Stories of Service

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

Clement Anthony Grobbel

Submitted by: Michael V. Grobbel {grandson}

5890ef49b79fe Clem Grobbel 4 Jul 1919

Clement Anthony Grobbel served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known May 26, 1918 to July 7, 1919.

Clement Anthony Grobbel of Center Line, Michigan, was a member of the US Army "Polar Bears" who were sent to North Russia in the closing weeks of World War One.

Clem was 22 years old when the U.S. entered World War One. He was soon drafted into the Army and on 27 JUN 1918, he arrived at Camp Custer, near Battle Creek, MI. There he began training with Rifle Company I of the 339th Infantry Regiment of the National Army.

The 339th became known as "Detroit's Own Regiment", since three-quarters of the enlisted men and officers were from the Detroit area (upon their return to the U.S. in 1919, the 339th and their attached units took to calling themselves the "Polar Bears"). On 14 JUL 1918, the 339th broke camp and boarded trains for New York City, from which they sailed for England on 22 JUL 1918.

James William Crane

Submitted by: Chris Christopher

James Crane 2

James William Crane served in World War One with the United States Army. The dates of service are: 13 Nov 1917 to 19 Dec 1918.

Served in the Army. He was at Fort Monroe in Virginia.

James Cox

Submitted by: James Lacombe {grandson; son of Mary (Cox) Lacombe, daughter of James Cox}

James Cox 300

James Cox was born around 1894. James Cox 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

The Military Service of American Doughboy James Cox

America entered into the First World War in April, 2017. James Cox registered for military recruitment on the 1st date designated by the Wilson Administration to do so, June 5, 1917. James, still an Irish citizen at the time and living and working in New York City, was 23 years old. James was inducted into the United States Army on Sept 21, 1917 and ordered to Camp Upton on Long Island, NY for military training in the newly formed 77th Division.

The 77th was the first of the many so-called National Army Divisions that would eventually swell the roughly 200,000-man U.S. regular and reserve soldier army to a fighting force of over 2 million men.

James Cox was assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, of the 308th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division. He would serve in Company L for the duration of his military service. James was promoted from the rank of Private to Private 1st Class on Nov 01, 1917 and promoted again to the rank of Corporal on Dec 05, 1917.

Henry Vernon Rothe, Sr.

Submitted by: Glenn Rothe {grandson}

no photo 300

Henry Vernon Rothe Sr. born around 1901, Henry Rothe served in World War 1 with the the United States Army . The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1918.

Story of Service

My only memory is my grandfather mentioning gas and bombs...I saw his bayonet once. I wish to research more soon.

Nilkanth Ramchandra Chavre

Submitted by: Tanveer Kalo

Nilkanth Ramchandra Chavre

Nilkanth Ramchandra Chavre born 1895. Nilkanth Chavre 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

Private Nilkanth Ramchandra Chavre was born on September 2, 1895 in either Vaduja or Kolhapur, British India. He immigrated to the United States on February 16, 1916 on the ship Stumpalia via Genoa, Italy. Chavre settled in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

He studied at the College of Engineering and Architecture at the University of Michigan. Chavre was listed in 1919 Catalogue of the University of Michigan under the College of College of Engineering and Architecture's roster.

On June 5, 1917, Chavre registered for the draft while as an engineering student at University of Michigan. His draft card recorded his race as Caucasian, birthplace as Kolhapur, naturalization status as an alien. The card also recorded that he was single and resided at 210 Glen Ave.

Paul Ratkovich

Submitted by: T.J. Cullinane, community historian

Paul Ratkovich born in 1896, Paul Ratkovich 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

Paul Ratkovich served as an Infantry Sergeant with the First Infantry Division in the Great War.

He was born in Zagreb, Croatia on April 29, 1896, one of six children to Paul V. Ratkovich (1863 -1937) and the former Julia Malkovich (1861 – 1946). The family would later migrate to the United States and settle in Colorado.

Paul’s home of record was 249 Poplar Ave in Canon City, Colorado. He joined the U.S. Army in 1917 and was assigned serial number 246503. He is pictured in his Army uniform in 1917.

After completing training, Paul, now promoted to Corporal, would deploy to France as a member of the 2nd Company, Training Battalion, of the 26th Infantry Regiment. The unit would embark on the U.S.S. Mount Vernon, a former luxury liner seized from Germany upon America’s entry into the war. The unit sailed for France from Hoboken, New Jersey in late 1917.

Louis Napoleon Jerome

Submitted by: Mike Keehr {grandson}

no photo 300

Louis Napoleon Jerome born 1/23/1892. Louis Jerome served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1918 and the service was completed in 1919. He died in 1975.

Stephen Dorje

Submitted by: Tanveer Kalo

no photo 300

Stephen Dorje born around 1887. Stephen Dorje 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

Private Stephen Dorje was born on June 24, 1887 in Darjeeling, British India. He immigrated to the United States on January 24, 1915 on the ship Minnewaska from British Indian via London, England at age of 30. The New York Passenger List from this date recorded, Dorje's race as British Indian and final destination as Washington, D.C.

Dorje registered for the draft on June 5, 1917 in D.C. His World War I draft card recorded his race as Mongolian and married. The card also recorded that he worked as a butler for Samuel Ross at 2328 Mass Ave in D.C and was an alien.

Dorje entered in the U.S. Army on January 28, 1918. Private Dorje was assigned to the Field Remount Squadron 301, Quartermaster Corps. On April 30, 1918, Dorje departed from Hoboken, New Jersey with his unit on the ship Finland for France.

Alfred Jette

Submitted by: David Wyman {grandson}

no photo 300

Alfred Jette born around 1895, Alfred Jette served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1917.

Sam Alle

Submitted by: Tanveer Kalo

no photo 300

Sam Alle born around 1894. Sam Alle 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

Private Sam Alle was born on either February 15, 1894 or May 25, 1893 in British East India. He immigrated to the United States prior to 1918. He settled in Savannah, Georgia and worked as a laborer.

He registered for the draft on June 5, 1917. Alle's World War I draft card recorded his race as Malayan (Malaysian), birth of place East India, and as an alien. Next to the word alien there is something written, but it is illegible.

On July 20, 1918, Alle was ordered to report to the Chatman military board for Camp Gordon in Atlanta, Georgia. He was assigned to 5th company 2nd Training Battalion of the 157th Depot Brigade until July 27, 1918.

Charles R. Williams

Submitted by: Tanveer Kalo

no photo 300

Charles R. Williams born around 1894, Charles Williams 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

Private Charles R. Williams was born in British East India on September 5, 1894 . He immigrated to the United States in 1904 and settled in Baltimore, Maryland. Williams married Mary E. at some point prior to his military service. Mary was from D.C. and was black.

Williams was inducted into the U.S. Army on September 10, 1918. He was first assigned to the 152 Depot Brigade at Camp Upton, New York until November 8, 1918. His next assignment was the colored unit 446 Res Lab Battalion.

He left for France on July 30, 1918 from New York City on the ship Megantic with an unassigned unit, but part of the 6th Division.