Stephen B. Whalen
Stephen B. Whalen was born on April 8, 1897, in Bourbon County, Kentucky, to Alfred D. and Martha Toadvine Whalen. Growing up in a large family with three sisters and six brothers, he attended local schools before enlisting in the military. Stephen joined the 2nd Kentucky Infantry Regiment, which was later re-designated as the 149th Infantry Regiment, part of the 38th Division.
In June 1918, Stephen and his brother Robert embarked for Europe aboard the SS Anchises, departing from Hoboken, New Jersey, as part of the 7th Company Camp Shelby Automatic Replacement Draft. Upon arrival in France, Stephen’s unit became engaged in the Second Battle of the Marne, a pivotal conflict that marked the last major German offensive on the Western Front during World War I. This battle, which took place from July 15 to 18, 1918, saw Allied forces, bolstered by American divisions, successfully countering the German assault and initiating a series of offensives that would eventually lead to the end of the war.
Tragically, on July 31, 1918, Private Stephen B. Whalen was killed in action near Sergy, France, during the intense fighting of the Second Battle of the Marne. His initial burial took place in France, but in 1922, his remains were repatriated to the United States and interred at Battle Grove Cemetery in Cynthiana, Harrison County, Kentucky. To honor his sacrifice, the American Legion post in Cynthiana was named the “Stephen B. Whalen Chapter,” commemorating him as the first soldier from Harrison County to lose his life in World War I.
Cynthiana Boy Killed in Action
Cynthiana, Ky., Sept. 26—Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Whalen, were notified last night by the War Department, that their son, Stephen Whalen, was killed in action July 26. Mr. Whalen enlisted more than a year ago and was a member of the old Second Kentucky Regiment, but later of the 149th Infantry, and has been in France several months. He has a brother, Robert Whalen in the service, who was recently wounded and is now in a hospital in France. Mr. and Mrs. Walen had been notified about the wounded son, but last night was the first word they had received that Stephen Whalen had been killed. Besides his parents, young Whalen is survived by several brothers and sisters. [1]
Cynthiana Organizes American Legion Post
Chapter Named for First Harrison County Boy Killed in France
Cynthiana, Ky., Oct. 8—A local post of the American Legion has been organized . . .
The organization has been named the “Stephen B. Whalen Chapter” in honor of the first Harrison County boy who lost his life on the battle fields of France. [2]
Taps Sounded at Hero’s Grave
Military Honors for First Harrison County Victim of World War.
Memories of the World War were brought back to our people Sunday by the burial of Stephen B. Whalen, the first Harrison County boy to lose his life in the world conflict.
The funeral services conducted by Rev. W. H. Hunt of Winchester, were held at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Whalen, parents of the deceased, in Belmont, Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock. The Stephen B. Whalen Post, American Legion, named in honor of the deceased, headed by the Mt. Olivet band, led the cortege to the grave in Battle Grove cemetery where the body was placed in its final resting place with military honors. The ex-servicemen, many in uniform, were in line under the command of Major John Terry, and a firing squad was in charge of Captain Joseph Torence who was wounded in France. The ex-servicemen formed two lines as the casket, draped with an American flag, was borne to the grave by eight comrades, preceded by four flower girls.
Mr. Cecil Florence, representing the Stephen B. Whalen Post, paid a fitting tribute to the boy who went forth to serve his country and gave up his life on foreign soil. A military salute was fired while the casket was being lowered into the grave and then Wallace Martin sounded taps on the bugle. . .
A large crowd assembled at the cemetery to pay a final tribute of respect to the memory of this young Harrison soldier who gave his all in answering his country’s call.
In returning to the pursuits of peace, it may seem that our people sometimes forget the extreme sacrifice made by Stephen Whalen and others, as well as the months or years of patriotic service rendered in camps, in trenches, on the sea or in the battle line by those who returned home. But surely in reality every Harrison County citizen will ever hold in most grateful, heartfelt appreciation and admiration the faithful service of every young man who answered the country’s call in order that today’s victorious peace might be enjoyed by the nation.
Stephen B. Whalen, son of Alfred and Martha Toadvine Whalen, was born in Bourbon County on April 8, 1897. He was killed by an exploding shell at Sergy, in the battle of the Marne on July 31, 1918. The body arrived in New York last week and was brought to Cynthiana Friday night. . .[3]
[1] The Lexington Herald, 27 Sep 1918, p. 1. Also, The Log Cabin, 17 Sep 1918, p. 1. Stephen was the first Harrison County soldier killed in the war.
[2] The Lexington Herald, 9 Oct 1919, p. 8.
[3] The Log Cabin, 21 Jul 1922, p.1.