New Hampshire WWI Military: Pvt Harry Lambrukos of Penacook NH (1892-1919)

Harry Lambrukos was born 9 Oct 1892, the son of Philip & Katherine (Belias) Lambrukos. He was a native of Greece, possibly from Megalopolis, like his older brother Theodore. At the age of 14 he immigrated to the United States, and by 1910 was living with his brother, and older sisters Carrie and Julia in Penacook, New Hampshire, working as a salesman for his brother’s fruit store.

[Editor’s note: Harry’s WWI draft registration form says he was born in 1882, but his age is also listed as 24. This would make his birth year closer to 1892 which is confirmed by his listing in the 1910 census].

In 1917 when Harry Lambrukos filled out his WWI registration card, he was living at 1665 Blue Hill Avenue, Mattapan MA, dispensing soda for Anthony J. Thompson restaurant at #1663 Blue Hill Avenue, near Mattapan Square. Probably he lived above his workplace.

Government documents show that Harry Lambrukos was naturalized (became a U.S. citizen) on 7 November 1918 at “Merritt” which is undoubtedly Camp Merritt, New Jersey. He would have had to be naturalized in order to serve in the U.S. Army, and so this date would also probably be close to his enlistment date.  He would be dead a few months later.

Example of a WWI US Army Postal Service Tunic & Brodie Helmet from Liveauctioneers.

He apparently was sent to Europe, where he served in Company F. Postal Express. The Smithsonian National Postal Museum states,”In May 1918, the War Department assumed responsibility for overseas post offices. Military personnel replaced Post Office Department employees who had been sent to operate the field stations. The Military Postal Express Service (MPES) was the first all-military mail service in American history.”

Pvt. Harry Lambrukos had only been in Europe a few months when he died 3 February 1919, of disease. I could not find any record detailing more of his medical history, but the majority of those who died of disease in WWI did so from influenza.

Like his military brothers, he was at first buried in France. When the war ended, some family member requested his return, for he was reburied in Arlington National Cemetery, in Section 18, Grave 4169.

Headstone of Harry Lambrukoes in Arlington National Cemetery, Section 18, Grave 4169. Photograph courtesy of ANC.

Report of Interment, Arlington Cemetery
Lambrukos, Harry, Pvt. Serial # 3595829
Service Data: Co. F., Postal Express
Date of Death: 3 February 1919
Remarks: [original burial place] Gr 336 #33 Amer. Cem., St. Symphorien (Tours) D-et-L, France
Re-interred Feb 9, 1922, C.R. Feb 1922
Info from old card – 1/29/51-LRS

One can find his name, having died serving his nation, at the Memorial Union Building at UNH (University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH) , on the stone at Memorial Field in Concord. at the Penacook VFW memorial in Penacook’s town square (spelled incorrectly), and on the large brass plaque of all who died in WWI found in the Hall of Flags, NH State House Concord NH.

