SSG Elwood Romas Campbell

SSG Elwood Romas Campbell was born 16 May 1895 in Page County, Virginia.  Elwood was the 2nd of 9 children born to Romas and Susie Elizabeth (Moyer) Campbell. His father supported the family as a day laborer and farmer. Elwood was working as a chauffeur in 1916.

Elwood enlisted as a PVT in D Company 2nd Virginia Infantry on 26 Jun 1916. He was with the unit through the Mexican Border duty and the recall for service in Europe.  He trained with the unit at Camp McClellan, Alabama. On 15 Jun 1918 Elwood and the unit sailed for France aboard the USS Finland.  They arrived in the French port of Saint Nazaire on 28 Jun 1918. The entire 29th Division then began training in trench warfare after which they were put on the front lines in a "quiet" sector.  The unit was then part of a big offensive or "push" in the vicinity of Verdun which began on 8 Oct 1918.  Elwood served as the stable sergeant, managing unit mules and related equipment. He survived all that but after the armistice was declared on 11 Nov 1918 he became ill on 7 May 1919 and died of bronchial pneumonia on 11 May 1919 the same day that the rest of the unit sailed for home.

SSG Campbell was repatriated in 1919 returning to the U.S. aboard the SS Matsonia.  He was interred in Green Hill Cemetery in Luray, Virginia.

Brother, Julian Richard Campbell, served with Elwood in the Machine Gun Company but was wounded and died of his wound(s) on 12 Oct 1918.

PVT Harry Bloom

PVT Harry Bloom was born 23 Sep 1896 in Brooklyn, New York.  He was the 3rd of 7 children born to Abraham and Elizabeth Bloom.  Both parents were natives of what is now Poland, then Russia, his father being born in Bialystok, Poland. His father worked as a salesman among other things. When Harry registered for the draft in 1917 the family was living at 104 Orchard Street, New York, New York.

Harry was inducted on 28 Apr 1918. He was first assigned to the 4th Recruit Company of the General Service Infantry at Fort Slocum, New York. He was reassigned to the 6th Recruit Company at Camp McClellan, Alabama on 7 May 1918. PVT Bloom was finally assigned to Machine Gun Company 116th Infantry on 22 May 1918.  He was with that unit when it sailed for France aboard the USS Finland from Hoboken, New Jersey on 15 Jun 1918. The unit went through trench warfare training and was then moved into the front line in a "quiet" sector.  On 8 Oct 1918 the entire 29th Division was part of an offensive in the vicinity of Verdun.  PVT Bloom was apparently wounded at sometime in that effort. PVT Bloom died of pulmonary tuberculosis on 19 Apr 1919.

PVT Bloom was repatriated and likely re-interred in the New York City area.

PVT Charles Elbert Liles

PVT Charles Elbert Liles was born 27 Aug 1893 in Linden, Texas.  He was the 9th of 12 children born to Charles Olden and Mary Ann (Surratt) Liles. The family farmed. Charles was working full-time at farming. In 1917 Charles had moved on to work for Littlejohn Drill Company.

After entering the service Charles was sent to Camp McClellan, Alabama and assigned to Machine Gun Company 116th Infantry. PVT Liles and his company boarded the USS Finland in Hoboken, New Jersey and sailed for France on 15 Jun 1918. They debarked at the port of Saint Nazaire, France on 28 Jun 1918. After trench warfare training and experience in a "quiet" sector on the front lines, the 116th together with its 29th Division were part of a major offensive in the vicinity of Verdun. The armistice was declared on 11 Nov 1918.  Sometime after that, PVT Liles became ill and he died of disease on 18 or 27 Nov 1918 (there are different dates on the various records).

PVT Liles was repatriated and re-interred in Center Grove Cemetery in Red Hill, Texas.

Great-grandfather, Francis Mason, served in the Revolutionary War.

