Stories of Service

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

Thomas Hallowell

Submitted by: Ron Staiger {grandson}

no photo 300 Thomas Hallowell served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Unknown .

Thomas Hallowell, my grandfather (maternal) served in Company "F", 109 Infantry Regiment, 28th Division A.E.F. and was exposed to gas because of defective mask- in and out of VA hospitals until his death in 1972.

George Staiger,(paternal grandfather) served aboard the German battleship SMS Wittelsbach during WW1 seeing action against Russian forces in the Baltic Sea.

My grandfather's disliked each other very much.

Harry J Donaldson

Submitted by: Gary Donaldson Cannon {grandson}

Harry J Donaldson

Harry J Donaldson served in World War 1 with the the United States Marine Corps. The dates of service are: Known May 9 2017- Jan 28 1920.

Entered service 9 May 1917 Port Royal SC. Honorably Discharge 28 Jan 1920.

Sailed from Tomkinsville, NY aboard USS Henderson for foreign service Sep 23 1917.

Arrived within the continental limits of the US on USS Pestores Oct 21 1918.

Participated in active operation against the enemy in Bois de Bellevue, France from Jun 1 to Jun 3rd

Wounded in action 3 Jun 1917 awarded Purple Heart, loss leg in combat wounds serving as Pvt, 75th company, 6th Regiment, U. S Marine Corps.

He was my grandfather on my mothers side. I knew him as a young boy in 1950's

Rudolf Laemmlen

Submitted by: Ann Laemmlen Lewis {granddaughter}

58e6d7a8eb6cc Laemmlen, Rudolf, Soldier 1918

Rudolf Laemmlen served in World War 1 in the manner described below.. The dates of service are: Known July 1917- January 1919.

Simpson Levan

Submitted by: Karen Blount

58e6c896e7183 Simpson Levan

Simpson Levan served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Unknown .

Simpson Levan received the Distinguished Service Cross during World War 1. He was born in Linn, Kansas.

Following is the text of his award;

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Corporal Simpson Levan (ASN:156177), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company A, 2d Engineers, 2d Division, A. E.F., near Moneaux and Vaux, France, July 1-3, 1918. Although wounded in the head and left leg by a high-explosive shell, which fact he concealed from his officers, Corporal Levan continued forward with his company. While thus wounded he led his platoon under heavy fire from Moneaux to Vaux during three days of hard and constant fighting, effectively discharging his duties until exhausted.
General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 132 (1918)

Earl Siebenthaler Leatherman

Submitted by: Mary Brennan {granddaughter}

Earl Siebenthaler Leatherman served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 1918-1919.

He was a wagoner with the Supply Company, 121st Infantry and was stationed in Le Mans, France.

Alice Rutledge Ward

Submitted by: Mary Brennan {granddaughter}

Alice Rutledge Ward served in World War 1 with the Red Cross. The dates of service are: Known 1918-1919.

She was a Red Cross Nurse. She meet Earl Siebenthaler Leatherman during that time and when he came back to the States, they married on 21 July 1919. They are my grandparents.

Forrest Dubroc

Submitted by: Wayne Turner {grand nephew}

no photo 300

Forrest Dubroc served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Unknown .

As a young man, I remember my grandmother telling me the story of her brother Forrest dying from the flu epidemic during WWI. I recently found the records where he died in Camp Beauregard at the age of 21 a little over one month before the war ended. Over 40,000 servicemen died from the flu, almost as many as those killed in combat.

George F. Ziegler

Submitted by: Gregory McCurdy

58e63f0e471d6 grandpageorge

George F. Ziegler served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 1916-1918.

George Ziegler served in the trenches at St. Mihiel during the final major offensive of WWI. He was the lone survivor of his platoon, having been wounded and buried under his fellow Doughboys.

He ended his war experience in a French hospital recovering for several months from the effects of mustard gas.

He later returned to Pittsburgh where he was employed with Western Electric as an Inspector.

Joseph Schlitz

Submitted by: Jim MacClay {great grandson}

Joseph Schlitz 300 Joseph Schlitz served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Unknown .

This is my maternal grandfather's father. This is him in September of 1917.

Not much is known as his records were destroyed in the fire at the VA. He lived in South New Jersey both before and after the war. He died in 1941, leaving my grandfather, 2 additional grand uncles and a grand aunt.

2 out of the 3 sons served in WWII and I am a Desert Storm vet with the US Army.

Frank E. Ford

Submitted by: Bruce Bley

Frank E Ford

Frank E. Ford served in World War 1 with the United States Navy. The dates of service are: Known 12/05/1913 - 12/04/1917.

Served aboard the U.S.S. Texas, U.S.S. Housatonic, U.S. Mongolia.

Frank was on the Naval Gun crew that sunk a German U-boat in the first aggressive blow for America while on the U.S. Mongolia. Story in The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, April 27, 1917.

Ralph Taylor Davis

Submitted by: Emil Butler {grandson}

Ralph Taylor Davis served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known April 26, 1918 to March 28, 1919.

My grandfather, Ralph Davis, was inducted into the Army at Wilmington, NC. He trained with other NC boys at Camp Sevier, SC before shipping out to France. Pvt. Davis was in the 55th Field Artillery Brigade, 113th Field Artillery Regiment, Battery B, and was attached to the 30th Infantry (Old Hickory) Division.

He was trained on the French 75 mm field gun before being sent into combat. He most notably participated in the Woevre Offensive, the St. Mihiel Offensive, and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.

My grandfather was a gentile, quiet man who seldom mentioned his time in France. After researching the history of his unit, and learning of the hardships and horrors that they endured, I understood why he preferred not to remember. But it is extremely important that all Americans remember the sacrifices that our Doughboys made "over there." I am making it a point to ensure that my grandchildren learn about this history, and know the part that their great-great grandfather played.