Stories of Service

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

Harry Bernard Mulholland

Submitted by: Chris Mulholland

58e2a6cf1073c Mulholland Harry Bernard scan (2)

Harry Bernard Mulholland served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 1917-1918.

On 1 June 1917, Harry Bernard Mulholland filled out a registration card for the World War I draft, listing his residence as his parent’s home at 3330 4th Street North. He was tall and slender, with gray eyes and brown hair.

Probably not long thereafter, Harry was drafted into the Army and sent westward to Washington state. He arrived at Fort Lewis, “located about 17 miles south of TACOMA, Washington, and named for Captain Meriwether Lewis, commander of the famous Lewis and Clark expedition made to the Northwest in 1803.” (“600 Days’ Service’) Upon his arrival he was assigned to Company I, Third Battalion of the 361st Infantry Regiment. The regiment’s motto was, “The 361st Leads – Others Follow”.

Harry is listed on page 265 of the regimental history, “600 Days’ Service”. He was issued a pair of dogtags, serial number “2850045”, that his daughter still possesses. She also has a button with an embossed “361” and crossed rifles.

Cpl. Charles H. Pomeroy, Jr.

Submitted by: Vance Pomeroy

58e28524b4796 Cpl Charles H Pomeroy Jr 3rd 5th USMC

Cpl. Charles H. Pomeroy, Jr. served in World War 1 with the the United States Marine Corps. The dates of service are: Known 1917-1919.

16th Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment USMC attached to Second Division (Indianhead); surviving combatant of the Battle of Belleau Wood.

In attached photograph, Right Halfback on the battalion football team.

Giles Wilmer Brown

Submitted by: Dwain Asberry {great nephew}

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Giles Wilmer Brown served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known August 1918 to Oct. 4, 1918.

My great uncle, mentioned above, joined the Army and was sent to Camp Funston, Kansas for training. There he came down with the Spanish Flu and died Oct. 4th, 1918. I have a nice picture of him in uniform. I also have a copy of a letter sent to his wife from the Chaplin of the 70th Infantry, Camp Funston, dated Oct. 10th, 1918.

Mr. Brown was buried in the family cemetery in Ellington, Mo. The cemetery holds 9 graves, of which one is the soldier mentioned. His and one other grave are the only ones with head stones, which Mr. Brown's is a Military head stone. The family farm is no longer and the plot is surrounded by woods. I make the 70 mile drive every year to maintain the 30x30 foot plot. Mr. Brown lies next to John Morgan Brown, my great-great grandfather, who rode with the 1st Missouri Cavalry, CSA.

Joseph C. Langer

Submitted by: Sean Fisher {great grandson}

Joseph C Langer Joseph C. Langer served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known July 5, 1918 to April 19, 1919.

My great grandfather was a Musician 2nd Class (clarinet) in the HQ Co. 52nd Pioneers Infantry, Fifth Corps, First Army. Joseph C. Langer (1893-1984) was from Philadelphia. He was working as an accountant for John B. Stetson Company, Philadelphia (Stetson cowboy hats) in 1917, when, sometime in summer or fall 1917, he applied for a clarinet position in the Naval Reserve Band. He received a reply in November 1917 from both John Philip Sousa (1854-1932; Lieutenant, Naval Reserve Band, Illinois) and Bandmaster Victor J. Grabel (1886-1965). It is not known why Langer did not follow through from their encouraging replies.

In July 1917, Langer and his friends vacationed in the Millington, Maryland area along the Chester River, which he documented in photographs. You have to wonder if they took this excursion not knowing what the future held for them.

On the day he was drafted, June 29, 1918, Langer wrote down whom he was leaving his monies to: his father in Aalborg, Denmark, and to his girl, Emma Schwer. He was enlisted on July 5, 1918, and trained at Camp Wadsworth, South Carolina. He wrote to Emma on a YMCA postcard on July 6, on the train to Camp Wadsworth.

Using a 1917 “Army and Navy Diary” printed by Stanton & Van Vliet Co., Chicago in 1917, Langer kept a diary of his war time experience. While briefly at Camp Upton, Long Island, NY, on July 30, he “was outfitted with wool uniforms for oversea duty” and wrote “I look funny with my little “dinky” hat that they issue.”

He was in France from August 11, 1918 to March 31, 1919.

Samuel A. Darbous Jr.

Submitted by: Nan Darbous

Samuel A Darbous Jr Samuel A. Darbous Jr. served in World War 1 with the United States Coast Guard. The dates of service are: Known USCG 6/1919 - 12/1920.

Samuel A. Darbous Sr. served aboard the USCGC ALGONQUIN WPG-75 in ALASKAN WATERS. He was discharged in Seattle, Washington and returned to his home in Pittsburgh, PA.

Samuel is a descendant of the Pershings of Westmoreland County, PA.

Ramchandra Dhondurao (R.D.) Shelke

Submitted by: Tanveer Kalo

no photo 300 Ramchandra Dhondurao (R.D.) Shelke served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known December 1917 to August 25, 1919.

