Stories of Service

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

Joseph E. Kaes

Submitted by: Mary J. Ryan (grand niece)

Joseph Edward Kaes

Joseph Edward Kaes served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 11/16/1916-11/21/1918.

Joseph Edward Kaes was born on Christmas Day, 1896 in South Boston, Massachusetts to Jacob and Katherine Kaes, emigres from the Alsace region of France. He was the youngest of their 11 surviving children.

My grand-uncle Joseph Kaes enlisted on November 16, 1915 with Company A, 9th Infantry Massachusetts National Guard and served on the Mexican Border. Prior to his enlistment, he was employed in a candy factory. Joseph Kaes reported for duty on March 26, 1917, mustered April 3, Company A, 9th Infantry Massachusetts National Guard (Co. A, 101st Infantry, 26th Division). He went overseas on September 7, 1917 as a member of the Yankee Division for the American Expeditionary Forces. On Sept 14, 1917, Joseph Kaes was appointed Private First Class.

Russell M. Lee

Submitted by: Colonel (Retired) Jeffrey Lee

RMLee 300

Russell M. Lee served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known April 22, 1917 - September 1919.

My grandfather, Russell Mulford Lee, voluntarily enlisted in the Allied Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F.). The year was 1917. His Service number was R-155205. He followed in a long Lee tradition of military service. His father had served with the Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry, also known as Rush’s Lancers during the American Civil War. Rush's Lancers were one of the finest volunteer cavalry regiments during the American Civil War.

Approximately 4.4 million Americans were ultimately mobilized during World War I. Russell Lee was among the first of those Americans.

Branton H. Henderson

Submitted by: Francis Brooks

573d3eb34b812 Branton H. Henderson, 1897 1978

Branton H. Henderson served in World War 1 with the United States Navy. The dates of service are: Known
US Navy Reserves, 1917-18: Active Duty, US Navy, Sept. 1918 to Dec. 1918.

Seaman Second Class, 1918, at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, WA. Princeton University, class of 1921.

Albert J. Matelena, PFC

Submitted by: Brian Smith

57a20ddfc0d8f 1918 1206 State Gaz

Albert J. Matelena, PFC served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 27 February 1917 to 30 May 1919..

ALBERT fought in World War I from 27 February 1917 to 30 May 1919. He was in Company E, 2nd Infantry Battalion, 311th Infantry Regiment, 156th Infantry Brigade of the 78th Division until his discharge.

He was inducted at Camp Dix for basic training just after his 22nd birthday, on 12 February 1918. Because of his earlier heart damage, he was excused from most daily drills due to pain over his heart. His entrance exam at Camp Dix on 2 March 1918 has him weighing 126 pounds and being 5' 4 3/4" tall.

Gaspare Arnone

Submitted by: Tom Arnone

no photo 300

Gaspare Arnone served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Unknown .

This individual (my father) enlisted in the U.S. Army when he was 27 years old. He served in Company G, 319 Infantry Division and was wounded by a machine gun in the left arm in the Meuse Argonne battle on September 20 1918. He was honorably discharged on July 16, 1919.
I still have his Honorable Discharge certificate from the U.S. Army. It is old but very readable.

Charles Andrew Besaw

Submitted by: Elliott Zink

Charles Andrew Besaw 300

Charles Andrew Besaw served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known August 1917 to November 1, 1918.

Charley Besaw was a private in the 354th Infantry Regiment and was killed in action at Meuse-Argonne on November 1, 1918.

He was my Grandfather's uncle, and my Grandfather remembered when he was conscripted and when word came that he had been killed.

Charley was a farmer and was engaged to be married when he returned. My Grandpa said that he was the "fun" uncle, and was always telling jokes.

Nathan Colaner

Submitted by: Andrew J. Lang

Nathan Colaner

Nathan Colaner served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known November 10, 1917 - May 1919.