PVT Bernard J. Lynch

PVT Bernard J. Lynch was born 30 Aug 1891 in New York, New York.  He was the 2nd of 7 children born to Charles Joseph and Mary A. (O'Neill) Lynch.  His parents were natives of Ireland his father having been born in Balbriggin. His father worked as a driver for a grocery.  By 1910, Bernard was working for an undertaker. In 1917, Bernard was working as a gateman for the Hudson Navigation Company.

Bernard was inducted on 2 May 1918. He was immediately sent to the 6th Recruit Company at Camp McClellan, Alabama.  On 22 May 1918 he was reassigned to Machine Gun Company 116th Infantry.  It was with that unit that he boarded the USS Finland at Hoboken, New Jersey and departed for France on 15 Jun 1918.  The ship arrived at the port of Saint Nazaire, France on 28 Jun 1918. The entire 29th Division went through trench warfare training and was then put into a "quiet" sector on the front lines to acclimatize. On 8 Oct 1918 the regiment pushed off as part of a major offensive in the vicinity of Verdun.  Sometime in this combat, PVT Lynch was wounded.  He died of his wound(s) on 5 Nov 1918. 

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

Bugler PVT Paul Parson

courtesy of Richard Finch

Bugler PVT Paul Parson was the son of Blanche Richards of Portsmouth, Virginia.

Paul was assigned to Machine Gun Company 116th Infantry and traveled to France with that unit aboard the USS Finland. The ship departed Hoboken, New Jersey on 15 Jun 1918 and arrived at the port of Saint Nazaire, France. The entire regiment went through training in trench warfare before being put in the line. On 8 Oct 1918 the Allies began a major offensive of which the regiment was a part. Sometime in this offensive PVT Parson was wounded.  He died of his wound(s) on 30 Oct 1918.

PVT Parson was repatriated and re-interred in Edgemont Cemetery in Anniston, Alabama. It is unclear as to whether his name is actually "Parson" or "Parsons".

PVT Arthur Lee Eanes

PVT Arthur Lee Eanes was born in September 1896 in Roanoke, Virginia. He was the 6th of 9 children born to Arthur Washington and Harriet Elizabeth (Eanes) Eanes.His father supported the family as a laborer and a street cleaner. In 1912, Arthur was employed by the Roanoke Bridge Company.

Arthur answered the call to service and enlisted in Machine Gun Company 2nd Virginia Infantry on 2 Jun 1917.  He was with the unit when it went to Camp McClellan, Alabama for training and when the unit was reorganized Arthur was assigned to Machine Gun Company 116th Infantry.  He and the unit sailed for France aboard the USS Finland from Hoboken, New Jersey on 15 Jun 1918.  They arrived at the port of Saint Nazaire, France on 28 Jun 1918 and with the rest of the 29th Division participated in trench warfare training. After the division and regiment spent some time in a "quiet" sector on the front lines they were directed to take part in an offensive in the vicinity of Verdun.  PVT Eanes was killed in action on 23 Oct 1918.

PVT Eanes was repatriated in 1921 and re-interred in Fairview Cemetery in Roanoke, Virginia.

Brother, Thomas Wiley Eanes, served in Supply Company 116th Infantry during the war. Grandfather, Blair Holbrook Eanes, served in G Company 26th North Carolina Infantry and was captured at Petersburg on 27 Oct 1864. 1st cousin, PVT Edward Forest Eanes, was killed in action on 8 Oct 1918 while also serving with Machine Gun Company 116th Infantry.

PFC Fitzhugh Lee Boothe

PFC Fitzhugh Lee Boothe was born 3 Mar 1898 in Roanoke, Virginia.  He was the 4th of 6 children born to Walter Douglas and Mary Booker (Read) Boothe. His father worked as a painter and as a clerk for the railroad.

After entering the army, Fitzhugh was assigned to Machine Gun Company 116th Infantry. He and the unit sailed for France aboard the USS Finland on 15 Jun 1918. PFC Boothe was killed in action on 23 Oct 1918.

