PFC Rumsey E. Dodson

PFC Rumsey E. Dodson was born in 1894 in Madison County, Virginia the 4th of 8 children born to Joseph Henry and Elizabeth (Burke) Dodson. His father did farm work for other people and in 1910 Rumsey was doing the same.

Rumsey still gave his occupation as "farmer" when he enlisted in B Company 2nd Virginia Infantry, Virginia National Guard for Federal service on the Mexican border.  After enlisting 29 Mar 1917, PVT Dodson served on the Mexican border, returned to Virginia and was recalled for the World War.  He trained with the unit re-organized as I Company 116th Infantry at Camp McClellan, Alabama.  Rumsey then sailed for France with the unit, departing Hoboken, New Jersey aboard the USS Finland on 15 Jun 1918.  He trained with I Company and went into battle with it all through to the Armistice on 11 Nov 1918. Then, after all that, he became ill, diagnosed as pulmonary tuberculosis, and was so sick that he couldn't travel home to the U.S. with his unit in May 1919.  PFC Dodson died in France of disease on 13 Jun 1919.

PFC Dodson was repatriated in 1922 and re-interred in the Culpeper National Cemetery in Culpeper, Virginia. While his stone indicates his rank is PVT, all other records correctly show his rank as PFC.

PFC Michael Malko

courtesy of Doc Wilson

We do not know where PFC Michael Malko was born but he was drafted or enlisted in Passaic, New Jersey in 1918. 

Michael apparently shipped out for France from Hoboken, New Jersey in August 1918 aboard the USAT San Jacinto.  His next of kin or emergency contact was given as John Andrew Kofski of 194 Monrose Street, Passaic, New Jersey.  He was likely assigned to I Company 116th Infantry as a replacement sometime after that.  He survived combat only to die of an accidental gun shot from a pistol on 17 May 1919. 

Repatriated aboard the USAT Mercury in 1920, PFC Malko is buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Although his unit is given as I Company 116th Infantry on the USAT Mercury manifest his unit is given as I Company 16th Infantry 1st Division on the internment record for Arlington. Since he did not go home with the 116th on 11 May he may have been reassigned perhaps because he enlisted in the regular army.

SSG Elwood Romas Campbell

SSG Elwood Romas Campbell was born 16 May 1895 in Page County, Virginia.  Elwood was the 2nd of 9 children born to Romas and Susie Elizabeth (Moyer) Campbell. His father supported the family as a day laborer and farmer. Elwood was working as a chauffeur in 1916.

Elwood enlisted as a PVT in D Company 2nd Virginia Infantry on 26 Jun 1916. He was with the unit through the Mexican Border duty and the recall for service in Europe.  He trained with the unit at Camp McClellan, Alabama. On 15 Jun 1918 Elwood and the unit sailed for France aboard the USS Finland.  They arrived in the French port of Saint Nazaire on 28 Jun 1918. The entire 29th Division then began training in trench warfare after which they were put on the front lines in a "quiet" sector.  The unit was then part of a big offensive or "push" in the vicinity of Verdun which began on 8 Oct 1918.  Elwood served as the stable sergeant, managing unit mules and related equipment. He survived all that but after the armistice was declared on 11 Nov 1918 he became ill on 7 May 1919 and died of bronchial pneumonia on 11 May 1919 the same day that the rest of the unit sailed for home.

SSG Campbell was repatriated in 1919 returning to the U.S. aboard the SS Matsonia.  He was interred in Green Hill Cemetery in Luray, Virginia.

Brother, Julian Richard Campbell, served with Elwood in the Machine Gun Company but was wounded and died of his wound(s) on 12 Oct 1918.

PVT Harry Bloom

PVT Harry Bloom was born 23 Sep 1896 in Brooklyn, New York.  He was the 3rd of 7 children born to Abraham and Elizabeth Bloom.  Both parents were natives of what is now Poland, then Russia, his father being born in Bialystok, Poland. His father worked as a salesman among other things. When Harry registered for the draft in 1917 the family was living at 104 Orchard Street, New York, New York.

