Descendants of Clyde A. Rhodefer, one of 10 men from Clallam County who lost their lives fighting in Europe during World War I, recently restored and enhanced a monument stone that rests in front of a building that is now home to Carlsborg Family Church, 481 Carlsborg Road.
The public is invited to an official re-dedication of the monument at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9.
The original bronze marker was erected by a private citizen, Toussent Benoit, in 1924 in front of what was then the Carlsborg School, though it did not include the names of the “Clallam County boys” who lost their lives in the conflict.
The Rhodefer family, spearheaded by Clyde’s great-niece Anita Reynolds, replaced the bronze marker with an engraved stone. The wording of the original plaque appears on the new stone, and below it the names of the 10 men who participated in the European conflict and lost their lives.
Mick Hersey, a monument restoration specialist from the Bremerton area, installed the new stone on Sept. 3.
In 2023, the stone was cleaned by a group of Daughters of the American Revolution-Michael Trebert Chapter, in hopes the plaque could be replaced.
The original bronze plaque is now housed at Sequim Museum & Arts as part of a display of military artifacts and items.
The new plaque includes the original wording, was well as the names of the Clallam County servicemen lost in World War I.
Event organizers say this is the only known monument specifically for World War I in Clallam County.
The Nov. 9 event includes songs (National Anthem, “America the Beautiful”) performed by Port Angeles High School Vocal United, a prayer and welcome from Pastor Jerry Luengen of Carlsborg Family Church, recognition of families, dedication of the monument, reading of names, “Taps” and a reception.
Servicemen recognized with the plaque include:
• Walter E. Akeley, private, U.S. Army, 162nd Infantry, 2nd Div.; son of Stephen Virigil Akeley and Mary Margaret Franks
• Benneville William Bertolet, private, U.S. Army, 108th Field Artillery, 28th Div.; son of Maybury Bertolet and A. Katherine Hocker
• Gudstein Borgford, private, U.S. Army, 162nd Infantry Regiment, 41st Div.; son of Tomas Jonsson Bjorgford and Secelia Bjornson
• Donald Dorr, private, U.S. Army, 308th infantry, 77th Div.; son of William Mason Dorr and Elizabeth Ann Dayton
• William G. Grason, private, U.S. Army, Company G, 157th Infantry, 40th Div.; son of Grant Lincoln Grason and Ida May Anders
• Jack Grennan, private, U.S. Marine Corps, 6th Regiment, 2nd Infantry Div.; son of Finton Joseph Grennan and Mary Bridget Leigh
• Earl Jenkins, seaman, U.S. Navy, gunner on USS Georgia; son of James Horton Jenkins Jr. and Ellen Margrete “Ella” Matthews
• John P. Moore, private, U.S. Army, 127th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Div.; parents unknown
• Clyde A. Rhodefer, sergeant, U.S. Army, 346th Field Artillery, 91st Div.; son of Samuel Rhodefer and Mary Margaret Tiller
• Jacob Sunde, private, U.S. Army, 348th Machine Gun battalion, 91st Div.; parents unknown.