PFC Boothe was repatriated and re-interred in Fairview Cemetery in Roanoke, Virginia.

PVT Alphonse Frederick Dolese Jr.

PVT Alphonse Frederick Dolese Jr. was born 17 Jan 1896 in Napoleonville, Louisiana the only child of Alphonse Frederick and Louise (Himel) Dolese.  He is a first cousin to Felix Dolese II. His father farmed.

PVT Dolese was assigned to Machine Gun Company 116th Infantry when he was killed in action on 23 Oct 1918.  He is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. 

PFC Julian Doran Miller

PFC Julian Doran Miller was born 7 Aug 1900 in Luray, Virginia.  He was the youngest of 6 children born to William Michael and Lucy Anna (Shenk) Miller. His father was a carpenter.

Julian enlisted in the 2nd Virginia Infantry prior to 7 Aug 1917 and went with that unit for training at Camp McClellan, Alabama. It was at Camp McClellan that the 2nd was reorganized and PVT Miller was assigned to Machine Gun Company 116th Infantry.  Julian sailed with the unit aboard the USS Finland to France.  The ship sailed from Hoboken, New Jersey on 15 Jun 1918 and arrived in the port of Saint Nazaire, France on 28 Jun 1918.  The whole 29th Division, of which the 116th was a part, took part in trench warfare training. The unit was part of a major offensive in the vicinity of Verdun that began on 8 Oct 1918. PFC Miller was killed in action on 17 Oct 1918.

PFC Miller was repatriated and re-interred in Beahm's Chapel Cemetery in Luray, Virginia.

Grandfather, William Andrew Jackson Miller, served in K Company 10th Virginia Infantry in the Civil War.

PVT Clarence D. Wilkins

PVT Clarence D. Wilkins was born 20 Jun 1895 in Capeville, Virginia.  He was the 2nd of 6 children of Walter Daryl and Kathryn G. (Downes) Wilkins. His father was a sailor and then a produce wholesaler.

After entering the army, Clarence was assigned to Machine Gun Company 116th Infantry.  The unit departed Hoboken, New Jersey aboard the USS Finland on 15 Jun 1918 and arrived at the port of Saint Nazaire, France on 28 Jun 1918.  After training in trench warfare and a period of acclimatization in a "quiet" sector, the unit was part of a major offensive which began on 8 Oct 1918.  PVT Wilkins was killed in action on 17 Oct 1918.

PVT Wilkins was repatriated and re-interred in the Capeville Masonic Cemetery in Capeville, Virginia.

Brother, Walter Daryl Wilkins Jr. served as a CPL in A Company 54th Infantry in the war.

1LT John Lyon

John Lyon's 1915 passport photo

1LT John Lyon was born 2 Apr 1893 in Ballston, Virginia.  He was the 2nd of 3 children and only son born to Frank and Georgie Hays (Wright) Lyon.  John's father was a lawyer and real estate speculator/developer.  He had worked for the Southern Railroad Company, as personal secretary for a commissioner of the Interstate Commerce commission. He was a stenographer for the Constitutional Convention of Virginia. He founded the real estate firm of Lyon and Fitch, Inc. (later Lyon Properties and Lyon Inc.) and developed land in Arlington County including Lyon Park.

John attended Western High School, the University of Virginia and Georgetown Law School. He also worked as an associate editor for Field and Stream magazine. John applied in 1915 for his passport so that he could go to Great Britain and "do hospital work" but drove ambulances for the Red Cross in France.

After 6 months in France he returned to the U.S. and joined a local National Guard unit and served in the Mexican Border service.  It is likely that he was the most combat experienced of any in his company. He was still a member of the unit when it was federalized in 1917 and then assigned to Machine Gun Company 116th Infantry.  After participating in the training at Camp McClellan, Alabama he traveled with the unit aboard the USS Finland to France.  The ship docked at the port of Saint Nazaire on 28 Jun 1918. After the unit went through the trench warfare training and a period of  acclimatization in a "quiet" sector on the front lines it was part of a major offensive in the vicinity of Verdun. On 16 Oct 1918 the unit was involved in fighting when the commander of the 3rd Battalion, MAJ Heriome Opie was wounded. 1LT Lyon was killed in action when he tried to help MAJ Opie. 