Harry was inducted on 28 Apr 1918. He was first assigned to the 4th Recruit Company of the General Service Infantry at Fort Slocum, New York. He was reassigned to the 6th Recruit Company at Camp McClellan, Alabama on 7 May 1918. PVT Bloom was finally assigned to Machine Gun Company 116th Infantry on 22 May 1918.  He was with that unit when it sailed for France aboard the USS Finland from Hoboken, New Jersey on 15 Jun 1918. The unit went through trench warfare training and was then moved into the front line in a "quiet" sector.  On 8 Oct 1918 the entire 29th Division was part of an offensive in the vicinity of Verdun.  PVT Bloom was apparently wounded at sometime in that effort. PVT Bloom died of pulmonary tuberculosis on 19 Apr 1919.

PVT Bloom was repatriated and likely re-interred in the New York City area.

PVT Eldar Fred Jaekel

PVT Eldar Fred Jaekel was born 31 Aug 1893 in Chicago, Illinois. He was the 3rd of 5 children born to Charles Frederick and Amelia (Schultz) Jaekel.  Sometimes the name is spelled Jackel and one will find some members of the family using that spelling.  Both parents were natives of Germany.  His father was a Chicago policeman and retired from that service.

When Eldar registered for the draft in 1917, he was working as a drill press operator for Aermotor Company. PVT Jaekel was serving in B Company 122nd Infantry when he sailed for France on board the Kroonland on 7 Oct 1918.  Sometime after arrival in France, he was re-assigned to M Company 116th Infantry.  PVT Jaekel died by drowning on 18 Apr 1919 at Saint Nazaire, France.

PVT Jaekel was repatriated in September 1920, returning aboard the Princess Matoika.  He was re-interred in Concordia Cemetery in Forest Park, Illinois.

PFC Carl Lee Reedy

PFC Carl Lee Reedy was born 30 Aug 1898 in Shenandoah County, Virginia to William Harrison and Anna Mae (Hyde) Reedy.  His father worked as a hired hand and later the family farmed.

Carl was assigned to D Company 116th Infantry.  Carl died of broncho pneumonia on 30 Mar 1919. PFC Reedy is buried in Rosedale Cemetery in Martinsburg, West Virginia.

CPL Charles Lee Taylor

Abt 1917. Leroy Collier, Charles Taylor, and Clyde

CPL Charles Lee Taylor was born 2 Jun 1897 in Mecklenburg County, Virginia to Robert Samuel and Eva Watkins (Evans) Taylor.  The family farmed.

After entering the Army, Charles was assigned to F Company 116th Infantry.  He boarded the USS Finland on 15 Jun 1918 with his unit and shipped out for France.  CPL Taylor survived all the fighting and was reassigned to the 94th Casual Company. He died of empyema and exhaustion on 24 Mar 1919.

CPL Taylor was repatriated and is now buried with family in the Salem United Methodist Church Cemetery in Mecklenburg County, Virginia.

PFC James (Vincenzo) Parisi

PFC James (Vincenzo) Parisi was born 22 May 1894 in Palomonte, Italy to Pietro and Maria Parisi.  The family followed his father and immigrated in 1906 settling in Jersey City, New Jersey.

James was inducted 7 Aug 1918.  He sailed for France from Newport News, Virginia aboard the Pastores on 23 Sep 1918.  At that time he was assigned to I Company 4th Pioneer Infantry.  On 28 Oct 1918 he was transferred to 29th Division. He was transferred to K Company 116th Infantry on 10 Nov 1918, the day before the Armistice! It is unknown if PFC Parisi ever saw combat but he would soon face another enemy and lose that fight to meningitis on 16 Mar 1919.

PFC Parisi was repatriated in May 1921.  He now rests in Holy Name Cemetery in Jersey City, New Jersey. 

PVT Lee Roy Taylor

PVT Lee Roy Taylor was born 29 Jan 1888 in Eliasville, Texas the youngest of 9 children born to Benjamin Franklin and Mary Jane (Madole) Taylor.

Lee's mention of a "rupture" on his draft card did not prevent his induction and he was assigned to I Company 116th Infantry.  He trained with M Company 133rd Infantry and was transported to France with that unit aboard the Achimedes.  At some point in time Lee was re-assigned to I Company 116th Infantry.  He finished the war and served until he became ill in March 1919.  PVT Taylor died of meningitis on 16 (or 15) Mar 1919. 

