Post History
Kalamazoo Honor Roll 1917–1919
A tribute to the men and women of Kalamazoo County who answered the call to serve during the Great War.
1917–1919
Years of Service
WWI
The Great War
Post 36
Founded by These Veterans
IN THEIR HONOR
Remembering Those Who Served
During the First World War, thousands of men and women from Kalamazoo County left their homes, families, and livelihoods to serve the United States in the most devastating conflict the world had yet seen. They served in the trenches of France, on the seas, in field hospitals, and on the home front — each one contributing to the Allied cause.
The Kalamazoo Honor Roll of 1917–1919 stands as a permanent record of that service. It is a testament to the courage and sacrifice of an entire generation of Kalamazoo citizens who answered the call when their country needed them most.
American Legion Joseph B. Westnedge Post 36 is proud to preserve and honor this record. The post itself was founded by many of these same veterans in June 1919, just months after the Armistice. Their names appear on this roll not merely as historical data, but as a living reminder of what service and sacrifice look like.
Honor Roll
Kalamazoo County · 1917–1919
Honoring all who served from Kalamazoo County during the First World War.
A NOTE ON THIS RECORD
This page honors all Kalamazoo County residents who served in the United States Armed Forces during World War I, 1917–1919. Post 36 is actively working to compile a complete record. If you have information to contribute, please reach out.
OFFICIAL SERVICE RECORD
Colonel Joseph Burchnall Westnedge
126th Infantry, 32nd Division — the post's namesake and one of Kalamazoo's most decorated sons of the Great War.
Official military service record — Colonel Joseph B. Westnedge, 126th Infantry, 32nd Division
Colonel Joseph B. Westnedge
126th Infantry · 32nd "Red Arrow" Division
KALAMAZOO IN THE GREAT WAR
The 32nd "Red Arrow" Division
Many Kalamazoo men served in the 32nd Infantry Division — the famed "Red Arrow" Division — which included the 126th Infantry Regiment commanded by Colonel Joseph B. Westnedge, the post's namesake. The 32nd Division was among the first American units to break through the German lines and was cited by French Marshal Foch for its aggressive fighting spirit.
The division earned its "Red Arrow" nickname because it pierced every enemy line it faced. Kalamazoo's sons were at the heart of that effort — in the Aisne-Marne offensive, the Oise-Aisne offensive, and the final Meuse-Argonne campaign that brought the war to a close.
Colonel Westnedge led the 126th Infantry through some of the fiercest fighting of the war. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, and the French Croix de Guerre for his leadership and valor. He died on November 29, 1918 — eighteen days after the Armistice — from complications caused by mustard gas.
HELP US PRESERVE THIS HISTORY
If you have a family member whose name should appear on this honor roll, or if you have photographs, letters, or documents from a Kalamazoo veteran of the Great War, Post 36 would be honored to hear from you. Contact us at [email protected] or call 269-348-0220.