Stories of Service

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

Lewis Lawrence Lacey

Submitted by: Laura Lacey Caldwell {Daughter}

Lewis Lawrence Lacey mug Lewis Lawrence Lacey born around 1895. Lewis Lacey 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

CORPORAL LEWIS L LACEY

Military Biography

Corporal Lewis Lacey served in France during the Great War as a proud member of the 42nd Division of the American Expeditionary Forces. The eldest son of Dr. Lewis and Forney (Beaumont) Lacey, he was born in San Antonio, Texas, on March 27, 1895, and raised in Austin, Texas, where his father established his medical practice on Congress Avenue, a stone’s throw from the Texas state capitol building.

Lewis Lacey, like his three younger brothers, was educated in the Austin public schools and later attended the University of Texas in that city. During his youth, when the stifling heat of summer blanketed Austin, Lewis and his brothers would spend their school vacation camping, swimming, fishing and hunting at nearby Lake Austin. Those early camping experiences undoubtedly helped prepare him for the primitive living conditions in the hastily constructed military training camps both in the United States and in France, where sometimes his only shelter was the pup tent he carried in his backpack.

Stephen Jendraszak

Submitted by: Ches Wajda {Great Nephew}

Stephen Jendraszak image

Stephen Jendraszak was born around 1892. Stephen Jendraszak served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1914 and the service was completed in 1918.

Story of Service

Pvt. Stephen Jendraszak (Co. C, Regiment: Machine Gun Battalion, 3rd Brigade) was born on Dec. 14, 1892 in Trzemeszno, Poland. His family immigrated to US in 1901, when he was 9½ years old (the oldest of 4 children). The family eventually came to reside in Chicago, Ill. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1914, at age 21.

He was killed in action on day 2 of The Battle of Soissons in Ploisy, France – as result of an airplane bomb – on Friday, July 19, 1918. He was 25 years old.

The Battle of Soissons (July 18-22, 1918) was a battle fought on the Western Front during World War I. This battle marked the key turning point of the war, as the Germans would be on the defensive for the remainder of the conflict. The war ended 5 months later.

Stephen was a Polish immigrant who loved his adopted country of the United States. He made the ultimate sacrifice in a battle that turned the tide of World War I. I am proud to be his great nephew.

Thordur Thordarson

Submitted by: Stephen Thordarson {Grandson}

Thordur Thordarson image

Thordur Thordarson born was around 1897. Thordur Thordarson served in World War 1 with the United States Marine Corps. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1920.

Story of Service

My grandfather was born in Raudkollsstadir, Iceland and moved to America in 1899. He grew up in Upham, North Dakota and when America became involved in World War I, he joined the Marine Corps, his brother Oskar joined the Army.

My grandfather trained in Texas, California and finally at Quantico. He was part of the 5th Brigade and was sent to France.

I believe my grandfather was one of only 5 Icelanders who served in the US military during World War I.

Joel Talbot Arthur

Submitted by: Wanda Arthur {Great-great-niece}

Joel Talbot Arthur snip Joel Talbot Arthur born around 1891. Joel Arthur 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

Joel Talbot Arthur was born June 17, 1891, in the Greshamville area of Greene County, Georgia. Named for both grandfathers, Joel Ruark (pronounced “Rooks” at the time) and Talbot Arthur, he was the fifth of seven children born to Seaborn Arthur and Mary Eugenia “Jennie” Ruark Arthur. Just three generations removed from a great-grandfather who had owned 900 acres in neighboring Oglethorpe County, Joel was born into the downtrodden, post- war South in which cotton was still king but little cash was in circulation. Sharecropping had evolved, whereby poor farmers, black and white, worked land owned by others in return for a place to live and a minor share of the harvested crop. Such was the plight of the Arthur family for several generations.

In 1900, the Arthurs lived on a rented farm in the Greshamville District. At that time, according to the census, nine-year-old Joel was not attending school and was unable to read or write. The cotton crop, a Georgia sharecropper’s sole means of survival, as well as other demands of the farm, rendered schooling an intermittent opportunity when there was nothing else to do. As with most sharecropping families, the Arthurs moved frequently, forever seeking to improve their lot in life. At some point during the time period 1901-1902, Seab Arthur moved his family north, crossing over into the adjacent county of Oconee and settling on a tenant farm near the town of Watkinsville. Seab died there, January 31, 1906, leaving Jennie with 19-year-old Lenora, 14-year-old Joel, 10-year-old Grady, and 5-year-old Gladys.

