Stories of Service

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

Phillip Varco

Submitted by: Sarina (Varco) Renaldi {granddaughter}

Phillip Varco mug Phillip Varco served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known June 1917-Jjan. 1919.

My grandfather, Phillip Varco, along with his brother Jack, served in WWI as a member of the 132nd US Infantry, 66th Brigade, 33rd Division. He was born in Italy in Montemaggiore, Sicily in 1892, and immigrated to America in the early 1900s. He fought in the battle of the Somme in France and was shot in the stomach. While he was in the hospital, King George visited the wounded soldiers and presented my grandfather with a cane.

As a young child, I remember him holding me on his lap and showing me his stomach and telling me he had "two belly buttons."

Raymond Howard Leonard

Submitted by: Helen V. Leonard Poirier {granddaughter}

Raymond Leonard mug Raymond Howard Leonard served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known June 1916- 1920.

Raymond Howard Leonard – National Guard Journal June 18, 1916-Oct 14, 1916
Transcribed by Helen Leonard Poirier – 2015, granddaughter to Raymond.

Raymond Howard Leonard was born February 26, 1899 to Adelbert and Josephine (Davis) Leonard in Worcester, Massachusetts. At the time of his entry into the military, Raymond was residing at 8 Clive St. in Worcester with his parents, and younger siblings, sister Viola, & brothers Joseph and Frank.

The following transcription were from pages found in a Navy journal of Raymond’s son, Robert O’Donnell Leonard, who served in WWII. They are transcribed as written by Raymond.

June 18: Call to colors by Massachusetts Officers 8 pm in Boston June 18, 1916 militia alarm called started midnight saw headlines in papers at 6:20 a.m.

George Washington Ruth

Submitted by: Steve Smith {grandson}

no photo 300

George Washington Ruth served in World War 1 with the United States Marine Corps. The dates of service are: Known June 6, 1917 - Oct. 1918.

My grandfather George Ruth left us a audio recording of his tour of duty in World War One. I put his voice and words to a video. This video is posted on youtube.. go to youtube and search "ww1 george ruth" or "ww1 steve smith".

Virginia Stoddert Moore

Submitted by: April Stoddert Martinez {granddaughter}

58bfbddf72300 ALL HANDS JULY 198 PAGE 46 Copy

Virginia Stoddert Moore served in World War 1 with the United States Navy. The dates of service are: Known 6/12/1918 to 4/17/1919.

My grandmother, Virginia Stoddert Moore, of Chicago, Ill, b. April 24, 1896, d. March 8, 1982, Service No. 145-64-22, volunteered to join the U S Navy and enlisted on June 12, 1918, at Great Lakes, IL, as a Yeoman First Class.

She was called to active duty, to "volunteer for general service and agree to any assignment to duty on the high seas or to service in any foreign coutnry." Capt Moffett, then Commander of the base there, is recorded as saying she was the "first" there. (Please see attached article.)

Virginia stated she felt like she was the first because of her status as a volunteer, when the first and subsequent women had been 'taken in', or 'conscripted' as secretaries. History records otherwise, I'm afraid.

She was assigned to a ship the USS Triton at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., June 20, 1918, then to the Public Works Office January 29, 1919, and then transferred to the Navy Department in D.C. on January 29, 1918. She was assigned to Josephus Danials, SECNAV, and also the F.D.R, Assistant SECNAV at Naval Communication, R1210, South Bldg, according to her story, earning $44.00 per month salary, and worked as a Stenographer.

Webster Earl Bachert

Submitted by: Glenn D Bachert

no photo 300

Webster Earl Bachert served in World War 1 with the United States Army Air Corps. The dates of service are: Known Sept 10, 1917 to Dec. 13, 1918.

He was a Sgt 1st Class attached to the 188th Aero Squadron. They were formed at Kelly Field in San Antonio Tx. on Nov. 9th, 1917. They were assigned to work on the Curtiss, Wright-Martin and L.W.F. planes. They remained in Texas until orders arrived, they shipped off to New York before departure overseas.

They departed the United States on March 5th, 1918 and arrived in Liverpool England on March 18th 1918. Their journey was aboard the S.S. Celtic with the U.S.S. Baltimore and H.M.S. Leviathan as escorts. After arriving in Liverpool they were responsible for the manitenance and upkeep of the De Haviland's and the Armstrong-Whitworths.

