Stories of Service

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

Earle Schwartz

Submitted by: Bob Bostock

58064b76b4878 Bostock Grandfather 1917 SMALL Bob Bostock

Earle Schwartz served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known June 5, 1917 thru shortly after Armistice Day.

Woodrow Wilson, former New Jersey governor and then-president of the United States, campaigned for re-election to the White House in 1916 on the slogan, “He kept us out of war.” Exactly three months and one day after Wilson took the oath of office for his second term, my grandfather, Earle Schwartz of Wood Ridge, New Jersey, registered for the draft. He did so less than three weeks after the President signed the bill instituting a draft to raise an Army to join what is today known to us as World War I. The day that Earle, then 21 years old, registered, June 5, 1917, was the very first day for registration under the new draft.

Before the year was out, young Earle, described by the draft registrar as being tall, of medium build, with blue eyes and brown hair and missing no limbs or eyes, was called up. Earle was sent to France as part of the American Expeditionary Force under the command of General John J. “Black Jack” Pershing. He returned to the States not long after the war ended, November 11, 1918, on what he always called “Armistice Day.”

Holmes E. Dager

Submitted by: KP Morris

Dager 1

Holmes E. Dager served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known June 23, 1917-1946.

As the war in Europe was gaining steam it was just a year later that Lt Dager volunteered for Federal Service on June 23, 1917. After going to Ft Leavenworth for his Basic Officers Course he is sent to the 6th Infantry Division being formed at Camp Forrest, GA. Once back with the unit he is assigned to H Company, 51st Infantry September 25, 1917. All of the officers in the division are sent to Ft Sill, Oklahoma for instruction on artillery.

During the next several months the 6th Infantry Division will train for war at various locations, 11th Brigade at Camp Forrest, Georgia, 12th Brigade at Camp Wadsworth, S.C., and the division headquarters at Camp McClellan, Alabama with other units at other camps throughout the United States. The division would not train together until it reached France.

As the training developed 1st Lt Dager would move from unit to unit. Promoted to temporary Captain on August 5, 1917 and moving to F Company January 13, 1918. On September 30, 1918 Dager is assigned to K Company and promoted to Major (Temporary) on October 24, 1918 and moved to command the 3rd Battalion of the 51st Infantry until he reverted to the rank of a Captain in March 1920.

Russell Perkins Byington

Submitted by: Stacey Byington

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Russell Perkins Byington served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 1917-1918.

Russell Perkins Byington, born 21 OCT 1893, moved with his parents to Cairo, NY, in September 1895 and from there to Ossining, NY, in the spring of 1902. Attended Ossining public schools, took an active part in athletic activities and was popular with fellow schoolmates.

Joined the New York National Guard in June 1916, joining Company A, 3d Regiment of Infantry, of Rochester, NY, for service on the Mexican Border. Was one of the first to respond. During the four months he spent on the Mexican border his company saw no fighting. Mustered out in September 1916.

Sgt Willis Lewis Burnworth

Submitted by: Peter Stassen

Sgt Willis Lewis Burnworth

Sgt Willis Lewis Burnworth served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known May 30 1917 - November 1 1918.

Sgt Willis L. Burnworth entered service (ASN: 1518883) at Bremen on May 30th, 1917 with the Ohio National Guard. He got his basic training with Company D of the 7th Infantry Regiment at Pleasantville, Ohio. On July 15, 1917 this regiment was recalled to federal service. It was now redesignated the 145th Infantry Regiment, and assigned as one of the components of the 37th Division. Willis became a member of Company H.

From September 29th, 1917 till end of May 1918 he trained at Camp Sheridan, five miles outside Montgomery, Alabama. During that time he attained the rank of Corporal (October 10th, 1917). At Camp Lee, Virginia he stayed from May 24th till June 11th. Before embarking the USS Leviathan he received his final overseas physical examination. The ship left the harbor on Saturday June 15th and landed at Brest, France, June 22nd.

John Posey Conner

Submitted by: Sheri Poff, Great Granddaughter

John Posey Conner

John Posey Conner served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 07/21/ 1918 - 06/07/1919.

My great grandfather is World War I U.S. Army Infantry Veteran John Posey Conner from Floyd County, Virginia. He signed Draft Registration Card on June 5th, 1917 in Copper Hill, VA. He enlisted on July 21st, 1918 in Copper Hill, VA. All we know is that he talked about being in France during WWI. We were informed by National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, MO that his records were destroyed in the fire of 1973. The only document in there records was his Final Pay Voucher.

