On This Date in Minnesota History: November 17

November 17, 1917 – “A most serious mistake was made by a Cloquet [Minn.] boy, Otto White (or LaBlanc), aged 20, who [on this date] deserted from the Thirty-sixth U.S. Infantry stationed at Fort Snelling. He came to Cloquet [on] Saturday [December 8, 1917] and on Tuesday was arrested by Chief of Police McSweeney and turned over to the military authorities. According to his statement he left the fort and went to Minneapolis, where he discarded his uniform and was married, and then he came here to see his father and other relatives.”

The Pine Knot; “Cloquet Boy Deserts”; Cloquet, Minn.; December 14, 1917; p. 1