Stories of Service

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

John O. Thompson

Submitted by: Lieutenant Colonel Steven Goligowski (USA, Ret.) {Grandson}

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John O. Thompson born around 1894, John Thompson served in World War 1 with the the United States Army . The enlistment was in 1918 and the service was completed in 1919.

Story of Service

My grandfather, John Thompson, was a 23 year-old bus driver for the then-new Greyhound Bus Company, which was founded in 1914 in Hibbing, MN, until he was drafted into the U.S. Army in April 1918. He was initially sent to Camp Dodge (Des Moines), IA and assigned to the 88th Division for training. Someone apparently noticed his pre-war bus driving experience because in August 1918 he was transferred to the 20th Division, a new Regular Army division then being organized at Camp Sevier (Greenville), SC.

My grandfather was assigned as a truck driver in the 20th Ammunition Trains, providing transportation support for the 20th Field Artillery Brigade, the artillery support unit of the 20th Division. This meant that my grandfather’s unit actually lived and worked at Camp Jackson (Columbia), SC, about 120 miles from Camp Sevier.

The 20th Artillery Brigade and 20th Ammunition Trains were stationed at Camp Jackson rather than Camp Sevier to take advantage of the extensive artillery live-fire ranges available at Camp Jackson. My grandfather’s primary duty was hauling ammunition for live-fire training by the 20th Field Artillery Brigade. When not driving truck his duties included maintaining the trucks and performing other required military training and duties. He continued to serve as a truck driver in the 20th Division until his discharge in February 1919, as the 20th Division was being deactivated.

Thomas Goligowski

Submitted by: Lieutenant Colonel Steven Goligowski (USA, Ret.) {Grandson}

Thomas Goligowski mug

Thomas Goligowski was born around 1888, Thomas Goligowski 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

My grandfather, Thomas Goligowski, was a 29 year-old farmer with a sixth-grade education living near Browerville, MN when he was drafted. He was inducted into the U.S. Army on 25 February 1918 and assigned to the 88th Division at Camp Dodge (Des Moines), Iowa for training. New soldiers were supposed to receive at least 3 months of training before deployment, but by April 20th he found himself at Camp Logan (Houston), Texas, assigned as an automatic rifleman in Company I, 130th Infantry Regiment, 66th Infantry Brigade, 33d Division. He was one of 6,080 soldiers transferred from Camp Dodge to the 33d Division to fill vacancies in the the 33d Division in preparation for deployment to France.

He was soon on the move again, traveling with his unit to Hoboken, NJ and departing on May 16th aboard the troop ship USS Agamemnon for France. They arrived at the port of Brest, France on May 24th.

After a short period of orientation and training the 33d Division conducted its first offensive action against German forces on July 4th, 1918 at Hamel, France. The division provided four companies of infantry fighting under Australian command. The division fought at the Somme (August-September 1918), Saint Mihiel (September 1918), and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive (September-November 1918).

Kehar Singh

Submitted by: Tanveer Kalo

no photo 300 Kehar Singh born around 18973, Kehar Singh served in World War 1 with the the United States Army . The enlistment was in 1918 and the service was completed in 1919.

Story of Service

Private Kehar Singh was born in 1873 in Tusa , British India. He immigrated to the United States prior to 1918 and settled in Imperial, California. He worked as a laborer.

On July 12, 1918 Singh signed up for the draft. His draft card recorded his race as white and oriental.

Private Singh was assigned to Fort Eustis in Newport News, Virginia. At Fort Eustis, Singh applied for U.S. naturalization on October 9, 1918. He was assigned to Battery B of 46th Artillery Costal Artillery Corp.

Cornelius T. McCarthy

Submitted by: Frederica Templeton {granddaughter}

59fb5cdf97d5b C.T.McCarthy1918

Cornelius T. McCarthy served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 1917-1919.

A Yankee Doctor on the Somme

By F. M. Templeton

Just days after the United States formally declared war on Germany in April 1917, Arthur Balfour, former prime minister of Great Britain, on meeting Dr. Franklin Martin, chair of the U.S. General Medical Board, in Washington, D.C., said with urgency “Send us doctors!”

In response to his urgent request, 1,300 American doctors out of thousands of volunteers were selected to serve with the British Expeditionary Forces as medical officers. My maternal grandfather was one of them.

Cornelius Theodore McCarthy enlisted in the U.S. Army Medical Reserve in August 1917 as a regimental medical officer and was commissioned as a first lieutenant. Over the next two years he would serve as a medical officer in France with the 36th Field Ambulance and the 9th Essex Battalion of the British Expeditionary Forces, and finally with the 27th Division of the American Expeditionary Forces.

