Stories of Service

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

James Widner

Submitted by: Madonna Jervis Wise {granddaughter}

James Widner served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known June 16, 1917 to May 9, 1919.

My Extraordinary Grandfather…James Widner

My Grandfather, James Widner, was a man’s man, and as a young girl, I admired his demeanor and no-nonsense manner without question! He was also an enigma because he had an impenetrable exterior to the world but a warmth and kindness to his grandchildren that included story-telling, harmonica playing, wrestling, and a tone of unconditional acceptance.

Even in 2017, my cousin, Marlyn and I love to reminisce about our grandfather and share stories of his tough-talking escapades in Delphi, Indiana. By occupation after the return from World War I, James leased the Perlman Brothers Junk Yard in Delphi; he traded hides, furs, and mussel shells in addition to junk. With several employees, James was a wheeler-dealer who did a great deal of the heavy lifting of his trade. In the early 20th century, it was what it was, simply authentic like my grandfather. My cousin reminded me recently of his charity. Each year he had a list of needy families in the community that he delivered Christmas presents to. She recalled, “If he saw a child who needed shoes, they suddenly appeared on the doorstep the next morning.”

Owen J. Ambs

Submitted by: Kevin JC Gonzalez {grandson}

Owen J Ambs

Owen J Ambs served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known April 29, 1918 to May 9, 1919.

Entered service Michigan, trained in the 85th Custer Division, 329th Machine Gun Battalion, Company D. 85th Custer became thee 4 Depot Battalion, he became a replacement troop and entered into front line service in the 42nd Rainbow division, 151st Machine Gun Battalion, Co B. Arrived at front on September 1, 1918 in time for St. Mehiel and Argonne Forrest.

My grandfather.

Edwin Riley Bennett

Submitted by: Kevin Gonzalez

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Edwin Riley Bennett served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 1917 to August 5, 1918.

Bennett was in the band, HQ of the of the 39th. On night of August 3-4, 1918 they relieved the 42nd Rainbow (my grandfather's division - yes, they knew each other- small farming town and all).

Morning of the 4th the 39th advanced on St. Thibaut and PC was established at 0800 in town. Bennett was in HQ Company, PC location.

"During the day of August 4th and the night of August 4-5th the area occupied in and around St. Thibaut was subjected to a heavy hostile artillery, minenwerfer and machine-gun fire." (Ref: 39th Inf. History)

The night of August 4/5, Edwin Riley Bennett 19 years of age was Killed In Action (KIA).

He was an only child. From Sherwood MI., engaged to my grandmother at the time of death.

Hyman C. Block

Submitted by: Carol Levarek {granddaughter}

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Hyman C Block served in World War 1 with the United States Army Air Corps. The dates of service are: Known 8/27/1917 - 4/1/1919.

Below is the description of my grandfather's experience in WWI, written by him in the mid 1960's.

I Flew with the 89th Aero Squadron
by Hyman C. Block

I was born December 18, 1896 in New York City. My family moved to Hartford, Connecticut in July 1897, so I spent practically my whole life in the Hartford area. I went through Hartford public schools, graduated Hartford Public High School in 1913 and worked for a couple of years before going to New York to attend Cooper Union School of Engineering.

While in New York, World War I broke out, as far as the United States was concerned.About June I decided to enlist in the Air Service. So I enlisted in the Signal Corps branch of the Army at Mineola, Long Island and was sworn in there on August 27, 1917. I was assigned to the Princeton University School of Military Aeronautics and started there October1, 1917 and graduated November 24m 1917. I was then assigned with four other graduates to North Island --San Diego, California -- for flying training.

Raymond Kellam Denson

Submitted by: Judy Johnson

Raymond Kellam Denson served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known February 15, 1918-June 14, 1919.

Raymond Kellam Denson (October 5, 1899- January 20, 1998) gave this account of his World War I experiences to his son-in-law, James B. Henry. It was published in the book, Ancestors and Descendants of Charles Denson and Mary Jane Wilkinson, by Billie Jean Denson Henry and Kathy Henry Sterne, 1995. It is used with permission of the authors.

World War I Experiences

Raymond Kellam Denson
(1899-1998)

Sully (Winifred Wayne) Kittley and I decided to join the army in February 1918. At the time we were attending Tanner Paint School between Rule and Sagerton, Texas where Ed Cloud was the teacher. Ed always said I preferred the army to going to school under his teaching. Sully was about to be drafted and we elected to volunteer. We did not tell either of our families we were leaving.

Hugh Barr

Submitted by: Eimar Barr {grandnephew}

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Hugh Barr served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 11th July 1917 to 8th June 1918.

Hugh Barr, my granduncle, emigrated from Moville, County Donegal, Ireland to New York. He arrived at Ellis Island on the 13th October 1914. He worked and lived in Brooklyn, New York.