Ramchandra Dhondurao (R. D.) Shelke was born on April 15, 1891 in Kolhapur, British India. He arrived in New York on July 31, 1914 aboard Hamburg from Naples, to pursue an education. Later in life he would obtain a bachelors in chemical engineering.

After arriving in New York City R.D. Shelke made his way to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. On December 15, 1914, at age of 23 R. D. Shelke declared his allegiance to the United States at the U.S District Court of Western District of Pennsylvania.

On July 5, 1917 R. D. Shelke was drafted in the U.S Army. He was stationed at Camp Lee, Virginia from September 23, 1917 to December 1917. The August 1918 issue of the newspaper and journal Young India featured him with other Indians serving in the U.S Armed Forces. He served in the Supply Company 30th Infantry 3rd Division from December 1917 to August 25, 1919.

Kekee H. Patell

Submitted by: Tanveer Kalo

no photo 300 Kekee H. Patell served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known June 18, 1918 to August 20, 1919.

Kekee H. Patell was born on June 18, 1890 in Bombay, British India. He immigrated to the United States before 1918. By 1918 at the age of 27 Patell lived at 230 fifth ave, New York City , New York.

On June 18, 1918 Patell was inducted into the United States Armed Forces at LB or enlisting facility # 101 New York City, New York. He was sent to Camp Hancock, Georgia until August 16, 1918. Then he was assigned to the Camp Hancock August Automatic Replacement Draft Company #6, Infantry until September 11, 1918. Patell and his unit departed from New York City, New York for Europe on August 24, 1918 on board the ship Zealandia. He served overseas from August 22, 1918 to June, 1 1919.

Patell was honorably discharged on August 20, 1919 with the rank of private because of S.C.D. He was 20% disabled during this time.

Paul Andrew Stanton

Submitted by: Michael Stanton Ferneau {great nephew}

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Paul Andrew Stanton served in World War 1 with the United States Marine Corps. The dates of service are: Known May 1917 to November 1, 1918.

Joined the Marine Corps in May of 1917 with aviation in Pensacola, Fl. to Quantico, Va in Feb '18, to France in April '18 Joined the 80th Co 7 Sept 18 fought at St.Miheal, Blanc Mont, and KIA in Meuse-Argone 1 Nov'18. Burried in Meuse-Aronne American Cemetery, Romagne, France. Corporal, USMC, 6th Reg, 2nd Div. My great Uncle.

John F. Smith

Submitted by: Mark Hilton

58da7965211d4 JFSmith 1

John F. Smith served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Unknown .

The Smith-Wynn Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 96, in Montgomery, Alabama, is named after two World War I soldiers who were killed in action in the Chateau-Thierry region of France on July 26th, 1918. They were PFC John F. Smith & Corp. Rush P. Wynn. (Some records show PFC John F. Smith as MIA as of July 28th,1918. Other records show he was wounded on the 26th and died on July 28th.)

PFC Smith was assigned to a Machine Gun Company of the Alabama's 167th Infantry Regiment, which became part of the 42nd “Rainbow” Division and then the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in France.

Supreme Allied Commander General Ferdinand Foch immediately put the Allied Army on the offensive. Four days after winning in the Champagne, he ordered a Franco-American drive northeast from the town of Château-Thierry. The 167th (Alabama), with its sister regiment in the 84th Brigade, the 168th (Iowa) on its right flank, led the “Rainbow” Division push into a great battle at Croix Rouge Farm on July 26th, 1918. There the Alabama regiment lost 162 killed, including 3 Lieutenants and 2 Captains, company commanders. More than 1,000 from the 167th (Alabama) were wounded. But their victory forced the Germans to retreat to positions on the east of the Ourcq River, about six miles from the Croix Rouge Farm.

PFC John F. Smith, who enlisted from Montgomery, Alabama, was cited by the Commander-General of the “Rainbow” Division. He is buried in the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in Belleau, France.

Rush P. Wynn

Submitted by: Mark Hilton

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Rush P. Wynn served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 8/6/1917 - 7/26/1918.

Corporal Rush P. Wynn, of Montgomery, Alabama, assigned to a Machine Gun Company of the Alabama's 167th Infantry Regiment, which became part of the 42nd “Rainbow” Division and then the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in France.

For his service, now Corporal, Rush P. Wynn was awarded the French Croix de Guerre (French War Cross). He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Montgomery, Alabama.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Smith-Wynn Post 96, in Montgomery, Alabama, is one of two soldiers from Montgomery that are the namesake of the post.

Frederick Essig

Submitted by: Robert Del Camp {grandson}

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Frederick Essig served in World War 1 with the United States Navy. The dates of service are: Unknown .

My grandfather died years before I was born, but I have his service medal, dog tag, and duffel bag still in my possession. I wish I had known him to ask him about his service. The 100th anniversary makes me think about him more.