The following is a letter to the family of PVT Taylor's death:

Dear Sir:

You have probably received the War Department's cable notifying you of the sad death of your brother, Lee R. Taylor, who was a member of I Company, 116th Infantry. He was taken sick at Parnot, Haute Marne, and carried to the hospital at Bourbonne, near here, on March 10th. He received the best of attention from skilled doctors and nurses but in spite of all they could do, he passed away on the evening of the 15th. The diagnosis was meningitis.

We feel the loss very keenly, and sympathize with you in your sorrow. Lee's comrades say that he was a "fine fellow," and I know that you will be proud to know that his service record is marked "Excellent Character," the highest grade. His close friend was Robert Tibliletti, from Victoria, TX. He is a member of I Company, and will probably write to you.

I had the sad duty of burying your brother yesterday. A squad from his company formed an escort of honor, and marched to the American cemetery at Bourbonne with his body. The funeral was a simple and impressive ceremony. After the few words of scripture and a prayer, three volleys were fired over the grave, which was covered with "Old Glory," and a bugler sounded "Taps." Private Taylor made the supreme sacrifice for his country, and you must always be proud, as we are, of his fine and soldierly spirit.

Sincerely,

s/William J. Alfriend, Chaplain 116th Inf., A.P.O. 765, A.E.F.

PVT Taylor was repatriated in 1921 and re-interred in San Antonio National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.

1SG Carroll Edwin Kay

1SG Carroll Edwin Kay was born 20 Dec 1892 in Caroline County, Virginia to Edgar B. and Lilly Gray (Ennis) Kay.  In 1910 Carroll was working on a locomotive or for the railroad. His father was appointed Postmaster for Delos, Virginia in 1891. On 4 Mar 1918, Carroll married Brooke Tignor in Richmond, Virginia.

1SG Kay was First Sergeant of B Company 116th Infantry when he died of pneumonia on 4 Feb 1919.  The unit was awaiting transportation back to the United States.  

1SG Kay was returned to the U.S. and he is buried in Lakewood Cemetery in Bowling Green, Virginia.

PFC Erwin Richard Bane

PFC Erwin Richard Bane was born 23 Oct 1891 to Eli Leady and Laura Bell (McMeans) Bane of Burkes Garden, Virginia.  Erwin was the first of 13 children born to the couple. The family farmed. Erwin would also farm bur moved to a place in Wayne County, Indiana.

PFC Bane was a member of D Company 116th Infantry when wounded in October 1918.  He lingered in the hospital until 21 Jan 1919 when he died of his wounds.

PFC Bane is buried in Sugar Grove Cemetery in Wayne County, Indiana.

Brother, Cecil Callaway Bane, served as a Wagoner in Headquarters Company 317th Infantry in WW1. 

PFC Thomas Andrew Jackson

courtesy of SoilSister

PFC Thomas Andrew Jackson was born in February 1893 in Tazewell County, Virginia to James Henry and Margaret Ellen (Lowe) Jackson.  The family lived several places in Russell and Tazewell counties where the family farmed.

Although he was apparently known as Andrew in the family he enlisted as Thomas A. Jackson. He enlisted in the 2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry on 3 Jun 1917.  When the unit was reorganized with others to form the 116th Infantry he was assigned to F Company 116th Infantry.  He shipped with that unit for France aboard the Finland on 13 Jun 1918.  We do not know when he was wounded but it was most likely in the action at Molleville Farm sometime between 12 and 25 Oct 1918.  We believe he recovered from his wound but was killed on 4 Jan 1919 when he was shot with a rifle by another soldier.

PFC Jackson was buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

You might note that the year of death on his marker is incorrect.  It is not the first or last time the Army has made a clerical error.

PVT Nicholas L. Keller

PVT Nicholas L. Keller was born 10 Feb 1887 in New Haven, Connecticut, the first of 5 children born to Nicholas J. and Nettie Elizabeth (Jacobs) Keller.  His father worked as a driver for a construction company.  In 1910, the younger Nicholas was working as a crane operator.  At some point in time Nicholas and his brothers would move to Norfolk, Virginia to work in the shipyards there. When drafted, Nicholas was working as a painter for Arthur McCloud in South Norfolk.

