The Tragic Story of John Rauscher Jr. or “Francis P. Williams”

How a 16-Year-Old Austro-Hungarian Immigrant Defied his Father and Made the Supreme Sacrifice for his New Home

This group came with a heartbreaking story from the collector who acquired the frames from the family. John Rauscher Jr. was born in Austria-Hungary on August 27th, 1899. He and his parents, Johannes Gottlob Rauscher and Elizabeth Rauscher, immigrated to the United States in the early 20th century.

When the First World War broke out, John Jr. felt an obligation to fight for his new home. His father, however, did not approve of his only son fighting for a nation that was not his true home. It was for this reason that John Sr. had never pursued U.S. citizenship. John Jr., at the age of 16, made the decision to fight.

John Rauscher Jr. ran away from his home in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania and traveled to Fort

Slocum, New York, and enlisted in the Regular Army (R.A.) under the assumed name of “Francis P. Williams”, on June 25, 1916. He joined Troop F, 13th Cavalry Regiment and was stationed at the border for a time, and it was at this time that he advised his parents of his decisions after being in the service for nearly a year.

Once the U.S. joined the war, he transferred to the 348th Infantry Regiment, 87th Division. However upon learning that his unit would not leave for several more months, he was transferred to Company M, 47th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division on April 12th, 1918. Rauscher, now using the name Francis P. Williams, left for France on May 10th, 1918. 5 days later he was promoted to PFC, and on June 1st, he was promoted to Corporal. He excelled in combat during Aisne-Marne and St. Mihiel, and was made a Sergeant on September 17th, 1918.

The Meuse-Argonne Offensive began on September 26th, 1918, and the 4th Division was in the brunt of the fighting. On the second day of the Offensive, September 27th, 1918, Sergeant “Francis P. Williams” was killed in action.

Rauscher’s parents were soon notified that Williams was actually their son, John Jr.  It took a long time to get the proper paperwork filled out to have his name corrected. Francis P. Williams’ Army Killed in Action certificate has an addendum dated May 17th, 1921 that “sufficient evidence was provided showing that the correct name of this soldier is John Rauscher, Jr.”

Following the revelation, his mother, Elizabeth, was given a “Gold Star” certificate by the county of Catasauqua to commemorate John Jr.’s sacrifice on August 1st, 1919.

On June 15th, 1922, John Rauscher Sr. completed a course in Citizenship training and was issued the included certificate, and eventually was granted full American citizenship. The story provided by the previous owner states that John Sr. was so devastated by his only son’s sacrifice, that after a few years, he pursued American citizenship so that he could honor the sacrifice that his son had made.

This is a devastating story about how a generational and cultural divide led a 16-year-old immigrant to fight for his new home, making the supreme sacrifice. We can only speculate how the death of John Jr. tore at John Sr., having lost his only son. He certainly made the effort to gain citizenship as a way to honor his son, and I am honored to be able to display this frame group together to keep their memories alive. Young Rauscher’s memory will live on eternally.

Michael R. Santoro is a historic researcher & antiquarian of the First World War. After finishing his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Architecture & Historic Preservation at the University at Buffalo, New York, he spent a year developing a museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and another year freelancing research in order to preserve the stories of soldiers long forgotten. He now works full time at International Military Antiques in Gillette, New Jersey as a Historical Research Specialist & Authenticator, preserving countless items & stories across all nations and eras.

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