Stories of Service

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

Martin Apostolico

Submitted by: Steven Apostolico {Grandson}

Martin Apostolico image

Martin Apostolico was born December 3, 1900 in Philadelphia, PA. Martin Apostolico served in World War I with 82nd Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Regiment of the United States Marines. The enlistment was June 8, 1917 and the service was completed May 21, 1919.

Story of Service

My grandfather, Martin Apostolico, enlisted at the tender age of 16. He lied about both his age and name so that he would be accepted. He enlisted as Martin Woods, so that his parents would not know. He originally had his training at Parris Island, South Carolina where he was sent to Cook School. He had a scar on his arm where he cut himself learning to sharpen knifes.

It did not take long however for his parents to learn of his enlistment. His name was corrected, and he was sent to Quantico, Virginia as Martin Apostolico, where he joined a rifle company (he qualified as a sharpshooter) of the Sixth Regiment.

He arrived “Over There” on May 9, 1918. He served at Belleau Wood, Chateau-Thierry, Aisne-Marne Offensive, St Mihiel Offensive, Champagne Offensive (Blanc Mont Ridge), and the Meuse Argonne Offensive.

Pelham Davis Glassford

Submitted by: William C Parke {Grandson}

Pelham Davis Glassford and Kidron Pelham Davis Glassford born around 1883. Pelham Glassford served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1900 and the service was completed in 1931.

Story of Service

The Story of Kidron, Pershing's Favorite Horse

By William C. Parke, grandson of Gen. Pelham Davis Glassford.

During World War I, Gen. John J. Pershing's favorite horse, named Kidron, was among a group of gelding thoroughbreds captured by the French from the Germans in 1917.

While training his troops at the Saumur Artillery School, Brig. General Pelham Davis Glassford was offered one of those horses by the French Colonel Godeau, commandant of the adjoining remount depot. Godeau's act on behalf of France was a gesture of gratitude for the help of the American Expeditionary Force in the War. He also knew how skilled Pelham was on horseback, and that Pelham was respected by the French military and villagers, as he would engage them in their own language. Pelham knew French from the time his father, Colonel William Alexander Glassford in the Army Signal Corps, took his two sons to Paris, France, to study the French signal balloons.

Kemer H Runkle

Submitted by: Vic Brown {Grandson}

no photo 300 Kemer H. Runkle born around 1891. Kemer Runkle 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

My Grandfather was a Medic with 103rd Ammo Train, 28th Division.

I am very proud of his service.

Leonard Andrew Crosby, Sr.

Submitted by: Leonard Andrew Crosby III {Grandson}

Leonard Crosby image

Leonard Andrew Crosby, Sr.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

My Grandfather, Dr. Leonard A. Crosby graduated from the University of Tennessee School of Medicine and completed an internship as a surgeon. He enlisted in the Army at the start of America's involvement in that war and was commissioned a Captain in the Army Medical Corps.

I do not know what unit he was assigned to, but I do know that he deployed with the first contingent of troops sent to France, and served as a Physician and medical officer until the end of the war. I also know that he was involved in the Ardennes campaign and similar actions in that area with his unit.

After the War, he became a family physician in Kentucky and Mississippi, and was one of the first physicians to utilize insulin to treat diabetes. At one point in his career, he was asked to join the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, but chose not to relocate and continued to practice medicine and surgery until his late 60's, acting in several administrative roles at local hospitals in Marion, Kentucky and Aberdeen, Mississippi.

Charles Everett Hanmer

Submitted by: Linda Goodbary Bryant {First Cousin Twice Removed}

Charles Hanmer image

Charles Everett Hanmer born around 1883. Charles Hanmer 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

George Edward Hanmer (1855-1935) and Susie Freedley (Jacoby) Hanmer (1857-1943) had four children, two sons and two daughters. Their children were: Charles Everett Hanmer (1883 -1922 - age 38), John Lynn Hanmer (1886-1919 -age 33), Alice Hanmer Shelby (1882-1919 - age 35) and Neva Hanmer (1892 - 1961- age 66).

George and Susie gave both of their sons to the Great War, John Lynn is buried in France and Charles Everett is buried in Burlingame, Kansas. Alice, who died from the flu the same year as her brother John in in 1919 is buried in Webb City,Missouri. Only daughter Neva lived past 38; she is buried in California and died at age 66.

Sadly, John Lynn contracted typhoid and the flu having never seen action and died in France after the Armistice was signed.

Older brother Charles Everett, who went before John Lynn was heavily involved in combat. As a member from C Company 117th Field Signal Battalion, 42 Division from Missouri. He saw much action and made it through six campaigns without a scratch as recounted by his mother in attached article plus Army of Occupation of Germany after the war, only to succumb in 1922 back in Kansas City, Missouri VA hospital from the effects of mustard gas. He was 38 years old.

