Stories of Service

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

Annie Elizabeth Jones

Submitted by: Mark Johnson {Great Nephew}

ANNIE JONES image

Annie Elizabeth Jones served in World War 1 with the American Red Cross. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1919.

Story of Service

Annie E Jones was a nurse from Canada (Lanark, Ontario) who served with the American Expeditionary Force. The article below was published in the Lanark newspaper.

My father's Aunt Nan was born in Lanark, Ontario to Jacob and Magdaline Jones. Annie's contribution in the First World War is outlined in the news item below which appeared in the Lanark or Kingston newspaper.

There may have been a little confusion whether she was with the Canadian Expeditionary Force or the American Expeditionary Force. She eventually moved to America after the war.

William E. Baker

Submitted by: Robert D. Baker {Great Nephew}

William Baker image

William E. Baker born around 1892. William Baker 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

WWI PURPLE HEART RECIPIENT PVT WILLIAM E. BAKER

I never knew much about my dad’s Uncle Bill, except that he was my Grandpa Baker’s brother and had dated my Grandma Baker’s sister and that he was killed in World War I in France. He had a gravestone in the Dayton, OH National Cemetery, but it was never clear to me whether his actual remains were in Dayton or still in France.

After being contacted by the Secretary of the American Legion Auxiliary, I learned that The William Baker American Legion Post 363 in Lucasville, OH, was named in honor of my Great-Uncle back in Feb, 1920. So I started researching.

William Edwin Baker was born in Nov, 1892, the fourth of five children of Charles & Mary Baker. The family lived in Scioto County, Ohio, at the time of William’s birth. Around the age of 16, William moved with his folks and younger sister to Jamestown, OH. Meanwhile, his oldest brother, George (my Grandfather), had migrated to Dayton. William decided to find out what big city life was like, so he followed his brother to Dayton, where he worked as a Janitor, a Packer, a Motor Assembler, and a Conductor on the Dayton Street Railway line.

Lowry Rush Watkins, Sr.

Submitted by: L.R. Watkins, Jr. {Son}

lowry watkins image

Lowry Rush Watkins, Sr. was born around 1897. Lowry Watkins served in World War 1 with the United States Army Air Corps. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1918.

Story of Service

Enlisted at Fairfield,Ohio. Trained at Payne Field in Tupelo, Miss., then Kelly Field San Antonio, Texas. then Roosevelt Field, Long Island, New York.

Armistice declared and he never got shipped to France.

He trained in the Thomas Morse Scout and the Jenny, both examples in USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio. We visited it so he could show me what he flew.

George Henry Knatz

Submitted by: Geraldine Knatz {Niece}

George Henry Knatz born around March 11, 1897. George Knatz 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

George Henry Knatz Memorial

George Henry Knatz was born on March 11, 1897 in New York city to parents Anna Bergner and Charles (Carl) Knatz . George began his first military service with the New York State Guard when he was 20 years old. He enlisted on June 18, 1917 and was mustered in the next month to Company G, 14th New York Infantry.

For service during WWI, the men of the 14th Infantry which included George were added to strengthen the 23rd New York Infantry. The men were stationed from New York City up the Hudson River to protect the water supply.

George was only with the Guard for a few months when a presidential order drafted the entire unit into the 106th U.S. Infantry in October 1917. There were 3003 men in in the 106th and George was assigned to Company G.

Frederick G. Knatz

Submitted by: Geraldine Knatz {First Cousin, once removed}

no photo 300 Frederick G. Knatz was born around 1896. Frederick Knatz served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1915 and the service was completed in 1918.

Story of Service

Frederick G. Knatz was born on October 23, 1896 in New York City. He is the son of Jacob Knatz (my grandfather’s brother) and Kate Hill.

Fred entered the service as a private on May 14, 1915. He was promoted to a Sergeant on August 1, 1917. He departed for Europe on April 23, 1918 from Hoboken New Jersey on the troop ship Tenadores as part of Battery C, of 101st Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division.

During World War I, he was captured by the Germans when his unit was out on patrol. He was first reported as “missing in action” in the newspapers of September 5 1918.

Anthony McKinley Sletten

Submitted by: Mary Mayer {Great Niece}

Anthony McKinley Sletten born around 1896. Anthony Sletten 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

Anthony McKinley Sletten was born on his father’s homestead near Parker South Dakota on February 16, 1898. He was the youngest child of Ingvold and Isabelle Sletten. He grew up both there and in Nebraska for a short time before the family moved to Canton South Dakota in 1906.

He attended high school in Canton and after graduation he enrolled at South Dakota State University in Brooking South Dakota in 1917. He studied Pharmacy and had dreams of becoming a Pharmacist. He finished his first year of college in May 1918.

