PVT Arley Oakley

courtesy of Edward Toy

PVT Arley Oakley was born in 1885, likely in Niagara County, New York the first of 6 children of George A. and Jennie Elizabeth (Schad) Oakley.  His father worked in a sulphite mill.  On 6 Jul 1907, Arley enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in D Battery 6th Field Artillery. After leaving the service, Arley returned to Lockport, New York where he lived with his parents and worked with his father at the pulp mill.

After returning to the Army in 1917, Arley was assigned to L Company 116th Infantry and trained with the regiment at Camp McClellan, Alabama.  On 15 Jun 1918, Arley and the 116th departed Hoboken, New Jersey aboard the USS Finland headed for France where they arrived on 28 Jun 1918. After going through more training in preparation for trench warfare.  On 8 Oct 1918, the regiment was part of a big "push" in which PVT Oakley was wounded.  He died of his wound(s) on 27 Oct 1918.

PVT Oakley was repatriated and re-interred in Prospect Lawn Cemetery in Hamburg, New York.