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Michael A. Valente, Sr.

Submitted by: Ralph J. Madalena {Grandson}

Michael A. Valente Sr. was born around 1895. Michael Valente served in World War 1 with the United States Arm . The enlistment was in 1916 and the service was completed in 1918.

Story of Service

Michael A. Valente
1895 -1976

Michael Anthony Valente, Medal of Honor recipient and long time resident of the City of Long Beach, New York, died on January 10, 1976 at the age of 80. In every aspect of his life, he exemplified the very finest: beloved husband, proud father, grandfather and great grandfather; exemplary American citizen, heroic soldier, good neighbor and brotherly friend to all of the residents of Long Beach, no matter what ethnic origin, faith or race. He was loved, honored and respected by all who knew him.

Born in St. Apollinare, Italy, the son of Anthony Valente and Mary Palompo, and at the age of 18 he emigrated to America in 1913, through Ellis Island, to strive for a better life and success.

Utica, New York was his first home, then he traveled to Ogdensburg, New York where he stayed with his uncle and other family members. Michael had only been in the country three years when he entered Company D of the New York National Guard. It was his start down the road that would lead him to the trenches of World War I France, and the immortality of having his name inscribed on the Medal of Honor Roll.

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Talmage Edward Dawson

Submitted by: Brian Paul Kaess {Grandson}

Talmage Edward Dawson was born around 1894. Talmage Dawson 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

PFC Talmage Edward Dawson, b. Oct 9, 1894 in Topeka, Kansas, d. May 1 1974, Northbrook, IL. Married many times. Talmage was a native of Kansas.

Registered for the Draft for WW1 in Crawford County, Kansas, on June 5 1917. Enlisted in the U.S. Army in May 28 1918. Served in the U.S.Army in WW1 on the West Front in France. Honorably discharged on Jun 8 1919.

Served in HQ's Co, 351st Inf Reg, 176th inf Brigade, 88th Infantry Division. Talmage name appears on a roster of the 88th Infantry Division.

Saw action in Haute Alsace Sector. His regiment was attacked at Schonholz Woods at night (during Fog). Entitled to wear a gold war service decoration.

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Charles (Chap) L. Spencer, III

Submitted by: Garry W. Spencer, IV {Son}

Charles (Chap) L Spencer, III was born around 1895. Charles (Chap) Spencer served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1916 and the service was completed in 1918.

Story of Service

Served as Battery Commander driver (Harloy Davidson side car motorcycle)
Battery D, 129th Field Artillery Battalion, Missouri National Guard, Captain Harry S. Truman commanding.

Dad seemed to be the only one in the outfit that could keep the motorcycle running so he and Capt. Harry became friends as they drove around northern France scouting artillery positions.

The pictures I had of Dad standing on his head on top of a bridge taken by Capt. Harry was lost when his house in Tampa was flooded during a hurricane. Dad was using the height of the superstructure to better see the German positions. He made a hasty retreat when the Germans started shooting at him.

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Benjamin Kent

Submitted by: Michael Kent {distant cousin}

Benjamin Kent born around 1893. Benjamin Kent 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

Benjamin Kent was the grandson Henry Ken,t who was a slave on Kingslanding farm in Huntingtown, Calvert County, Maryland. Henry and his children left the area after slavery. Henry's sister Susan remained on the farm and raised her children there.

Henry's son Daniel moved to Baltimore and that is where his son Benjamin was born and raised. Benjamin loved visiting his country cousins and would often come back to Huntingtown in Calvert County.

Eventually, Benjamin moved to Huntingtown to live and work the farm. Benjamin was inducted into the army in 1918 from Calvert County.

Benjamin served with company F of the 808th Pioneer Infantry. He died of pneumonia on October 29 , 1918 in Meuse - Argonne France.

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Ralph I. Lindsey

Submitted by: Joseph F Reagan {Great Grandson}

Ralph I Lindsey born around 1896. Ralph Lindsey 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

Ralph was the only son of a prominent New England family who owned a boot company, the Lindsey Boot, which was very popular in the late 1800's and early 1900's. He served in Battery E 101st Field Artillery Regiment. He participated in the Aisne Marne Offensive, St Mihiel Offensive, and the Meuse Argonne Offensive. He was wounded twice.

Ralph maintained a journal of his service, meticulously recording each day of his war in 1918. On being gassed he wrote:

"Well at last I've got it. Am in a field hospital with a dose of must. gas. The fun started last night when the Boshe opened up on us with big boys. The first landed 6ft from me and nearly knocked me out, they shelled and gassed us for three hours knocking the stuffing out of the position, ammunition and gassing us all. Left 33A at 9 this am and was evacuated to Saugy at 11:30 am not at Saugy (6:00) and expect to be sent to Meaux soon. 23 men in C battery gassed in 2 nights. ~Ralph Lindsey July 16th 1918."

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James Burl King

Submitted by: James Williamson {Grandson}

James Burl King was born around 1892. James King 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

He enlisted and got all the way to France before an officer figured out he had a glass eye. They assigned him to driving trucks and ambulances.

He had a lot of stories from the war. He met the poet Joyce Kilmer and somehow got an autographed copy of one of his books. Mr. Kilmer was killed in action a short time later. My mother's middle name is Joyce, in his honor.

One time a German aircraft was shot down near his location. He and other soldiers cut pieces from the plane. I have the piece he cut out. He was part of the occupation force that was stationed in Germany after the war.

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John Alexander Palmer, Jr.

Submitted by: Ronald Palmer {Great-Nephew}

John Alexander Palmer Jr. born around 1892. John Palmer 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

Co. A 338th Inf. Killed in action, Nov. 7, 1918, Argonne Forrest. Killed by bursting shell.

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John Bernard Clise

Submitted by: John Davis {Great-Great Grandson}

John Bernard Clise was born around 1899. John Clise 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

My great-great grandfather served in the US Army during WW1. He was a 2nd Generation American of German Descent whose Family Originated from Bavaria in the early 19th century. He was drafted and also wanted to show he wasn't pro kaiser. He proved himself as American as those of Either French of British heritage.

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Frank DeMeis

Submitted by: Mark {Grandson}

Frank DeMeis was born around 1897. Frank DeMeis served in World War 1 with the United States Arm . The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1918.

Story of Service

"I was sent to the area of Coblenz Germany as a foot soldier".

Wounded by a grenade in France, developed blood poisoning from the shrapnel, after treatment at the aid station.

"I returned to my Battilian to find that it had been bombed out, and they all died. I was then sent to a hospital for further treatments away from the front lines".

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Andrew C. Shagren

Submitted by: Charles Bohnenberger {Great Great Nephew}

Andrew C. Shagren born around 1895. Andrew Shagren 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

Andrew C. Shagren was the son of a Swedish immigrant father and Irish immigrant mother. He was my grandmother's favorite uncle.

He was drafted on Sept 22, 1917 in Philadelphia PA, and served in Company K of the 3rd Battalion of the 315th Infantry Regiment. He rose through the ranks quickly, being promoted to Corporal on June 14th 1917, then Sergeant on October 23, 1918.

By that time he had seen action in the Meuse Argonne offensive, Verdun Sector. This area was one of the toughest sectors of the Allied line, facing the indomitable German emplacements at Montfaucon.

When the offensive began in September, a memoir from a Company K soldier describes the sound and fury of a six hour artillery barrage that preceded the infantry assault. I imagine my great Uncle's thoughts as he prepared to face battle for the first time.

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