After entering the Army, Nicholas was assigned to I Company 116th Infantry and trained with the unit at Camp McClellan, Alabama.  On 15 Jun 1918, he and the rest of the regiment embarked on the USS Finland at Hoboken, New Jersey for the trip to France.  After the regiment received training in early July the unit moved into the line. PVT Keller received a serious gun shot wound in action near the Verdun Sector on 15 Sep 1918 and developed pneumonia on 16 Dec 1918 and died as a result on 25 Dec 1918.

PVT Keller rests forever in the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery. 

Brother Theodore Roosevelt Keller served as a PVT in  E Company 31st Infantry serving in the American Expeditionary Force Siberia. PVT Theodore Keller is buried in the Hampton National Cemetery.

PVT Walter Tenas Wissink

PVT Walter Tenas Wissink was born 20 Aug 1895 in Cedar Grove, Wisconsin, the youngest of 3 sons born to Garret and Janna Fredericka (Sikkink) Wissink.  Both parents were descended from natives of Holland (aka The Netherlands) who had survived the sinking of the Phoenix in 1847. The family farmed. Walter attended and graduated from the Wisconsin Memorial Academy in Cedar Grove. He then attended Hope College for one year and then Sheboygan Business College. When Walter registered for the draft in 1917, he was working as a clerk for Kohler Company.

Walter was drafted on 29 Mar 1918 and first reported to Camp Custer. Before leaving there he would marry Anna Cornelia Dees on 1 May 1918.  His wife would visit him at Camp Custer before he was transferred to Camp Gordon, Georgia and then to Camp McClellan, Alabama where he was assigned to K Company 116th Infantry. He traveled to France with that unit, departing Hoboken, New Jersey on 15 Jun 1918 aboard the USS Finland and arrived in France on 28 Jun 1918.  According to newspaper reports of his death, he was assigned to the intelligence section working in the Alsace sector for 2 months and then to the Meuse-Argonne sector, just north of Verdun, for 21-days.  He was then sent to the Lisle eu Regault where he became ill with the measles on 11 Nov 1918.  He was evacuated to Field Hospital 116 and from there to Base Hospital 83 where he died of meningitis.

PVT Wissink was repatriated in 1921 and re-interred in the Cedar Grove Cemetery in Cedar Grove, Wisconsin.

Anna and Walter had no children.  Anna re-married in 1921 and had several children with her second husband.

PVT Conroy Gay

PVT Conroy Gay was born 3 Jul 1896 in Wendell, North Carolina. He was the 2nd of 3 sons born to Henry Herbert and Fannie Elizabeth (Ferrell) Gay. His father farmed but died in 1902. The boys were orphans when Fannie died in 1906. Conroy went by the name "Roy" most of his life. His older brother went to work for other farmers,  Roy was sent to live with a paternal uncle and their young brother was sent to an orphanage. Roy may have been "adopted" by his uncle John Gay who lived near Zebulon, North Carolina.

After entering the service, Roy was assigned to B Company 116th Infantry. He sailed for France with the unit aboard the USS Finland on 15 Jun 1918. It took the Finland only 13 days to cross the Atlantic from Hoboken, New Jersey to Saint Nazaire, France. After docking on 28 Jun 1918, the regiment received training in trench warfare and was then put into a "quiet" sector on the front lines. On 8 Oct 1918 a major offensive kicked off in the vicinity of Verdun of which the 116th was a part. The armistice was declared on 11 Nov 1918. Roy took ill, as did many others, and died of broncho pneumonia on 11 Dec 1918.

PVT Gay was repatriated and re-interred in the Gay Family Cemetery in Wendell, North Carolina.

Both brothers served in military.  Older brother William Ivan Gay served in the Army as a Wagoner for the period 1918-1919. Younger brother Henry Herbert Gay served in the Philippines as an Army PVT 1916-1921.

CPL Miles D. Sanger

CPL Miles D. Sanger was born in March 1900 in Frederick County, Virginia to John F. and Sarah Ann (Sine) Sanger.  His family farmed especially raising apples.  Miles was assigned to D Company 116th Infantry.  He died of wounds on 4 Dec 1918.

