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 Walter Ernest Ladd

courtesy of SoilSister

PVT Walter Ernest Ladd was born 13 May 1895 in Little Rock, Arkansas the only child of Elmer Pierpoint and Josephine L. (Phillips) Ladd.  His father was involved in the lumber business. The parents divorced before 1910 and his father remarried.  In 1917, Walter was working in the logging business in Furth, Arkansas probably with his father.

After entering the army, Walter was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 116th Infantry. Walter died of bronchial pneumonia on 2 Nov 1918.

PVT Ladd was buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

PVT Stanislav P. Beno

courtesy of Frank Germanson

PVT Stanislav P. Beno was born 20 May 1895 in Tuchina, Slovakia.  Stanislav like immigrated sometime around 1910-1912 and settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with his brother Michael Paul Beno.  It is unclear as to whether or not their parents also immigrated. Stanislav worked as a common laborer and brewer.

Stanislav was likely drafted in May 1918 and assigned to Headquarters Company 116th Infantry and trained with the unit before it departed for France.  After sailing to France aboard the USS Finland in June 1918 PVT Beno was wounded and later died of his wound(s) on 28 Oct 1918.

PVT Beno was repatriated in July 1921 coming home aboard the USAT Wheaton.  He was re-interred in Holy Cross Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

PVT Harley Layton Derrough

PVT Harley Layton Derrough was born 4 Jun 1896 in Hamersville, Ohio the 1st of 6 children born to John Theodore and Lenora Yondaloe "Lou" (Dean) Derrough. The family farmed.

After entering the Army on 6 Apr 1918, Harley was assigned first to 6th Company of the Training Battalion of the 58th Dep Brigade.  On 3 May 1918 he was transferred to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 331st Infantry. He was then assigned to 3rd Army Corps and the Provisional Replacement Battalion of 7 AC. On 16 Sep 1918 PVT Derrough was transferred to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 116th Infantry.  PVT Derrough was killed in action on 27 Oct 1918.

PVT Derrough was repatriated in 1921 and re-interred in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

PVT Ralph Carelli

PVT Ralph Carelli was born 17 Jan 1892 most likely in Catanzoro, Italy.  We believe he immigrated in 1914.  In 1916 he worked for Goodyear Tire in Akron and by 1918 married to Elizabeth and lived at 74 Furnael Street in Akron, Ohio.  Ralph and Elizabeth had one child.

His record of military assignments is as follows:  37th Company 10th Training Battalion 158th Dep Brigade 4-4-1918 to 4-26-1918; A Company 331st Infantry to 7-2-1918; A Company 332nd Infantry to 7-6-1918; HQ 332nd Infantry to 7-20-1918; Provisional Replacement Battalion to 9-16-1918; HQ Company 116th Infantry to 10-26-1918. He shipped out to France from Montreal, Canada on 5 Jun 1918 aboard the Nanking.

PVT Carelli died on 26 Oct 1918 in France.  He is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. 

PVT Frank Cramado

PVT Frank Cramado was born about July 1894 in Rome, Italy.  After immigration his family lived in Beacon, New York where they apparently settled into a home at 33 Church Street.  That is where Frank was inducted in May 1918.  He was first sent to Fort Slocum, New York and then assigned to E Company 116th Infantry.  He arrived in France in June 1918 with the regiment and was then assigned to Headquarters 116th Infantry where he served as a Musician 3rd Class.  On 2 Sep 1918 he was re-assigned to E Company 116th Infantry.  PVT Cramado was killed in action on 25 Oct 1918. 

PVT Ernest Ward

courtesy of SoilSister

PVT Ernest Ward was born in 1900 in Lynchburg, Virginia.  His adoptive mother was Ida Cornelia McCormack Woody but he may have simply been left with the Woody family.  While his adoptive parents did various things to support their family from working on the railroad to dealing in illicit alcohol, we know that Ernest was working for the Virginia Railway and Power Company.

Ernest had enlisted in B Company 1st Virginia Infantry in 1915 or 1916. He was apparently serving with that unit when it was called up for the coal strikes, Mexican border service and, in 1918, for the war in France. When his unit was reorganized for the European war, PVT Ward was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 116th Infantry.  He was with that unit when he was killed in action on 24 Oct 1918.

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

Cook George Washington Webster

courtesy of Marlin Diehl

Cook George Washington Webster was born 3 Feb 1890 near Rockingham County, Virginia to Joseph Henry and Mary Elizabeth (Faught) Webster.  His mother died just 5 years later, soon after giving birth to her 3rd son. In 1900, at age 10, George is recorded as working for Peter S. Hartman as farm labor.