Robert J McClain

Submitted by: Dennis {Great Nephew)

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Robert J McClain was born around 1903. Robert McClain 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

Felix Ferguson

Submitted by: Chelsy Proper {museum director}

Felix Ferguson image

Felix Ferguson was born around 1893. Felix Ferguson 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

Before the War, Felix Ferguson was a farmer in the Moss Grove area of Berkeley County, South Carolina.

Felix Ferguson enlisted in the US Army in Moncks Corner, South Carolina on December 18, 1917. Ferguson was assigned as a private to Company H of the 370th Infantry; this was an African-American regiment, one of only a few in the War. He served until February 24, 1919 and was honorably discharged in March, 1919.

Ferguson was awarded three citations for gallantry in action near Trieres Farm (France) in September 1918, continuing to fight though he had trench foot.

Unfortunately, Ferguson died in 1920, leaving behind a wife, Ella, and a daughter, Rosabell.

Saul Solomon

Submitted by: Bob Wolfson {Great Nephew}

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Saul Solomon was born around 1895. Saul Solomon 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

Saul Soloman

Born in Piatra-Neamt, Romania in 1895. Immigrated to England, South Africa and back to England. Came to the US in 1906. Saul was a naturalized citizen in 1917.

He was a college student when the war broke out. He served overseas from Apr 2 1918, until he was Killed in Action on Oct 19th 1918. He was engaged in 2 Battle of the Marne; Argonne. Saul was a Pvt serving with 11 Co 152 Dep Brigade and the HQ Co, 30th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division.

He received the Pendant La Grande Guerre, ( Certificate signed by the President of France and the Victory Medal. Saul is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

Joseph John Lesanskey

Submitted by: Lauren Stauffer {great granddaughter}

Joseph Lesanskey image

Joseph John Lesanskey was born around 1888. Joseph Lesanskey 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

Frank Carson Davidson, Jr.

Submitted by: Marianne (Dee) Dosch {granddaughter}

Frank Carson Davidson Jr. mug Frank Carson Davidson Jr. was born around 1894. Frank Davidson served in World War 1 with the United States Navy. The enlistment was in 1918 and the service was completed in 1919.

Story of Service

Frank Carson Davidson, Military Service Gunners Mate 3rd Class Ninth Naval District U.S. Naval Reserve Force

The First World War began in Europe on July 28th, 1914. As hard as the United States tried to stay out of WWI, President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress to enter The Great War on April 6th, 1917. It turned out to be one of the deadliest conflicts in history as over 18 million troops and civilians were killed during the more than four years of fighting. The Selective Service Act was passed on May 18th, 1917 requiring men between the ages of 21 to 31 to register for the U.S. Armed Forces.

On this one hundred year anniversary of my country entering into WWI, I wanted to know more about my grandfather who served in the armed forces during this time. With the help of my Aunt, his daughter Diana Davidson Carter, I was able to learn some facts about his time in the U.S. Navy. In an old box in her attic were his military records with the information that I compiled together, along with some old photographs, to write this story.

Eugene Biancheri

Submitted by: Eugene J. Biancheri {Son}

EUGENE BIANCHERI image

Eugene Biancheri was born around 1889. Eugene Biancheri 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

Eugene Biancheri, born in 1889 in Italy, emigrated to New York City in 1904 and became a citizen two years later. He entered the U. S. Army on October 12, 1917 and trained with the 82nd Infantry Division in Camp Gordon, Georgia. Alvin York, then a Private and later one of the best known heroes of the War, was in the same 328th Infantry Regiment.

Eugene participated in the first major offensive of the War at St. Mihiel, France. On September 15 he was seriously gassed while working on repairs to broken telephone lines near Vandieres, France, and was evacuated to the field hospital at Dieulouard.

When the Order of the Purple Heart was revived in 1932, he received the medal, via the orders signed by General Douglas MacArthur, then Army Chief of Staff. My father proudly wore the Purple Heart pin on his jacket.

Conan Samuel Babin

Submitted by: Conan Samuel Babin {grand nephew}

no photo 300 Conan Samuel Babin was born around 1899. Conan Babin served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1917.

Story of Service

Bennett was from Donaldsonville LA but was living and working at the Buick plant in Flint Michigan at the war's onsite.

He apparently volunteered for combat duty and arrived in France around June 2018. He died in advance on a railroad embankment in Juvingy France August 29th 1918.

The American Legion Hall in Donaldsonville, LA is named in his honor