Stories of Service

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

William L. Moylan

Submitted by: Ken Moylan

1.Pvt.WmLMoylan

In honor of the memory of my Grandfather and his service to our country in the First World War.

William L. Moylan (1894-1968) of Eveleth, Minnesota enlisted in June 1917, 3rd Minnesota, Company F. Soon after he was transferred into the 3rd Division, 30th Infantry Regiment, Company L. Days after arriving in France, the 30th Infantry Regiment was rushed to stop the German spring offensive at Hill 204, in the vicinity of Chateau Thierry. At the “Battle of the Marne” his battalion took very heavy casualties from the opening artillery barrage of explosives and gas. Over the next four hours, under this terrible barrage, in the dark woods and while wearing a gas mask. Private Moylan with no regard for his own safely, helped medics tend to the increasing numbers of dead and wounded.

Dates Served: June 1917- June 1919
Branch of Service: Army, AEF
Unit: 3rd Division, 30th Infantry Regiment, Company L

Harold J. Leonard

Submitted by: Robert Leonard

noimagediag2

My father, Pvt Harold J. Leonard was wounded in WWI and spent six months in the hospital in Paris after the war had ended. He had lost his memory. One day a nurse and a doctor were passing his room when she looked in. She told the doctor that she knew him and they were from the same town. Through her efforts he was able to regain his memory. We were never able to get his Purple Heart. All records were destroyed in the fire.

Dates Served: Unknown
Branch of Service: Army
Unit: Co. A, 16th Infantry, 1 Div

Milton K. Rigby

Submitted by: Thomas Morgan

Rigby 4

In the Summer of 1917, Canadian Lieutenant Colonel P. A. Guthrie, a commander in the famed Black Watch Regiment, was evacuated from the front line of combat in Germany after sustaining injuries from nearly being hit by an artillery shell. While recovering, he traveled to New England to recruit Americans to fill the places of his men lost in combat.

Milton K. Rigby of Rhode Island, and 1000 other New Englanders answered Guthrie’s call to service and on July 17th 1917 swore an oath to the king to defend the British Commonwealth and her allies. He was assigned to the 236th MacLean Kilties but was transferred to the 42nd Battalion, 3rd C.E.F. Division, along with other American Kilties, to form a joint Canadian, British and American unit under the command of the Black Watch.

Dates Served: July 17th 1917 – March 11th 1919
Branch of Service: Canadian Expeditionary Force, 3rd Division
Unit: 236th Battalion (MacLean Kilties), was deployed with the 42nd Infantry Battalion (Black Watch)

Lee Herbert Johnson

Submitted by: Andrew M Johnson

Lee Vernon Johnson

Trained in armor at Gettysburg, PA, shipped overseas, was in Brest, France unloading armored vehicles when the war ended.

Dates Served: 3 May 1918 - 11 April 1919
Branch of Service: Army
Unit: Company A, 303rd Tank Battalion

Arthur H. Wiedeman

Submitted by: Will Hickox

Arthur Wiedeman

During the Battle of the St. Quentin Canal on September 29, 1918, rescued wounded crewmen from a destroyed tank, and was later mentioned in orders and awarded the Silver Star.

Dates Served: April 9, 1917 - April 2, 1919
Branch of Service: Army
Unit: 107th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division

Edward Conrad Metcalfe

Submitted by: James A. Metcalfe

noimagediag2

Enlisted in Navy but later obtained appointment to Naval Academy Class of 1922. Awarded WWI service medal. KIA Savo Island 1942.

Dates Served: 1918-1942
Branch of Service: Navy
Unit: US Naval Academy

Bert A. Fidler

Submitted by: Matthew R. Fidler

Sgt. Bert A. Fidler

Bert A. Fidler (1899-1993) enlisted in the U.S. Army in Syracuse, NY, reporting for duty on 2 October 1917 at Camp Syracuse. Private Fidler was assigned to Company E, 39th Infantry Regiment. From 30 October 1917 to 26 April 1918, Private Fidler received infantry training with the 4th Division at Camp Greene, NC and was appointed Corporal on 12 April 1918. On 10 May 1918 Cpl. Fidler's unit of the 4th Division left Hoboken, NJ for France, arriving at Brest on 23 May 1918. From 25 May 1918 to 9 July 1918 Cpl. Fidler's units received infantry training with British instructors and served in reserve in French sectors. Between 18 July and 11 November of 1918, Fidler saw considerable action in four Allied offensive actions with the 4th Division, including the Aisne-Marne; Champagne-Marne; St. Mihiel; and the Meuse-Argonne. Fidler was appointed Sergeant on 25 August 1918 and served as the 2nd Battalion (39th Infantry) Gas NCO.

Dates Served: 2 October 1917 - 21 August 1919
Branch of Service: Army
Unit: 4th Division

Orlando Ward

Submitted by: John Ward Yates

Orlando Ward image

Orlando Ward served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 1909-1953.

As Adjudant of 2nd Battalion of the 10th Field Artillery Major Ward was in command of the battalion when the 2nd Battle of the Marne started (his commanding officer attending the Bastille Day festivities). Heavy shelling of the battalion headquarters brought shell shock to some, but he managed to maintain order and direct fire in support of the Infantry on the river.