Ingvard Skobo

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Ingvard Skobo.

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In Service to Country - New and Old

Ingvard Skobo was a farmer prior to his enlistment. He volunteered for the U.S. Army in September, 1916. His tour of duty included fighting in the trenches in the St. Michel Offensive and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. The army at this time was very ill-equipped. Ingvard’s training sessions were conducted using gun-shaped wooden sticks. Shooting accuracy was determined by one man assuming a firing position on his stomach. Another man, also on his stomach, would face the first holding a spoon with a small hole drilled out in the middle. This soldier would peer through the hole as his buddy “fired his rifle.” If the end of the rifle moved it meant that the first soldier had missed his mark. Ingvard spoke little about his war experiences, but he did tell a Sunday School class one time that usually in the trenches men would play cards and horse around. When the message was passed along that they were going over the top the following morning, the cards would be put away and Bibles brought out. Then it became very quiet. Ingvard received his American citizenship for his participation in the U.S. armed forces.

  • Photograph courtesy of May Skobo Jackson.

  • Photograph courtesy of May Skobo Jackson.