=====PARTIAL GENEALOGY OF HARRY LAMBRUKOS====

Philip T. Lambrukos & Katherine Belias of Greece
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Children of Philip T. & Katherine A. (Belias/Mpelias) Lambrukos:
1. +Theodore Philip Lambrukos, b. 7 March 1885 Megalopolis, Greece
2. Kereakoula “Carrie” Lambrukos, b abt 1889, m. 11 Oct 1912 in Concord NH to James P. Karmeres, son of Peter & Marego Karmeres
3. Konstantine P. (possibly “Julia”) Lambrukos, b abt 1900; m. 31 Aug 1924 in Penacook NH to Nicholas Speron Perevolares, son of Speros Perevolares & Demitro Joh Lambrukos
4. Afrodite F. Lambrukos, b abt 1904; m. 7 Feb 1926 in Concord NH to Demosthenes P. Orfanos, son of Panageotes & Hillan J. (Vontsela) Orfano
5. Harry Lambrukos [this story is about him], b. 9 Oct 1892 in Greece; died in Europe during WWI, buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Theodore Philip Lambrukos, son of Phillip T. & Katherine (Belias) Lambrukos, b. 7 March 1885 Megalopolis, Greece, died 9 Feb 1950 in Penacook NH; immigrated 1901; retail merchant, fruit; In 1917 living at 7W Canal Street, Penacook NH. His merchant business was at 33 So. Main Street in Penacook NH. In 1943 living at 52-1/2 S. Main Street, Penacook NH. He married Eugenia Lone/Ione. She was b. 17 Oct 1892 in Greece, and died November 1970 in New Hampshire. According to the 1910 US Census he immigrated in 1901, and she immigrated in 1909. In 1933 proprietor of the Central House, and a pool hall. Also owner of Ted’s Cafe.
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1910 US Census > NH > Merrimack > Concord > 7 West Canal Street
Theodore Lambrukas/Lambrukos 24 M W single Retail Merchant, Fruit; alien; immigrated 1901; speaks English
Carrie Lambrukos sister F W 21 single Greece-Greek G-G G-G imm 1909, speaks English, laborer cotton mill
Julia Lambrukos sister F W 19 single Greece-Greek G-G G-G, imm 1909 laborer in cotton mill, speaks Greek
Harry Lambrukos brother, M W 17 single Greece-Greek G-G G-G, immigrated in 1907, speaks English, salesman for a Fruit Store [b abt 1893 Greece]
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1930 US Census > NH > Merrimack > Concord > District 9 48 South Street
Lambrukos Theodore Head 10,000 R M W 45 married 30 yrs Greece Greece Greece; immigrated 1900, naturalized, Hotel, employer.
Lambrukos, Eugenia, Wife-H F W 35 married 30 yrs Greece Greece Greece
Lambrukos, Catherine daughter F W 13 single NH Greece Greece
Lambrukos, Hellen daughter F W 12 single NH Greece Greece
Lambrukos, Charles son M W 11 single NH Greece Greece
Lambrukos, Mary daughter F W 10 single NH Greece Greece
Lambrukos, Harry son M W 9 single NH Greece Greece [b abt 1929]
[various lodgers]
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1933 Concord City Directory
Lambrukos, Katherine V. student, r 52-1/2 S. Main P
Lambrukos, Theodore (Eugenia) prop Central House, fruit dealer 12 S. Main and pool 50 S. Main, P., h 52-1/2 do
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Children of Theodore Philip & Eugenia (Ione) Lambrukos:
1. Katherine Lambrukos, b abt 1917 NH, died March 2001 at Littauer Hospital in Gloversville NY; She m. 1948 to Hugh W. Henderson who d. in 1992. One child, David W. Henderson of Gloversville, NY. She worked for Espey Electronics and Manufacturing for many years.
2. Hellen Lambrukos, b abt 1918 NH, died 20 Sep 2012 in Penacook NH; m. Stanley Buczynski. She was a dental assistant for her brother, Charles, for 42 years. She was a member of the Red Hatters.
3. Dr. Charles T. Lambrukos, b 30 October 1918 Penacook NH, d. 1 Dec 2005 Concord NH; dentist.
4. Mary Lambrukos, b. abt 1920 Concord NH, d. 25 November 2003 at Concord Hospital, Concord NH; m. 15 Feb 1942 in Concord NH to John George Doukas, son of George J. & Angelina (Doucoumes) Doukas; She worked as a dental hygienist with her brother, Dr. Charles T. Lambrukos, for more than 10 years before her retirement in 1996. She is buried in Blossom Hill Cemetery.
5. Harry Theodore Lambrukos, b. 28 June 1921 Penacook NH, d. 6 Sep 2002 at Concord Hospital; buried Blossom Hill Cemetery. He married Bertha Panagiotopoulos. Children include Sons, John Lambrukos and William Lambrukos of Concord; a daughter Carol Sideris of Exeter NH, a brother Dr. Charles T. Lambrukos, two sisters, Helen L. Buczynski and Mary L. Doukas; five grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He enlisted 22 Feb 1943 in the US Army (WW2) serving as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II, seeing action at Ulithi, Saipan and Iwo Jima. He was owner and operator of Ted’s Cafe in Penacook for more than 20 years. He then worked as a salesman for Carlson Motor Sales for more than 35 years.

[Editor’s Note: this story is part of an on-going series about heroic New Hampshire men and women of World War I.  Look here for the entire listing].