Ten years after my grandfather's death in 1966, my aunt showed me a diary that had been found among his possessions. My astonishment was exceeded only by my joy. I begged to see it, promised to protect it with my life, and brought it away with me. Here, I thought, was my chance to know him in a completely unexpected way.

Franklin P. Guzman

Submitted by: Alan Leventhal, Tribal Ethnohistorian, Muwekma Ohlone Tribe

no photo 300 Franklin P. Guzman born around 1898, Franklin Guzman served in World War 1 with the the United States Marine Corps . The enlistment was in 1916 and the service was completed in 1919.

Story of Service

Sergeant Franklin P. Guzman

U.S. Marine Corps, 81st Company, 6th Machine Gun Battalion, 4th Marine Brigade, 2nd Division, American Expeditionary Force

Franklin was born on the Alisal Rancheria on January 15, 1898 and was the son of Pleasanton Indians Teresa Davis and Ben Guzman (who later died in 1907). He was also the nephew of Toney and Fred Guzman. Franklin was listed on the 1910 Federal Indian Population Census for "Indian Town", Pleasanton Township.

He enlisted on October 20, 1916 while working near Sacramento, reported for duty on October 25, 1916 and was assigned to Company "B" Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Mare Island. On May 28, 1917 Franklin was promoted to the rank of Corporal. By March 31, 1918, he earned an Expert Rifleman Badge and a Marksman Badge and by April he was assigned to the 111th Company, 8th Regiment.

In May, Franklin was transferred to the 15th Company 1st Machine Gun Battalion at Quantico, Virginia and he was promoted to Sergeant on May 22, 1918. The 1st Machine Gun Battalion sailed on May 26, 1918 on the USS Henderson and disembarked in France on June 8, 1918.

Henry Abraham Lincoln Nichols

Submitted by: Alan Leventhal, Tribal Ethnohistorian, Muwekma Ohlone Tribe

Henry Abraham Lincoln Nichols was born around 1895. Henry Nichols served in World War 1 with the United States Navy. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1919.

Story of Service

Fireman 1st Class Henry Abraham Lincoln Nichols

U.S. Navy, Battleships USS Arizona and USS Oklahoma.

Henry Nichols was born in Niles on February 12, 1895 to Charles Nichols and Muwekma Ohlone Susanna Flores Nichols.

Henry enlisted on May 23, 1917 and first served on the USS Albatross. By December 31, 1917 he was transferred to the Battleship USS Arizona, and later on March 26, 1918 he was transferred again to the Battleship USS Oklahoma.

During World War I Henry Nichols served in the North Atlantic and was on escort duty in December 1918 when the Oklahoma was serving as escort during President Woodrow Wilson's arrival in France at the end of the war (November 11, 1918). The Oklahoma returned to Brest, France on June 15, 1919 to escort home President Wilson who was transported on the USS George Washington from his second visit to France.

John Michael Nichols

Submitted by: Alan Leventhal, Tribal Ethnohistorian, Muwekma Ohlone Tribe

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John Michael Nichols born around 1893. John Nichols served in World War 1 with the United States Army . The enlistment was in 1914 and the service was completed in 1920.

Story of Service

Private John Michael Nichols

U.S. Army, 59th Artillery Regiment, Coast ArtilleryCorps [TD (Tractor Drawn 8" Howitzers), HD (Harbor Defense)], American Expeditionary Force

John was the older brother of Henry Nichols, and he served in the U.S. Army from 1914 to 1920. John enlisted on October 27, 1914 at Fort McDowell on Angel Island. He fought in France serving with the 59th Coast Artillery Regiment which was attached to the 32nd Brigade, C.A.C.

The 59th was engaged in the St. Mihiel offensive and the Meuse-Argonne offensive. John was discharged at Fort Winfield Scott at the SF Presidio on June 4, 1920.

John M. Nichols was listed as an Indian on the 1930 Federal Census along with his son Alfred in Santa Cruz County. On John Nichols's Draft Registration Card dated April 27, 1942 he was identified as residing at the Veteran's Home in Napa (Yountville), California and he had resided there from 1941 to 1953.

John Nichols died in April 1968 while living in Stockton, California. Citations: Victory Medal with France, Defensive Sector, St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne bars.

Joseph Aleas

Submitted by: Alan Leventhal, Tribal Ethnohistorian, Muwekma Ohlone Tribe

5a383a6085980 Joseph Aleas

Joseph Aleas born on May 11, 1893. Joseph Aleas served in World War 1 with the United States Army . The enlistment was in 1916 and the service was completed in 1920.

