Arthur Adolph Diettel
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: 4 Aug 1888 - New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Christening:
Death: 6 Aug 1918 - Alexandria, Rapides, Louisiana, USA
Burial:
Cause of Death: accidental grenade explosion
Parents
Father: Hans Author Diettel
Mother: Elvena Fehrenbach
Notes
General:
Per New Orleans birth index:
Diettel, Arthur M W 08/04/1888 Volume 86 Page 976
Father: Hans A. Diettel
Mother: Elivina Fehrenbach
Per 1900 US Census, 6/4/1900, 4728 Constance, 2nd Precinct, Ward 13, New Orleans, Louisiana
Head of household is 37 year old white male, Hans Diettel, born April 1862 in Louisiana, his parents in Germany. His occupation is house builder. He owns his home free of mortgage, and has been married for 12 years to Elvena Diettel, 39, born December 1860 in Louisiana of German parents. Elvena is the mother of 2 children, both living, both at school. Son Arthur, 11, was born August 1888 in Louisiana. Viola, daughter, is 10, was born in Louisiana in February 1889. Living with the family is Elvena's brother, Adolph Fehranbach, a 32 year old paint dealer, single, born December 1867 in Louisiana. All members of the household speak English, and can read and write.
Per 1910 US Census
Living at 4728 Constance Street, New Orleans, LA
Head of Household is Hans A. Diettel, 47 year old white male married for 22 years to 48 year old Elvina, who has had 2 children, both still living. Hans and his father were born in Germany, his mother was born in Indiana. Hans immigrated to the US in 1869 (Note-his father was living in US when Civil War began, and returned to Germany home during the war, where Hans was born. After the war the family returned to US. Employed as an architect designing houses, he owns his own house free of mortgage. Elvina was born in Louisiana, her parents in Germany. She also speaks, reads and writes English. Living with them are their children, son Arthur A., 21 years old, and daughter Viola, 20 years old. Arthur was born in Louisiana, works as a Civil Engineer on his own account (self employed). Viola was born in Louisiana, no occupation listed. Also living in the house is a 34 year old white female servant, Eva Gwartney from Mississippi.
Per WWI Draft Registration, 5/25/1917:
Arthur A. Diettel is 29, born August 4, 1888 in New Orleans, LA. His address is 329 Audubon, New Orleans, LA. A natural born citizen,, single, caucasian, Arthur is a student, employed by Citizens Training Camp, located at Fort Logans H. Roots Ark. Arthur is medium height, slender build, blue eyes, brown hair, and has no disabilities.
Per Obituary in the Times-Picayune (New Orleans, La) 8/7/1918 Page 14
CAPT. A. A. DIETTEL, CAMP BEAUREGARD ACCIDENT VICTIM
Orleanian Dies and Nine Others Injured in Explosion
Camp Beauregard,La., Aug. 8.\emdash\emdash Captain Arthur A. Diettel, 30, 329 Audubon street, New Orleans, was instantly killed at 10 o'clock this morning while instructing his men in the use of the hand grensde in one of the grenade trenches of the camp grounds.
Nine others were Injured as follows: First Lieutenant Sidney H. Michaels, Chicago; First Lieutenant John R. Carlson, Boston; First Lieutenant John W. Anderson. Shreveport; Sergeant Castor F. Cruell, Alexandria; Mechanic Leon 8. Baldwin, 2430 Rousseau street, New Orleans; Private James Gray, Gary, Ind.; Private Nora Stelly, Abbevlle, La.; Private Lee W. Hutler, Joplin, Mo.; Private Daniel Burns, Springfield, Ill..
All the injured as well as the captaln were in Company F, of the 114th Engineers.
It was the first serious accident that has occurred in Camp Beauregard. Just how it took place will be made a subject of military Inquiry. Until then details are withheld.
Captain DIettel was a graduate In civil engineering from Tulane University, class of 1916. Following his graduation he served as consulting engineer with the New Orleans Public Belt railroad.
In May, 1917, he entered the First Engineers Officers' Training School at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. and was graduated the following August. He entered the 114th Engineers as a lieutenant and only recently was promoted to a captaincy. He was unmarried.
WAS DAVE EWING'S CHUM
Captain Diettel Killed as Father Grieves Over Friend of Son.
"And I wonder who will be next?' wrote Hans A. Diettel Tuesday morning in a letter of condolence to the relatives of Lieutenant David J. Ewing, who was killed in action in France a few days ago.
Tuesday afternoon Mr. Diettel received a telegram from Camp Beauregard, announcing that his son Captain Arthur A. Diettel, had been killed there in an accident during hand grenade practice.
Captain Dieitel, 30, was with the 114th Engineers who expect to leave soon for France. He was a boyhood chum of Lieutenant Ewing.
Before entering the service, Captain Diettel lived with his father and sister at 329 Audubon street. The elder Diettel is a well known architect.
Funeral arrangements had not been decided on Tuesday night.
Mr. Diettel was unable to hold back the tears as he spoke to a Times-Picayune reporter Tuesday evening.
"My boy was all the world to me," he said. "He and Dave Ewing were the first New Orleans commissioned
officers to die in the service and it is strange that they should have been boyhood companions. I regarded Dave as a son and when the news of his death came I was deeply grieved. This morning I mailed a letter to his relatives. I told them how useless it was for me to try to express my feeling and asked who would be next. I did not expect such a terrible answer.
Then Mr. Diettel clenched his fist and a gleam came into his eyes. Pounding a fist on an arm of the chair
he exclaimed in a broken voice: "I'll kill the next man who calls me a German.".
Louisiana Statewide Death Indeces 1900-1929
Name:Arthur A. Diettel
Death Date:6 Aug 1918
Estimated Birth Year:1888 Age: 30 years
PARISH:Rapides
Certificate Number: 12497 Volume:28
Per New Orleans death index
Name:Arthur A. Diettel Age: 30 yrs
Death Date:6 Aug 1918
Color:W
Page:1101 Volume: 172