LTC Harold Andrew Cassell

LTC Harold Andrew Cassell was born 18 Apr 1908 in Ceres, Virginia. He was the 6th of 8 children born to James Franklin and his second wife Mary Emily (Spangler) Cassel. His father had 8 children by his first wife as well and supported his large family by farming and blacksmithing in Bland County, Virginia. After 7 years of public school education, Harold left school and went to work, probably to help support his family including his aging father. His father died in March 1930 at the age of 80.

By that time Harold was working at Garst Brothers Dairy in Roanoke, Virginia. Harold married Mary Katherine Goggin on 17 Sep 1930 in Roanoke where they lived. Although he was 21 he was still living in his now widowed mother's household. In order to supplement his income Harold had enlisted in the Virginia Army National Guard on 18 Aug 1925. He rose through the ranks being promoted from PVT to PFC to CPL to SGT to 1SG and then MSG before being commissioned a 2LT on 15 Mar 1938 and being federally recognized at that rank on 28 Jan 1939. He was serving in Service Company 116thh Infantry at that time. The couple had a son in 1940. Harold was now manager of the dairy and doing very well owned the family home at 302 Guilford Avenue which was valued at $4000 and reported a 1939 income of $1540.

2LT Cassell was mobilized with his National Guard unit on 3 Feb 1941 and went with that unit to Fort George Meade, Maryland. He received a reserve commission as LTC on 5 Dec 1943 although he was not promoted to CPT with federal recognition until 18 Apr 1943. He was federally recognized as a LTC on 29 Jun 1950. After having served as regiment executive officer LTC Cassell took command of the 116th in November 1944 before command of the unit was given to LTC Sidney Bingham in early December 1945.

On 6 Jun 1944, D-Day, LTC Cassell was serving as the 116th's Executive Officer. He replaced the wounded LTC Tom Dallas as commander of 1st Battalion 116th Infantry on 5 Aug 1944 near Vire, France. On 10 Nov 1944 he assumed command of the regiment from COL Dwyer who was being transferred. He relinquished command to LTC Sidney Bingham at the beginning of December 1945 but would again command the regiment during its duties in the occupation of Germany after May 1945 and was still commanding the unit when it demobilized at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey in 1946. LTC Cassell was one of he only 50 men who had mobilized with the unit in February 1941 who were still with the regiment 5-years later. LTC Cassell was then assigned to the Fort Leavenworth where he and Mary would have a 2nd child, a daughter, in April 1949. After being reassigned in 1949 the family lived in Anne Arundel, Maryland. As a LTC, Harold was paid about $5600 in 1949. Then he had an assignment in Japan and in the Republic of Korea before returning to Fort Benning and Columbus, Georgia where he commanded the 1st Battalion of the School Brigade at the Infantry School there until 1957. LTC Cassell then served a tour  in Tuscaloosa, Alabama where he was Chief of the Tuscaloosa Military Sub-district. He was then assigned as commander of the Western Area Command, an Army Reserve unit. LTC Cassell retired from the Army on 30 Jun 1961 and lived in Columbus, Georgia.

LTC Cassell died 22 Jan 1974 in Columbus, Georgia. He rests forever in the Fort Moore Main Post Cemetery at Fort Benning, Georgia. His awards include the Silver Star, 3 Bronze Stars (BSM with 3 OLC) and the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.

COL Robert Franklin Leedy

COL Robert Franklin Leedy was born 28 Jul 1863 at Leedy's Pump in Rockingham County, Virginia. He was the third of six children of John Brower and second wife Sarah Ann (Mauck) Leedy. The couple had lost their first two children in childbirth. Robert also had a half-sister, the daughter of his father's first wife Lydia Margaret (McCreary) who had died in 1856. His father supported his family by farming. Robert was educated in local schools as was common at that time and continued in farming until he was about 22 years old when he left home. He then spent the next three years in mining and railroading. He married Emma Catherine Keister in 1890 and the couple would have seven children by 1915. Moving to Basic City, Virginia, Robert began to study law and work for local lawyers and then to study in the law school of the University of Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1893. Although twice elected mayor of Basic City in this time period, after becoming a lawyer he resigned from the office and moved to Luray, Virginia where he practiced law in partnership and alone. Robert was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1914 and held the seat for two terms. 

