Eva Sofia Kullgren probably knew who the father of her son was, but it is not mentioned in the Swedish church books. Her son, Gustaf Adolf, is noted as illegemite in the book of birth.
Gustaf Adolf was born in Irsta parish in Västmanland county, Sweden, on June 4th, 1879.
His mother, Eva Sofia Kullgren, was at the time married to Anders Gustaf Sundquist, and Gustaf was raised in the family together with 8 siblings.
Gustaf Adolf emigrated to North America in 1891, and the year is confirmed in the American documents of naturalization. In the Swedish church books he is mentioned as absent, and in the book from 1921 it is written a note with a pencil that Gustaf probably was in America and probably have died in the War on the American side.
Gustaf Adolf must have been around 11 years old when he emigrated and I assume he must have emigrated together with someone, but I haven’t been able to find any immigration documents in the Ellis Islands American Archives. Although it is mentioned in the documents of naturalization from 1904 that he arrived New York on January 1st, 1891.
Medal of Honor
Gustaf Adolf Sundquist enlisted in the U. S. Navy July 30th, 1897, at an age of 18, and served in the Navy during the American War with Spain as an Ordinary Seaman on board the USS Nashville. He was awarded the Congressional Medal Of Honor for his bravery during the operation of cutting the cable leading from Cienfuegos, Cuba, on May 11, 1898.
The Spanish-American War was a brief conflict between the United States and Spain that ended Spain’s colonial presence in America and established the U.S. as a major world power.
His citation for the medal reads: “Facing the heavy fire of the enemy, Sundquist displayed extraordinary bravery and coolness throughout this action“. His Medal was awarded to him on November 1, 1899, at an age of 20.
Gustaf was discharged from the Navy 26 Sept. 1900. In 1905 he married Matilda E. Pearson in Brooklyn, N.Y. and the couple had five children. They came to Cleveland about 1915 where he was employed as a structural ironworker until 4th of May 1918 when he reenlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve to serve in. Assigned to Ft. Lafayette Naval Air Station at Crois D’Hins, France.
During the FWW ocean-bed telephone cables were severed and alternative means of long-range communication had to be explored. At the time, radiotelegraphy was developing rapidly and when the US joined Allied operations in 1917, they needed a reliable and permanent communications channel between Europe and the States.
General Pershing, head of the American Expeditionary Forces, requested the construction of a radiotelegraphy station and Croix d’Hins in France emerged as the preferred site. Assets included its location some distance from the frontlines, its proximity to the port of Bordeaux despite being outside urban areas, easy access to the railway network and, more generally, its optimal position near to the Atlantic coast, ideal for transatlantic messaging.
Work began in March 1918 on building the transmitter and antennae, technical units, a water tower, a refectory, lodgings and even a school. To facilitate the task, a railway siding departed from the main line and led up to the main building. No less than 750 US Marines were drafted to the site to install equipment and erect the pylons. They had been manufactured by the Pitt-Des Moines steel company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Source: https://invisiblebordeaux.blogspot.com/)
During August 25th, 1918, Gustaf took a Swim outside Cap Ferret west of Bordeaux, France, and he was lost in the waves. He accidently drowned, and his body has never been recovered.
Gustaf is today mentioned on the Wall of the Missing at Brookwood American Cemetery in Surrey, south-west of London. He also has a headstone at the American Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, as a memory marker.
His name on the wall of the missing has just recently been marked in gold together with a Medal of Honor Star. A link to the small movie here.
May Gustaf rest in peace, wherever he is.
Great story ❤️
Thank you very much, Wendy!
The compassion you have for other people’s historia, life is so great.
Thank you very much, Nicklas! 🙏