Stories of Service

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

Arthur M. Donahue

Submitted by: Chris Mulholland

Arthur M Donahue mug Arthur M. Donahue served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 1917-1918.

At just 17 years of age, Arthur M. Donahoe was already a Corporal when he was shot in the head and killed in Argonne France on October 15th, 1918.

Donahoe was part of the 318th Regiment, 80th Division, which was made up almost entirely of Virginians. Activated in 1917, the regiment was part the massive Meuse-Argonne Offensive, one of the war’s final, bloody trench-warfare battles.

Arthur is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in Romagne, France.

Truman Lazarus Brown

Submitted by: Chris Mulholland

no photo 300 Truman Lazarus Brown served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 1917-1918.

Truman Lazarus Brown was born on July 21st, 1892 in Bertie, North Carolina and was the middle of three boys.

By 1917, he was working as a carpenter with the Norfolk & Southern Railroad when he signed up with the US Army as a Private.

He was assigned to the 166th Infantry Regiment, of the vaunted 42nd “Rainbow” Division. Truman was killed during the Aisne-Marne Offensive in France on July 29, 1918 and is buried in the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in Belleau, France

George Arthur Giannotti

Submitted by: Chris Mulholland

58e2a95f9428e Giannotti GA 2LT abt 1918

George Arthur Giannotti served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 1918-1918.

In April 1917, the United States joined the “war to end all wars” and declared war against Germany. During the next few months, many Italian-Americans filled out draft registration cards, including George who filled his out on 5 June 1917. For his ‘present trade, occupation, or office’ he listed “musician” in “business for self” but for the question ‘Where employed?’ he wrote “[illegible] Lithograph”. For those who relied upon him for support he listed his “mother, father”. The Draft Board official noted on George’s registration that he was of medium height and build with blue eyes and brown hair.

Just before the end of World War I, George received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army but the Armistice to end the “War to End All Wars” was signed before he was sent overseas.

Thomas Oliver Tucker

Submitted by: John Dolan-Heitlinger

no photo 300

Thomas Oliver Tucker served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 28 May 1918 - 24 June 1919.

Thomas O. Tucker, Service Number 978 999, served in the United States Army from 28 May 1918 to 24 June 1919 when he received an Honorable Discharge.

Jean Allen Crandall

Submitted by: Chris Mulholland

58e2a88ce4ce7 Crandall Jean Allen spanam war photo 1898c

Jean Allen Crandall served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 1917-1919.

Jean Allen Crandall served in the Spanish-American War in Havana, Cuba. Almost 20 years later, at the age of 37, Jean entered service again. On 6 April 1917 the US declared war against Germany and American forces finally entered the “War to End All Wars.” Sometime in late 1917 or early 1918, Jean received a commission in the US Army’s Quartermaster Corps as a Second Lieutenant.

On 29 Mar 1918, he was promoted to First Lieutenant and was listed in the New York Times of 30 March 1918: “Special to the New York Times. The War Department published the following army orders today: Quartermaster Corps. Following promoted to be 1st Lts.: Crandall, J.A.”

At some point during the next 18 months, Jean received another promotion, this time to Captain. The “Official List of Officers of the Officers’ Reserve Corps of the Army of the United States, Vol I, 31 Aug 1919”, page 54, includes, “Crandall, Jean Allen, capt. Q.M.R.C. [Quartermaster Corps] … Ill[inois].” And “Vol VIII, Officers Residing in Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, 31 Aug 1919”, page 6, lists him as a Captain in the Quartermaster Corps, “Crandall, Jean Allen … [address] 1768 Winnemack Avenue, Chicago … [born] Jan 29, 1880.”

He lived to the ripe old age of 93.

Harry Bernard Mulholland

Submitted by: Chris Mulholland

58e2a6cf1073c Mulholland Harry Bernard scan (2)

Harry Bernard Mulholland served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 1917-1918.

On 1 June 1917, Harry Bernard Mulholland filled out a registration card for the World War I draft, listing his residence as his parent’s home at 3330 4th Street North. He was tall and slender, with gray eyes and brown hair.

Probably not long thereafter, Harry was drafted into the Army and sent westward to Washington state. He arrived at Fort Lewis, “located about 17 miles south of TACOMA, Washington, and named for Captain Meriwether Lewis, commander of the famous Lewis and Clark expedition made to the Northwest in 1803.” (“600 Days’ Service’) Upon his arrival he was assigned to Company I, Third Battalion of the 361st Infantry Regiment. The regiment’s motto was, “The 361st Leads – Others Follow”.

Harry is listed on page 265 of the regimental history, “600 Days’ Service”. He was issued a pair of dogtags, serial number “2850045”, that his daughter still possesses. She also has a button with an embossed “361” and crossed rifles.

