Stories of Pennsylvania Soldiers
Harry Edwin Roach - Distinguished Service Cross
Holding the rank of Wagoner, Harry Edwin Roach was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, after risking his own life while evacuating wounded from Fismes and Fismette while under fire from German artillery, gas, and machine guns on August 10th and 11th, 1918. Harry was an ambulance driver and five ambulances carrying wounded got through safely, one of which he drove.
Distinguished Service Cross Citation:
ROACH, HARRY E.
Wagoner, U.S. Army
110th Ambulance Company, 103d Sanitary Train, 28th Division, A.E.F.
Date of Action: August 10 - 11, 1918
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Harry E. Roach, Wagoner, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Fismes, France, August 10 - 11, 1918. Because of the destruction from shell fire of ten of the 13 ambulances of his company, Wagoner Roach worked for 48 hours driving through a shell-swept and gas-infested area, thereby making possible the evacuation of the wounded.
General Orders No. 15, W.D., 1919
Home Town: Philadelphia, PA
Harry Edwin Roach with Distinguished Service Cross and Victory Medal
Driving ambulance
In Uniform
Standing at Attention
Bridge Across the Vesle River at Fisme and Fismette 2015
Private Thomas McHale - Distinguished Service Cross
Submitted by his Great Nephew Dan Hilferty
He received the award in 1929 at a ceremony at the John Wanamaker store in center city Philadelphia. He never told anyone he was receiving the medal. His sister-in-law asked him why he was dressed up on a weekday, he replied that the Army wanted to give him a medal. His sister-in-law told him that she was going to go with him. She was the only relative to see him get the award.
Distinguished Service Cross_Citation:
MCHALE, THOMAS J.
Private, U.S. Army
Company D, 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Division, A.E.F.
Date of Action: July 30, 1918
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Thomas J. McHale,Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action at the Bois-de-Grimpettes, near Sergy, France, July 30, 1918. When the attack on the Bois-de- Grimpettes was held up by heavy enemy machine-gun and artillery fire, Private McHale volunteered to locate the enemy machine-gun nests. After locating the enemy's positions he returned and with a platoon charged and cleared the nests, killing many of the crew, and successfully led the platoon to the outer edge of the woods where it was found that the enemy was preparing for a counterattack. Private McHale returned and guided his company to the position occupied by the platoon where it later repulsed the enemy counterattack. The courage, judgment, and leadership displayed by Private McHale were a great inspiration to the other members of the command.
General Orders No. No. 16, W.D., 1929
Home Town: Philadelphia, PA
Pvt. Thomas McHale
The Story of 2nd Lietenant Morell Smith native of Newtown, Pennsylvania, Company 'C', 310th Infantry Regiment, 78th Infantry Division, American Expeditionary Forces, killed in action during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, 18 October, 1918. His remains were discovered and identified mid-1924. By Mike Donovan and Jon Guy.
Lt. Morrell Smith
Sgt. Paul E. Fleisher passed away from pneumonia in Embarkation Hospital, Philadelphia upon return from France. Born Oct.12, 1892, Newport, Pennsylvania. Died Jan 23, 1919
Sgt. Paul E. Fleisher pictures
Sgt. Paul E. Fleisher - letter home
Sgt. Paul E. Fleisher - overseas
Sgt. Paul E. Fleisher - overseas
Sgt. Paul E. Fleisher - overseas
Sgt. Paul E. Fleisher - with his unit
Private James Francis Curry, 2659635, Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania. Inducted at Akron, Ohio, 27 May 1918. Infantry training at Camp Gordon, Georgia, May 1918 - July 1918. Served overseas with the AEF, U.S. 42nd 'Rainbow' Division, 165th Infantry Regiment, Company 'L'. Engagements: St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Advance on Sedan, July 1918 - April 1919. 2nd Co., 1st. Tr. Btn., 158th Depot Brigade, May 1919. Honorably discharged at Camp Sherman, Ohio, 13 May 1919. Submitted by Mary Curry Jones.
