Stories of Service

You can search for the name or unit and you will get a list of the stories that contain them.

Richard Lee Arnold

Submitted by: Kim Gregg {granddaughter}

Richard Arnold image

Richard Lee Arnold was born in 1895. Richard Arnold served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1918 and the service was completed in 1918.

Story of Service

Richard Lee “Dick” Arnold was born January 21, 1895 to John Edward and Louallan (née Nickerson) Arnold. He was the youngest of four children who grew up on a farm two miles east of Ames, Iowa.

After the US government declared war on Germany, President Wilson instituted a national draft. Dick registered as required. He enlisted (whether he was drafted or volunteered remains unclear) in the Army on August 28, 1918 at the Nevada (Iowa) courthouse as that was the county seat of Story County.

He was inducted through Camp Dodge (Johnston, Iowa - home of the Iowa National Guard) being assigned to the 144th Engineers.

Joseph Urbanski

Submitted by: John A. Urbanski {Grand-Nephew}

no photo 300 Joseph Urbanski born in 1895. Joseph Urbanski served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1918 and the service was completed in 1918.

Story of Service

Joseph Urbanski #1765091
Private Company M, 312th Infantry Regiment
78th Division, United States Army

Joseph Urbanski was born in Schenectady, N.Y. in 1895 to Prussian immigrants, John Urbanski and Stanislawa Wozniak, and was their fourth of twelve children. According to his siblings, he was strong and would often settle disputes among kids in the neighborhood. Prior to the war, Joe worked as an ice delivery man in the local area from a horse drawn ice wagon with his older brother.

When the US entered the war, Joe tried to enlist in the Army but was rejected because he had flat feet. However, after work he would go to the local recruitment location and would argue for enlistment. He was later drafted into the Army. My Father, who was the youngest child in the family, recalled that before Joe left for training he told his mother (my Grandmother) that he would bring the Kaiser home on a chain. This claim likely reflected my Grandparents known dislike of the Germans who occupied and controlled their region of Poland (Prussia) before they immigrated to the U.S.

Oliver Jacob Buser

Submitted by: Lorie Culham {great niece}

Oliver Jacob Buser was born around 1887. Oliver Buser served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1919.

Story of Service

Photos below.

William F. Krone

Submitted by: Frank Krone Bill {Great Nephew}

no photo 300 William F. Krone was born around 1893. William Krone served in World War 1 with the United States Navy. The enlistment was in 1918 and the service was completed in 1919.

Story of Service

My Great Uncle Bill...William Frederick Krone was born on May 5, 1893 in North Yakima, Washington to Friedrich and Fanny Krone, formerly of Hamburg, Germany who in October 1880 had sailed over 6000 kilometers to America on the passenger ship North Star, a vessel of English registry. They had come to the United States seeking land and opportunity, and wanted to try their hand at cattle ranching, or farming.

In fact, Great Uncle Bill’s World War 1 Draft registration card dated June 4, 1917 noted that he was 24 years old, unmarried and self-employed farmer on land that he had in Dilo in Dawson County, Montana. His description on the back side included “blue eyes”, medium build and height and dark brown hair.

Ernest L Wrentmore Jr.

Submitted by: K.C. Picard-Krone {State World War 1 historian}

Ernest Wrentmore image

Ernest L Wrentmore, Jr. was born around 1904. Ernest Wrentmore served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1919.

Story of Service

Ernest L. Wrentmore, Jr. was the 12 year (10 months) old son of Maude Vinora and Dr. Ernest Wrentmore Sr of West Farmingham, Ohio who decided on the morning of September 28, 1917 to skip school and enlist in the army. A big, strapping boy who easily passed for a young man on the brink of manhood, Ernest was five foot, six in his stocking feet, and weighed over 145 pounds. He easily passed the physicals and no one questioned the vital statistics he scribbled down on the enlistment documents: Henry E. Monroe of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, age 18.

His distraught family became aware of his disappearance when Ernest didn’t return home that night and they started a search of the area. Finally a clue to his whereabouts surfaced eight months later when the Army mailed an overseas card to their home address in May. By this time he had already made the perilous trek through the German submarine infested waters to the Western Front in France.

