Private Frank Joseph Markling

Before the War

Frank Joseph Markling was born in Millerville, Minnesota on November 9, 1895. Frank was the youngest of 17 children born to Ludwig and Barbara. The Marklings were a pioneering family. Prior to Frank’s birth, Ludwig and Barbara settled on an unbroken farm in the Leaf Mountains of Ottertail County, Minnesota. They built a one-room house of rough logs with a slough grass roof. 

Later the growing family moved to Millerville where they continued to farm and opened a country store.  Frank worked around the farm and helped out at the store throughout his childhood. Like his brothers, Frank did not attend high school so he could work on the farm. After Ludwig retired, he and Barbara moved to Alexandria, Minnesota, and Frank moved to Garfield, Minnesota, to live and work on his brother-in-law’s farm. Barbara Markling passed away on August 8, 1914 and Ludwig on April 5, 1918.

Military Experience

Shortly after his father’s death, Markling enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and began basic training on May 13, 1918 at Parris Island, South Carolina. After completing the seven-week boot camp, he was transferred to Company C, 4^th Separate Battalion in Quantico, Virginia, for five weeks of additional training before departing for France. On August 12, Markling boarded the USS Henderson and departed for Europe, arriving after 13 days at sea, in Brest, France, on August 26. He received a week of additional training in preparation for the move to the front. On September 6, Markling joined his combat unit, 51^st Company, 2^nd Battalion, 5^th Marine Regiment.

St. Mihiel

The St. Mihiel Offensive was scheduled to commence on September 12. Markling and his new unit moved forward into position during the night in order to remain unseen by the Germans. It rained throughout the evening of September 11 and into the morning,  so the men were wet and muddy. The offensive began at 5:00 a.m. with Markling’s 5^th Marine Regiment following in support of the 2^nd Division’s lead units. By midday, the division pushed forward five miles and reached the operational objective, taking control of the high ground north of Thiaucourt. Markling’s company relieved the lead units and prepared their defenses for an anticipated counter-attack, which never fully materialized. On September 16, the 5^th Marines were relieved in place and began a two week movement in preparation of their next offensive.

Blanc Mont

The Blanc Mont Offensive began with an attack in the early morning of October 3. The 2^nd Battalion, 5^th Marines supported the 6^th Marines spearheading the assault. As the 6^th Marines continued to move forward, the French units on their left fell back and exposed their flank. Markling’s battalion maneuvered to fill the gap and faced intense machine gun and artillery fire, but wrested control of high ground from the Germans and reestablished the line.

The attack continued on the early morning of October 4 when Markling’s 2^nd Battalion leap-frogged over the 6^th Marines and led the assault. The Marines faced heavy machine gun and artillery fire while repelling counter-attacks to both exposed flanks. By the end of the day, their lines were consolidated and defenses set. 

The 6^th Marines passed through their lines to continue the assault the following day. The 5^th Marines continued in the support position until October 9, when the offensive ended. The Blanc Mont offensive was costly for Markham’s company, with 12 killed and 63 wounded. The 5^th Marines rested and moved many miles over the course of three weeks in preparation support the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. 

On October 29, Markling was transferred to the base hospital and diagnosed with flat feet. From there he was sent to Bordeaux and on December 23 and was transferred to Blois Casual Company 333. Markling departed Europe the following day, arriving in Quantico, Virginia on January 6, where he joined the 203 Casual Company until his discharge on May 17, 1919.

Meuse-Argonne Offensive

The 2^nd Battalion, 5^th Marines began the Meuse-Argonne Offensive on the morning of November 1 from a position about five miles west of the present day Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, with the 1^st Battalion, 5^th Marines leading, and the 2^nd Battalion in the lead support position. After the first objective was met, the 2^nd Battalion took the lead and met heavy resistance from machine gun positions, artillery and aircraft. The battalion continued advancing north in support of the lead units. 

On November 4, the 5^th Marines dug in for the day, facing extremely heavy machine gun and artillery fire.  The next day, the Marines moved forward to take a position between the army’s 9^th and 89^th Infantry Divisions, where they stayed for two cold and rainy days. It was so cold the Marines had to break ice from their fighting holes. 

There is conflicting evidence as to whether Markling participated in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. On November 7, Markling was listed as missing on the 51^st Company muster rolls, but he showed up in the Army’s 89^th Division rolls, where he was listed from November 9 through 18.