Private James Francis Curry
Private James Francis Curry - Veteran's Compensation Application
Richard J. Cory, USMC - Strafford, PA
1st Lt. Albert Clinton Wunderlich, Company L, 3rd Battalion, 79th Division - killed 28 SEP 1918
Read Full Story by Matt Schultz, American Legion Post 65, Lansdowne, PA
Edward Morris Walker
Edward Morris Walker Record of Place of Burial - Department of Military Affairs
Edward Morris Walker Memorial Marker
LT Edward A. Hadeen
2nd Lt. Alfred Langstaff Test - volunteered to serve in The First British Ambulance Unit for Italy at the age of seventeen. Because of his youth, his father had to sign with his approval of the application. Upon arrival in England, Alfred Test was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the British Army, "without any qualifications or training". He served in the Italian theater of operations driving an ambulance and carrying wounded soldiers from October, 1917 until his discharge in January, 2019.
2nd Lt. Test recorded his experiences in a diary in which he states that on Nov. 12, 1918, the day after the armistice, he and a fellow British Red Cross volunteer drove their ambulance east from the Piave River area to Trieste, where they found and proceeded to care for over 100,000 Italian prisoners of war who were without food or medical care.
For heroism under fire, 2LT Test was awarded the Italian War Merit Cross, and received two blue chevrons from the British Red Cross Society.
2nd Lieutenant Alfred Langstaff Test in British Army uniform
Italian War Merit Cross awarded to 2LT Alfred Langstaff Test
Authorization - British Red Cross service chevrons for Alfred Langstaff Test
Information was supplied by Lawrence Bailey for William F. Taylor Jr., Della Taylor, Daniel Adams Bailey, Maj Gen Charles Justin Bailey, Alexander C. Bailey, Harry R. Bailey, and Morris Bernard Colyer.
William F. Taylor Jr. - (1893 - 1918) Died of Wounds - Lived in Harris Twp, Centre County, died on October 5, 1918 in a base hospital in France of wounds received in action. It is supposed by his descendants that he was wounded in the drive in the Meuse-Argonne sector. He was 23 years old, having served in CO H 314th INF, 79th Division, American Expeditionary Forces.
Della Taylor, William's mother wore a Gold Star Mother's ribbon
Daniel Adams Bailey - Served with the he 28th Infantry Division, Lived in Pikes Township, Clearfield County, and was a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate, from the 34th district, serving from 1963 to 1970.
Daniel Adams Bailey
Maj Gen Charles Justin Bailey - lived inTamaqua, Schuylkill County. He was the commander of the 81st Division of the US Army in WW I in France from 1918 to 1919. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1880 and in the same year was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 1st Artillery Regiment. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Order of Leopold (Belgium), the Croix de Guerre with palm, and was an officer of the Legion of Honor.
Maj Gen Charles Justin Bailey
Alexander C. Bailey, Philipsburg, PA, served with the 305th Brig. Tank Corps.
Harry R. Bailey - served as a Pvt., Ordnance Dept. World War I
Morris Benard Colyer - Linden Hall, Centre County, served with the Wagoner Supply Co. of the 33rd Infantry [Division?]
Raymond Birmingham McCormick - was an 18 yr old student at Villanova, he joined the Student Army Training Corps. Almost immediately contracted the 1918 influenza and ended up in St Joe's Hospital. He said the hardest time was late at night when he could hear the gurneys going down the hall to the elevator taking the dead to the morgue.
Got his honorable discharge, went out to Gettysburg area to the Carlisle Barracks, the War College, to teach horsemanship to the students.
Raymond Birmingham McCormick
Raymond Birmingham McCormick draft registration card
Raymond Birmingham McCormick at right
Victory Parade and Arch, West Chester, PA
Victory Parade, West Chester, PA
Charles Rosario Spano in the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, Troop B submitted by his Granddaughter Diana Spano
Charles Rosario Spano Passport with picture - 15 JUN 1920
Charles Rosario Spano, U.S. Army,
Dates of service: June 13, 1916 to June 4, 1920
With gratitude and in honor of my paternal grandfather, Charles Rosario Spano, I am posting the following details of his active duty service during World War l. The information is collected from original documents and copies in my possession, and from memories of conversation with my father, Vincent Rosario Spano (deceased), son of Charles, who also served in the US Army during World War II in Korea with the Counter Intelligence Corps. I am the oldest granddaughter, and also a veteran having served in the US Regular Army during the Viet Nam Era. After the war, Charles Rosario Spano settled in South Philadelphia and lived at 717 Christian Street.
Charles Rosario Spano was born in Italy (Sicily) and served with the American Expeditionary Forces in France, 2nd Cavalry, Troop 'B' under the command of General John J. Pershing. He was naturalized on March 12, 1920 and was honorably discharged on June 4, 1920.
