Stories of Service

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

John Mancini

Submitted by: John Mancini

John Mancini mug

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

Story of Service

Pvt Luigi Merola was a member of the 3rd Platoon, Co K, 305th Reg, 77th Division.

His platoon was entrenched in front of Villars-en-Prayeres, near the Aisne River. About midnight September 13th, 1918, a mortar shell struck his trench. He was wounded by shrapnel in the stomach and soon died. According to Sgt James P. Moan of his Company, Luigi's last words were: "Now I'm going to rest in Paradise."

He was buried in a shallow grave and later exhumed in 1919 for proper burial. In 1922, his remains were removed from France and sent to his mother in Italy for permanent burial.

Luigi was awarded a Purple Heart upon recent appeal by his family in New York.

Matteo Osso

Submitted by: Gene Osso {great-nephew}

Matteo Osso

Matteo Osso born around 1895, Matteo Osso 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

Entered service on September 23rd, 1917 in Gettysburg, PA, and assigned to 60th Inf Regiment. On October 15th, 1917, assigned to Co. B., 5th MG Battalion,3rd Inf Brigade,2nd Inf Division AEF.

Entered France on December 24th, 1917, and trained in Bourmont until March 1918. Participated in The Defensive Sector at Verdun (Troyon), Chateau-Thierry, The Battle of the Aisne (Vaux), The Aisne-Marne Offensive (Soissons), The Defensive Sector at Marbache, The Battle of Saint-Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.

Pvt. Matteo Osso was killed in action while serving as an HMG Crewman with Co B. while in direct support of the 2nd Battalion, 23rd U.S. Infantry Regiment's attack toward enemy held positions near the German occupied French village of Saint-Étienne-à-Arnes, France during The Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge on the morning of Saturday, October 5th, 1918.

He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal for actions against the enemy and was laid to rest in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in Romagne, France.

John D Fornaciari

Submitted by: Jim Fornaciari {grandson}

John Fornaciari image

John D. Fornaciari was born around 1889. John Fornaciari 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

John D. Fornaciari was born in Chicago in 1889. He was raised as a member of a large family on Chicago’s southside. He began a career as a tailor after high school. Following the American entry into World War I, Fornaciari enlisted in the United States Army in April of 1917.

Fornaciari was assigned to the 122nd Field Artillery Regiment-Battery E which was part of the 33rd Division. His military preparation included basic training which was completed at Camp Logan (Texas).

Upon arrival in Europe the 122nd became part of General Pershing’s American Expeditionary Forces. The 122nd was in combat for most of the remaining months of the war. Private Fornaciari was in action in the following battles Verdun, Argonne Forest, Meuse-Argonne, St. Mihiel and Romaine. Following the fighting Fornaciari received a citation for gallantry in action during the battle of the Argonne Forest. This citation was awarded along with the Silver Star medal by the War Department.

The French government also awarded Fornaciari a medal of honor for bravery as a result of his efforts at Verdun. His name is listed on a plaque erected by the French government at Verdun.

William Jonathan Bock

Submitted by: Brandt "Bob" Bock {Son}

William Bock

William Jonathan Bock was born on September 26, 1897. William Jonathan Bock served in World War I with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917;and the service was completed in 1919.

Story of Service

This story of service is being submitted on behalf of all of William Bock’s ten children, (four alive and six deceased) his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great great-grandchildren, and descendants yet to be born.

Our father, William Jonathan Bock, (better known as “Bill”) was not one to discuss or even touch upon his military and World War I experience. That part of his life was over, he was now on to much more important things such as raising a large family and working, working, ever working. Fortunately we do have some of his military records and a letter to be able to recognize his stellar contributions to the effort to defeat Germany during World War I.

It is noteworthy to mention that Germany is where his ancestors lived and immigrated from, but our father was an American and was proud to be!

