume Soldiers of the Great War (Vol. 2, p. 99).

Nurses at U.S. Army Hospital, Mesves, France. (Nat’l Institutes of Health photo).