Stories of Service

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

Joseph H Masterson

Submitted by: Steve Masterson {Great nephew}

no photo 300 Joseph H Masterson born around 1894. Joseph Masterson 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

Joseph was born in Londonderry, Ireland, in 1894. His father, Michael, was apparently doing well as an “Assurance Superintendent” (an inspector for a commercial lines insurance company) and was able to house his growing family in a nice townhouse with a maid. In 1901, 7 year old Joseph moved with his family to an apartment on 85th St. in Manhattan. Michael’s fortunes apparently went downhill after he arrived in New York, so he moved the family to upper 8th Ave in Harlem. In 1910, Joseph’s mother, Jane, fell ill with tuberculosis. During this time, Joseph took off to California – he was 16 years old. His siblings ended up living with oldest sister Helen (Nellie) Hefferman and her husband, except for William (my grandfather), who ended up at Father Drumgool’s Home for Boys for a time.

Joseph enlisted in the California National Guard on May 20, 1917, in Hanford, California, and was assigned to Company M of the Guard’s 2nd Infantry Regiment. The 2nd Infantry had already been called into Federal service in contemplation of the War. He was sent to Fort Mason in San Francisco (now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area) to join Company M.

Eugene M Masterson

Submitted by: Steve Masterson {great-nephew}

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Eugene M Masterson born around 1888. Eugene Masterson 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

Eugene was my father’s uncle, the oldest brother of William John Masterson (my grandfather). He was born June 10, 1888, in Coatbridge, Scotland and was the second child of Michael and Jane Masterson. He was named after his grandfather, Eugene Owen Masterson. One of my father’s older brothers, Eugene Thomas Masterson (1931 – 1992), was named for this Uncle Eugene.

When he was 21, Eugene was living in Manhattan with his older sister Nellie and her family. His parents could not care for their children, so all the children were living with Nellie. Michael and Jane lived elsewhere in Manhattan while Jane suffered from tuberculosis. At that time, Eugene was working as a salesman in the linen/garment industry. Younger brother Joseph had run off to California.

On June 29, 1914, Eugene registered for the draft at the outset of World War I. At the time, he was living at 233 East 31st Street in Manhattan and was working for Chubb & Sons. Sometime in July of 1917, Eugene was called up for service, along with hundreds of other New York immigrants, in the old 7th Regiment of the New York National Guard. He was assigned to Company H.

Julian Dawson

Submitted by: Johnette Brooks, GA WWI African American Historian

Julian Dawson image

Julian Dawson born around 1888. Julian Dawson served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1941.

Story of Service

Brigadier General Julian Levi Dawson, 365th Infantry Medical Detachment

1888 - 1955
Albany, Georgia | Chicago, Illinois
Highest Ranking GA African American Officer
International Physician/Surgeon

In 2014, reporter Timuel Black of the Chicago Tribune wrote a story about the new Obama Presidential Library being built near his childhood home; recalls his mother speaking reverently about “how he should pay attention to our neighbor Dr. Julian Dawson, a black physician who inspired deep respect in our community.”¹

Loomis Trudeau

Submitted by: Kelly Durocher {Brother in law of 2nd great aunt}

Loomis Trudeau image

Loomis Trudeau born around 1897. Loomis Trudeau served in World War 1 with the United States Navy. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1917.

Story of Service

Loomis Trudeau was born in North Adams, Massachusetts in 1897. He was the fifth child of William and Josephine Trudeau. Loomis had four brothers and five sisters. The Trudeau family moved to Schenectady, New York when Loomis was about eight years old. Soon after moving to Schenectady Loomis’ father was killed while crossing railroad tracks. Loomis’ mother was left to raise ten children on her own.

Loomis enlisted in the United States Navy on April 28, 1917. At the time of entering the service he was employed in the standardizing laboratory of the General Electric Company. Shortly after enlistment he became ill with pneumonia for many months and was hospitalized.

His first trip to the other side was on the U.S.S. Lake Moor and his rank was Fireman 3rd Class.

Richard Joseph Schuster

Submitted by: Jeffrey Christel {Great grand-nephew}

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Richard Joseph Schuster born around 1889. Richard Schuster served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1918 and the service was completed in 1919.

Story of Service

He enlisted in the U.S. Army on 30 July 1918, and was assigned to Company "M", 2nd Chemical Battalion, Chemical Warfare Service, and served at Edgewood Arsenal in Edgewood, Maryland for the duration of the war. He was Honorably Discharged on 12 December 1918 as a Private.

Adam Jacob Christel

Submitted by: Jeffrey Christel {great grand-nephew}

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Adam Jacob Christel born around 1895. Adam Christel served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1918 and the service was completed in 1919.

Story of Service

He served in France with Company "L", 3rd Battalion, 311th Infantry Regiment, 78th Division. Honorably Discharged as a Private First Class.