Steve Lakios, Sr.

Submitted by: Stephen Lakios {Son}

no photo 300 Steve Lakios, Sr. born around 1891. Steve Lakios served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1919.

Story of Service

My father Steve Lakios, was born 1891 in Icaria, Greece. He had an adventurous childhood, after two months of schooling at seven, his father, Stefanous pulled him from school and he sailed the Mediterranean and Black seas for eleven years on his fathe'rs two masted ship, and grandfather's three masted cargo ship. Steve learned eleven languages, it is amazing to me he did not join the navy.

He came to America in 1909, took the required classes and became a citizen.
He worked 16 hours a day, six days a week in construction, on Sunday he helped a friend run a Greek restaurant.

He saved and put his money in a rented locker, like so many other immigrants, as they did not trust banks.

Steve knew the US was going to enter the war, he enlisted from Youngstown, Ohio. Several weeks later the draft started and he was pressed to help train the vast numbers of new recruits. As he had nine weeks of tough training already.

2Lt. Fritz Winifred Alexander Sr.

Submitted by: Johnette Brooks {GA WWI African American Historian}

2Lt 2Lt. Fritz Winifred Alexander Sr. was born around 1893. 2Lt. Fritz Alexander served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1917.

Story of Service

"Heroic Gems of the Red Clay: Honoring the Valor of Georgia WWI African American Talented Tenth."

GEORGIA'S HOWARD UNIVERSITY SERIES

Georgia WWI Gems of Howard U

While the majority of Georgia’s colored college students attended Atlanta University, we have ten (10) students who attended Howard University and another Howard Graduate who returned to Georgia to serve as Dean at Atlanta University. Many of them became Commissioned Officers, as well as, the elite “Talented Tenth” that the times demanded.

The 10 natives were: 2Lt. Fritz W. ALEXANDER; Capt. Charles H. GARVIN; 1Lt. Benton R. LATIMER; Capt. Charles C. MIDDLETON; Major Louis R. MIDDLETON; 1Lt. Charles A. SHAW; 2 Lt. Austin J. SIMMS; Pvt. DeWitt T. WALTON; I.O. WESTERLAND; and Capt. Christopher C. WIMBUSH. 1Lt. Rayford LOGAN worked at Atlanta University after the war.

Alfred Henry Phelps

Submitted by: Seth Phelps {Son}

Alfred Phelps image

Alfred Henry Phelps was around 1890. Alfred Phelps served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1917.

Story of Service

Do not know, as he never spoke of it. He was in and out of VA hospital from the time I was 3 years old until he died at the VA hospital in Jackson, Mississippi in 1950.

Charles H. Popejoy

Submitted by: Patrick Huston {Neighborhood Friend}

Charles Popejoy image

Charles H. Popejoy was born around 1890. Charles Popejoy served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1917.

Story of Service

Private First Class: served overseas in France a veteran during WWI (1917-1918). Also called "First World War, "The Great War" and "The War to End All Wars."

Duty assignment was with the 16 Discharge Company.

Awarded the WWI Victory Medal.

George Kirby Traylor

Submitted by: Patrick Huston {Grand Nephew}

George Traylor image

George Kirby Traylor was born around 1889. George Traylor served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1918.

Story of Service

Private; served overseas in France a veteran during WWI (1917-1918). Also called "First World War, "The Great War" and "The War to End All Wars."

Assigned to an American Army infantry division fighting on the western front lines. Awarded the WWI Victory Medal.

Roy Preston Smith

Submitted by: Patrick Huston {Grand Nephew}

Roy Smith image

Roy Preston Smith born around 1886. Roy Smith served in World War 1 with the United States Army . The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1918.

Story of Service

Corporal: served overseas in France a veteran during WWI (1917-1918). Also called "First World War, "The Great War" and "The War to End All Wars."

Assigned duty with 81st Field Artillery, 8 division (8th Infantry Division). Arrived in Europe/France September 1918; sent to individual units in combat as an individual replacement on the western front lines. Awarded the WWI Victory Medal.