Albert Bally's WWI Letters Home

On April 7, 1917, the United States responded to three years of uncertainty and aggression by declaring war on Germany. The U.S. was now a part of World War I. One month later, at age 20, Albert Bally left his college studies in Milwaukee to enlist in the U.S. Army. His letters home to Grand Marais over the next two years follow the highlights of America's World War I experience, from mobilizing an army of millions of men, to combat in the trenches, to the American occupation of Germany after Armistice Day in November of 1918. With directness and sometimes humor, Al's letters illuminate the challenges of communication and the suspense faced by American families who waited weeks for every precious letter to make it home.
 

WTIP's Sterling Anderson reads a sample of Albert Bally’s World War I letters each Friday at 9:45 a.m. on North Shore Morning. 

The most recently aired segment can be found at the bottom of this page.

Links to archived segments are provided below:

Part one, originally aired July 28.

Part two, originally aired August 4.

Part three, originally aired August 11.

Part four, originally aired August 18.

Part five, originally aired August 25.

Part six, originally aired September 1.

Part seven, originally aired September 8.

Part eight, originally aired September 15.

Part nine, originally aired September 22.

Part ten, originally aired September 29.

Part 11, originally aired October 6

Part 12, originally aired October 13

Part 13, originally aired October 20

Part 14, originally aired October 27

Part 15, originally aired November 3

Part 16, originally aired November 10

Albert Bally was born in Bayfield, Wisconsin on August 10, 1896, the youngest child of Sam and Nancy Bally. Shortly thereafter, the Ballys moved to Grand Marais, where Sam opened a blacksmithing business. Al and his brother, Bill, and his sister, Blanche, grew up in Grand Marais, where they were some of the first high school graduates. Al began a degree in electrical engineering, but put his education on hold to volunteer for the U.S. Army when the United States entered the war. He served in France, Luxembourg, and Germany, and was wounded in October of 1918, before returning home in May of 1919. He achieved the rank of Corporal and served the entire war with Company C of the 107th Signal Battalion in the 32nd Division, a unit that received acclaim for its extensive combat experience.  

After returning to the U.S., Al finished his degree in electrical engineering and graduated at the top of his class, married Mary Landergott of Milwaukee, and took jobs in St. Louis and Chicago. Shortly thereafter, Al and Mary moved back to Grand Marais, where he took over his father's blacksmithing business. He remained in Grand Marais the rest of his life and was an active citizen in public affairs. Albert Bally passed away December 11, 1990, and is buried in the Maple Hill Cemetery.  

Albert Bally is profiled in the Cook County History Museum's new exhibit, On the Line: A Military History of Cook County. His entire collection of letters is transcribed and available to read in the exhibit, along with many of his photographs and some of his belongings from his service in Europe.

Photo courtesy of Cook County Historical Society archives.