After entering the Army, George was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 116th Infantry. He likely trained with the unit at Camp McClellan and Anniston, Alabama and then sailed with that same unit to France aboard the USS Finland. Arriving in France in June 1918, George was killed in action on 23 Oct 1918 by the same artillery shell that killed Musician Austin Herman Hersh.

Cook Webster was repatriated and now rests forever in the Dayton Cemetery in Dayton, Virginia.

Musician 2nd Class Austin Herman Hersh

Musician 2nd Class Austin Herman Hersh was born 6 Jan 1892 in Elizabeth, New Jersey the 2nd of 4 sons born to Edward Simon and Lily G (Hackes) Hersh.  His father was born in Austria and owned a dry goods store in Elizabeth with his brother. Austin earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College in 1916.

After entering the Army, Austin would be assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 116th Infantry and travel with the unit to France, serving as the Regimental musician.  Musician Hersh was killed in action on 23 Oct 1918 when he was carrying hot food to a front line trench and a shell exploded in the kitchen killing a cook outright and injuring Hersh so badly that he died before he could be evacuated.

Musician 2nd Class Hersh was buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. There is a cenotaph to his memory at BNai Israel Cemetery in Newark, New Jersey.

Younger brother, Robert Wilson Hersh, served 1917-1919.

Chaplain(1LT) Thomas McNeill Bulla

Chaplain (1LT) Thomas McNeill Bulla was born on 4 Jan 1881 in Cumberland County, North Carolina to Thomas Daniel and Elmira (McDaniel) Bulla.  His father farmed.  Thomas attended Davidson College and was ordained as a Presbyterian minister.  He entered service with the 4th Virginia Volunteer Infantry.

As Chaplain of the 116th Infantry assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Thomas is reported as often venturing out to recover the wounded.  It was on one such foray into "no man's land" that he was wounded and died 2 days later on 17 Oct 1918.

Chaplain Bulla was repatriated and buried in the Bulla Family Cemetery in Vander, North Carolina.

- Commonwealth of Virginia Posthumously Awards WWI Hero
- Chaplain Thomas M. Bulla Marker, UM-50
- T. M. Bulla, 1881-1918
- Virginia Guard chaplain Thomas Bulla honored at Fort Pickett

CPL Charles Ashby Coleman

courtesy of Kent

CPL Charles Ashby Coleman was born 15 Sep 1889 in Healing Springs, Virginia.  He was the son of James Wilbur and Cinderilla (Kenney) Coleman. His father was a shoemaker. His mother died before 1900 and he and his siblings went to live with his maternal grandparents.

After entering the army, Charles was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 116th Infantry.  He sailed with that unit for France aboard the USS Finland and was with the unit when it kicked off a major offensive in the vicinity of Verdun. CPL Coleman was killed in action on 16 Oct 1918.

CPL Coleman was likely repatriated in 1920-21 and re-interred in the Woodland Union Church Cemetery in Bath County, Virginia.

Maternal grandfather, James A. Kenney, was a SGT in G Troop, 18th Virginia Cavalry. CPL Coleman should not be confused with Charles A. Coleman of K Company 116th Infantry from Newport News, Virginia who survived the war.

PVT Rex Lea Tobin

PVT Rex Lea Tobin was born 30 May 1896 in Carthage, Maine, the 5th of 6 children born to Herbert Llewellyn and Ada F. (Hammond) Tobin.  The family farmed.  In 1917, Rex was working in the Wilton Woolen Mill in Wilton, Maine.

Rex was drafted at Farmington, Maine on 1 May 1918 and assigned to Recruit Company 2 General Service Infantry at Fort Slocum, New York. On 7 May 1918 he was reassigned to Recruit Company 6 at  Camp McClellan , Alabama. On 22 May 1918 he was reassigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 116th Infantry. On 2 Jun 1917, Rex married Lillian Mirette Norlin. Just 13 days later he departed Hoboken, New Jersey with his unit aboard the USS Finland destined for France.  Rex died of pneumonia on 13 Oct 1918.

PVT Tobin was repatriated but we do not know where he was buried although it was likely with his parents somewhere in Franklin County, Maine. One sister would name her son for him and Rex Albert Horrock would serve in the US Navy in WWII.  His wife would remarry in 1919 and have a daughter with Rex's older brother Charles Herbert Tobin.

PVT William Allen Couch

PVT William Allen Couch was born 2 Dec 1895 in Lawrence County, Tennessee the 3rd of 5 children born to John Wesley and Lunetta Elizabeth (Bonds) Couch.  The family lived and later farmed near Florence, Alabama.  His parents separated about 1906 and his father moved with his parents to Rockwall, Texas where he re-married. By 1917, William was working in a cotton mill and was married.

