FREDRICKSON, ROY R. (1898-1994). PAPERS, 1916-1986. 0.2 cubic feet (1 archives box)

Abstract

Roy R. Fredrickson was a La Crosse, Wisconsin, resident who served in the Army on the Mexican Border and in World War I as a part of the Wisconsin National Guard Company B 3rd Wisconsin Infantry. Later Fredrickson was a national leader of several veterans’ organizations.

Papers include biographical information, information on the Mexican Border War of 1916, and papers dealing with recognition for Mexican Border Veterans and with the Mexican Border Veterans, Inc.

Acc. No. 1981/1

Donated by Roy R. Fredrickson, Sept. 1981

Processed by Nancy Steinhoff, May 1989

Biography

Roy R. Fredrickson was born in La Crosse on November 22, 1898. In 1916 he enlisted in the Wisconsin National Guard Company B 3rd Wisconsin Infantry. President Woodrow Wilson had just called and federalized the National Guard of several states on June 16, 1916 to protect United States citizens from a hostile Mexican army along the Texas border. U.S. Army Intelligence also charged German and Austrian agents with Encouraging Mexican hostilities and invasion of the United States to help the German war effort.

Fredrickson was among 218 officers and men who volunteered from La Crosse and served until December 14, 1916. Many, including Roy R. Fredrickson, were among the first enlistees sent to France in World War 1 because if their training in the Mexican Border conflict.

In 1952 Roy Fredrickson helped organize Badger Patrol #52, La Crosse and served as its commander until the organization disbanded in 1975. During that time he was also active in the national organization, Mexican Border Veterans, Inc., serving as its commander 1956-1957. He worked for many years to get state and national recognition of the Mexican Border War as a legitimate war so its veterans could qualify for federal veterans benefits. Fredrickson died in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Aug. 19, 1994.

Scope and Content

This file consists of news clippings, letters, memos, photographs, speeches, and such artifacts as posters, membership cards, awards, stickers, convention programs, and pamphlets. Folder 1 contains autobiographical and biographical information dealing with Fredrickson’s service in the Mexican Border War and the Mexican Border Veterans, Inc. Folder 2 contains material dealing with the Mexican Border War 1916. Folder 3 contains a record of the efforts for recognition of Mexican Border War veterans as legitimate U.S. veterans. Folder 4 deals with Roy R. Fredrickson’s activities with Mexican Border War Veterans, Inc.

These folders represent only a small sample of material collected by Roy Fredrickson as he donated the majority of his collection to the Wisconsin Historical Society and more material of Roy R. Fredrickson is available at the Area Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.