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 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 on 29 Dec 1918.

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.

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.

PVT John Clark Freeland

courtesy of Linda Keil Smith

PVT John Clark Freeland was born 6 Mar 1893 in Woodhull, New York the 5th of 6 children born to Garrett Henry and Rebecca Fidelia (Munn) Freeland. The family farmed. At some point John moved to the area of Fredericksburg, Virginia where he lived at 521 Main Street and worked as a "laborer" at Hunters Laundry.

John enlisted in K Company 2nd Virginia Infantry on 28 Mar 1917.  he participated in the Mexican Border service and was re-called for service in France.  He trained with the unit at Camp McClellan, Alabama and was one of the men assigned to K Company 116th Infantry when the Virginia units were reorganized into the 116th Infantry Regiment. It is unclear when, but John moved to Roanoke and on 6 May 1918 married Mary Belt Oakes. He was probably on leave when he and Mary were married.  John traveled with the unit aboard the USS Finland to France in June 1918. PVT Freeland was wounded and died of his wound(s) on 30 Oct 1918.

PVT Freeland was repatriated and is buried in Fair View Cemetery in Roanoke, Virginia.

Mary never re-married. The couple had no children.  

PVT Joseph Walter Mills

courtesy of Ashley Odle

PVT Joseph Walter Mills was born 14 Jan 1895 in Toms Creek, Virginia.  He was the 3rd of 7 children born to Thomas C. and Emma Frances (Murray) Mills. His father worked as an engineman and as a foreman for a coal dealer.

After entering the army, Joseph was assigned to K Company 116th Infantry.  He was transported to France with the unit aboard the USS Finland which left Hoboken, New Jersey in mid-June 1918.  PVT Mills was wounded and died of his wound(s) on 26 Oct 1918. 

PVT Mills was repatriated and is buried in Bondtown Cemetery in Wise County, Virginia.

PVT Michael Walsh

PVT Michael Walsh was born 2 Oct 1888 in Claremorris, County Mayo, Ireland.  His parents were Patrick and Bridget (Fitzpatrick) Walsh and he was the 3rd of their 8 children. While Michael emigrated, his mother remained in Ireland, living on Aiden Street in Kiltimagh, Ireland at least through June 1918. A recent ABC News article provided this information:

"At the age of 22, Michael Walsh emigrated from rural Ireland, arriving at Ellis Island on September 3, 1911.  He moved with other Irish immigrants to a four-story tenement that faced the Second Avenue El train in midtown and found work in the newly rebuilt Grand Central Terminal as a platform man for the American Express freight agency. He earned union rates and sent money to his parents back home in Mayo."

Michael was living at 697 2nd Avenue in Manhattan when he was inducted on 4 May 1918.  He was assigned first to the 25th Recruit Company of General Service Infantry. On 7 May 1918 he was reassigned to the 4th Recruit Company 58th Infantry.  Michael was next transferred to K Company 116th Infantry on 20 May 1918.  He shipped out for France with that unit aboard the USS Finland in June 1918. After participating in the required initial training in France with the regiment, he was killed in action on 24 Oct 1918.

PVT Walsh rests forever in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

Note: PVT Walsh's family only recently received his Purple Heart.

PVT Valentine O'Mara

courtesy of Marijke Taffein

PVT Valentine O'Mara in March 1892 in County Boyle, Ireland.  He was working at Astor Garage at 87 North Broadway in New York City when he registered for the draft.  His parents may have died prior to 1918 because he listed his sister, Nora, as his next of kin. 

Valentine was inducted on 4 May 1918.  First assigned to the 4th Recruit Company at Fort Slocum, New York, he was reassigned to the 6th Recruit Company on 7 May 1918 and to K Company 116th Infantry on 22 May 1918.  There was not much time to train with the unit at Camp McClellan and he most likely never traveled to Alabama but first met his unit at the point of embarkation in Hoboken, New Jersey.  He boarded the USS Finland with his unit and sailed for France in mid-June 1918.  All of his training likely occurred during the unit training as the regiment was prepared for service in the trenches.  PVT O'Mara took ill and died of lobar pneumonia on 20 Oct 1918.

PVT O'Mara is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

PVT Earnest Arlie Fletcher

courtesy of Soil Sister

PVT Earnest Arlie Fletcher was born January 1895 in Nickelsville, Virginia the 3rd of 6 of John Crisman and Victoria Belle (Austin) Fletcher.  Victoria was John's second wife. The family farmed.

On 29 May 1917, Earnest went to Roanoke, Virginia and enlisted in H Company 2nd Virginia Infantry.  He was undoubtedly present in the unit for Mexican Border service. After returning home, the unit was soon recalled for duty in France and re-organized as part of K Company 116th Infantry to which Earnest was assigned.  He trained with the unit at Camp McClellan, Alabama and was with the unit when it shipped out for France aboard the USS Finland in mid June 1918. After training, K Company moved to the front lines with the regiment.  PVT Fletcher was wounded and died of his wound(s) on 18 Oct 1918.

PVT Fletcher rests forever in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

Brother, Charles Clares Fletcher, died of influenza at the Great Lakes Naval Hospital in Great Lakes, Illinois after only 4 months service in the U.S. Navy.