The law and politics were not Robert's only interests. He joined the state militia, now National Guard, and was elected Captain of the Page Rifles later C Company 2nd Virginia Regiment. He rose in rank in the regiment becoming the commander and a Colonel in August of 1905. The regiment was called up for duty on the Mexican border in 1916 and COL Leedy commanded the unit there for nine months. Shortly after returning home, the unit was recalled for duty in the first World War and sent to the newly established Camp McClellan near Anniston, Alabama where it was combined with other Virginia regiments to form the 116th Infantry Regiment. Intending to continue command, COL Leedy was found to be medically unfit for duty and relieved of command. 

Returning home in March 1918 Robert ran for the state senate and was elected as a Democrat representing Page, Warren and Clark counties. In office he supported the National Guard but opposed both prohibition and women's suffrage. The family suffered a tragedy when, in November 1918, Robert's eldest child, Nina Coleman Leedy, succumbed to pneumonia. He then unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1920 and declined to run again in 1922. 

Robert became ill in December 1923, developed pneumonia and died on 12 Jan 1924. He was buried in Green Hill Cemetery in Luray, Virginia.

Robert Leedy was a member of several masonic organizations and of the American Legion.

His father served in several units (CSA) in the Civil War ultimately being promoted to COL. Great-grandfather Conrad Harnsberger served in CPT Thomas Buck's Company 8th Virginia Regiment in the Revolution and as a COL in the war of 1812 dying of yellow fever in Norfolk in 1814 and was a founder of Elkton, Virginia. Great, great-grandfather Wilson Cary Nicholas was a former Governor of Virginia (1814-1816) and Nicholas county, Virginia (now West Virginia) was named for him. Great, great-grandfather CPT Richard Stites was commanding a company in Hunt's Battalion when wounded on Long Island later dying of his wound(s) on 16 Sep 1776. His great, great, great-grandfather was President Thomas Jefferson.

BG George Washington Ball Jr.

BG George Washington Ball Jr. was born 16 Feb 1881 in Iowa City, Iowa. He was the firstborn son of George Washington and Estella Esther (Walter) Ball. His father was prominent local attorney, former State Senator for Iowa County and a Mayor of Iowa City.

George Jr., graduated from the College of Law of the State University of Iowa and joined his father's practice. He also was head of Johnson County and Ball Abstract Companies. In June 1905 he married Maude Hester Young. The couple would have 3 children, the youngest of which died in 1921, age 6, of polio.

George enlisted in I Company 50th Iowa Volunteer Infantry on 9 Jul 1900. He received his commission as 2LT on 3 Apr 1901. He was promoted to 1LT on 22 Jun 1903. George was again promoted to CPT on 9 May 1904 and appointed Commander I Company 54th Infantry Regiment, Iowa National Guard (apparently reorganized from the 50th). He was promoted to LTC on 10 May 1914 and was the regiment Executive Officer when the 54th became the 1st Infantry Regiment on 4 Jul 1915. The unit was mustered into service at Camp Dodge on on 26 Jun 1916 and mustered out of service on 15 Jan 1917. However, the United States would soon be involved in the war in Europe. COL Ball sailed to France as commander of the 133rd Infantry Regiment a part of the 34th Division on 28 Oct 1918. COL Ball returned to the United States in July 1919. Promoted to BG, he was assigned to the 175th Brigade of the 34th Division retiring before 1924.

BG Ball died on 3 Jan 1924 as a result of an automobile accident in which he fractured his pelvis and which, in turn, resulted in pulmonary thrombosis. He was buried in Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City, Iowa.

BG Ball was a life member of the National Rifle Association of America. 

Great, great grandson of COL George Moffett, former commander of the Augusta County Regiment (an ancestral unit of the 116th Infantry Regiment). 3rd cousin once removed of former commander of the 116th Infantry Regiment, BG George Murrell Alexander.