Although the Kobaks appear to be a peaceful tribe, they can get quite feisty (anyone who knew Grumpsie can certainly attest to this fact). They have been especially known to get feisty when confronting injustice and have done this in many different ways, joining protest marches, forming foundations, providing legal services and even running for political office. A few Kobaks have even served in the armed forces to focus their feistiness and stand up for their beliefs. These were the warriors.
Perhaps the most famous of the Kobak Warriors was Edward Hatch. Hatch was the grandfather of my great-grandmother Evelyn Hubert Kobak. Hatch is a rather well-known Civil War and Indian Wars war hero who fought along side the likes of US Grant and George Armstrong Custer. When I knew Evelyn (aka “G-G), she told me about family members who fought in the Civil War and that sometimes family gatherings got contentious when the War was brought up (this makes sense, her mother was the daughter of a Union hero, her father’s family was from Georgia… rebel country). Evelyn never would have met her Grandfather, the War hero he died in 1889 before she was born.
Edward Hatch was born in Maine on December 22, 1822. He studied at the Norwich Military Academy in Vermont and joined the United States Army at the dawn of the Civil War in 1861. Hatch was a Cavalry man, and fought the Confederates in the Western Theatre. He suffered serious wounds after being shot in the chest during the battle of Moscow, Tennessee in 1863, but recovered. After the war he became involved in the US Army Indian Affairs program. Edward Hatch took command of the famous “buffalo soldiers” cavalry brigade. He successfully secured (read: forcibly stole) territory for the United States from the Ute Nation, but in spite of his Indian slaughtering and land-stripping efforts he never could catch his nemesis and primary quarry, Mescalero Apache Chief Victorio.
Hatch had a daughter, Elisabeth “Bessie” Hatch. She married a young West Point grad, Edgar Hubert at Fort Robinson, Nebraska. They had a son, Edward, then a daughter, my great-grandmother, Evelyn. And then, two more sons, Robert and Harmon.
Edgar Hubert was destined to be a career military man. He studied in the cavalry and infantry schools in the West and, most likely thanks to his father-in-law, received some pretty nice commissions during his career. He did most of his work on the frontier, stationed in California and Arizona.
Edgar was in command of troops at various Western fortifications, much like Captain Will Parmenter of F-Troop . When the United States went to war with Spain in 1898, he was transferred to Tampa Florida. Ultimately he was shipped to the Caribbean for the war effort. First he shipped to Cuba, and then as part of the invasion force to Puerto Rico. Hubert never saw action in the war. Shortly after his arrival in the tropics, he contracted Typhoid Fever. From this he never recovered. Edward Hubert died in Ponce, Puerto Rico on August 4, 1898. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Hubert was only one of seven US service men to die during the Puerto Rican campaign. He was given full military honors at burial at Arlington National Cemetery which was overseen by President William McKinley. Evelyn was only 9 years old when her father died.
Evelyn’s Sons, James (my grandfather) and Edgar both joined the Army at the outset of World War 2. I know that Edgar did radio operations while stationed in Sioux Falls SD. James also served domestically in Louisiana and along the West Coast. My father, James Jr. was born in 1944 while they were stationed in Louisiana. My grandmother, Hope (aka Grumpsie) told the story that James’ regiment was continually being moved by train up and down the west coast. This was done to give the appearance of massive troop movements along the coast, hopefully to deter a Japanese attack. The Army wives and their children had to fend for themselves during this assignment. They drove from town to town, knocking on doors to ask for lodging in order to keep up with their spouses. She reported that in 1945, at an officers’ party (a party… of course!) amidst the revelry, a pall suddenly draped over the celebration. They had received their orders to go to Europe during the party. Family lore has always stated that my grandfather was in charge of navigation of troops towards Berlin in Europe. I don’t really know much about the time in Europe, but I bet it was not pleasant. He never talked about his war experience.. can’t say that I blame him.
Finally, I found this… President Roosevelt signed the selective service act in 1942. All men, age 18-65 had to register for the draft. This is the registration card of Evelyn’s husband, Edgar (my great-grandfather). He was 47 years old and ready to fight! (probably not, it was mandatory to register for the draft)
Kobak 