John William Augustine

Submitted by: Patricia S. Carden

no photo 300

John William Augustine served in World War 1 with the United States Navy. The dates of service are: Known 1914-1951.

Major John William Augustine, USMC
Born July 26, 1894 Camden, New Jersey died July 03, 1979 Washington D.C..
John's military records show he was born in 1891 because he lied about his age in order to join the Navy. In truth, he was born in 1894. He joined the United States Navy at the age of 15.

John was in the Campaign at Vera Cruz, Mexico aboard the USS Utah in 1914.

During World War I, specifically from January 10, 1918 - March 9, 1919, John W. Augustine was aboard the USS Haterias, and USS Mars, Hq. San Francisco California as Boatswain.

By World War II he was serving in the USMC, and later the Korean War. He was finally added to the Honorary Retired List, September 30, 1951.

Benjamin Clayton Bowman

Submitted by: Thomas A. Bowman, Jr. {Grandson}

58bc9f7c32140 PFC Benjamin Clayton Bowman Benjamin Clayton Bowman served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 08 February, 1918 to 07 July, 1919.

Private First Class Benjamin Clayton Bowman, was my grandfather. He was born 15 April 1901 in Villanow, Georgia. He enlisted in the US Army on 08 February 1918 at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. PFC Bowman served in the 58th Balloon Company, Aviation Section, US Army Signal Corps. He served with the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in France from 21 October 1918 until 27 June 1919.

PFC Bowman was discharged from the US Army on 07 July 1919 at Fort Oglethorpe. Georgia. PFC Bowman passed away on 21 April 1968 in Philadelphia, PA.

Mary Coan Reilly Ravener

Submitted by: Bob Ravener (grandson)

Mary Reilly Pvt First Class USMC

Mary Coan Reilly Ravener served in World War 1 with the United States Marine Corps. The dates of service are: Known 1918-1922.

Mary Coan Reilly Ravener

One of the Few, the Proud… the First 300

By Bob Ravener

The United States Marine Corps has a long and proud tradition fighting America’s battles and after the U.S. declared war on Germany, were using virtually every active duty service member to fight in the Great War or training those preparing to fight. On 08 August 1918 that all changed when they took on another cause, women in uniform. That’s when Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels wrote a letter authorizing the Commandant of the Marine Corps to enlist women in the Marine Corps Reserve for clerical duty.

Six weeks later, on 24 September, a five foot tall, grey eyed, and auburn-haired Mary Coan Reilly, became one of those first women Marines.

During this period of global crisis and tumultuous change, a little more than 300 women donned the forest green uniform of the Corps, but selection was anything but easy for these aspiring Marines. In fact, it was extremely competitive. According to the book written by Captain Linda Hewitt in 1974, “In New York City alone, 2,000 hopeful applicants lined up...in reply to a newspaper article that the Marine Corps was looking for ‘intelligent young women’.” Mary was one of those many applicants and became one of only five or so to be selected to serve in New York at the Marine Corps Publicity Bureau in lower Manhattan. Most of the rest of these early pioneers served at Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington DC.

Carlton Ross Stevens

Submitted by: Eric Stevens

58c176adce94c Carlton Stevens on his Harley Davidson Service Motorcycle in France 1919

Carlton Ross Stevens served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known June 22nd, 1918 - 1919.

Enlisted in A.E.F. Army Signal Corps. Motorcycle Mechanic, and motorcycle message dispatch driver. Delivered the first terms of the Armistice to General Pershing.

Hector J Meunier

Submitted by: Ellen Meunier {Granddaughter}

58bfab0fe67bf Hector J Meunier (2)

Hector J Meunier served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Unknown .

This was my grandfather. Picture taken in front of Holyoke Armory in Massachusetts.

James Montgomery Whitmore

Submitted by: Gene L. Whitmore {Grandchild}

58bf0b6909469 James Whitmore

James Montgomery Whitmore served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Unknown .

My grandfather, James Montgomery Whitmore, died before I was born. My father and uncles (Korean War era) related stories told to them about the feelings of the young men in 1916 as the prospect of war participation loomed.

By the 1917 entry of America into the Great War, it was understood that the existing forces arrayed against each other in Europe were at am impasse, and America's participation would tip the scales. Additionally, grandfather related that the Germany and Austria-Hungary alliance were seen at the time as having waited for the slightest excuse to ignite a war to grab land and power, and the Allied Expeditionary Forces were united in their cause of opposing the unjust invasion of many parts of Europe.