PFC Clarence Vincent Stidham

PFC Clarence Vincent Stidham was born 3 May 1899 in Norton, Virginia, the 4th of 6 children of William David and Malissa Victoria (Wright) Stidham.  His father worked as a coal miner and later as a retail merchant in a small store.

After entering the army, Clarence was assigned to K Company 116th Infantry.  He sailed with the regiment to France aboard the USS Finland in mid-June 1918.  After some preliminary training the regiment was moved to the front lines.  PFC Stidham was wounded and died of his wound(s) 17 Oct 1918.

PFC Stidham was repatriated but we don't know where he rests today.  

Younger brother, William Cecil Stidham, served in the 135 Quartermaster Truck Company in WW2 (1942-1945).

PFC Ollie Oliver Olive

PFC Ollie Oliver Olive was born 20 Jan 1896 in Stafford County, Virginia. He was the oldest of 9 children born to Richard Andrew and Minnie Francis (Sullivan) Olive. Richard was a carpenter and the family also farmed.  Ollie worked the farm while his dad worked as a carpenter.

After entering the Army, Ollie was assigned to K Company 116th Infantry.  He sailed for France with the unit aboard the USS Finland in mid-June 1918.  PFC Olive was killed in action on 16 Oct 1918.

PFC Olive was repatriated in 1921 and re-interred in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

His cousins, Herbert and Hugh Jett, also of Stafford County, also served in K Company.

PFC Kenneth Bankert Long

courtesy of Marijke Taffein

PFC Kenneth Bankert Long was born 28 Dec 1896 in Westminster, Maryland the 4th of 6 children born to George H. and Gertrude M. (Bankert) Long. Kenneth was working as a moulder in Southern Brass Works in Portsmouth, Virginia where he lived at 403 Washington Street.

After entering the service, Kenneth was assigned to K Company 116th Infantry and probably trained with the unit at Camp McClellan, Alabama.  He and his unit then shipped out for France aboard the USS Finland.  PFC Long was killed in action on 16 Oct 1918.

PFC Long is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

Brother, Nevin Carver Long, served as a National Guard PVT; PFC 22 Aug 1917, H Company 1st Maryland Infantry; C  Company 112th Machinegun Battalion 1 Oct 1917, Honorable discharge 5 Jun 1919, Overseas 15 Jun 1918 to 24 May 1919, Center Sector; Meuse-Argonne, Wounded slightly 15 Oct 1918.

PVT Guy Roy Hall

courtesy of Marijke Taffein

PVT Guy Roy Hall was born in July 1899 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.  He was the 3rd of 8 children born to Clarence Offord and Alice Alma (Faulconer) Hall.  The family farmed.

Guy was among those who answered the call for volunteers and he enlisted on 27 Mar 1917 in K Company 2nd Virginia Infantry. The young man was in fine condition as shown in his physical but at 5-foot 6½-inches and 125 pounds we would not consider him a large man. He was still with the unit when it was re-called for service in France and re-organized as part of K Company 116th Infantry.  He went with the unit to Camp McClellan and trained there and then departed with the unit aboard the USS Finland and arrived in France on 28 Jun 1918.  PVT Hall was killed in action on 16 Oct 1918.

PVT Hall rests forever in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. 

Paternal grandfather, Addison C. Hall, served in D Company 30th Virginia Infantry during the Civil War dying of disease in 1865. Maternal grandfather John Spencer Faulconer served in E Company 9th Virginia Cavalry and survived the war.

PVT Robert Lawrence Jenkins

PVT Robert Lawrence Jenkins was born in 1895 in Fredericksburg, Virginia a son of Ralph Jenkins.

Robert enlisted 17 Jun 1916 in K Company 2nd Virginia Infantry. He was married to Mary W. Nail on 7 Jul 1917. When federalized the unit was reorganized as part of K Company 116th Infantry.  Robert trained with that unit at Camp McClellan, Alabama.  He was also with the unit when it sailed for France aboard the USS Finland in June 1918.  PVT Jenkins was killed in action on 15 Oct 1918. 

PVT Jenkins was repatriated in 1921 and re-interred in the Fredricksburg National Cemetery in Fredricksburg, Virginia.

Robert and Mary had no children. His wife remarried in 1919.

1LT Floyd Lowell Cunningham

1LT Floyd Lowell Cunningham was born in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota on 1 Apr 1886. He was the eldest of the five children born to George William and Itasca Ann (Sherman) Cunningham. His father was first a farmer. After his mother died in 1897, George moved nearer his maternal grandparents and worked as a butcher while Floyd was made the ward of Huston and Helen Hays in Brown County, Minnesota near Sleepy Eye. George remarried in 1902 and after farming some in Minnesota he moved with his new wife and their young son to Perry, New Mexico and Dallam, Texas. 

What Floyd was doing in this time is unclear but he may have enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard and did duty as a Second Lieutenant on the Mexican border in 1916 and was discharged in January 1917. However, he was soon back in service and departed for France in June 1918 aboard the USAT Finland as a First Lieutenant in K Company 116th Infantry. 1LT was killed in action on 15 Oct 1918 north east of Consenvoye, France in the vicinity of Molleville Farm. 

Posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the citation is as follows:

"The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Floyd L. Cunningham, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division, A.E.F., near Brabant, France, 8 October 1918. Lieutenant Cunningham displayed rare courage in voluntarily going to the assistance of a wounded comrade, under heavy machine-gun and shell fire."

1LT Cunningham was among the soldiers repatriated aboard the USAT Wheaton in July 1921. He now rests near his immediate family in the Home Cemetery in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota.

PVT William Henry Bauer

courtesy of Marijke Taffein

PVT William Henry Bauer was born 8 Feb 1896 in New Orleans, Louisiana to George Michael and Catherine (Kretschner) Bauer.  He was the 2nd of 7 children born to the couple.  Both of his parents were natives of Germany.  William's father worked as a warehouseman in a wholesale grocery.  In 1910, William was also working, as a "cash boy" in a shoe store and by 1917 was working as a printer.

William was likely drafted in 1917.  PVT Bauer was assigned to K Company 116th Infantry and trained with the unit at Camp McClellan, Alabama.  He then shipped out for France with the unit aboard the USS Finland which departed Hoboken, New Jersey in the middle of June 1918. PVT Bauer was killed in action on 15 Oct 1918. 

PVT Bauer rests forever in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

Older brother, George Philip Bauer, served in C Company 336th MG Battalion.

PVT Dudley Robinett Cason

PVT Dudley Robinett Cason was born 25 Jun 1886 in Stephens, Missouri, the 5th of 6 children of Joseph Richmond and Charlotte Ann (McKim) Cason.  His father farmed and his mother was a dress maker. In 1910, Dudley was farming on his own.

After entering the Army, Dudley trained at Camp Pike, Arkansas, Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia and was likely at Camp McClellan with his assigned unit, K Company 116th Infantry, before departing with that unit for France in mid-June 1918.  PVT Cason was killed in action on 14 Oct 1918. 

PVT Cason was repatriated and re-interred in Prairie Chapel Cemetery in Fulton, Missouri.

PVT Henry Otto Warmbier

courtesy of Soil Sister

PVT Henry Otto Warmbier was born 10 Dec 1893 in Williams, Michigan, the 3rd of 12 children born to Herman Frederick and Augusta (Tulcheski) Warmbier.  Both parents were natives of West Prussia now part of the Federal Republic of Germany. The family farmed. In 1917, Henry was both working for his father and farming 40 acres of his own. 

After entering the Army, Henry was assigned to K Company 116th Infantry.  He trained with the unit at Camp McClellan, Alabama and was transported with the rest of the regiment to France aboard the USS Finland.  Departing 15 Jun 1918, the unit spent time training before moving into the front lines.  PVT Warmbier was killed in action on 12 Oct 1918.

PVT Warmbier now rests in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. 

PVT Frank Raymond Beasley

PVT Frank Raymond Beasley was born 17 Aug 1898 in Nelson County, Virginia the first of 8 children born to George Wesley and Mattie Mildred (Clements) Beasley.  We know that Frank's father worked as a day laborer and as a grader in a saw mill.

On 4 Aug 1917, Frank went to Charlottesville, Virginia and enlisted in the 2nd Virginia Infantry, a National Guard unit, for "the emergency" which was to result in service on the Mexican border.  After the unit returned it was soon recalled for duty in France.  Sent to Camp McClellan, Alabama for training and then aboard the USS Finland to France, Frank got to experience it all.  PVT Beasley was killed in action on 11 Oct 1918.

PVT Beasley was repatriated and re-interred in the George W. Beasley Cemetery in Schuyler, Virginia.

PVT Ernest Allen

PVT Ernest Allen was born 10 Oct 1895 in Louisville, Mississippi, the youngest of 7 children born to Chelsey Edward G. and Elizabeth Jane (Carr) Allen.  The family farmed.

After being drafted, Ernest was assigned to I Company 116th Infantry and trained with the unit at Camp McClellan, Alabama before shipping overseas in June 1918.  He was aboard the USS Finland with his unit for that journey to France.  PVT Allen was killed in action on 8 Oct 1918.

PVT Allen is memorialized on the tablets of the missing at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

PVT Salvatore Guinto

PVT Salvatore Guinto was born December 1893 in San Cataldo, Provincia di Caltanissetta, Sicilia, Italy.  Salvatore arrived in the U.S. in 1914. He lived with his uncle, Guiseppe (aka Joseph) Guinto, at 5 Rivington Street, New York, New York in 1918.

Salvatore was drafted and entered the Army on 4 May 1918 at Fort Slocum, New York.  He was first assigned to the 6th Recruit Company. On 9 May 1918 he was reassigned to K Company 116th Infantry.  He may have trained with the unit at Camp McClellan, Alabama for a short period before the unit was sent to Hoboken, New Jersey where they boarded the USS Finland for the trip to France.  The unit underwent more training before being moved to the front.  PVT Guinto was killed in action on 8 Oct 1918.

PVT Guinto is memorialized on the tablets of the missing at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.