He was in the second draft from Lake County South Dakota. He was sent to Camp Funston Detention Camp #1 in Missouri by May 5th, 1918. He was a Pvt. his tag # was 2846523 In the 70th Co. 164 Depot Brigade. May 1918 he was in Camp Mills Hampstead L.I. New York where he was in Co. K 355 Inf. 89th Division. waiting to be deployed over seas to France.

Orval J. Boggs

Submitted by: Laurie Button {He was killed alongside a soldier I’m connected to.}

Oral J Boggs Orval J. Boggs born around 1887. Orval Boggs 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

Cpl. Orval J. Boggs, Company L (2660977, Greenup, Illinois) was killed on Nov. 10th by an artillery shell as the 11th Infantry fought to liberate the village of Louppy-sur-Loison during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.

Five other American soldiers were killed by the same blast: Pvt. Thomas Wade also of Company L (3270565, Lake City, Arkansas); Pvt. Miles G. Goleman, Company L (2660865, Greenup, Illinois); Pvt. Walter Wave Miguel, Company L (3802505, Arnolds Park, Iowa); Cpl. Henry Wilson Company G (736096, Jacksboro, Tennessee); and Pvt. Sherman H. Turner Company G (400196, Knoxville, Tennessee).

Henry S. Wilson

Submitted by: Laurie Button {He was killed alongside a soldier I am connected to.}

Henry S Wilson born around 1894. Henry Wilson 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

Cpl. Henry A. Wilson, Company G (736096, Jacksboro, Tennessee) was killed on Nov. 10th by an artillery shell as the 11th Infantry fought to liberate the village of Louppy-sur-Loison during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.

Five other American soldiers were killed by the same blast: Pvt. Thomas Wade of Company L (3270565, Lake City, Arkansas); Pvt. Miles G. Goleman, Company L (2660865, Greenup, Illinois); Cpl. Orval Boggs, Company L (2660977, Greenup, Illinois); Pvt. Walter Wave Miguel, Company L (3802505, Arnolds Park, Iowa); and Pvt. Sherman H. Turner Company G (400196, Knoxville, Tennessee).

Thomas J. Wade

Submitted by: Laurie Button {He was killed alongside a soldier I am connected to.}

no photo 300 Thomas J Wade born around 1896. Thomas Wade 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

Thomas J. Wade of Company L (3270565, Lake City, Arkansas) was killed on Nov. 10th by an artillery shell as the 11th Infantry fought to liberate the village of Louppy-sur-Loison during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.

Five other American soldiers were killed by the same blast: Pvt. Walter Wave Miguel, Company L (3802505, Arnolds Park, Iowa); Pvt. Sherman H. Turner, Company G (4001996, Knoxville, Tennessee); Pvt. Miles G. Goleman, Company L (2660865, Greenup, Illinois); Cpl. Orval Boggs, Company L (2660977, Greenup, Illinois); and Cpl. Henry Wilson Company G (736096, Jacksboro, Tennessee).

They were initially buried where they fell but were reinterred next to each other at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery June 18, 1919. All six were repatriated and sailed back to the United States together on the U.S.A.T. Wheaton. The ship left Antwerp Sept. 21, 1921.

Miles Golden Goleman

Submitted by: Laurie Button (He was killed alongside a soldier I am connected to.)

Miles Golden Goleman born around 1891. Miles Goleman 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

Pvt. Miles G. Goldman, Company L (2660865, Knoxville, Tennessee) was killed on Nov. 10th by an artillery shell as the 11th Infantry fought to liberate the village of Louppy-sur-Loison during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.

Five other American soldiers were killed by the same blast: Pvt. Thomas Wade of Company L (3270565, Lake City, Arkansas); Pvt. Walter Wave Miguel, Company L (3802505, Arnolds Park, Iowa); Cpl. Orval Boggs, Company L (2660977, Greenup, Illinois); and Cpl. Henry Wilson Company G (736096, Jacksboro, Tennessee).

Sherman Harrison Turner

Submitted by: Laurie Button {He was killed with a soldier I am connected with.}

Sherman Harrison Turner born around 1894. Sherman Turner 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

Sherman Harrison Turner was killed on Nov. 10, 1918 by an artillery shell as the 11th Infantry fought to liberate the village of Louppy-sur-Loison during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.

Five other American soldiers were killed by the same blast: Pvt. Thomas Wade ofCompany L (3270565—Lake City, Arkansas); Pvt. Miles G. Goleman, Company L (2660865, Greenup, Illinois); Cpl. Orval Boggs, Company L (2660977, Greenup, Illinois); Cpl. Henry Wilson Company G (736096, Jacksboro, Tennessee); and Pvt. Walter Wave Miguel Company L (3802505, Arnolds Park, Iowa).