Cpl. Charles H. Pomeroy, Jr.

Submitted by: Vance Pomeroy

58e28524b4796 Cpl Charles H Pomeroy Jr 3rd 5th USMC

Cpl. Charles H. Pomeroy, Jr. served in World War 1 with the the United States Marine Corps. The dates of service are: Known 1917-1919.

16th Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment USMC attached to Second Division (Indianhead); surviving combatant of the Battle of Belleau Wood.

In attached photograph, Right Halfback on the battalion football team.

Giles Wilmer Brown

Submitted by: Dwain Asberry {great nephew}

no photo 300

Giles Wilmer Brown served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known August 1918 to Oct. 4, 1918.

My great uncle, mentioned above, joined the Army and was sent to Camp Funston, Kansas for training. There he came down with the Spanish Flu and died Oct. 4th, 1918. I have a nice picture of him in uniform. I also have a copy of a letter sent to his wife from the Chaplin of the 70th Infantry, Camp Funston, dated Oct. 10th, 1918.

Mr. Brown was buried in the family cemetery in Ellington, Mo. The cemetery holds 9 graves, of which one is the soldier mentioned. His and one other grave are the only ones with head stones, which Mr. Brown's is a Military head stone. The family farm is no longer and the plot is surrounded by woods. I make the 70 mile drive every year to maintain the 30x30 foot plot. Mr. Brown lies next to John Morgan Brown, my great-great grandfather, who rode with the 1st Missouri Cavalry, CSA.

Joseph C. Langer

Submitted by: Sean Fisher {great grandson}

Joseph C Langer Joseph C. Langer served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known July 5, 1918 to April 19, 1919.

My great grandfather was a Musician 2nd Class (clarinet) in the HQ Co. 52nd Pioneers Infantry, Fifth Corps, First Army. Joseph C. Langer (1893-1984) was from Philadelphia. He was working as an accountant for John B. Stetson Company, Philadelphia (Stetson cowboy hats) in 1917, when, sometime in summer or fall 1917, he applied for a clarinet position in the Naval Reserve Band. He received a reply in November 1917 from both John Philip Sousa (1854-1932; Lieutenant, Naval Reserve Band, Illinois) and Bandmaster Victor J. Grabel (1886-1965). It is not known why Langer did not follow through from their encouraging replies.

In July 1917, Langer and his friends vacationed in the Millington, Maryland area along the Chester River, which he documented in photographs. You have to wonder if they took this excursion not knowing what the future held for them.

On the day he was drafted, June 29, 1918, Langer wrote down whom he was leaving his monies to: his father in Aalborg, Denmark, and to his girl, Emma Schwer. He was enlisted on July 5, 1918, and trained at Camp Wadsworth, South Carolina. He wrote to Emma on a YMCA postcard on July 6, on the train to Camp Wadsworth.

Using a 1917 “Army and Navy Diary” printed by Stanton & Van Vliet Co., Chicago in 1917, Langer kept a diary of his war time experience. While briefly at Camp Upton, Long Island, NY, on July 30, he “was outfitted with wool uniforms for oversea duty” and wrote “I look funny with my little “dinky” hat that they issue.”

He was in France from August 11, 1918 to March 31, 1919.

Samuel A. Darbous Jr.

Submitted by: Nan Darbous

Samuel A Darbous Jr Samuel A. Darbous Jr. served in World War 1 with the United States Coast Guard. The dates of service are: Known USCG 6/1919 - 12/1920.

Samuel A. Darbous Sr. served aboard the USCGC ALGONQUIN WPG-75 in ALASKAN WATERS. He was discharged in Seattle, Washington and returned to his home in Pittsburgh, PA.

Samuel is a descendant of the Pershings of Westmoreland County, PA.

Ramchandra Dhondurao (R.D.) Shelke

Submitted by: Tanveer Kalo

no photo 300 Ramchandra Dhondurao (R.D.) Shelke served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known December 1917 to August 25, 1919.

Ramchandra Dhondurao (R. D.) Shelke was born on April 15, 1891 in Kolhapur, British India. He arrived in New York on July 31, 1914 aboard Hamburg from Naples, to pursue an education. Later in life he would obtain a bachelors in chemical engineering.

After arriving in New York City R.D. Shelke made his way to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. On December 15, 1914, at age of 23 R. D. Shelke declared his allegiance to the United States at the U.S District Court of Western District of Pennsylvania.

On July 5, 1917 R. D. Shelke was drafted in the U.S Army. He was stationed at Camp Lee, Virginia from September 23, 1917 to December 1917. The August 1918 issue of the newspaper and journal Young India featured him with other Indians serving in the U.S Armed Forces. He served in the Supply Company 30th Infantry 3rd Division from December 1917 to August 25, 1919.