1LT Lyon was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 1919. This is the citation:

John Lyon, first lieutenant, Machine Gun Company, 116th Infantry, Twenty-ninth division. For extraordinary heroism in action near Damogneux, France, October 15, 1918. During the attack on the Bois De La Grande Monagne, Lieut. Lyon left a place of comparative safety to cross an open space, exposed to direct observation and fire from the enemy, to attempt the rescue of a wounded officer. He and the two men who accompanied him were killed in this attempt.

He was repatriated and re-interred in the Blanford Cemetery in Petersburg, Virginia.

Grandfather, John Lyon, was CPT of B Company 12th Virginia Infantry 1861-1862.

Links:
- Remembering Arlington's John Lyon 
- John Lyon VFW Post 3150

PVT Irvin Thurston Mankin

PVT Irvin Thurston Mankin was born 31 Jul 1895 in Hanover County, Virginia.  He was the oldest of 6 children born to Edward Thurston and Olive Branch (Jones) Mankin. His father was a carpenter and worked at a brick factory. Irvin worked as a bricklayer in 1915.

After entering the Army, Irvin was assigned to Machine Gun Company 116th Infantry.  He sailed for France with the unit aboard the USS Finland.  Departing Hoboken, New Jersey on 15 Jun 1918, the ship arrived in the port of Saint Nazaire, France on 28 Jun 1918. The unit then went through trench warfare training and acclimatization in a "quiet" sector of the front lines.  On 8 Oct 1918 the 29th Division including the 116th kicked off a major offensive in the vicinity of Verdun. PVT Mankin was killed in action on 15 Oct 1918.

PVT Mankin was repatriated and re-interred in Riverview Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia.

Maternal uncle, Arthur Creston Jones served as a CPT at the Richmond General Depot during the war. Brother, Edward Harmon Mankin, served in the U.S. Navy 1918-1919. Grandfather, Oscar Robert Mankin, served in H Company 17th Virginia Infantry until captured in the later half of 1864 when he was captured and sent to Fort Delaware.

PVT Herman George Hodges

PVT Herman George Hodges was born 15 Apr 1896 in Guion, Arkansas.  He was the 6th of 10 children born to John Harvey and Lydia C. (Cypert) Hodges.  The family farmed. By 1910 Herman was working on the family farm and no longer in school. He was doing ranch work for the Warren Live Stock Company in 1917.

Likely drafted in May 1918, Herman was sent to Camp McClellan, Alabama and assigned to Machine Gun Company 116th Infantry. PVT Hodges and the 116th boarded the USS Finland in Hoboken, New Jersey and sailed for France on 15 Jun 1918.  The ship docked in the port of Saint Nazaire, France on 28 Jun 1918.  After going through trench warfare training with the rest of the 29th Division, the regiment went with the division into a "quiet" sector on the front lines.  The 29th was part of a major offensive that kicked off on 8 Oct 1918 in the vicinity of Verdun.  PVT Hodges was killed in action on 15 Oct 1918.

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

Paternal grandfather, Cullen Porter Hodges, served in Freeman's Regiment of Cavalry during the Civil War. Maternal grandfather, Thomas Perry Cypert also served in Freeman's Regiment and then in H Company 7th  Arkansas Infantry.  Great-grandfather Jesse Newton Cypert served in the War of 1812. 2x Great-grandfather Francis Cypert Jr. fought in the American Revolution.

PVT Julian Richard Campbell

PVT Julian Richard Campbell was born 18 Aug 1897 in Page County, Virginia.  Julian was the 3rd of 9 children born to Romas and Susie Elizabeth (Moyer) Campbell. His father supported the family as a day laborer and farmer.