CPL Sanger was repatriated and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

PVT Charles Elbert Liles

PVT Charles Elbert Liles was born 27 Aug 1893 in Linden, Texas.  He was the 9th of 12 children born to Charles Olden and Mary Ann (Surratt) Liles. The family farmed. Charles was working full-time at farming. In 1917 Charles had moved on to work for Littlejohn Drill Company.

After entering the service Charles was sent to Camp McClellan, Alabama and assigned to Machine Gun Company 116th Infantry. PVT Liles and his company boarded the USS Finland in Hoboken, New Jersey and sailed for France on 15 Jun 1918. They debarked at the port of Saint Nazaire, France on 28 Jun 1918. After trench warfare training and experience in a "quiet" sector on the front lines, the 116th together with its 29th Division were part of a major offensive in the vicinity of Verdun. The armistice was declared on 11 Nov 1918.  Sometime after that, PVT Liles became ill and he died of disease on 18 or 27 Nov 1918 (there are different dates on the various records).

PVT Liles was repatriated and re-interred in Center Grove Cemetery in Red Hill, Texas.

Great-grandfather, Francis Mason, served in the Revolutionary War.

PVT Daniel Burch Guion

PVT Daniel Burch Guion was born 20 Jan 1888 in Benton, Mississippi the 2nd of 4 children born to William Beylan and Ada (Bullock) Guion.  The family farmed but William died in 1900 or 1901.  Daniel's mother re-married and was again widowed.

When Daniel entered the Army he was assigned to F Company 116th Infantry.  He departed for France aboard the Finland on 15 Jun 1918 with his unit.  PVT Guion was wounded and as late as 26 Dec 1918 was being reported in hometown papers as "lightly wounded" but he died on 24 Nov 1918.

PVT Guion was returned to the U.S. in 1920 and re-interred in Hicks Cemetery in Yazoo County, Mississippi.

PVT Edgar Olcott Baile Clinton

PVT Edgar Olcott Baile Clinton was born 30 May 1891 in Jersey City, New Jersey the only child of Samuel William and Edgaretta (Olcott) Baile.  His parents had eloped and separated soon after his birth.  In 1898, his mother married Francis Wright Clinton.  We are unsure whether or not he was legally adopted but he used his step-father's surname for the rest of his life. Francis Clinton was a hat manufacturer and retailer.

After Edgar entered the Army he was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 116th Infantry and trained with it in the U.S. before departing for France in June 1918 aboard the USS Finland. Edgar participated in all the fighting until the armistice was declared and he took sick, possibly with the Spanish influenza, and died of lobar pneumonia on 22 Nov 1918. The New York abstract of his service shows him as assigned to K Company 116th Infantry which might have happened at some point in his service.

Edgar was repatriated and now rests peacefully in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

PVT Granville Hall

PVT Granville Hall was born 10 Sep 1895 in Green County, Kentucky to William Thomas and Louella Frances (Milby) Hall.  The family farmed.

Granville was assigned to D Company 116th Infantry and was killed in action 22 Nov 1918. How this was so we do not know it is more probable that he died of wound(s) received in October 1918.

PVT Hall is buried in Hall Cemetery in Greensburg, Kentucky.

1LT Elliott Hampton Howe

courtesy of Cindy Akers

1LT Elliott Hampton Howe was born 21 May 1880 in Montgomery County, Virginia the youngest of the 6 children born to John Thomas and Sally C. (DeJarnette) Howe. The family farmed. Elliott married Mary Bryan Moore in June 1904.  They would have a daughter in 1905 and then twin boys in 1907. The young family lived in Craven County, North Carolina. Mary died in 1908.  In 1910, Elliott was living in Richmond, Virginia and working in real estate. Elliott re-married in December 1912 to Belle Tyree Baylor.

Elliott enlisted in the Spanish American War at the age of 16 with his parents' consent; spending 6 months in camp at Jacksonville, Florida.  He went to work in Norfolk, Virginia soon after being mustered out and later in New Bern, North Carolina.  In 1916, he accepted a commission as a Lieutenant in the Radford Company of the Virginia National Guard for service in the Mexican Border trouble.  At the outbreak of WWI, Elliott Howe was mustered into the Federal Service with his organization and became a Lieutenant in M Company, 116th Infantry.  Trained with his regiment at Camp McClellan, Alabama and shipped overseas in July 1918 seeing service in the Vosges Sector.  The Division was later moved to the Argonne where 1LT Howe was killed in action on 11 Oct 1918 east of the Meuse River.

