100th anniversary of entering into World War I

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1967

PFC Heines was assigned to the US Army’s oldest division, organized by Benjamin Franklin in 1747.


WORLD WAR I CENTENARY – GRAND COUNTY

American Legion Tex Hines Post 45

by Donald Dailey

Grand County’s first Veterans Service Organization was established in Kremmling, Colorado on September 26, 1919 at the Middle Park Fair & Rodeo, “Soldiers Day” event. The idea of the Kremmling News and the Fair & Rodeo Association was to welcome home World War 1 veterans with Grand County Honor Medals, and the remembrance of Tex Heines, the county’s first combatant killed in action during World War 1. Twenty eight veterans signed the Post’s first muster roll. Seven more veterans later enrolled. On September 2, 1931 the Post’s Ladies Auxiliary was formed. 

Charles Cammill “Tex” Heines

“Tex” was born on July 27, 1886 at Auburn, New York. His parents were French immigrant  Camillie and Elizabeth Heines. Tex lived at Rochester, New York, Cleveland, Ohio, and Vienna, Austria.

He arrived in Colorado first at Oak Creek to work as a ranch hand. At Parshall he was employed by the Williams Fork Land & Livestock Company. Tex was photographed spinning “The Wedding Ring” rope trick at the 1916 Middle Park Fair & Rodeo. On June 5, 1917 a military draft card was issued. Tex departed Grand County on October 2, to join the U.S. Army Infantry.

Private First Class Heines was assigned to the 109th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division, American Expeditionary Force-France. On July 28, 1918 one day after his thirty second birthday, PFC Heines made the supreme sacrifice.  His burial took place at Plot B, Row 13, Grave 32, in the American Military Cemetery Oise-Aisne. Near the city of Fere-en-Tardenois, France.

Author’s Note – Official documents spell the last name as Heines, but the American Legion flag  and the Grand County Historical Association has it as Hines.  The article is contributed by Donald Dailey in honor of the beginning of the 100 Year Commemoration of World War I.  Even though WWI officially began in 1914, April 6, 1917 was when the United States entered the war, and the military draft began. Dedicated in memory of Eldo “Tiny” Gallagher, 50 year member of the American Legion. 

photo by Kathy Knight

The current flag for the America Legion Tex Hines Post No. 45.

photo courtesy of the Grand County Historical Association

This popular photo of Tex Hines performing a rope trick at the 1916 Middle Park Fair and Rodeo takes on new significance when the viewer realizes Tex Hines enlisted in World War I and became Grand County’s first combatant killed in action.


West Grand Care Packages to benefit active military

West Grand K-8 PALS is sponsoring a Military Appreciation Care Package Drive to support service members with West Grand connections. From now through May 15, donations will be accepted at the front office at West Grand pk-8 school and at the Moose Cafe in Kremmling.  Packages that are brand new, sealed, and unopened are accepted. To sign a service member up, contact Stella Munoz, PO Box 232, Kremmling, CO 80459 or wgk8pride@gmail.com. For more information please call Stella at (970) 238-6163 or Andrea at (970) 630-7288.


VFW Auxiliary plans veteran’s trip to Fort Carson

The Kremmling VFW Auxiliary is planning an all-day field trip for veterans to Fort Carson in Colorado Springs on May. The trip will include a memorial service, a tour of Fort Carson, a cavalry demonstration by the mounted color guard, and lunch at the dining facility provided by the Auxiliary. There is no cost for this trip, but reservations are REQUIRED, space is limited! Call Micah Benson at (970) 509-0021 for more information and to get your field trip “permission” slip.