Private Duggu Ramn
Submitted by: Tanveer Kalo
Private Duggu Ramn served in World War 1 with the United States Army . The dates of service are: Known September 22, 1917- June 5, 1919.
Private Duggu Ramn was born in Simula Hill, Hindustan, East India. His exact date of birth is contested. On his World War I draft card, U.S. naturalization documents, and U.S social security claim list his date of birth as August 11, 1893. While his gravestone notes it as August 11, 1895. it is important to note that on Ramn's World War I draft card, his race was listed as Indian.
He arrived to the United States on June 15,1914 and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Ramn was inducted into U.S. Army on September 22, 1917 in Philadelphia . He served with Company E of the 304 Engineer Regiment, 79th Division. In 1918, Ramn was naturalized by the State of Maryland.
He served overseas from July 9, 1918 to May 29, 1919. Private Ramn and his unit departed from Hoboken, New Jersey for Europe on the ship France. On his U.S. Army Transport Service passenger List he put down his address as 67-74 Chew Street, Mount Airy Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He also listed his friend, Mr. Samuel Lenten, as his next of kin. Private Ramn saw action in the Muese- Argonne offensive and was gassed in Nantillois on October 9, 1918. He was honorably discharged on June 5, 1919 at Camp Dix, New Jersey and returned to Philadelphia.
By 1920 Ramn lived by himself in a rented home on 68-36 Musgrave or Musgrove Street in Philadelphia. In his 1920 U.S. federal census, his race was listed as Hindu or East Indian and his native tongue was listed as Hindu. Hindustan was listed as his birthplace as well as his parents. On the census it also said Ramn was a painter at a ship yard and was able to read and write.