Milton Cloudious Portmann (October 20, 1888 – August 14, 1967) was an American professional football player in the Ohio League, an attorney, and United States Army Officer veteran of World War I. Milton was born in Jackson, MN. Briefly he worked at his law firm Townes (Clayton C. Townes) & Portmann in Cleveland, Ohio while also playing professional football. In 1917, he enlisted in the United States Army.
Early life and family
Milton Portmann was born October 20, 1888, in Jackson, MN, the second born of three sons of Dr. William C. Portmann and Emma Ball. His father moved to the United States as a 10-year-old from Herbetswil, Switzerland with his parents in 1869. His uncle E.O. Portmann was President McKinley's at home physician and after the president died was the First Lady's physician. His mother Emma Ball was the youngest daughter of American inventor and U.S. Civil War Colonel Ephraim Ball. Portmann had two brothers, a roentgenologist Ursus and Arthur. Portmann married Dorothy Clampitt in 1923. They had three children together. Both sons were World War II veterans.
Education
Portmann studied Law and was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He had a role in the 1907 and 1908 OAC Championship title in football and was captain of the Western Reserve Football team in 1909/10. In track, he set two school records in one day at the Big Six Meet in Columbus. Those records in the hammer and discus throws stood unchallenged for several years. He also helped Western Reserve to a pair of victories on the ice versus CIT in 1909 and was selected to the WRU 50-Year Football All-Star Team at offensive tackle. He was inducted in the Case Western Reserve Hall of Fame in 1976.
Football career
In 1911 Portmann had his rookie professional season with the Shelby Blues. The team went 9–1 under coach and quarterback George "Peggy" Parratt. The Blues won the Ohio League title. In 1912, both Parratt and Portmann moved to Akron. Going 7–3, Akron was defeated by the Elyria Athletics for the title. In 1913 and 1914, Portmann continued play for Akron under Parratt. They won Ohio League titles in 1913, going 8–1 and 1914 going 8–2.
Portmann played in the Ohio League in 1915 with the Massillon Tigers and in 1916 with the Cleveland Indians. In the 1915 season with Massillon, he started and played three games. In 1916, Parratt joined the Cleveland Indians and recruited players including Portmann to join. He started in five games and played in six. The 1916 Cleveland Indians season was their first season in existence. In the Ohio League, Cleveland posted an 8-3-1 record. Play ended in December 1916. The following year in 1917, Portmann enlisted in the United States National Army.
World War I
Portmann enlisted into service on August 27, 1917, at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Lawrence Township, Indiana as a Private in the Officers Reserve Corp of the National Army. He was assigned to Company E of the 353rd Infantry Regiment of the 89th Division AEF. He was stationed at Fort Benjamin Harrison from August 27, 1917, to November 27, 1917. From November 27, 1917, to May 23, 1918, he was assigned to Camp Funston in Fort Riley, Kansas and was promoted to Captain on November 27, 1917. He was stationed in Camp Funston until the 89th Division embarked on its voyage to Europe preparing for war.
On June 3, 1918, Portmann and the 89th Division in New York City boarded the SS Karmala. They arrived in Liverpool, England June 17, 1918. On June 25, the 2nd Battalion of the 353rd Infantry arrived in Saint-Blin, France for combat training. Portmann assumed command of the battalion. On August 3, the 2nd Battalion left Saint-Blin to accompany and support the 1st Battalion that had already moved towards the front lines. The path of the 2nd Battalion was Saint-Blin through Liffol-le-Grand, Neufchateau, and Toul. Portmann gathered three other men of the company and patrolled No man's land. They were to take a German soldier back for questioning if possible. All three made it through the barbed-wire to encircle a German sentry without being seen. Portmann used the butt-end of his trench knife to knock out the German. They dragged him back to AEF lines before the raid was known and shooting started. The men of Company E would hold this position until August 22, 1918, when they fell back to Manonville in lieu of the 3rd Battalion.