William was drafted on 1 Apr 1918 and sent first to Camp Pike, Arkansas. William was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 116th Infantry.  He was working as a motor dispatch rider, using a motorcycle, when he was killed by artillery fire on 12 Oct 1918.

PVT Couch was repatriated and re-interred in Florence Cemetery in Florence, Alabama.

PVT Nicholas Luke Denhof

PVT Nicholas Luke Denhof was born 10 Mar 1896 in Ottowa County, Michigan the 2nd of 7 children born to Jacob and Wilhelmina (Graftema) Denhof. Wilhelmina died in 1910. The family farmed.

After entering the Army, Nicholas was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 116th Infantry and traveled with that unit to France aboard the USS Finland.  PVT Denhof was killed in action on 11 Oct 1918. 

PVT Denhof was repatriated and now rests with family in the Saint Francis Xavier Church Cemetery in Conklin, Michigan.

CPL Byron Clark Cugler

CPL Byron Clark Cugler was born 14 Sep 1897 in Tasley, Virginia the 6th of 9 children born to Samuel J. and Sallie Francis (Lewis) Cugler.  His father was a waterman working the Chesapeake Bay and later a cooper. His mother sometimes worked as a dressmaker.

After entering the Army, Byron was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 116th Infantry. He was transported to France aboard the USS Finland with his unit in June 1918.  CPL Cugler was killed in action on 9 Oct 1918.

CPL Cugler was repatriated and re-interred with family in Edge Hill Cemetery in Accomac, Virginia.

Brother, Harry Clifford Cugler served in A Battery 60th Field Artillery in the war.

PVT Thomas Arlie Brown

PVT Thomas Arlie Brown was born 14 Dec 1894 in Rochester, Kentucky the oldest of 4 children born to Arthur Delay and Elvin Louella (Russ) Brown. The family was living at 603 3rd Street in Evansville, Indiana for a time.

It was from that address that Thomas entered the Army, likely drafted, in May 1918.  Sent to Camp McClellan and assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 116th Infantry, Thomas also trained in Anniston, Alabama.  PVT Brown boarded the USS Finland and sailed for France with his unit in June 1918.  He was killed in action on 9 Oct 1918.

PVT Brown was repatriated in 1921 and re-interred in Oakhill Cemetery in Evansville, Indiana.

PVT Edward Doyle Northrop

PVT Edward Doyle Northrop was born 10 Oct 1887 in Albemarle County, Virginia the 2nd of 8 children of Edmunds Francisco Ximenes "Frank" and Lydia Vesey (Coles) Northrop. The family farmed in Albemarle County. In 1917, Edward was working as a brakeman for Southern Railway Company and living in Orange County, Virginia.

After entering the Army, Edward was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 116th Infantry.  He was sent to France with the unit aboard the USS Finland in June 1918.  PVT Northrop died on 5 Oct 1918.

PVT Northrop was repatriated and re-interred in the Oakwood Cemetery in Charlottesville, Virginia.

PFC Duling Montgomery Angel

PFC Duling Montgomery Angel was born 6 Jun 1922 in Whitley County, Kentucky to Henry Bird and Laura (Harp) Angel.  His father was a railroad repairman.  In 1940, Duling was driving a truck and had reportedly earned $360 in 1939. 

Duling was drafted in November 1942 and was recorded as being married.  The regimental headquarters lost everyone on one of the boats in which it landed on D-Day and on 14 Jun 1944, Duling was one of the necessary replacements reporting for duty with Headquarters 116th Infantry.  On 22 Oct 1944, PFC Angel was wounded by artillery fire and evacuated to hospital where he died that same day. 

Repatriated in 1948, PFC Angel is buried in Highland Cemetery in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky. 

T5 James Edward Frazier

T5 James Edward Frazier was born 12 Dec 1907 in Aquia, Virginia to George Washington and Annie Runia (Dickerson) Frazier.  His father farmed. 

Drafted in May 1941 he was assigned to the 116th Regimental Headquarters.  He was with that element when wounded in October 1944.  He died of those wounds on 21 Oct 1944.

T5 Frazier was returned to the U.S. and is buried in the Aquia Episcopal Church Cemetery in Aquia, Virginia. 

PVT William James Gallo Jr.

PVT William James Gallo Jr was born 28 Jan 1924 in Haledon, New Jersey to William James and Elizabeth L. Gallo. His father worked as a credit manager for a manufacturer and as a bookkeeper.

William entered the service July 1943.  Sent overseas, William was apparently assigned to Headquarters 116th Infantry prior to the D-Day landing.  He survived that (one of two boats bringing in the Headquarters was sunk and all aboard were killed).  PVT Gallo was killed in action on 2 Sep 1944.

PVT Gallo was repatriated in 1948 and is buried in Laurel Grove Memorial Park in Totowa, New Jersey.