According to his enlistment record he served in the Toul Sector, France, Defensive, the St. Mihiel Offensive, the Battle of Aire River, and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive between April 14, 1918 and November 11, 1918 remaining in France until June, 1919.
He received, along with other soldiers in his company, letters of commendation signed by General Pershing and his Commanding Officer, Major General Peter E. Traub. A bronze victory button was awarded and remarks of his excellent character and honest and faithful service were mentioned in his records.
Thanks to the World War l Centennial Commission for the opportunity to recognize my grandfather.
Charles Rosario Spano documents
Charles Rosario Spano Enlistment - 13 JUN 1916
Charles Rosario Spano Commendation from Maj Gen Peter E. Traub - 1 OCT 1918
Charles Rosario Spano Departure msg. from Gen. J. J. Pershing - 28 FEB 1919
Charles Rosario Spano Passport with picture - 15 JUN 1920
Charles Rosario Spano Naturalization - 12 MAR 1920
Charles Rosario Spano Honorable Discharge - 4 JUN 1920
Private First Class Ira Cranmer Keller - Company B, 2nd Platoon, 8th Machine Gun Battalion, 3rd Division, “Rock of the Marne”, of the American Expeditionary Forces. During the Second Battle of the Marne in France, PVT. Keller became the first Clinton County. Pennsylvania soldier to be killed in World War 1. Killed July 15, 1918, age 24.
PVT Ira Cranmer Keller
Corporal Beale Marshall Darby, 18, served with Company C, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry “Indian Head” Division of the American Expeditionary Forces. CPL Darby was killed during the Aisne-Marne Offensive, 18 July, 1918.
CPL Beale Darby
2nd Lt. Willis Lincoln Paul - Norwood, PA, Delaware County. He served from May 1917 to Jan, 1919 in the 53rd Pioneer Infantry Regiment. (Pioneers assign troops to march at the head of each battalion to clear a passage through obstructons, improve roads, build bridges and do minor engineering or construction work that may be necessary for an advance.) He was at Ft Niagara, NY, 5/10/17 to 8/15/17, Camp Meade, MD, and Camp McLellan, 8/15/17 and Camp Wadsworth, SC. from 10/1917 to 1/6/1919.
Willis Lincoln Paul 2d Lt - 1919
Paul Snyder, Roaring Springs, Pennsylvania
Paul Snyder portrait
Paul Snyder, shortly before his death in 1990, just shy of his 90th birthday
Victory Medal with campaign bars - Paul Snyder
Victory Medal - Paul Snyder
Service Medal from Pennsylvania Railroad - Paul Snyder
Service Medal from Pennsylvania Railroad - Paul Snyder
Paul Snyder - pocket Testament
Paul Snyder - pocket Testament
Paul Snyder - pocket Testament
Cross collected on battlefield - Paul Snyder
German helmet Paul Snyder brought back
German helmet Paul Snyder brought back
Clarence Henry Bentz, Slatington, PA
Grandfather of Kris Bentz-Smith Board Member/Treasurer of Descendants and Friends of the 314th Infantry Regiment, AEF
Private Clarence H. Bentz was born in Friedens PA (Lehigh County). He was a steel worker and was inducted into the US Army on May 20, 1918.
Left for Camp Meade May 28, 1918 and trained at this location with the 79th Division 314 Infantry Company F.
Sailed for France July 7, 1918 aboard the USS Leviathan.
Participated in the battles at Nantillois and Malancourt and was wounded in the Argonne Forest on September 29, 1918 while participating in the battle at Montfaucon.
Due to his wounds and while in a hospital in France he remained listed with the 314th until October 26, 1918
Listed as casual with the 33rd Company, 9th Brigade, 153rd Infantry from October 26, 1918 through 25 March 1919 at Camp Dix New Jersey. He arrived home from France March 6, 1919.
Clarence continued through his life being a member of the Veterans of the 314th while serving at times as Vice President of the Allentown District.
Clarence Henry Bentz Draft Registration Card
Frank A. Whalen, was a World War 1 veteran from Pottsville, PA. He served in the 28th division, 103rd engineers, Company D, and is buried in the Danville National Cemetery, Danville, IL.
