Red Men WWI War Memorial &mdash; Camden & Tuckerton, N.J.

Red Men WWI War Memorial

Camden & Tuckerton, New Jersey

The Improved Order of Red Men World War I Memorial sculpture — The Improved Order of Red Men World War I Memorial, originally located at Pulaski Park in Camden, N.J.

This sculpture was commissioned by a fraternal organization, the Improved Order of Red Men, to memorialize South Jersey members who died while serving with America’s armed forces during World War I. Nicola Berardo, a sculptor who lived in Camden, was commissioned to execute the project.

Dedicated on May 29, 1920, this monument was originally located on the Haddon Avenue side of Pulaski Park in Camden NJ, adjacent to Cooper Hospital. A rededication ceremony was held on October 13, 1920. In 1981 the park was demolished to make way for the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Camden Campus. This statue and a statue of General Pulaski were supposedly put in storage, to be re-erected in Camden. This, however, was not the case, as this monument was taken to Route 9 and Center Street in Tuckerton NJ, where it was rededicated on May 21, 1981. The Pulaski Monument was taken to Cooper River Park in Pennsauken NJ.

The Improved Order of Red Men traces its roots back to the Sons of Liberty, making it America’s oldest fraternal organization. This monument is dedicated to those members of the Red Men who gave their lives in this Nation’s service during World War I. To learn more about the Red Men, click here.

A Walk Around the Statue

Views of the Improved Order of Red Men World War I Memorial.

Front view of the Red Men WWI Memorial — Views of the memorial sculpture.

Detail of the Red Men WWI Memorial — Views of the memorial sculpture.

Roll of Honor

Plaque inscribed with the names of Red Men members who died in World War I — This section of the monument is inscribed with the names of Redmen members who died while serving America during World War I. The individual Red Men lodges are called TRIBES, and the number is an identifier similar to that used by the American Legion and VFW for their individual posts, and that those listed below the name of a tribe were members of that tribe.

The memorial plaque inscribed with the names of Red Men members who died while serving America during World War I. The individual Red Men lodges are called Tribes, and the number is an identifier similar to that used by the American Legion and VFW for their individual posts. The Red Men Female Auxiliary is known as the Daughters of Pocahontas; the right-hand column of the plaque lists the 7 Daughters of Pocahontas tribes and their members who served during World War I.

Memorial plaque, left panel — This section of the monument is inscribed with the names of Redmen members who died while serving America during World War I. The individual Red Men lodges are called TRIBES, and the number is an identifier similar to that used by the American Legion and VFW for their individual posts, and that those listed below the name of a tribe were members of that tribe.

The memorial plaque inscribed with the names of Red Men members who died while serving America during World War I. The individual Red Men lodges are called Tribes, and the number is an identifier similar to that used by the American Legion and VFW for their individual posts. The Red Men Female Auxiliary is known as the Daughters of Pocahontas; the right-hand column of the plaque lists the 7 Daughters of Pocahontas tribes and their members who served during World War I.

Portrait of a Red Men member who died in World War I — Portraits of Red Men members who gave their lives in World War I.

In Memory of Our Brothers Who Made the Supreme Sacrifice in the World War 1917–1918

Name	Rank	Branch	Unit	Born	Died
William H. Carroll Jr.
John T. Hyland	Civilian		Army Postal Service		7/15/1918
Joseph F. Covert	Pvt	Army	34th Base Hospital	6/16/1887	3/22/1918
J. Richard Geist	Pvt	Army	Battery F, 16th Field Artillery	3/1/1893	1/11/1918
Filmore Haines	Pvt	Army	39th Company, 153rd Depot Brigade	12/18/1889	9/28/1918
Burton D. Bagg	Pfc	Army	309th Infantry Regiment, 78th Infantry Division	4/22/1895	10/20/1918
John Harkins	Pfc	Army	309th Infantry Regiment, 78th Infantry Division	2/24/1887	11/17/1918
William Schucker	Pvt	Army	Machine Gun Company, 309th Infantry Regiment, 78th Infantry Division	4/29/1892	10/16/1918
Ralph Benner	Pvt	Army	Medical Detachment, 314th Infantry Regiment, 78th Infantry Division	11/14/1891	4/26/1919
Harry B. Leeds	Pvt	Army	109th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division		7/15/1918
Frederick G. Frank	Pvt	Army	153rd Depot Brigade	8/4/1893	9/30/1918
Franklin Fortiner	Pvt	Army	153rd Depot Brigade	4/7/1896	6/30/1918
Allen I. Morgan	Cpl	Army	Troop G, 15th Cavalry Regiment	3/25/1889	3/22/1918
William Traub

Philadelphia Inquirer — May 30, 1920

1946 Map of Camden

HMTS Rohna

Six men from Camden NJ — Frank Ballerino, Michael Carr, Michael Yachus, Stephen V. Koscianski, Lewis Riondino, and Joseph H. Johnson — died together when the troop transport HMTS Rohna was struck by a German guided glider bomb and sank off the coast of North Africa. Six other Camden County men, Harry V. Taylor Jr. of Haddonfield, Carl Johanson and Jacob Kessler Jenkins of Pennsauken, William McKeon of Blackwood, Merle Reagle of Lindenwold, and Elmer F. Day of Merchantville also were lost that day, plus 8 other men from South Jersey. In total, 1,015 men were lost, but the story was never told to the families or the general public for over 57 years due to wartime censorship.

Important Note!

Red Men WWI War Memorial — Camden & Tuckerton, N.J.