He trained with the unit at Camp McClellan, Alabama. On 15 Jun 1918 Julian and the unit sailed for France aboard the USS Finland.  They arrived in the French port of Saint Nazaire on 28 Jun 1918. The entire 29th Division then began training in trench warfare after which they were put on the front lines in a "quiet" sector.  The unit was then part of a big offensive or "push" in the vicinity of Verdun which began on 8 Oct 1918. PVT Campbell was wounded on 9 Oct 1918.  The following account was given by 1LT Arthur A. Grove in a letter to Julian's parents.

I will try to tell you how he was wounded. The big drive commenced on the morning of October 8th. Elwood and Julian were with the gun carts. The company advanced about 4 miles that day. Early the next morning the 9th a detail took ammunition forward to the Company. Julian was one of the detail. On their return, when about 3/4 of a mile from where the carts were a German shrapnel shell burst and wounded Julian and Pvt. Edward Eaues, of Roanoke. Eaues died the same day. Some of the men stayed with Julian and Eaues and the others ran to the road where we were for help. Elwood and I got a detail and two litters and started out to get them. On the way we met the men who were left with them and they told us that an ambulance had just picked them up and taken them to a first aid station. Elwood saw Julian and talked with him after his wound had been dressed. Julian had a bad shrapnel wound in the leg but seemed to be getting along all right and Elwood did not think it was very serious. We thought it strange that he had never written to Elwood but never thought it a fatal injury. This company was never notified and I presume the hospital people cabled it to the States.

PVT Campbell was repatriated and re-interred in Green Hill Cemetery in Luray, Virginia.

Brother, Elwood Romas Campbell, served with Julian in the Machine Gun Company but died of pneumonia on 11 May 1919.

CPL Joseph Thomas Phillips

his Cenotaph

CPL Joseph Thomas Phillips was born in Keller, Virginia on 8 Nov 1886.  He was the 2nd of 3 children and only son of Thomas Benjamin and Georgia Cora (Wyatt) Phillips. The family farmed. Joseph attended Pungoteague High School in Onancock, Virginia. Joseph married Susie K. Hood and they had a daughter, Catherine, in 1911.

Joseph entered the army and was assigned to Machine Gun Company 116th Infantry. He sailed for France with that unit aboard the USS Finland which departed Hoboken, New Jersey on 15 Jun 1918.  The ship docked in the port of Saint Nazaire, France on 28 Jun 1918.  The unit then went to trench warfare training and a period of acclimatization in a "quiet" sector on the front lines. A major offensive kicked off on 8 Oct 1918 in which the 29th Division took part. CPL Phillips took ill during the offensive and died of pneumonia on 11 Oct 1918.

CPL Phillips was repatriated and re-interred in Woodlawn Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland near where Susan lived. Susan remarried. A cenotaph was erected in his memory at Hollies Baptist Church Cemetery at Keller, Virginia.

PVT Hiram Forest Denton

PVT Hiram Forest Denton was born 5 Mar 1888 in Gassville, Arkansas.  He was the 6th of 10 children born to Dr. Benjamin Franklin and Nancy Emeline (Coveton) Denton.  His father was a medical doctor in Marion and Baxter Counties in Arkansas for many years.

After Hiram was inducted he was assigned to Machine Gun Company 116th Infantry.  He and his unit sailed for France aboard the USS Finland on 15 Jun 1918 departing Hoboken, New Jersey and arriving at the port of Saint Nazaire, France on 28 Jun 1918.  The 116th was first sent to training in trench warfare and then assigned to a quiet sector on the front line.  A big offensive began on 8 Oct 1918 and the 116th was part of that effort. It is unknown when PVT Denton took sick but he died of pneumonia on 10 Oct 1918.

PVT Denton was repatriated and re-interred in Mountain Home Cemetery in Mountain Home, Arkansas. 

