Louis Abend

Louis Abend was born on 17 October 1895 in Lemberg, Austria/Galicia (now Lviv, L’vivs’ka, Ukraine) to unknown parents. Abend arrived in the United States on or around the 30^th of July 1900, most likely accompanied by an adult also emigrating*. It is unknown where Abend lived from 1900-1913.

*A search of the Rotterdam City Archives’ Passenger Lists aboard Holland America Line (HAL) to the United States under “Abend” and “1900” have only one lead; “Chawe Abend” traveling aboard the Statendam from Vienna.

Rotterdam City Archives, ed. “Passengers Holland America Line (HAL).” Rotterdam City Archives, March 3, 2020.

Abend enlisted in the U.S. Army on 9 November 1913 at Ft. Slocum, New York. He was assigned to the 28^th Infantry Regiment; further details on service are unknown. Upon the 1^st Division’s organization in May of 1917, Abend initially served as a Private with Co. L, 28^th Infantry Regiment, 1^st Division until 20 December 1917; he was then transferred to Co. M, 28^th Infantry Regiment, 1^st Division, and remained with them until his discharge. Abend was made a Corporal, 3 July 1917, back to Private, 24 September, Private First Class 7 January 1918, Corporal 9 January, and finally, Sergeant 22 October. Pvt Abend and his Co. L left New York aboard the U.S. Army Transport Ship Tenadores on 12 June 1917. Then-Cpl Abend received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions near Cantigny, France on 28-30 May 1918;

“The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Corporal Louis Abend (ASN: 58629), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, A.E.F., near Cantigny, France, May 28 – 30, 1918. When all the officers of his platoon had become casualties under a heavy artillery and machine-gun fire, Corporal Abend, displaying great bravery and initiative, voluntarily took command, effected a reorganization of the platoon which was being rapidly depleted, and held his men so well in hand that they completely repulsed two powerful counterattacks launched by the enemy.”

Sgt Abend and Co. M left Brest, France aboard the U.S. Army Transport Ship Martha Washington on 1 November 1919, arriving in Hoboken on 11 November; Abend was Honorably Discharged on the same day.

Abend received the DSC in the early 1920s,

“Abend said the incident occurred at Cantigny where the American forces entered the fight for the first time. It was on May 28, 1917, that Abend found himself the holder of the most lowly rank in the company, forced to jump ahead and take command in order to prevent disaster…the Cross will be presented at Governors Island at some time in the near future.”

Abend’s only confirmed guarian or relative is Herbert Van Dyke, listed as a point of contact on the U.S. Army Transport List Martha Washington.

At some point in the late 1910s/early 1920s, Abend married Regina Breiterman (1904-?); the couple had two children, Renee (1923-?) and Bernard (1929-1932). The family lived at 491 Ridgewood Ave, New York, until the mid-1930s, where Abend worked as a shoe salesman. By the 1940s, the family resided at 1100 (later resided at 1112) 25^th St., NW, Washington, D.C., where Abend worked as a grocer. On 31 December 1940, Abend married Freda Weissman, becoming stepfather to her son Philip (1931-?). The circumstances surrounding Abend and his first wife’s separation are unknown, however, Regina Breiterman Abend is listed as ‘Widowed’ on the 1950 Census, living in the Bronx, New York.

Details on the remainder of Abend’s life are unknown; he died on 10 January 1959.