We know from his “Enlistment Record” that at age 19, he left his parents small farm in Smith Mills, New York to enlist in the U.S. Army on April 19th, 1917 at Buffalo, New York. After locating a copy of his service card we know he, along with other recruits, were transported to what was known then as the Columbus Barracks in Columbus, Ohio for the beginning of his basic training.

Anton Roger

Submitted by: Paul Skretkowicz, Jr. {grandson}

Anton Roger image

Anton Roger born around 1899, Anton Roger 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

Emory Leroy Woodruff

Submitted by: Joseph Maxim {Grandson}

Emory Leroy Woodruff mug

Joseph Leroy Maxim born around 1883. Joseph Maxim 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

Emory Leroy Woodruff born July 1883 in Stevensville, Pennsylvania, enlisted in the Army in June 1917 at Fort Slocum, New York. My grandfather arrived in France in Nov 5, 1917 having traversed the Atlantic aboard the SS Carpathia, sister ship to the Titantic.

He was assigned to Co. F 16th Infantry regiment, part of the 1st Expeditionary Division AKA "The Big Red One" until his discharge after the armistice.

He took part in numerous battles including the Meuse-Argonne, Fleville and Verdun where he was shot in the back. He was transported back to the US arriving in New York Dec 26, 1918 and spent the remainder of his time recuperating from his wounds but living the rest of his life with a bullet lodged near his spine.

Frank Pitcher Durkee

Submitted by: Elijah Shalis {Great Grand Nephew}

Frank P Durkee

Frank P Durkee born around 1899, Frank Durkee 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

Private First Class Frank Pitcher Durkee was born in Onsted Michigan to Eleazer Blackman Durkee and Jennie Elizabeth Dunham.

He was sent forward to scout out enemy German lines and obtained intel on a machine gun nest, and while crawling back was struck by a sniper's bullet. He made it to his Company Commander and provided the intel enabling the machine gun nest to be taken out. He died of wounds two days later at age 22.

In 2012 he was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and World War One Victory Medal.

The Durkee-Seager American Legion Post in Onsted Michigan is named after him.

Frank Harris, Jr.

Submitted by: JoAnn Artis Stevens {Great Grand Niece}

2021 No Photo Available image

Frank Harris Jr. born around 1888. Frank Harris 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 was born in the rural farming community of Greene County. He was born to a mother and father who were direct descendants of slaves.

Frank's mother Jenny lived on a farm at the time her son entered the armed forces. Frank who was a Jr. served honorably as an Engineer with the Colored Company C. African American troops who served in World War I are not highly recognized, nor have received the honor deserved. Their stories have not been widely told. This is an opportunity to uplift not only Frank but the many what was then called "Colored" troops to be uplifted as well.

Thanks and we are thankful tor all of our men and women who have served.

Archibald Charles Huston

Submitted by: John Cooke {grandson}

Archibald Huston image

Archibald Charles Huston born around 1893. Archibald Huston 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

Edmond Lloyd Freeman

Submitted by: J. Ray Freeman {great nephew}

Edmond Freeman image

Edmond Lloyd Freeman born around . Edmond Freeman served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1917.

Story of Service

Served in France.

Dick W. Bakker

Submitted by: D. Kent Decker {nephew}

Dick W Bakker

Dick W Bakker born around 1896. Dick Bakker 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 First Class Dick W. Bakker, Company E, 308th Infantry. In just four months, Dick Bakker went from managing a grain elevator in Renville, Minnesota, to deadly battle in the Argonne Forest as part of the Lost Battalion.

He wrote thirty-two descriptive and heart wrenching letters home that are woven into The Journey: An American Soldier in World War I. The letters provide a unique insight into life in the training camps and along the train routes as America rushed troops and equipment to the Western Front.

The Journey, an American Soldier in World War 1, commemorates Dick's service amidst the turmoil that gripped the country during that hurried summer of 1918. The story includes heart-breaking letters from Dick’s mother as the Bakker family struggled to cope with the tragedy of war .