Joseph Berkley Thomas

Submitted by: Anne Thomas {Daughter}

Joseph Berkley Thomas born around 1891. Joseph Thomas 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 Father was a member of the 81st Wildcat Division. The Wildcats were shipped out of NYC and landed in England.

The Division was sent to France and were involved in the defense of St. Die.The most significant battle of which they fought was the battle of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.

After Armistice Day the Division came back to Norfolk. My Father spoke of riding the train from Norfolk to his beloved home in North Carolina and how proud he was of his service to the United States of America.

Unfortunately, because of a fire to his home there are very few mementos left from his service.

Bert VanderLaan

Submitted by: Paul VanderLaan {Great Grandson}

Bert VanderLaan snip Bert VanderLaan born around 1895. Bert VanderLaan 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 Great Grandfather, Bert VanderLaan, enlisted in the US Army in 1918 at age 23, and was assigned to the 164th Depot Brigade at Camp Funston, KS.

While he never served in active combat, his assignment was of note for two reasons.

First, he was at Camp Funston in 1918, which was the epicenter of the pandemic influenza outbreak that killed so many recruits. Fortunately, he did not contract the influenza, and so was spared this illness.

Second, his Brigade posed in 1918 for a picture that became a famous National Archives poster. Several photos of him and of the Brigade picture are attached.

Henry Turner Holland

Submitted by: Julia Saint submitting for his granddaughter, Pamela Ann Lyle

Henry Holland image

Henry Turner Holland born around 1895. Henry Holland 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

Henry T. Holland was a Private in 8th Company 157th Depot Brigade. He did his basic training at Camp Gordon, Georgia. He served in France.

He was honorably discharged on February 11th, 1919.

He married after his return home following the war. He married Ethel P. Anderson of Eastanollee, GA, He had 4 children with his wife before his early death in 1952.

Turner was a farmer and he built furniture to support his family.

Abraham Wolfe

Submitted by: David Andrew Masiero, CDR USCG, Ret. {Abraham was my 1974 Restaurant Boss}

ABRAHAM WOLFE image

Abraham Wolfe was born around 1895. Abraham Wolfe 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

Abraham Wolfe was my boss at his Lenox, MA steak house when I worked there at age 16. My understanding is he and his older brother Manny had a steak house in Manhattan and at some point Abe decided to have a steak house on his own in Lenox, Massachusetts in Berkshire County. I lived in the next town Lee, MA. I was inquisitive and asked questions when my waitress mother told me he was a WW1 vet.

Both my Italian grandfathers (born 1895 & 1899) came to USA from villages Pavone (LOM) & Trissino (VZ) in 1922 & 1923 as laborers (Frank at Lee, MA Lime/Marble quarry pits & Andrew at Brooklyn Navy Yard on drydock shoring team). They both were in the ITA combat infantry vs. AUS/HUN. Nono Frank "Chesko" Baccoli lost complete use of one eye so WW1 always interested me. They died in 63 & 65 (me born 1958) when I was too young so I was never able to discuss WW1 with them.

My deceased (2014) father Val Masiero was a 1951-1955 (E5) Navy Construction Electrician Seabee and he told me his father Andrew would NEVER talk about the Great War. It was something NOT discussed.

Frank Rawley Waters Sr.

Submitted by: Amy L. Waters Great-Granddaughter

Frank Rawley Waters Sr. mug Frank Rawley Waters Sr. born around 1897. Frank Waters 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

Frank Rawley Waters (1897-1989) registered for the World War I draft on June 5, 1918. At the time of the draft he was living in Riley, Kansas and working for himself as a farmer. He listed his next of kin as his mother, Mary Badger.

Frank enlisted in the United States Army on August 14, 1918, in Manhattan, Kansas. He was appointed a non-commissioned officer on December 28, 1918, serving as a Sergeant in the Motor Transport Corps Repair Unit #304.

He was discharged from the service on April 4, 1919, while serving at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

Charles Levi McCullough

Submitted by: Amy L. Waters {Great-Granddaughter}

no photo 300 Charles Levi McCullough born around 1895. Charles McCullough 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

Charles “Charley” Levi McCullough (1895-1968) joined the United States Regular Army at Fort Logan, Colorado, on August 5, 1916. He left Colorado on September 21, arriving in Columbus, New Mexico on September 23. Charley, while serving with Battery C of the 6th Field Artillery, was in Mexico from September 25, 1916 to February 5, 1917.

Charley spent the spring and summer of 1917 at Camp Douglas, Arizona. During this time he was transferred to Battery C of the 10th Field Artillery Battalion. He was transferred to the National Army of the United States of America on September 5, and on the following day he left Arizona for Camp Funston, Fort Riley, Kansas. He arrived at Camp Funston on September 8.

On September 14, Charley was assigned to Battery C of the 340th Field Artillery. The 340th was part of the 89th Division or what was known as the Rolling W Division.