The Doughboy Foundation’s mission is to keep the story of "the War that Changed the World" in the minds of all Americans, so that the 4.7 million who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during WWI will never again be relegated to the mists of obscurity.
LEARN MORE
The Doughboy Foundation’s mission is to keep the story of "the War that Changed the World" in the minds of all Americans, so that the 4.7 million who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during WWI will never again be relegated to the mists of obscurity.
LEARN MORE
You can search for the name or unit and you will get a list of the stories that contain them.
Submitted by: Francis Brooks
Branton H. Henderson served in World War 1 with the United States Navy. The dates of service are: Known
US Navy Reserves, 1917-18: Active Duty, US Navy, Sept. 1918 to Dec. 1918.
Seaman Second Class, 1918, at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, WA. Princeton University, class of 1921.
Submitted by: Brian Smith
Albert J. Matelena, PFC served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 27 February 1917 to 30 May 1919..
ALBERT fought in World War I from 27 February 1917 to 30 May 1919. He was in Company E, 2nd Infantry Battalion, 311th Infantry Regiment, 156th Infantry Brigade of the 78th Division until his discharge.
He was inducted at Camp Dix for basic training just after his 22nd birthday, on 12 February 1918. Because of his earlier heart damage, he was excused from most daily drills due to pain over his heart. His entrance exam at Camp Dix on 2 March 1918 has him weighing 126 pounds and being 5' 4 3/4" tall.
Submitted by: Tom Arnone
Gaspare Arnone served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Unknown .
This individual (my father) enlisted in the U.S. Army when he was 27 years old. He served in Company G, 319 Infantry Division and was wounded by a machine gun in the left arm in the Meuse Argonne battle on September 20 1918. He was honorably discharged on July 16, 1919.
I still have his Honorable Discharge certificate from the U.S. Army. It is old but very readable.
Submitted by: Elliott Zink
Charles Andrew Besaw served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known August 1917 to November 1, 1918.
Charley Besaw was a private in the 354th Infantry Regiment and was killed in action at Meuse-Argonne on November 1, 1918.
He was my Grandfather's uncle, and my Grandfather remembered when he was conscripted and when word came that he had been killed.
Charley was a farmer and was engaged to be married when he returned. My Grandpa said that he was the "fun" uncle, and was always telling jokes.
Submitted by: Andrew J. Lang
Nathan Colaner served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known November 10, 1917 - May 1919.
Nathan Colaner was a member of the 308th Trench Mortar Battery, which was part of the 158th Field Artillery, 83rd Division. For the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the 308th TMB and Ammunition Train were assigned to the 32nd Division, the "Red Arrows". Nathan would see combat near Brabant-Sur-Meuse. On October 24th, 1918, in an action that earned this unit several medals and commendations, Nathan was a member of the crew for Mortar #2. They had "not even fired a shot" before the gun was hit by German artillery. The entire crew was severely wounded, including Nathan. The crew from Mortar #1 came over to crew the battery and they fired off approximately 15 shells before the mortar came off the sled. He would survive the war.
Submitted by: Robert Thompson
Stephen Wilkins Thompson served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known May, 1917--Feb,1919.
He was the first American in military service to shoot down an enemy aircraft--Feb 5 1918. Look him up on Wikipedia and at the Air Force Museum.
Submitted by: Joseph Braziel
Wiley M. Braziel served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known October 15, 1918 - December 6, 1918.
Wiley Braziel enlisted in Columbia, SC and conducted his military training at Camp Sevier near Greenville, SC. Camp Sevier was home to the 30th Division "Old Hickory". Although unable to confirm, he may have been one of the replacement troops for this division or one of the newer divisions being stood-up by the Army. Wiley was never sent "Over There", but was very proud of his service to the nation during WWI.
Submitted by: George Buck, Ph.D.
Thomas P Brennan served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 21 Sept 1917 - 15 July 1919.
My Grandfather enlisted on 21 September, 1917 and served with the 77 Division 306 INF Company I, Sailed with A.E.F. for overseas on April 16, 1918. He was involved in engagements in Larraire Sector, June 26, 1918. Lorraine Sector, Aisne River, and Meuse-Argonne where he was wounded and gassed. He earned Victory Medal with Aisne Marne, Meuse-Argonne and Defensive Sector.
From an 1938 article from the NY Times Titled “The 77th Won that One.” Thomas Brennan was interviewed about helping to move rations, ammunition and water under the command of Lieutenant Zack at 0530 hours in the Argonne when it was lightening. Lt. Zack saw a solider in the woods and demanded to know why are you here soldier. The soldier replied “there’s fighting going on you know”. It turned out that this was the first time known in the war that a field kitchen had held the front line alone. My Grandpa was a part of that.
By LtCol Gregory J. Johnson, USMC (Ret.)
In 1986, one week after the birth of my first-born child, a special ceremony took place on the grounds of the Marine Corps Base at Quantico, Virginia. This was a unique ceremony, but not un-similar to others, I'm sure, that have occurred before — and since. This particular ceremony the Marine Corps conducted was in honor of an enlisted U.S. Army soldier who had performed honorable service to his country during World War I. Now this individual wasn't a great war hero of any sorts in the military sense. He saw combat and did his duty to the best of his ability. He bravely fought America's fight, before returning home to become a chemist with the DuPont Company for the majority of his life. He was just one of many citizen soldiers who answered his country's call to arms in "The war to end all wars"—The Great War.
Now a little more background on this is probably in order. During 1986 I was completing a tour as an instructor at the Marine Corps' Amphibious Warfare School at Quantico. I had been married a year and we had just welcomed the arrival of our first child. My wife’s grandfather, Albert Reidinger, had served in the U.S. Army as a private during World War I. He had fought with the 78th Division (The Lightening Division) as part of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). He saw action at St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, and the Defensive Sector. 'Great Pop-Pop', as he was called within the family, did not return to the states with his unit when the war ended. A Princeton man, he was given an opportunity to stay behind for a few months to take some academic courses at a prominent university in Paris.
[Fast forward to 1985....]
Submitted by: Daniel Flora
Gustav Kuhlman was born in Lowell, Wisconsin. He attended the University of Wisconsin. While in the Army he attained the rank of Private First Class.
Dates Served: July 24th 1918-June 23rd 1919
Branch of Service: Army
Unit: Hospital Base No. 69- Medical
Submitted by: Justin Daly
Daniel J. Daly served in World War 1 with the the United States Marine Corps. The dates of service are: Known 1898 to 1929.
Highest decorated enlisted man in the AEF before and after war. He received two Medals of Honor. Distinguished himself in Belleau Wood and Chatteau-Therey Campaign. I interviewed the last survivor of his WW1 platoon in 1984
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