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.

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.

2LT James McCoy Malcomb

courtesy of Marijke Taffein

2LT James McCoy Malcomb was born in January 1895 in Castlebury, Alabama the 2nd of 5 children born to Marion A. and Kennie Elizabeth (Fincher) Malcomb. His father was a merchant and traveling salesman who had been born in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. James was working as a manager for Standard Oil in 1916.

James enlisted in the Alabama National Guard's D Company 2nd Alabama Infantry.  He was then transferred to the Machine Gun Company where he was promoted to CPL.  After the unit was mobilized he was transferred to the 4th Alabama Infantry on 15 Aug 1917. CPL Malcomb was assigned to Machine Gun Company 167th Infantry when that unit boarded the SS Lapland for France on 3 Nov 1917.  It was in France that CPL Malcomb was commissioned as 2LT and reassigned to M Company 116th Infantry.  Wounded sometime after 8 Oct 1918, 2LT Malcomb succumbed to his wound(s) on 26 Oct 1918.

2LT Malcomb is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

Maternal grandfather, James Thomas Fincher, served in the 1st Confederate Cavalry (Simpson's Mounted Rangers) during the Civil War.

PFC Earnest Roy Matney

PFC Earnest Roy Matney was born 17 Jul 1896 in Wythe County, Virginia to Daniel Mitchell and Oregon Missouri Texas (Leslie) Matney. The family farmed.

After entering the service, Earnest was assigned to M Company 116th Infantry.  He was with the unit at Camp McClellan, Alabama and sailed with the unit aboard the USS Finland on 15 Jun 1918.  He trained with the regiment for trench warfare in France.  PFC was killed in action on 15 Oct 1918.

PFC Matney was repatriated and re-interred in West View Cemetery in Radford, Virginia.

PVT Walker C. Woolwine

PVT Walker C. Woolwine was born in January 1895 in Christiansburg, Virginia. He was the 2nd of 11 children born to Calvin Chavenous and Mary Elizabeth (Akers) Woolwine. His father worked in a lime kiln.

After entering the service, Walker was assigned to M Company 116th Infantry. He was with the unit when it sailed for France aboard the USS Finland on 15 Jun 1918.  It took the ship 13 days to cross the Atlantic from Hoboken, New Jersey to the port of Saint Nazaire, France. Walker then went through trench warfare training with the regiment.  PFC Woolwine was killed in action on 15 Oct 1918.

PFC Woolwine was repatriated and re-interred in Sunset Cemetery in Christiansburg, Virginia.

Walker's brother, Earnest, was also a member of M Company and died 3 days earlier.  Earnest is also interred in the Sunset Cemetery.

CPL Marshall Vernon Perdue

CPL Marshall Vernon Perdue was born 5 Jul 1898 in Montgomery County, Virginia the firstborn of James Thomas and Lucy Adeline (Miller) Perdue. His father was a sawyer.

After entering the service, Marshall was assigned to M Company 116th Infantry. He trained with the unit at Camp McClellan, Alabama. Marshall boarded the USS Finland with his regiment and sailed from Hoboken, New Jersey for France on 15 Jun 1918.  CPL Perdue was killed in action on 15 Oct 1918.

CPL Perdue was repatriated in 1921, returning on the SS Catigny and re-interred in Westview Cemetery in Blacksburg, Virginia.

PFC John Lemuel Windham

PFC John Lemuel Windham was born 7 May 1893 in Forest, Mississippi the son of E. Rush and Annie C. (Crout) Windham.  The family farmed.

John was inducted on 5 May 1918 and assigned to M Company 116th Infantry. He sailed for France aboard the USS Finland with the unit, departing Hoboken, New Jersey on 15 Jun 1918.  They arrived at the port of Saint Nazaire on 28 Jun 1918.  The regiment then participated in trench warfare training before being assigned to a "quiet" sector in the front lines.  PFC Windham was killed in action on 15 Oct 1918.

PFC Windham was repatriated in 1940 and re-interred in the Homewood Methodist Church Cemetery in Homewood, Mississippi.

PVT John Vincent Barazotto

PVT John Vincent Barazotto was born 8 Aug 1894 in Manhattan, New York. He was the 2nd of 8 children born to Louis (Luigi) and Olympia (Buchignani). His parents were both natives of Italy.  His father worked in a bakery and later was able to own his own bakery and grocery. John was married to Catherine Chiecco on 24 May 1913.  The would have a daughter in 1915 and a son in 1917. In 1917, John was working as a printer for the West Broadway Printing Company at 423 West Broadway. The couple lived at 178 West Houston Street, New York.

John was inducted on 4 May 1918. He was assigned to the 4th Recruit Company of the General Service Infantry at Fort Slocum, New York on 7 May 1918.  On 9 May 1918 he was reassigned to the 6th Recruit Company at Camp McClellan, Alabama.  John was again transferred on 20 May 1918, this time to M Company 116th Infantry. John and M Company boarded the USS Finland in Hoboken, New Jersey and departed for France on 15 Jun 1918.  They arrived at Saint Nazaire on 28 Jun 1918 and were moved to a training site where they trained in trench warfare.  M Company then was sent to a "quiet" sector to acclimatize to live in the trenchs.  On 8 Oct 1918, the regiment was part of a "push" and sometime between the 8 and 13 Oct 1918, PVT Barazotto was wounded.  He died of his wound(s) on 13 Oct 1918.  His youngest son, John, would be born the next day, 14 Oct 1918.