Fred Hitner

Submitted by: Robin Hitner {Great Nephew}

Fred Hitner image

Fred Hitner was born around 1893. Fred Hitner 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

Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, I was told that I had great uncle from Nashville, named Fred Hitner, who died in WWI. His name is listed on a World War I memorial statue located in Centennial Park in Nashville that I visited several times growing up. My dad had a picture of his grave and cross located in Belgium (see attached). It appeared to be a temporary mass grave. We had no pictures of himself in our possession. Unfortunately, my dad did not have much information on Fred except for his parent’s names and what look like a typed draft of an obituary.

This unofficial obituary stated that he “lost his life in Waeregham, [Waregem] Belgium in the service of his country on November 11, 1918.” I could never find an official newspaper obituary. Other documents such as the Gold Star Records from the Tennessee State Library and Archives listed the same date and place. I thought how interesting that he died on the last day of war. I became extremely interested in finding out how and where he died.

Knowing that Fred was buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Nashville, I paid a visit to see his grave. To my astonishment, he had no gravestone. His father and his second wife are buried on the other side of the cemetery. Fred was buried next to his mother, maternal grandmother and his first stepdad Martin Givens. I talked to the cemetery office manager who instructed me on how to obtain a free headstone from the Department of Veterans Affairs. I only had to pay the cemetery to set up the gravestone.

John Elco

Submitted by: Josh Hanna

John Elco mug John Elco served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known June 7, 1917-1919.

Seventeen year old John William Elco traveled from his home in Donora to Pittsburgh to enlist in the Pennsylvania National Guard on June 7, 1917, less than a month shy of his 18th birthday.

Elco became a machine gunner in the 111th Infantry--part of the Keystone Division praised by General Pershing. His overseas service in 1918 was with E Company of the 19th Engineering Regiment (Transportation Corps) in France..

He left France in April 1919 but had a lifelong affinity with the US Army, serving again on the home front in WWII where he rose to the rank of Major in 1944 in command of the 3rd Battalion, 10th Regiment. He was finally discharged from the service on June 1, 1951.

Harry Malott

Submitted by: Gerri Brown

no photo 300 Photo submitted by Jody McDonald, 1st cousin 2x removed.Harry Malott served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 04/03/1917-11/1918.

Story of Service

HARRY E. MALOTT, PFC
Veteran of World War 1
Enlisted - April 3, 1917 – Discharged-Nov. 1918
Landing in Hoboken, New Jersey
Paraded in New York City, N.Y.

On April 3, 1917 Harry Malott and his cousin Oliver Smith came to Canton, Illinois to enlist in the army in World War 1. Harry returned from the War In 1918. He had been wounded a couple times but never went to a doctor. His cousin Oliver was killed in battle in World War 1. Oliver is buried in France.

When applying for enlistment in the U. S. Army on April 3, 1917, when weighing in Harry was too light and they were going to reject him. He left and drank a lot of water to add weight and returned to weigh again. He was sworn in April 6, 1917, Company 1, 18th infantry as a Wagoner. He served overseas in Europe in World War 1 in France and Germany.

Returning home after the war ended. The troop ship was previously a cattle transport boat, & to keep down sea sickness he said that he ate onions that were kept in crate to feed the whales. Upon returning to U. S. soil the ship landed in Hoboken, New Jersey & the group of soldiers were transported to New York City where along with other soldiers they paraded through the center of New York City . When they landed thy left guns, mess kit, Cups, etc all in a large pile. He later was able to retrieve a mess kit and metal cup (not his own).

Ollis Bryant Ferguson

Submitted by: Robert Bruce Ferguson {great-nephew)

Ollis Ferguson image

Ollis Bryant Ferguson was born around 1887. Ollis Ferguson served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1918 and the service was completed in 1919.

Story of Service

Ollis Bryant Ferguson was born in 1887. Ollis was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1918. He had a brother and several cousins at the French front. Unlike so many, Ollis survived The Great War.

After Ollis was inducted at Kelly Field, Texas (near San Antonio); he attended aviation school. Ollis served overseas from June of 1918 until September of 1919. He was in several aero squadrons, but his precise duties are a mystery. At one point during the war to end all wars, he was reportedly shot down while working for the “British Air Service.”

Ollis enlisted as a Private but left the service as a Sergeant 1st Class.

William Anthony Hemmick

Submitted by: Patricia Daly-Lipe {great niece}

5ca385b91412a Pictures 0 mug William Anthony Hemmick was born around 1886. William Hemmick served in World War 1 with a non-government service organization. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1919.

Story of Service

In 1917, the United States entered World War I. Cardinal Gibbons had been a chaplain in the Civil War and shared some of his experiences during that war with William. Thus, when William, who had by then been ordained, requested permission to serve the troops, Cardinal Gibbons agreed.

Father Hemmick arrived in Paris August, 1917, and became Captain in the "Croix Rouge." His sensitivity, his bravery, his compassion were felt by all who knew my great uncle. He served on the front lines at the battle of Picardy, giving last rights and burying the dead.

After the war, when he returned to Washington, great uncle William was proclaimed the "Patriot Priest of Picardy" by the Army and Navy. He returned to Paris and established the American Catholic Welfare Centre for all those who had been traumatized by the war.