James Buha Khan

Submitted by: Tanveer Kalo

James Buha Khan born around 1889 or 1886, James Khan served in World War 1 with the the United States Army . The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1919.

Story of Service

 

Private James Buha Khan was born in Lahore, British India in either 1889 or July 15, 1886. Khan came to the United States in 1904 and settled in Oakland, California until the 1940s. He then moved to Utah and lived there until his death. In 1906, Khan applied for U.S. naturalization in California.

On December 25, 1911, James Buha Khan married Pearl M. Carter in Alameda, California.

Khan enlisted in the U.S. military on December 14, 1917. His World War I draft card recorded his race as "Malayan" or Malaysian.

Khan was assigned to HQ Company, 363 Infantry. Khan and his unit departed from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the ship City Of Cairo for France on July 6, 1918. Khan's U.S., Army Transport Service, Passenger List recorded his next of kin as his brother, Mian Khan.

Khan and his unit departed from St. Nazaire, France on March 20, 1919 on the ship Kentuckian and arrived in Brooklyn, New York on April 1, 1919.

By 1920, Khan worked as a steel inspector. His 1920 federal census recored his race as white, native tongue as "Hindu", martial status as single, and as an alien.

From 1928 to 140, Khan lived in Alameda, California and worked different jobs. His California, Voter Registrations from the years listed above recorded his occupations as crane operator in 1924, 1938 and 1940, engineer in 1928, holder's helper in 1930, train operator in 1932 and1934. His California, Voter Registrations also recorded that he was a Democrat.

James Buha Khan moved to Utah in the last years of his life. He died on January 14, 1961at VA hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. His Utah, Death and Military Death Certificate recored his race as white and citizen of the U.S. Khan is buried at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.