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.

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.

SGT Edward Walker Beal

courtesy of Barent Parslow

SGT Edward Walker Beal was born 16 Mar 1898 in Scottsville, Virginia. He was the first born of the 10 children born to Samuel Edward and Beatrice Van Allen (Henwood) Beal.  His father worked as a carpenter and the family farmed.

Edward was assigned to B Company 116th Infantry when he died of disease on 4 Nov 1918.

SGT Beal is buried in the Saint Mihiel Cemetery and there is a cenotaph for him in the Beal Cemetery in Antioch, Virginia.

Grandfather, Samuel Herald Beal, served in D Company 1st Virginia Infantry Battalion (CSA) during the Civil War. Brothers, Kenneth Woodson Beal and Frederick Herald Beal served during the 2nd World War. 

PFC Harvey L Thaxton

PFC Harvey L Thaxton was born 10 Mar 1898 to William Thompson and Mary E (Long) Thaxton of Halifax County, Virginia. One of 4 children, Harvey's brother also served during WWI (enlisted in 1916) but survived the war. Harvey was apparently wounded on 23 October 1918 and some of the family think this is when he died but he died of wounds on 1 Nov. In 1917 Harvey was a mill hand in one of Danville's many mills. He never married. His rank is open to discussion, the Adjutant General of Virginia officially recording him as a PFC but in other documents and on his headstone he is recorded as a PVT. A member of B Company 116th Infantry he was wounded in the heavy fighting the Regiment experienced in October as were so many others in the regiment. He now rests forever in Warren Family Cemetery in South Boston, VA.

PVT John A. McCormick

courtesy of soilsister

PVT John A. McCormick was born in October 1894 in New York City to Martin and Mary McCormick.  Both parents were natives of Scotland. He had three brothers and two sisters. His father worked at a knitting mill.

John was drafted in May 1918 and assigned to B Company 116th Infantry.  He was transported to France with his unit aboard the Finland, departing Hoboken, New Jersey on 15 Jun 1918.  PVT McCormick was killed in action on 24 Oct 1918.

PVT McCormick is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

PVT Paul Ashton Cofer

PVT Paul Ashton Cofer was born in March 1893, likely in Sussex County, Virginia to James Oliver and Virginia May (Bowden) Cofer.  His father farmed and operated a lumber mill.

PVT Cofer was assigned to B Company 116th Infantry when he was killed in action on 23 Oct 1918.  He rests forever in Oakwood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia.

PVT Felix Dolese II

PVT Felix Dolese II was born 12 Aug 1893 in Assumption Parish, Louisiana to Felix and Aurelienne Philomena (Himel). He is a first cousin to Alphonse Frederick Dolese Jr.  His father worked in a grocery and as a cooper.

PVT Felix Dolese was assigned to B Company 116th Infantry when he was killed in action on 23 Oct 1944.  PVT Dolese is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. 

PVT Ernest O. Gray

PVT Ernest O. Gray was born 5 May 1893 In Mecklenburg County, Virginia to Charles Robert and Martha Elizabeth (Floyd) Gray. His father worked as a shoemaker.

Ernest was assigned to B Company 116th Infantry when he was killed in action on 23 Oct 1918.

PVT Gray is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. 

CPL Ernest John Lewis

courtesy of Janiera

CPL Ernest John Lewis was born 21 Feb 1886 in Fairfax County, Virginia to George W. and Anne C. Lewis.  His father worked as a watchman.

Although his headstone is marked B Company, CPL Lewis was assigned to C Company 116th Infantry when he died of wounds on 19 Oct 1918.

CPL Lewis is buried in Riverview Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia.

PVT Austin Lawless

PVT Austin Lawless was born 13 Dec 1887 in Brooklyn, New York to Michael and Elizabeth Lawless. His father was a plumber. The family lived at 98 Junius Street in Brooklyn in 1918. 

Austin was drafted 3 May 1918.  He was assigned to 25th Recruit Company General Service Infantry until 7 May 1918.  Then he was assigned to 5th Company 58th Infantry Brigade until 20 May 1918.  He was then assigned to B Company 116th Infantry.  He died of lobar pneumonia on 19 Oct 1918.  PVT Lawless is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

His mother was listed on the 1929 Mother's Pilgrimage list but it isn't clear if she traveled to France.  She lived at 529 84th Street, Brooklyn in 1929. 

PVT Alfred Clinton Weesner

Alfred on our left, Clifford seated to right

PVT Alfred Clinton Weesner was born 29 Jan 1894 one of 10 children of William Rufus and Sarah Ellen (Carnes) Weesner of Searsboro, Iowa. A typical farm family of the time. He is shown here with his hand resting on his brother, Clifford Ernest Weesner (15 Jan 1892 - 11 Sep 1918). Alfred was assigned to B Company 116th Infantry and his brother to F Company 339 Infantry.  Brother John Virgil Weesner also served in the Great War but survived. Sister Lucy E (Weesner) Martin (already a widow) died in 1918 of influenza like brother Clifford did while serving in Russia as part of the "Polar Bear expedition". PVT Alfred Weesner died 17 Oct 1918 and is buried in Roseland Park Cemetery, Berkley, Michigan as is Clifford.

