George Wasinger was born on April 3, 1895, in Kansas, to Jas and Lizzie Wasinger, Catholic Russian immigrants seeking a new life in the American landscape. As a teenager, George and his family relocated to Omaha, Nebraska, where he found employment at a bowling alley at the age of 15, displaying his early sense of responsibility and determination. Sometime between 1911 and 1917, the family relocated to Byers, Colorado.
In 1918, at the age of 23, George enlisted in the military, joining the 89th Division. His journey led him across the Atlantic Ocean aboard the ship Ascanius, bound for war-torn France. He found himself amidst one of the most significant battles of the Great War, the Battle of Saint-Mihiel, a pivotal moment in history that introduced the world to the terms "D-Day" and "H-Hour," forever etched in the annals of military strategy.
After the Battle of Saint-Mihiel, George and the other members of the 89th division fought gallantly in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the final push of the Allies in World War I. On November 11, 1918, Armistice Day, the 89th Division, lead an attack against the town of Stenay. Tragically, this assault resulted in casualties, including George, who sustained severe injuries in the line of duty. Sadly, George would succumb to his injuries just a few days later on November 14, 1918.
The circumstances surrounding the attack on Stenay stirred controversy. Some argued that the attack was unnecessary given the impending armistice, something all of the allied commanders were aware was happening, while others pointed to strategic considerations and the desire to secure vital resources for the troops who had been fighting for 47 straight days. However, while all the commanders who led this attack were officially questioned, no action against them was ever taken.
George Wasinger is one of the thousands of young men who served in the allied forces of World War I in a valiant effort to save the world from those who would see it harmed, believing that he was doing what was right for his country and fellow man. He is buried at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. His grave is marked by a white marble obelisk marker that includes a porcelain photograph of George in uniform at the top. Beneath his image is an intricately carved cross and under that is the inscription, "George Wasinger: Prvt Co A354th Inf: Born Apr. 3, 1895: Killed in France Nov. 14, 1918." The marble monument sits atop a gray, granite base.
Photo: Mt. Olivet Cemetery - Wheat Ridge, Colorado
