Albert A. Robrecht (1918/10/12)

After having been struck in the face by a piece of shrapnel, Al wanted a "crack at the Huns."

Albert A. Robrecht was born in August 1896, in Louisiana, to John and Mary Rosalie Robrecht. Joining him in the family were brothers John and Gustavus and sisters Elizabeth, Mary, Joanna, Bernadine, Christina and Anna. By 1910 the family had settled in the Larkin Valley area of Santa Cruz County where his father had acquired a farm. After completing some level of elementary school education, Albert worked on the family farm.

Albert Robrecht is reported to have been a member of Company L, 2nd Infantry Regiment of the California National Guard. This likely occurred after its return from the Mexican border and prior to its later merger with another unit. When the guard unit was disbanded in November 1917, Private Robrecht was assigned to Company C 103rd Machine Gun Battalion, 52nd Infantry Brigade, 26th Infantry Division.

The 26th Infantry Division, known as the "Yankee Division" made its way "over there" to France early in 1918 and after a brief orientation period, was sent to the front. Albert was recovering from shrapnel wounds, probably received at the St. Mihiel salient in September, when he contracted an unspecified disease.

On October 12, 1918, Albert A. Robrecht died and was buried at St. Mihiel American Cemetery, Thiaucourt, France.

In 1930 his mother joined other "doughboy" mothers who traveled to France to say goodbye to their sons.

(CAG; USCR, 1910 US Census, CA, Santa Cruz; ABMC; WEP November 26, 1918 5:4)

Creator: Nelson, Robert L.
Source: Remembering our own: the Santa Cruz County military roll of honor 1861-2010. Santa Cruz, CA: The Museum of Art & History, c2010.
Date: Undated
Type: OBIT
Coverage: 1910s
Rights: Reproduced by permission of Robert L. Nelson and The Museum of Art & History.
Identifier: RO-ROBRECHT

Citation

Nelson, Robert L. “Albert A. Robrecht (1918/10/12).” Remembering our own: the Santa Cruz County military roll of honor 1861-2010. Santa Cruz, CA: The Museum of Art & History, c2010. SCPL Local History. https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/items/show/4659. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.