Story of Service

Sergeant Joseph Aleas

U.S. Army, Company D, 21st Machine Gun Battaion, 7th Division, American Expeditionary.

Joseph Aleas was born on the Alisal (Pleasanton) Rancheria on May 11, 1893 and was the son of Margaret Armija. He enlisted in the US Army on June 30, 1916.

According to Armija-Thompson family recollections, he was a good horseman and wanted to fight against Pancho Villa had led approximately 1,500 Mexican raiders in a cross-border attack against Columbus, New Mexico, in response to the U.S. government's official recognition of the Carranza regime. Villa's troops attacked a detachment of the 13th U.S. Cavalry, seized 100 horses and mules, burned the town, killed 10 soldiers and eight of its residents, and made off with ammunition and weapons. President Woodrow Wilson responded by sending 6,000 troops under General John J. Pershing to Mexico to pursue Pancho Villa and his troops. This military mobilization was called the Punitive or Pancho Villa Expedition.

Later, Joseph Aleas served in France in the 21st Machine Gun Battalion, 7th Division (its Hourglass insignia dates back to 1918). Organized originally to serve in the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) during World War I, the U.S. Army's 7th Infantry Division was created at Camp Wheeler, Georgia on December 6, 1917 and it fought in Alsace-Lorraine, France during the war. The division also served as an occupation force in the post-war period.

Alfred Guzman

Submitted by: Alan Leventhal, Tribal Ethnohistorian, Muwekma Ohlone Tribe

Fred Guzman

Alfred Guzman born June 2, 1896. Alfred Guzman 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

Private Alfred (Fred) Guzman

U.S. Army, Company C, 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Division, American Expeditionary Force under Brigadier General T. W. Darrah.

Alfred Guzman was born on the Pleasanton Rancheria on June 27, 1896 to Francisca and Jose Guzman.

Prior to the declaration of War, Fred Guzman had served in the National Guard at Fort Mason in San Francisco in 1917. Afterwards he enlisted in the U.S. Army, and served in the 28th Division, 55th Brigade Infantry, 110th Infantry, Company "C" and fought in the major battles at Ourcq-Vesle (July 28, 1918), Second Battle of the Marne (July 15-August 5, 1918), Meuse-Argonne Offensive (September 26 to October 8, 1918), and Havrincourt (October 8 - November 11, 1918) in France.

The 28th Division fought in the following campaigns: Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, Oise-Aisne, Meuse-Argonne, Champagne (1918), Lorraine (1918). The cost in lives of these six campaigns was 4,183 casualties including 760 dead. The six fleurs-de-lis on the regimental insignia commemorated their World War I service.

Toney Guzman

Submitted by: Alan Leventhal, Tribal Ethnohistorian, Muwekma Ohlone Tribe

TGuzman

Toney Guzman born January 15, 1890, Toney Guzman 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

Private Antonio (Toney) Guzman

U.S. Army, Battery F, 347th Field Artillery Regiment, 91st Division, American Expeditionary Force.

Toney Guzman was born on March 27, 1890 either in Centerville or on the Niles Rancheria. He was the son of Muwekma Indians Francisca Nonessa and Jose Guzman. Toney enlisted in the U.S. Army and he fought in the Meuse-Argonne (September 26 to October 8, 1918), Ypres-Lys, and Lorraine campaigns in France.

Toney served in the Army from April 29, 1918 and was honorably discharged at the San Francisco Presidio on April 26, 1919.

The 91st Division was known as the "Wild West Division." The Division's shoulder patch was a green fir tree referring to its origin at Camp Lewis in the Pacific Northwest. The Division was deployed to France in August, 1918 and fought with great distinction.

In the Ypres-Lys campaign, the Division served in the Flanders Army Group, under the command of the King of Belgium. The Division was headquartered adjacent to Flanders Field. Five members of the Division earned the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Stanley Lionel

Submitted by: Tanveer Kalo

Stanley Lionel 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

Stanley Lionel was born on January 15, 1893 or 1894 in Ceylon, British India. Lionel's birth year is contested because multiple documents list different years. He immigrated to the United States in either 1904, or 1905 or 1914. The exact year of his arrival is contested by his 1930 census and naturalization application. After his arrival, Lionel settled in Manhattan, New York.

Lionel enlisted in the U.S. Army on June 5, 1917. His World War I draft card recorded his race as "Ceylonian" and birth date as January 15, 1893.

Lionel started his service at Fort Solcum, New York. He was then assigned to the 13th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Ringgold, Texas. His unit was assigned to the Mexican-U.S. border. On December 17, 1917, Lionel was promoted to Private First Class. He did not serve overseas.