Veteran Experience

After returning home from the Marine Corps, Markling again lived and worked on his brother-in-law’s farm. On August 29, 1922, Markling married Clara Lorsung in Millerville, Minnesota. On January 2, Clara gave birth to a baby boy who was either stillborn or died the same day. Clara Markling passed away the following day, January 3, 1923. 

On May 25, 1925, Markling married Bessie Genevieve Parker and in 1929 they moved to Monticello, Minnesota. The couple had six children, four sons and two daughters. Markling worked at the Elk River Cement Factory until World War II when he went to work at the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant in New Brighton, Minnesota. After the war he worked until his retirement at the Central Lumber Company of Monticello. Markling was a member of the Monticello American Legion and VFW. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with his family.

Commemoration

On October 22, 1984, Frank Joseph Markling died in his home at the age of 89. He is buried in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Section Q, Site 3277. Bessie Markling died in 1986 and is buried next to her husband.

Bibliography

2^nd Division; Records of the American Expeditionary Forces (World War I), Records of Combat Divisions, 1913–1939, Record Group 120 (Boxes 51–54); National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD.

2^nd Division; Records of the American Expeditionary Forces (World War I), Records of Combat Divisions, 1913–1939, Record Group 120 (Box 79); National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD.

2^nd Division; Records of the American Expeditionary Forces (World War I), Records of Combat Divisions, 1913–1939, Record Group 120 (Box 86); National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD.

A Brief History of the 5th Marines. Washington, D.C.: Historical Branch, Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps, 1963. https://archive.org/stream/briefhistoryof5t00ying/briefhistoryof5t00ying_djvu.txt.

Alexandria Post News. “Death of Mrs. Ludwig Markling.” August 13, 1914. Courtesy of the Douglas County Historical Society.

Alexandria Post News. “Millerville Pioneer Dies.” April 11, 1918. Courtesy of the Douglas County Historical Society.

American Advance in the Argonne…. Photograph. November 5, 1918. National Archives and Records Administration (111-SC-25054-ac). Image.

Bonk, David.  St. Mihiel 1918: The American Expeditionary Forces’ Trial By Fire. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2011.

Clark, George. The Fourth Marine Brigade in World War I: Battalion Histories Based on Official Documents. Jefferson: McFarland & Company, 2015.

Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Springtime at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, 2016. Photograph. National Cemetery Administration.

Frank Markling. Kansas, Camp Funston Military Records, 1914–1919. Kansas State Historical Society. Digital Images. http://ancestry.com.

Frank Markling. Official Military Personnel File, Department of the Navy. U.S. Marine Corps, Record of the U.S. Marine Corps, RG 127, National Archives and Records Administration — St. Louis.

Frank Markling. U.S., Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists, 1910–1939. National Archives and Records Administration. Digital Images. http://ancestry.com.

Frank Markling. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850–2010. Digital Images. http://ancestry.com.

Frank Markling. U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1893–1958. National Archives and Records Administration.  Digital Images. http://ancestry.com.

Frank Markling. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918. National Archives and Records Administration.  Digital Images. http://ancestry.com.

Frank Markling. U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942. National Archives and Records Administration. Digital Images. http://ancestry.com.

George Harding. The capture of Blanc Mount Ridge. Photograph. Naval History and Heritage Command (NH 118635). https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-118000/NH-118635.html.

History of the Second Battalion Fifth Marines. Quantico: Marine Corps Schools, 1984. https://archive.org/stream/historyofsecond00unit/historyofsecond00unit_djvu.txt.

McClellan, Edwin. The United States Marine Corps in the World War. Washington, D.C.: Historical Branch, Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps, 1920. http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/usmchist/war.txt

Minnesota. Douglas County. 1910 U.S. Census. Digital Images. http://ancestry.com.

Minnesota. Douglas County. 1920 U.S. Census. Digital Images. http://ancestry.com.

Minnesota. Wright County. 1940 U.S. Census. Digital Images. http://ancestry.com.

St. Cloud Times. “Bessie Markling.” May 24, 1986. https://www.newspapers.com/image/223145240/?terms=bessie+markling

St. Cloud Times. “Frank Markling.” October 24, 1984. https://www.newspapers.com/image/223152360/?terms=frank%2Bmarkling

U.S. Marines in France. Disembarkation of 5^th Reg. Marines at a French port, June 1917. Photograph. June 1917. National Archives and Records Administration (111-SC-002152-ac). Image.
Woman Employee on Assembly Line. Photograph. New Brighton Historical Society.