Nathan Colaner was a member of the 308th Trench Mortar Battery, which was part of the 158th Field Artillery, 83rd Division. For the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the 308th TMB and Ammunition Train were assigned to the 32nd Division, the "Red Arrows". Nathan would see combat near Brabant-Sur-Meuse. On October 24th, 1918, in an action that earned this unit several medals and commendations, Nathan was a member of the crew for Mortar #2. They had "not even fired a shot" before the gun was hit by German artillery. The entire crew was severely wounded, including Nathan. The crew from Mortar #1 came over to crew the battery and they fired off approximately 15 shells before the mortar came off the sled. He would survive the war.

Stephen Wilkins Thompson

Submitted by: Robert Thompson

Stephen Wilkins Thompson. 400png

Stephen Wilkins Thompson served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known May, 1917--Feb,1919.

He was the first American in military service to shoot down an enemy aircraft--Feb 5 1918. Look him up on Wikipedia and at the Air Force Museum.

Wiley M. Braziel

Submitted by: Joseph Braziel

Wiley M. Braziel 500

Wiley M. Braziel served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known October 15, 1918 - December 6, 1918.

Wiley Braziel enlisted in Columbia, SC and conducted his military training at Camp Sevier near Greenville, SC. Camp Sevier was home to the 30th Division "Old Hickory". Although unable to confirm, he may have been one of the replacement troops for this division or one of the newer divisions being stood-up by the Army. Wiley was never sent "Over There", but was very proud of his service to the nation during WWI.

Thomas P. Brennan

Submitted by: George Buck, Ph.D.

Thomas P Brennan 1 500

Thomas P Brennan served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 21 Sept 1917 - 15 July 1919.

My Grandfather enlisted on 21 September, 1917 and served with the 77 Division 306 INF Company I, Sailed with A.E.F. for overseas on April 16, 1918. He was involved in engagements in Larraire Sector, June 26, 1918. Lorraine Sector, Aisne River, and Meuse-Argonne where he was wounded and gassed. He earned Victory Medal with Aisne Marne, Meuse-Argonne and Defensive Sector.

From an 1938 article from the NY Times Titled “The 77th Won that One.” Thomas Brennan was interviewed about helping to move rations, ammunition and water under the command of Lieutenant Zack at 0530 hours in the Argonne when it was lightening. Lt. Zack saw a solider in the woods and demanded to know why are you here soldier. The soldier replied “there’s fighting going on you know”. It turned out that this was the first time known in the war that a field kitchen had held the front line alone. My Grandpa was a part of that.

Great Pop-Pop gets his medal

ADR2EXP 600 By LtCol Gregory J. Johnson, USMC (Ret.)

In 1986, one week after the birth of my first-born child, a special ceremony took place on the grounds of the Marine Corps Base at Quantico, Virginia. This was a unique ceremony, but not un-similar to others, I'm sure, that have occurred before — and since. This particular ceremony the Marine Corps conducted was in honor of an enlisted U.S. Army soldier who had performed honorable service to his country during World War I. Now this individual wasn't a great war hero of any sorts in the military sense. He saw combat and did his duty to the best of his ability. He bravely fought America's fight, before returning home to become a chemist with the DuPont Company for the majority of his life. He was just one of many citizen soldiers who answered his country's call to arms in "The war to end all wars"—The Great War.

Now a little more background on this is probably in order. During 1986 I was completing a tour as an instructor at the Marine Corps' Amphibious Warfare School at Quantico. I had been married a year and we had just welcomed the arrival of our first child. My wife’s grandfather, Albert Reidinger, had served in the U.S. Army as a private during World War I. He had fought with the 78th Division (The Lightening Division) as part of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). He saw action at St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, and the Defensive Sector. 'Great Pop-Pop', as he was called within the family, did not return to the states with his unit when the war ended. A Princeton man, he was given an opportunity to stay behind for a few months to take some academic courses at a prominent university in Paris.

[Fast forward to 1985....]