The Men Securing Honors for West Michigan WWI Soldiers
Save the Flags was honored to host MIARNG Command Historian Adam Betz and Dr. Chris Petras on May 7th, 2026. Dr. Petras has been tirelessly researching Michigan soldiers, predominantly from Grand Haven, MI who never received medals earned during World War I, including 20 who earned the Purple Heart but never received the well-deserved recognition.
Dr. Petras’ quest began while researching the namesake of The Charles A. Conklin American Legion Post # 28 of Grand Haven, Michigan. Conklin was mortally wounded attacking a German position in 1918. Petras secured the Purple Heart for Conkin and numerous other West Michigan soldiers.
Many of these men fought with the 125th and 126th Michigan Infantry Regiments that were a part of the famed 32nd Division, composed of 27,000 National Guardsmen from Michigan and Wisconsin. The “Red Arrow” Division fought in 3 major offensives in 6 months of fighting, suffering 14,000 casualties and earned the nom-de-guerre “Les Terribles”—the Terrible Ones.
(left) MIARNG Command Historian Adam Betz and Dr. Chris Petras with the Civil War flag of Third Michigan Infantry Regiment. (right) MIARNG Command Historian Adam Betz and Dr. Chris Petras with the World War I flag of the 32nd Division.