Pahl to Pahl - Another Generation

“There were many men that day deserving medals who never got them. There was Sergeant Pahl who got shot leading a charge on the north side of the hill. A braver man never lived." 

--Charles Windolph 

John Pahl was born in Germany in 1850. During the Battle of the Little Big Horn he was wounded in the right shoulder and was later transported back to Fort Lincoln on the steamer Far West. He was recommended for a medal for distinguished gallantry by Captain Frederick Benteen on April 16, 1877. The army never issued Pahl the medal. After his discharge from the 7th Cavalry he worked as a blacksmith in Sturgis, South Dakota.

Ad from Sturgis Weekly Record; April 23, 1897

He married his wife Anna in 1885. Their first daughter, Cora, died at age 3 months, 28 days in August 1886. They went on to have four more children - Rosa, May, Albert, and Louise. John Pahl died in Hot Springs, South Dakota on January 28, 1924. He is buried at Bear Butte Cemetery in Sturgis.

John Pahl's only son, Albert, was born on April 15, 1893. He married his wife Edith in Montana on Christmas Eve 1919. Albert and Edith had three children - Jack, Harriet, and Francis.

Seventh Cavalry trooper John Pahl's grandson, John Albert (Jack) Pahl was born on March 23, 1921, in Lead, South Dakota. The family moved to Montana where Jack attended school until 1934, when they returned to Lawrence County, settling in Terraville. Jack graduated from high school in Lead in 1940. Jack joined the National Guard and was later inducted into the army. He was sent overseas and arrived in Ireland in 1942. 

Jack was on active duty in Africa during the Tunisian Campaign and was then sent to Anzio Beachhead in Italy, in March of 1944. He was slightly wounded on May 22, but returned to action almost immediately.

Army Sgt. Jack A. Pahl was killed in action on June 1, 1944, during the Invasion of Italy on Anzio Beach while "cleaning out a machine gun nest." Reports say he was killed by sniper fire. Jack Pahl was awarded two Purple Hearts.

Jack Pahl, Great Falls Tribune, June 22, 1944

Jack Pahl was originally buried in Italy but his body was eventually shipped stateside and he was buried in Bear Butte Cemetery in Sturgis in August 1948. 

When Jack was buried in Bear Butte Cemetery, the following appeared in the August 6, 1948 edition of The Black Hills Weekly newspaper - SGT. JACK PAHL BURIED WITH FULL MILITARY HONORS.

Sgt. Jack Pahl

JOHN PAHL PAGE