In our own searches on Ancestry.com we located copy of his Military Grave Marker/Headstone Form that was signed by his son in 1962, few days after John Posey Conner's death in 1962. And luckily on this 1962 Military Grave Marker application it listed he served in Co. F., 316th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division! We were thrilled to have found this information!

Arthur Clemence Cole

Submitted by: Frances Cole Denoncourt

Arthur Clemence Cole 1

Arthur Clemence Cole served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 1907-1918.

He was sent to France in World War I as a 1st Lieutenant and earned many commendations, citations, ribbons, and medals. After the war he held several public offices at both state and local levels.

Arthur began his military career July 15, 1907 as a trooper in the RI National Guard Cavalry.

Officer Reserve Corps 1st Lieutenant.

Arthur Clemence Cole was commissioned as 1st Lieutenant at Plattsburgh, NY and reported for transport to France with the 23rd Infantry in early 1918.

Francis Ashley Phillips

Submitted by: Lanny Phillips

Francis Ashley Phillips 1

Francis Ashley Phillips served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 1917 - 1919.

These few pages are written about my grandfather, whom I admire and respect, and whose story I am proud to tell. (Written in January, 1963.)

In the wilderness of the old Illinois back country during the nineteenth century, sat a small five-room home, where George and Miranda Phillips lived with their children. This farm house and the large acreage around it had been homesteaded in Wayne County by George's parents, with a land grant given by [President] Franklin Pierce. The farm was situated halfway between Centralia and Xenia, Illinois. George, his wife, and children were primarily self-sufficient and saw little of town life other than Saturday trips to town.

Harrison Taylor Wells

Submitted by: COL Ret. Arthur N. Tulak

2LT Harrison Taylor Wells

Harrison Taylor Wells served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known June 24, 1918 to March 1, 1919.

2LT Harrison Taylor Wells, U.S. Army, E Battery, 72d Field Artillery Regiment, Camp Henry Knox Kentucky, and later assigned to the HQs and Headquarters Battery, 81st Field Artillery Regiment.

Born April 3, 1889 in Rea MO, at the opening of the War, Harrison T. Wells, a graduate of Drury College in Springfield MO, was the Principal of Greenfield High School, Greenfield, MO.

Harrison Wells was inducted into the Army on June 24, 1918, and reported to Company 32A, at Camp Pike Arkansas until July 10, 1918 when he reported to 24th Battery, at Field Artillery Central Officers Training School (F.A.C.O.T.S), at Camp Zachary Taylor, Louisville Kentucky.

Private Angelo Iossa

Submitted by: MSG Angelo R. Iossa (US Army Retired)

Angelo Iossa

Private Angelo Iossa served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are:
5 April, 1918 to 22 August, 1919 .

Private Angelo Iossa, my paternal Grandfather, served in WWI from 5 April, 1918 to 22 August, 1919 with the American Expeditionary Forces, 3rd Division, 7th Infantry Regiment’s (Cottonbalers), Machine Gun Company.

According to his Birth Certificate, Honorable Discharge, and Enlistment Record, which were given to me at my Father’s passing, Angelo was born on 17 February, 1896 in Marigliano, Italy. He worked as a rose grower in Madison, NJ (Nicknamed: The Rose City) prior to his induction into the United States Army on 20 November, 1917 in Morristown, NJ.

Capt. Joseph L. Bachus

Submitted by: Richard C. Bachus

Joesph Bachus

Capt. Joseph L. Bachus served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known June 12, 1916 to 1944.

Joseph L. Bachus spent the better part of four decades in nearly every branch of the U.S. military, but his combat experience in the trenches of France during WW I solidified his decision to dedicate his life to professional soldiering.

His men called him "Smokey Joe" -- not only for the smoldering pipe that was his constant companion, but for his fiery method for turning a rabble of undisciplined recruits into a tough fighting force. Some may have hated him back home during the rigors of training in Michigan and Texas, but he was "the idol of his men" by the time his unit reached the fighting in France.

Private Joseph F. Andrade

Submitted by: J. Ennes

Joseph F Andrade

Private Joseph F. Andrade served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known September 1917 until August 1918.

Joseph F. Andrade's parents were immigrants from Madeira, Portugal who were recruited, along with his older half brothers, to work the sugar cane fields of Maui, Hawaii. Two more sons were born in Hawaii, and then the family moved on to work the fruit orchards of Santa Clara, California where Joseph and his sister were born. Joseph was working as a farmer in Santa Clara when he was drafted into the Army in 1917.