Stories of Service

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

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}

no photo 300

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)

58f67352b97da 1918 11 07 BDE p 17 Francis P. Putz photo in newspaper

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.

Corporal Youman Z. Weeks

Submitted by: Mr. William J. Weeks (Nephew) and Dr. Joseph L. Weeks (grandnephew)

Corp. Youman Z. Weeks

Corporal Youman Z. Weeks served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Unknown .

Youman Z. Weeks was born in Bogue, North Carolina in 1896 to Edward Grayham Weeks and Mary Godwin. He was the eighth child among a total of seven boys and four girls. His father was a tenant farmer. Youman left the farm as a young man and moved to Colleton, South Carolina where he enlisted in the Army.

Although the date of his enlistment is not known, he was killed in action on October 8, 1918. He was presented with the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism. This medal is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army; second to the Medal of Honor. His medal citation follows:

Daniel Sylvester Carroll

Submitted by: Natilie

Daniel Sylvester Carroll served in World War 1 with the United States Marine Corps. The dates of service are: Known January 1918-December 1918.

Daniel Sylvester Carroll was a member of the United States Marine Aviation Force, Northern Bombing Group, Foreign Service, Field D., France.

Daniel Sylvester Carroll’s War Experience as told by his daughter, Doris Carroll Simper

Dad was inducted in Vernal - He went instead of Uncle Roy because one of them had to stay home and run the farm. Dad said he would rather die than be stuck on that farm. He was sent from Vernal to Salt Lake City where he was sent to Vallejo, California for his Basic Training. From there he was sent to Miami, Florida where he trained to be a mechanic and machine gunner in the first planes ever used in combat.

He was then shipped directly to France. Upon arriving there because of the shortage of planes he was assigned to be a motorcycle dispatch rider. During this assignment he had five cycles blown up. Two while he was on them. He was not critically injured or so they thought at the time but a small fragment of shrapnel somehow had become lodged in his head. It travelled around doing its thing and caused all kinds of problems for a long time.

Robert Sharp, Jr.

Submitted by: Lorraine Kish

58ecd0f234058 Robert Sharp WWI

Robert Sharp, Jr. served in World War 1 with the United States Navy. The dates of service are: Known July 24, 1917 - March 27, 1919.

Enrolled at Fifth Naval District in Norfolk, Virginia on 24 July 1917. He sailed to Bulgaria.

On 29 Sep 1917 he was at Cherrystone Island. Spent time at U.S.N. Hospital in Norfolk from Sep - Oct 1917. In Dec 1917 he was at Cherry Stone Island Base.

On 26 Sep 1918 he was "restricted five days liberty in France for gambling."

On 15 Nov 1918 he was on board the U.S.S. William A. McKenney. His record was clear.

War Service Certificate #53805 issued on 27 Mar 1919.

George H Young

Submitted by: Wm Stuart

George H Young George H. Young served in World War 1 with the United States Marine Corps. The dates of service are: Known 4/17- 8/19.

George H. Young enlisted in US Marine Corp. 11 days after the US declared war on Germany. George and 3 of his brothers served in the Army and Navy.

Young was a first generation American born to German immigrants. His Military History sheet says he fought "Bois de Belleau (Belleau Woods) Chateau Thierry, St Mihiel.Though one of battle pins shows Muese Argonne as well.

George was wounded twice in the same leg and according to the family was the sole survivor of a gas attack.

George Young returned to Michigan after the war where he worked on a farm with his brother who was completely deaf after being in the Navy.