Stories of Service

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

Ollis Bryant Ferguson

Submitted by: Robert Bruce Ferguson {great-nephew)

Ollis Ferguson image

Ollis Bryant Ferguson was born around 1887. Ollis Ferguson 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

Ollis Bryant Ferguson was born in 1887. Ollis was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1918. He had a brother and several cousins at the French front. Unlike so many, Ollis survived The Great War.

After Ollis was inducted at Kelly Field, Texas (near San Antonio); he attended aviation school. Ollis served overseas from June of 1918 until September of 1919. He was in several aero squadrons, but his precise duties are a mystery. At one point during the war to end all wars, he was reportedly shot down while working for the “British Air Service.”

Ollis enlisted as a Private but left the service as a Sergeant 1st Class.

William Anthony Hemmick

Submitted by: Patricia Daly-Lipe {great niece}

5ca385b91412a Pictures 0 mug William Anthony Hemmick was born around 1886. William Hemmick served in World War 1 with a non-government service organization. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1919.

Story of Service

In 1917, the United States entered World War I. Cardinal Gibbons had been a chaplain in the Civil War and shared some of his experiences during that war with William. Thus, when William, who had by then been ordained, requested permission to serve the troops, Cardinal Gibbons agreed.

Father Hemmick arrived in Paris August, 1917, and became Captain in the "Croix Rouge." His sensitivity, his bravery, his compassion were felt by all who knew my great uncle. He served on the front lines at the battle of Picardy, giving last rights and burying the dead.

After the war, when he returned to Washington, great uncle William was proclaimed the "Patriot Priest of Picardy" by the Army and Navy. He returned to Paris and established the American Catholic Welfare Centre for all those who had been traumatized by the war.

William C. Anderson

Submitted by: Donna Blews {Granddaughter}

William J Anderson born around 1899. William Anderson 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

William Anderson was born in New Britain, Ct. Grew up in New Britain,Ct.,and joined the Connecticut National Guard ...he was E.Pvt.,Co.I,1st Regt.Conn.Inf.,N.G. Feb 22, 1917...he was called to service March 26, 1917 and then drafted into the U.S. Service August 5,1917.

He was transfered to Co.I,102nd Infantry., R.S.O.152, 26th Yankee division...he served in France and fought at St.Mihiel, Verdun, Chateau Theirry, Siechwprey and was wounded in action twice, severely on July 22, 1918 in the right leg and loosing his left index finger. He became part of the AEF September 16, 1917 to March 25, 1918.

He was honorably discharged April 4th, 1919.

Joseph M. Connors

Submitted by: Claude A. Poirier {Commander, American Legion Post named after Veteran}

Joseph Connor image

Joseph M. Connos was born around 1893. Joseph Connors served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1911 and the service was completed in 1918.

Story of Service

The history of Legion Post #139 is intertwined with the history of the town tor the past half century, the post having celebrated its jubilee year In 1969, along with the National American Legion.

Early 1n 1919, Edward N. Wilson, expressing the sentiment ot the majority of returned WWI servicemen, applied to the Mass. state secretary of the American Legion, Leo A. Spillane, for permission to form a local American Legion post. A formative meeting as held an July 19, 1919 at the Ayer Board of Trade, with 35 men present.

Dr. Bertrand H. Hopkins was elected temporary chairman and Mr, Wilson temporary secretary. It was voted unanimously to form a post and to apply for a charter.The name of the Post was decided on after contemplating six names submitted by a committee. It honors Sergeant Joseph M. Connors, Machine Gun Company, 26th U.S. Infantry, First Division, who was Killed in Action. Sgt. Connors fell in the battle for Exermont, near Very, on the heights of the Aire, on October 4, 1918.

Edward Otis Martin

Submitted by: Lynne F Loss {great niece}

edward martin mug Edward Otis Martin was born around 1897. Edward Martin 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

Edward Otis Martin was born in Orleans, Indiana in 1897. Enlisted in WW I in the Army Medical Corp. as a Private. Attached photo of his unit. His name signed as ED.

Wilbur Raymond Welton

Submitted by: Randy Harvey {Great Nephew}

Wilnur Raymond Welton

Wilbur Raymond Welton born around 1892. Wilbur Welton 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

Wilbur Welton enlisted on September 5th,1917 and underwent training at Camp Sherman, Chillcothe Ohio. Upon completion of training he was assigned to the 83 Infantry Division, Co. F, 308th Engenieers.

Welton was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on May 21st, 1918 while serving in France from February 27, 1918 to June 10th, 1919. He was Honorably discharged from service June 1919.

Wilbur Welton went on to very good job after his Army experience, married and had one son. He died in August 1969 in Elwood City Pa. He lies resting at Eastlake Cemetery alongside wife Abigail, in North Kingsville Ohio just a few hundred yards from the house that he was born in.

David B. Christie

Submitted by: Kevin Mahoney {Great Nephew}

David B. Christie was born around 1894. David Christie 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

David was born on May 19, 1894, at Blackstone, Mass.

Son of Edgar B Christie and Mary Ann (Hammond) both deceased before the war. Brother of Ralph of Winchester, Mass and Blanche (wife of Ralph W. Abbott).

Enlisted on April 7, 1917; reported for duty on July, 25. 1917.

Mustered 9 August, Co G, 5TH, Inf, Mass . National Guard; transferred to CO G, 101ST Inf, 26th Division, Overseas 7 Sept, 1917.

Ralph H. Christie

Submitted by: Kevin Mahoney {Grandson}

Ralph H Christie was born around 1896. Ralph Christie 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 Christie aka (James Henry Christie) born in Woburn, Massachusetts, son of Edgar B Christie and Mary Ann (Hammond).

He enlisted with his brother David Christie in Woburn, on April 2, 1917, Co G 5TH Infantry National Guard; transferred to Co G 101 Infantry to December 3, 1918.

Prisoner of War Escort Co 81A.S.C. to discharge; Private 1st Class same as his brother.

Richard E. Tatum, Sr.

Submitted by: Debra Lynch {Granddaughter} via the Virtual Explorer app

Richard Tatum image

Richard E. Tatum, Sr. 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

The 810th Pioneer Infantry was a short-lived (September 1918 - December 1918), all black (African-American) Infantry Regiment. He was part of Company D, rank CPL.

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.