On the 5th June 1917 he, along with millions of young men, registered for the draft. However, he decided to enlist in the regular army and on the 11th July 1917 he enlisted at Fort Slocum, New York.

Hugh served with Company G, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division U.S. Army and was shipped to France in December 1917.

For three months he was stationed in the quiet sector at Ansauville. In early April 1918, Hugh, along with the other soldiers of the 1st Division boarded trains at Maron. The soldiers detrained at Meru in Picardy and marched to the town of Chaumont-en-Vexin where they were billeted. The 1st Division was preparing for the first battle by the American Expeditionary Forces in the First World War.

1st. Sgt. Wesley F. Pease, 26th YD

Submitted by: Shawn Pease

Wesley F Pease 1st. Sgt. Wesley F. Pease, 26th YD, served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known April 1917 - March 1919.

In 1916 Wesley F. Pease joined the Massachusetts National Guard with some of his young friends. Enlisting the Massachusetts National Guard in 1916 may have been a way for Wesley to serve his country and have an adventure or two, as well as earn a regular pay for his service.

When the guard was called into service to protect the southern border in 1916 by President Wilson, Wesley departed from Newton, Massachusetts by train in July 1916 and served on the border at Camp Cotton, El Paso, TX. This experience would prove valuable, as in early 1917 he was called into service again as part of the 26th Yankee Division.

William J. "Bill" Murphy

Submitted by: T. J. Cullinane

William J Bill Murphy William J. "Bill" Murphy served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known June 14, 1918 - July 3, 1919.

By all accounts, William Joseph “Bill” Murphy was a good and kind man and an excellent soldier. Hailing from Lynn, Massachusetts, the small statured Irishman was employed as a leather sorter in the shoe industry.

He enlisted in the United States Army at age 26 on June 14, 1918 and received the serial number 2795649.

After completing basic training, Bill was assigned as a cook with the 4th Mobile Ordnance Repair Shop and shipped to France. With supply lines stretching across the U-boat infested North Atlantic, it was imperative for the Army to have the ability to repair broken weapons and artillery pieces in France and return these essential tools to the front line as fast as possible. This was the mission of Bill’s unit.

The 4th Mobile Ordnance Repair Shop (M.O.R.S) was divided into two sections, the equipment section and the machinery section. The equipment section, with three repair trucks and two supply trucks, focused their efforts on repairing small arms; mainly machine guns, rifles and pistols. The machinery section, with three artillery repair trucks and three supply trucks, repaired mortars, field guns and howitzers. Keeping this hardworking team fed was Bill’s job.

Francis "Frank" P. Putz

Submitted by: Bob Ravener (1st cousin 2X removed)

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Francis "Frank" P. Putz served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 1916-1918.

Frank was born in Corona, NY in 1896, the son of NYPD Sergeant Frank and Mrs. Putz. He stood 5 feet 8 3/4 inches tall with blue eyes and brown hair. In civilian life he worked for the Grant Hardware Co. in Manhattan as a draftsman.

He initially enlisted in the New York National Guard in Company K of the 71st NY Infantry Division on 23 June 1916 and served along the Mexican border for several months. When war was declared in 1917, he and what was now the NY 27th Division went to Camp Wadsworth, SC for training before boarding the USS President Grant en route to France on 17 May 1917.

Now part of the 105th Infantry Regiment, he and his band of brothers trained under British supervision, then were ordered to the Ypres salient in Belgium. On 9 July, the division defended a portion of the East Poperinghe Line in the Dickebusch Lake area.

Clarence Herbert Stolker

Submitted by: Shannon Larson {great grandchild}

Clarence Herbert Stolker served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 1919-1921.

My great grandfather Clarence Herbert Stolker (b. 1901 Ludington, MI-d. 1963 Ludington, MI) served as Chauffeur/Machinist of the 27th Aero Squadron June 17, 1919 to April 23, 1920 and as a Private in Service Company of the 35th Regiment of Infantry, December 16, 1920 to December 2, 1921.

He had taken many pictures during his time of service at Kelly AFB in Texas and the Schofield Barracks in Hawaii.

Francis J. Roderer

Submitted by: Andrew Corrow {grandson}

Francis J Roderer Francis J. Roderer served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known October 1913 - July 1919.

My Grandfather was in the 1st Engineers. His name was Francis J. Roderer. He was born in St. Johnsbury, VT in 1892.

He enlisted October 31, 1913. He served in the Mexican Campaign and Punitive Expedition. He subsequently went to OCS at Fort Leavenworth and was commissioned April 1, 1918. I have his original commissioning certificate on my wall.

I'm not sure his exact deployment date overseas but he was there through the 1st half of 1919 with the Army of Occupation.