Monday, October 8, 2018

PVT Harry S. Todd

PVT Harry Sylvester Todd was born in 1892 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania to Marcillus Price and Annie M. (Goss) Todd. His father worked as a day laborer and as a bartender in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  In 1911, Harry was working as a packer, perhaps in a cigar factory. 

Harry had enlisted in A Company 1st Virginia Infantry in March 1917.  That unit became B Company 116th Infantry upon federalization.  PVT Todd was promoted to PFC on 20 Aug 1917 and then reduced in rank to PVT on 26 Nov 1917 (reason unknown, but this could be done at this time without prejudice). He shipped out for France with his unit aboard the Finland on 15 Jun 1918.  PVT Todd was killed in action.  Again, there is a discrepancy between the after action report and official records with dates of either 8 Oct 1918 or 11 Oct 1918.  We believe that the date of 8 Oct 1918 shown on the memorial is correct.

PVT Todd is memorialized in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. His mother would make the pilgrimage to the cemetery in 1932.

Grandfather, Lewis Kenneda Todd, served in both K Company 178th Pennsylvania Infantry and G Company 186th Pennsylvania Infantry in the Civil War.

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