PVT Barazotto was repatriated in June 1921, being returned aboard the Wheaton to the port of departure, Hoboken, New Jersey. John was re-interred with family in Calvary Cemetery in Queens, New York.

Wife Catherine would re-marry in 1920. Son, John Vincent Barazotto Jr., served in the U.S. Navy during WW2. John has many living descendents.

PVT John Carnesi

PVT John Carnesi was born on 8 May 1891 in Mitaliso, Italy to Frank and Barbara Carnesi.  The family immigrated in 1907.  In 1910, John and 2 of his siblings were supporting the family.

John was assigned to the 6th Recruit Command at Camp (now Fort) McClellan, Alabama 9 May 1918 to 22 May 1918.  He was then assigned to M Company 116th Infantry.  PVT Carnesi was killed in action on 12 Oct 1918.

John now rests forever in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

Brother, Joseph Carnesi, served as a Wagoner from April 1918 to February 1919. Brother, Charles Carnesi, served in the U.S. Navy as a Machinist Mate.

PVT Walter Clay Beasley

PVT Walter Clay Beasley was born in August 1893 in Hertford County, North Carolina.  Walter was the 4th of 5 children born to Joseph Norcom and Martha (Griffith) Beasley. The family farmed.

After entering the Army,  Walter was assigned to M Company 116th Infantry.  He and the unit sailed for France aboard the USS Finland on 15 Jun 1918. The unit trained for trench warfare and was put into a "quiet" sector.  On 8 Oct 1918 the Regiment was part of a "push" in the Verdun area.  PVT Beasley was killed in action on 12 Oct 1918.

PVT Beasley was repatriated and re-interred in Beasley Field in Hertford County, North Carolina.

Brother, William Freeman Beasley, served as a PVT in 19th Company 156th Depot Brigade during the war.

PVT Giovanni A. Santucci

courtesy of Marijke Taffein

PVT Giovanni A. Santucci was born in September 1894 in Sassinoro, Italy.

Giovanni was inducted on 2 May 1918 and was assigned to M Company 116th Infantry.  He sailed for France with the regiment aboard the USS Finland which departed Hoboken, New Jersey on 15 Jun 1918 and arrived at the port of Saint Nazaire on 28 Jun 1918. PVT Santucci participated in the trench warfare training given to the 29th Division and went with his company into the trenches.  PVT Santucci was killed in action on 12 Oct 1918.

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

CPL Garnett C. Richmond

courtesy of Ann Cady

CPL Garnett C. Richmond was born in May 1894 in Rural Retreat, Virginia.  He was the 7th of 9 children born to William Asbury and Alice May (Litton) Richmond. The family farmed and his father became a produce shipper.

After entering the service, Garnett was assigned to M Company 116th Infantry and trained with the unit at Camp McClellan, Alabama.  He sailed with the unit for France aboard the USS Finland, departing Hoboken, New Jersey on 15 Jun 1918.  The ship arrived in the port of Saint Nazaire on 28 Jun 1918. The unit then went through trench warfare training. The 29th Division of which the 116th Regiment was a part, was then assigned to the front lines in a "quiet" sector.  On 8 Oct 1918, a major effort began in which the Division took part and CPL Richmond was killed in action on 12 Oct 1918.

CPL Richmond was repatriated in 1921 and re-interred in the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Younger brother, Charles Lawrence Richmond, served as a PVT in World War 1. 

CPL George Washington Meadows

courtesy of Marijke Taffein

CPL George Washington Meadows was probably born 30 Sep 1897 in Roanoke County in Virginia.  His sister, Beulah L. Meadows, may have been his twin.  The children were orphaned before 1910 and were living in the Baptist Orphanage of Virginia in Salem, Virginia. Beulah worked as a telephone operator.

George was working as a laborer when he enlisted in L Company 2nd Virginia Infantry on 22 Jul 1917. George was with the unit at Camp McClellan, Alabama when it was reorganized as part of M Company 116th Infantry to which he was assigned. He was with the unit when it sailed for France aboard the USS Finland departing Hoboken, New Jersey on 15 Jun 1918. After the trench warfare training that the regiment and division experienced and the time in the "quiet" sector, CPL Meadows was with the unit when it participated in the "push" beginning on 8 Oct 1918. CPL Meadows was killed in action on 12 Oct 1918. 

CPL Meadows was buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

PVT George H. McCormick

PVT George H. McCormick was born in New York City, probably in late October or early November 1894. George married Margaret Mary Perez on 1 May 1918. 

George was inducted on 4 May 1918. He was sent to Fort Slocum, New York and assigned to 5th Company 58th Recruit Brigade. On 20 May 1918 he was assigned to M Company 116th Infantry.  He was with the unit when it boarded the USS Finland at Hoboken, New Jersey and sailed for France on 15 Jun 1918. He went through the trench warfare training with the regiment.  PVT McCormick was killed in action on 12 Oct 1918.