PVT Asger H. Zeilian

PVT Asger H. Zeilian was born 27 Apr 1896 in Saint Thomas to Emile V. R. and Freda Zeilian.  His mother was born in Denmark. He worked for a Manhattan silk manufacturer.

PVT Zeilian was assigned to B Company 116th Infantry when he was killed in action on 17 Oct 1918.  He rests forever in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. 

CPL Maynard I. Satchfield

CPL Maynard I. Satchfield was born in Augusta 1898 in Chesterfield County, Virginia to Robert Edwin and Anora (Taylor) Satchfield. His father was employed as an iron worker.

Maynard was assigned to B Company 116th Infantry when he was killed in action on 17 Oct 1918. CPL Satchfield is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

PFC Otis L. Jones

courtesy of Marjke Taffein

PFC Otis L. Jones was born in May 1898 in Chesterfield County, Virginia to Jonathan Johnson and Nora Alvis (Morrissette) Jones. He was the 3rd of their 4 children and his father supported the family as an iron moulder.

PFC Jones was assigned to B Company 116th Infantry when he died of wounds on 17 Oct 1918.  He is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

PVT Jesse Berry Camp

PVT Jesse Berry Camp was born 25 Oct 1887 in Hurricane Creek, Mississippi to Jesse Vulcanon and Alice L (Brewster) Camp.  The family farmed their own 262 acre place in Lauderdale County.

Jesse was ordered to report for military duty, i.e. he was drafted, on 2 Apr 1918.  At the time he was a railroad motorman.  Assigned to B Company 116th Infantry he was killed 17 Oct 1918.

PVT Camp is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

PFC Bledsoe Benjamin Hooper

PFC Bledsoe Benjamin Hooper was born 4 Apr 1899 in Henrico County, Virginia to James Henry and Archana R. (Henley) Hooper.  His father worked as a laborer and carpenter.

PFC Hooper was assigned to B Company 116th Infantry when he died of wounds on 15 Oct 1918. He was brought home and now rests forever in Cedar Grove Cemetery in Williamsburg, Virginia.

PVT Stanley John Woinicz

PVT Stanley John Woinicz was born 15 Nov 1890 in Staravies, Poland to John and Adda Woinicz. The family name is also spelled "Wojnicz" and the family immigrated in 1906 and lived in Kenosha, Wisconsin which had a large Polish population. In 1910, Stanley was working in a bed factory. By 1915, Stanley had his own business working as a photographer. He would seem to be well educated judging by his excellent penmanship. He was living at 105 Milwaukee Avenue in Kenosha and working out of his home. He reported that he was supporting his mother and 2 sisters.

Stanley was likely drafted in May 1918 and then assigned to B Company 116th Infantry.  He sailed with the unit for France aboard the USS Finland.  The ship departed Hoboken, New Jersey on 15 Jun 1918 and took almost 2 weeks to transit the Atlantic Ocean, arriving in the port of Saint Nazaire, France on 28 Jun 1918. Stanley participated with his unit in the trench warfare training that the 29th Division experienced. He was still with the unit when a major offensive began on 8 Oct 1918 and was killed in action on 15 Oct 1918.

PVT Woinicz now rests forever in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

PVT Frank S. Holmes

PVT Frank or Fountain S. Holmes was born 14 Aug 1898 in Wise County, Virginia the first of two children of Hezekiah Archibald and Cora W. (Winckler) Holmes.His father was a blacksmith. We do not know why Fountain was on the military record as Frank.  Fountain/Frank was assigned to B Company 116th Infantry after entering the service and shipped out with that unit aboard the Finland on 15 Jun 1918.

PVT Holmes was killed in action on 14 Oct 1918. He was repatriated and buried in the Maury Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia.

PVT Harry Jackson Bryant

Harry is shown on the viewer's right, with unknown Sergeant

PVT Harry Jackson Bryant was born 14 Sep 1898 in Madison Heights, Virginia, the 5th of 11 children born to Walter Milton and Alice Elizabeth (Chenault) Bryant. His father worked at an iron pipe works and as a car inspector for a railroad.

After entering the service, Harry was assigned to B Company 116th Infantry. He trained with the unit at Camp McClellan and was transported to France with them aboard the USS Finland.  The unit arrived in France in late June 1918 and after undergoing some more training was transitioned into service in the trenches.  PVT Bryant was wounded and later died of his wound(s) on 12 Oct 1918.

PVT Bryant was repatriated and re-interred in Presbyterian Cemetery in Lynchburg, Virginia.

LTC Hierome Opie, when writing the history of the regiment in the great war, confused Harry Jackson Bryant of B Company with Henry Jeff Bryant of K Company and listed Harry as dying while serving with K Company.  This is not correct, Harry did serve with B Company.  PFC Henry Jeff Bryant went home with K Company in March 1919, married (twice) and had at least one son. 

Harry had one brother, Bernard Homer Bryant, who served in the Army 1917-1919.

Mechanic Joseph Raymond Hicks

Mechanic Joseph Raymond Hicks was born 9 Sep 1900 to Robert Benjamin and Sarah Elizabeth (Hicks) Hicks of Richmond, Virginia. Joseph had 2 brothers and 3 sisters, all of whom survived him. A member of the Richmond Grays before the war, he spent 1 year on Mexican Border before serving in France with B Company 116th Infantry. He was killed 11 Oct 1918.  He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Richmond, VA.