clay county histories

Markus Krueger | Program Director  HCSCC

On February 5, 1919, Goodwin Thortvedt returned home from the Great War. He told his family about the day four months earlier when he was shot and their friend Eugene Studlien was killed in France. His sister Orabel recorded the story in her diary:

 “The soldiers went ‘double beat’ till they come to the Forest of Argonne! …Goodwin and Eugene both looked at each other – that was the last one between them as the Sergeant said, ‘Mr. Thortvedt, you may scout ahead.’ So Goodwin went ahead – beating his way through the thick underbrush – others were a coming after him in a single file but were about 50 feet behind Goodwin – who acted as Signal Scout. Goodwin proceeded along – keeping a sharp eye out for snipers in the trees and other dangers. Then – there was two Germans. – they ducked and so did Goodwin – they saw each other at the very same time – then came the incessant patter spatter of the machine gun fire.

Goodwin lay behind a fallen root – the root was not broad enough to protect the whole of Goodwin’s body. Goodwin lay as flat as possible but he had to peep often over the root to see if the Germans were coming and it was God’s wonder a bullet did not happen to come along when his head happened to be above the root. …As Goodwin saw the two Germans he turned around and told his comrades to ‘git down!’ and they all lay as flat as possible behind what protection they could find – but there Goodwin was so much nearer the Germans than the others that it must have been a terrible feeling – bullets whizzed past his head – burned his ears – sand and dirt flew in his face and then he ‘got his’ in the right elbow. His arm became numb and very painful.

Goodwin began to worm his way on this stomach – to the rear – he pulled himself along [by] the aid of his left arm. He expected to get shot any time as bullets came fast and thick! …He crawled past a shell hole – there lay one of his friends a Mr. Ruben Niccolay [from Barnesville] and when he saw that Goodwin was wounded he said ‘Did they get you Fat?’ [Goodwin Thortvedt’s nickname was “Fat”]

Then Goodwin came in a shell hole were the Sergeant was – the Sergeant gave first aid to Goodwin’s wound and also said ‘There is one man who will never see the states! – He got a bullet right in his forehead! – Instantaneous death. Goodwin asked ‘was it Studlien?’ The Sergeant answered ‘No – he is further up!’ but Goodwin had a premonition that it was Eugene but that the Sergeant didn’t like to tell Goodwin, and he feels to this day that it was poor Eugene.

The Sergeant told Goodwin to try his best to get back in the rear. By a miracle Goodwin got thru that terrible space of shot and shell. Went in ambulance to base hospital and 13 days after he was wounded an operation made on his arm and a big piece of bone taken out (The crazy bone). He got 2 shots in the arm.”