Brother, Ralph Bryan Denton, served from 1917 to 1919 as a CPL in B Company 129th Machine Gun Battalion in France.

PVT James L. Blow

PVT James L. Blow was born in April 1897 in Norfolk County, Virginia.  He was the 4th of 6 children born to Charles Clement and Clara Esther (Chitty) Blow. The family farmed near Pinner's Point in what is now the city of Portsmouth, Virginia.

After entering the army, James was assigned to Machine Gun Company 116th Infantry.  He went to France with that unit aboard the USS Finland which departed Hoboken, New Jersey on 15 Jun 1918.  After arriving in the French port of Saint Nazaire on 28 Jun 1918 the entire division went through training in trench warfare.  The 29th Division was then sent to the front lines to a "quiet" sector.  PVT Blow was killed in action on 8 Oct 1918, the first day of a big offensive in the vicinity of Verdun.

Because his burial overseas is not recorded we presume that PVT Blow was repatriated and re-interred close to his family in the area of Portsmouth or perhaps in Hertford County, North Carolina.

PVT Edward Forest Eanes

PVT Edward Forest Eanes was born 25 Jul 1883 in Roanoke County, Virginia. He was the oldest of 4 sons born to James Giles and Sallie Ann (Eanes) Eanes. His father worked as a farm hand and repaired cars for the railroad. By age 16 Edward was also working as a farm hand and by 1910 was working as a brakeman for the railroad.

Edward entered the service about April or May 1918.  He was enlisted in or was assigned to Machine Gun Company 2nd Virginia Infantry, went to Camp McClellan, Alabama with the unit and was among the men who were assigned to Machine Gun Company 116th Infantry when the new organization was activated.  Edward sailed with the unit aboard the USS Finland on 15 Jun 1918 arriving in the port of Saint Nazaire, France on 28 Jun 1918. He went through the divisional trench warfare training and experienced combat when the 29th Division was assigned to a "quiet" sector on the front lines.  PVT Eanes was killed in action on the first day of a major offensive in the vicinity of Verdun on 8 Oct 1918.

PVT Eanes was repatriated and re-interred in Evergreen Burial Park in Roanoke, Virginia.

Edward was 1st cousin to PVT Arthur Lee Eanes of the same company. Both were descended from Revolutionary War veterans.

PVT William Earnest Baker

courtesy of Doc Wilson

PVT William Earnest Baker lived in Magnolia, Virginia (a small village in the now extinct Nansemond County), probably very near where he was born on 3 Feb 1897, when he entered the service.  He gave his father, William E. Baker, as his next of kin. William was assigned to Machine Gun Company 116th Infantry and sailed with that unit to France aboard the USS Finland. PVT Baker was killed in action on 8 Oct 1918.

PVT Baker was repatriated in 1922 and re-interred in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

SGT Hazel Wood Hester

courtesy of Marijke Taffein

SGT Hazel Wood Hester was born in March 1893 in Chase City, Virginia.  He was the only son of the 8 children born to Charles Williamson and Willie Inez (Graves) Hester. His father both farmed and operated a general store. Hazel was working as a tobacconist in 1917.

Hazel enlisted in E Company 2nd Virginia Infantry on 23 April 1917 to answer the call to federal service.  He went with the unit to Camp McClellan , Alabama where it was re-organized as part of the 116th Infantry Regiment and SGT Wood was assigned to Machine Gun Company 116th Infantry. He was with the unit when it sailed for France aboard the USS Finland.  The Finland departed Hoboken, New Jersey on 15 Jun 1918 and arrived at the port of Saint Nazaire, France on 28 Jun 1918. The entire 29th Division underwent training in trench warfare and was then put into "the line" in a "quiet" sector for further training.  On 8 Oct 1918 a major offensive was initiated in the vicinity of Verdun and SGT Hester was killed on that day.

SGT Hester is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.