Naperville in DuPage County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Naperville World War I Dead
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 16, 2025
1. Naperville World War I Dead Marker
★★★★★★★
Eugene Berger J. Clyde Beidelman Edward C. Bapst Arnold P. Hiltenbrand Edward W. Hiltz Oliver J. Kendall Harry E. Rude
Erected 1920.
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World I.
Location. 41° 46.744′ N, 88° 8.749′ W. Memorial is in Naperville, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is on Center Street north of North Avenue. The plaque is on a stone in front of the Doughboy statue on the western side of Burlington Square Park. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 101-199 North Avenue, Naperville IL 60540, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in Greater Chicago. It is also in the American Midwest. Globally, it is in North America, on the Great Lakes, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Spirit of the American Doughboy (here, next to this marker); World War I Memorial (here, next to this marker); Naperville World War I Veterans (a few steps from this marker); Burlington Square (a few steps from this marker); Veterans Memorial Bench (within shouting distance of this marker); The Spirit of the American Navy (within shouting distance of this marker); 5th Avenue Station (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Congregational Church of Naperville (approx. Ό mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Naperville.
More about this memorial. According to a plaque near the flag at the center of Burlington Square Park, this World War I memorial was originally dedicated in 1920 in front of an evergreen tree at the center of the park, with additional stones honoring the seven men placed around that tree. After a 2003 restoration of the Doughboy statue (originally dedicated in 1926), this plaque and the memorial stones were relocated to encircle the statue.
A nearby plaque with a list of Naperville's World War I veterans
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 16, 2025
2. Naperville World War I Dead plaque and Doughboy statue
Courtesy of Chicago History Museum, circa 1917
3. Oliver Julian Kendall
Oliver "Judd" Kendall was from this neighborhood, attending Ellsworth Elementary School a few blocks away, Naperville High School (now Naperville Central) and the city's North Central College. He enlisted in the Army in June of 1917 and served with the 1st Engineers, 1st Division in France. In the early hours of May 25, 1918, Kendall was leading a 50-man party through the trenches in preparation for the Battle of Cantigny, when he was captured by German troops. His body found a few months later behind German lines with his throat cut. It is believed he was killed a few days after his capture because he refused to divulge American battle plans to his captors. This image of Kendall is preserved by the Chicago History Museum in a collection of photographs of Chicago-area servicemembers who died in World War I.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 17, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 70 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 17, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on December 16, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