PVT McCormick was repatriated and re-interred in the Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

George and Margaret had no children.  She did re-marry after the war.

CPL Walter William Kelly

courtesy of Marijke Taffein

CPL Walter William Kelly was born 17 Mar 1898 in Marion, Virginia.  He was the 4th of 9 children born to Richard and Charity Elizabeth (Hudler) Kelly (or Kelley). The family farmed.

Walter enlisted in L Company 2nd Virginia Infantry at Pulaski, Virginia on 4 Apr 1917. After participating in Mexican Border service, the unit returned home only to be re-called for service in France.  The unit  was reorganized as part of M Company 116th Infantry and Walter was with them.  They trained at Camp McClellan, Alabama and then shipped out for France aboard the USS Finland in June 1918.  After training in trench warfare, the unit was moved into a "quiet" sector and then put in the thick of things beginning an attack on 8 Oct 1918.  CPL Kelly was killed in action on 12 Oct 1918.

CPL Kelly is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

Grandfather, Christopher Columbus Kelly, served as a PVT in D Company 18th North Carolina Infantry and 21st Virginia Cavalry in the Civil War.

PFC Earnest Woolwine

PFC Earnest Woolwine was born in March 1899 in Christiansburg, Virginia. He was the 4th of 11 children born to Calvin Chavenous and Mary Elizabeth (Akers) Woolwine. His father worked in a lime kiln.

After entering the service, Earnest was assigned to M Company 116th Infantry. He was with the unit when it sailed for France aboard the USS Finland on 15 Jun 1918.  It took the ship 13 days to cross the Atlantic from Hoboken, New Jersey to the port of Saint Nazaire, France. Ernest then went through trench warfare training with the regiment.  PFC Woolwine was killed in action on 12 Oct 1918.

PFC Woolwine was repatriated and re-interred in Sunset Cemetery in Christiansburg, Virginia.

Earnest's brother, Walker, was also a member of M Company and died 3 days after him.  Walker also is interred in the Sunset Cemetery.

PVT Beny Katz

PVT Beny Katz was born in March 1896 in Mousk, Russia.  His mother's maiden name was Fredson and it was his uncle Harry Fredson that Beny gave as his next of kin.

Beny was inducted on 4 May 1918.  He was first assigned to 2nd Recruit Company of the 58th Infantry Brigade.  On 20 May 1918 he was transferred to M Company 115th Infantry. It is unknown when or why PVT Katz was transferred to M Company 116th Infantry. PVT Katz was killed in action on 11 Oct 1918.

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. 

CPL Le Vere Kyle

CPL Le Vere Kyle was born in May 1889 in Carroll County, Virginia. He was the oldest of two surviving children of William Preston and Nancy Harriet Kyle. His father worked as a hired hand on local farms. About 1908 he moved to Colbert County, Alabama farming near Tuscumbia.  He was using the alias of Jack D. Vaughn. He married Miss Katie L. McCluskey on 25 Dec 1911.  The couple would have 1 child, a daughter named Opal in 1913. The family moved to the vicinity of Waterloo, Alabama in 1914 and after a short time he moved back to Virginia.

Le Vere enlisted in L Company 2nd Virginia Infantry on 20 Jun 1916.  He went with the unit to the southeast for Mexican Border service. He was with the unit when it was again federalized for service in France and trained with them at Camp McClellan, Alabama.  The unit and CPL Kyle left on 15 Jun 1918 for France aboard the USS Finland.  They arrived at Saint Nazaire, France on 28 Jun 1918 and were sent to training in trench warfare.  The regiment and 29th Division were then put into a "quiet" sector on the front lines before being used in a major effort which began on 8 Oct 1918.  CPL Kyle was struck by a shell fragment (aka "shrapnel") which killed him on 9 Oct 1918.

In 1922 he was repatriated and re-interred in Glendale Cemetery in Tuscumbia, Alabama.

Katie would remarry in 1921. Maternal grandfather David Kyle served as a CPT in 1st Tennessee Cavalry in the Civil War. Paternal grandfather William Kyle served in 4th Regiment of Virginia Reserves in the Civil War. 

PFC Michael Romano

courtesy of Marijke Taffein

PFC Michael Romano was born 7 Apr 1896 in Naples, Italy son of Pasqual and Madalena (Russi) Romano. His father immigrated in 1898 and brought the rest of the family over in 1901.  His father was a laborer and the family live at several addresses on Columbus Avenue in New Haven, Connecticut.

After being drafted, Michael was assigned to M Company 116th Infantry and sailed for France with that unit aboard the USS Finland. Departing Hoboken, New Jersey on 15 Jun 1918, the ship arrived in the port of Saint Nazaire on 28 Jun 1918. They then went through trench warfare training after which the Division was stationed on the front lines in a "quiet" sector.  CPL Romano went through the intense fighting in October but was killed in action on 9 Oct 1918.

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

Older brother, James Romano, served in France with Field Hospital #3, 26th Division attaining the rank of PFC.