Frank A. Whalen Grave Marker, Danville National Cemetery
Frank Whalen Victory Medal
Frank Whalen 1936
Frank Whalen 1960
Frank Whalen WW1 Service Record
Frank A. Whalen WW1 Transport List
Frank Whalen Bonus Army Application
Frank Whalen VA Headstone Application
John B. Kane - a Philadelphian, enlisted in the army as a draftsman with Graves Registration Service 301, 1917-1919 during WW1.
From his Grandson, Gus Zimmerman:
He used his skills plotting the first of many cemeteries in France. My grandfather like many vets never talked about their experiences during the great war.
Our family is very fortunate to have my grandfather's personal accounts of his detailed stories in an autobiography which was written to my mother 1940 when she was 10 years old. The book was typed on onion skin paper.
This is the personal note that his daughter, my mother, wrote on the back of our self published book from last year:
This is the man I knew, not the one among the trenches of France.
This is the man I knew as an architect in Philadelphia sitting at his drafting table deep in thought.
This is the man I knew in an overstuffed chair writing this book.
This is the man I knew walking the beaches at Beach Haven, New Jersey on moonlit nights.
This is the man who went to war who fought for peace during the Great War.
This man is my dad. This is the man I loved, John B. Kane.
I want to share my book about my dad's experiences serving in WW1 in France with the Graves Registration Service unit 301 during 1917 - 1919.
He shares his journey of youth to the wisdom of manhood that he achieved during the Great War.
My dad writes " The twine is unraveled, the spool is bare, and now I turn it over to you to pass along the journey of life".
Article by Gus Zimmerman about his grandfather's book: The Khaki Road of Yesterday
John B. Kane - Front row, Far right
Book Cover - The Khaki Road of Yesterday
Gus Zimmerman with his mother Sara "Sashie" Kane Crawford holding the original book
Private Scott Parsons - Company D, 111th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division - Robert Scott Parsons, always called Scott, enlisted 15 April, 1917. Trained at Camp Sherman, Chillicothe, Ohio and went to Camp Hancock near Augusta, Georgia for rifle training. His Honorable Discharge shows his enlisted rating as Cook, but he served as a rifleman in the 111th Infantry in France from May, 1918 through the Armistice in November, 1918. His discharge record shows that he fought with the 28th Division during the Fifth German Offensive in July, 1918, the advance on the Ourcq and Vesle rivers, July through September, 1918, the Meuse-Argonne Offensive 26 SEP 1918 through 7 OCT 1918, then in the Thiacourt Sector 15 OCT 1918 to 11 NOV 1918. He returned to the United States in the spring of 1919 and was discharged at Camp Sherman 14 MAY 1919. Photos and records provided by his daughter, Professor (Retired) Betty P. Pytlik.
Scott Parsons in uniform at left, with his brother
Scott Parsons worked as a plumber, and served twice as Post Commander, Simpson-Hunt American Legion Post 107, Mt. Union, PA. At the age of 49, he also registered for the draft in April, 1942 for the Second World War. He marched proudly in all local patriotic ceremonies and parades and he occasionally spoke in the cemetery on Veterans’ Day and other occasions. When he died, he was commuting weekly from Mt. Union, PA to Mechanicsburg,PA to a military installation where he worked as a plumber.
Scott Parsons, in training, 2nd from right
Camp Sherman, Chillicothe, Ohio
Robert Scott Parsons, Honorable Discharge, Part 1
Robert Scott Parsons, Honorable Discharge, Part 2
Robert Scott Parsons Draft WW2 page 1
Robert Scott Parsons Draft WW2 page 2
Sgt. Joseph W. Orbell - Born on 2/28/1890 In Philadelphia. Employed by the Reading Railroad as a brakeman starting in 1916. Trained at Camp Meade. Promoted to corporal before he shipped out to France. Promoted to sergeant September, 1918. Fought with H company of the 315th Infantry Regiment of the 79th Division. Suffered gunshot wound to chest on 11/10/1918 near the French village of Gibercy. Discharged September, 1919. Returned to his job at the Reading Railroad until his death on 9/5/1943. Married Anna Joyce 12/12/1921. They had four children. Anna, Sara, Joseph, Alice. Sgt. Orbell was commander of his local VFW chapter on Jerome street in the Hunting Park neighborhood of Philadelphia.
Sgt. Joseph W. Orbell with Purple Heart
PVT JOHN J McMackin
Company H
109th Infantry Regiment
28th Infantry Division
KIA, 27 SEP 1918 France
Interred 1921 Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon, PA
Born, Ireland
Philadelphia Inquirer September 15, 1921