1LT Howe was returned to East Radford for burial in 1920. He now rests forever in Central Cemetery in Radford, Virginia.
 

Father, John Thomas Howe, served in E Company 4th Virginia Infantry as 1LT and was captured on 2 Jul 1863 at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Held near Sandusky, Ohio he was transferred to Fort Monroe, Virginia before being paroled in 1865. Second wife, Belle, never re-married and died in 1966. 

PVT Leone Introini

PVT Leone Introini was born 5 Nov 1891 in Samarate, Italy.  His mother was Maddalena.  Leone had immigrated in 1904. When he registered for the draft on 5 Jun 1917, he was working as a moulder for Emerson Morris & Company of  Tuckahoe, New York.  He was living on Fisher Avenue in Tuckahoe at the time. We know that he had 2 sisters because he said he was their support on his draft registration.

Leone was inducted on 3 May 1918.  He was assigned to M Company 116th Infantry and boarded the USS Finland with them on 15 Jun 1918.  PVT Introini was probably wounded in October 1918 (between 8 and 26 October) and he died of his wound(s) on 10 Nov 1918.

His mother was living in Samarate when she was notified of his death. His body may have been returned to Samarate for burial.

PVT Thurman Lewis Evans

courtesy of Ernestine Massie Tabor

PVT Thurman Lewis Evans (aka Lewis T. Evans) was born 3 Sep 1897 in Massie's Mill, Virginia the 6th of 8 children of William Matthew and Hannah Frances (Grant) Evans.  The family farmed.

Lewis (as he was known in the Army) enlisted in A Company 2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry on 4 Jul 1917 for the "emergency" being the Mexican border duty.  He was apparently moved to E Company.  When the 2nd Virginia was mobilized for the Great War, E Company was  re-organized with other companies as F Company 116th Infantry. PVT Evans shipped out for France aboard the Finland on 13 Jun 1918 along with the rest of the 116th Infantry.  PVT Evans is variously reported as having died of wounds or disease on 7 Nov 1918.

PVT Lewis was repatriated and now rests forever with family members in Jonesboro Cemetery in Jonesboro, Virginia.

Lewis' grandfather, Tarleton Jackson Evans, served 4-years in the Nelson Light Artillery during the Civil War.

CPL Shirley Pattie Pullin

CPL Shirley Pattie Pullin was born 6 Feb 1891 in Warrenton, VA to James Crawford and Louisa M (Cobb) Pullin.  Prior to the war Shirley worked as a grocery clerk in Alexandria, VA. Neither of his 2 brothers served in the military.  Assigned to A Company 116th Infantry, he died of wounds in France on 6 Nov 1918. He may also have been assigned to Machinegun Company 116th Infantry at one time. He now rests forever in Arlington National Cemetery.

PFC Cleveland Clanton

courtesy of Natalie Maynor

PFC Cleveland Clanton was born 20 Jun 1892 in Redding, Mississippi, the youngest of 8 children born to Theodore Robert and Sarah Alice (Gorrell) Clanton.  The family farmed in Grenada County, Mississippi. 

Ordered to report for the draft in February 1918, Cleveland went first to Camp Pike, Arkansas.  He was then sent to Camp McClellan, Alabama and assigned to K Company 116th Infantry.  In June 1918, Cleveland and his unit were sent to France aboard the USS Finland.  After training, K Company moved with the regiment into the trenches and sometime during the big push in October, PFC Clanton was wounded.  He died of his wound(s) on 5 Nov 1918. 

PFC Clanton was repatriated and re-interred in Chapel Hill Cemetery in Redding, Mississippi.

Paternal grandfather, James William Clanton, served in K Company 15 Mississippi Infantry. Maternal grandfather Ralph Washington Gorrell, served in K Company 13th North Carolina Infantry in the Civil War. Nephew, Guy E. Clanton, went missing in action and presumably died in the Philippines in 1942 while serving with 13th Bomber Squadron 3rd Bomber Group.