PFC Thomas Andrew Jackson

courtesy of SoilSister

PFC Thomas Andrew Jackson was born in February 1893 in Tazewell County, Virginia to James Henry and Margaret Ellen (Lowe) Jackson.  The family lived several places in Russell and Tazewell counties where the family farmed.

Although he was apparently known as Andrew in the family he enlisted as Thomas A. Jackson. He enlisted in the 2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry on 3 Jun 1917.  When the unit was reorganized with others to form the 116th Infantry he was assigned to F Company 116th Infantry.  He shipped with that unit for France aboard the Finland on 13 Jun 1918.  We do not know when he was wounded but it was most likely in the action at Molleville Farm sometime between 12 and 25 Oct 1918.  We believe he recovered from his wound but was killed on 4 Jan 1919 when he was shot with a rifle by another soldier.

PFC Jackson was buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

You might note that the year of death on his marker is incorrect.  It is not the first or last time the Army has made a clerical error.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

CPL Edwin Forest Wrenn

CPL Edwin Forest Wrenn was born on 3 May 1891 in Sussex County, Virginia to George Ogden and Nannie Jackson (Lilly) Wrenn.  The family farmed.

After entering the Army, Edwin was assigned to E Company 116th Infantry.  He shipped out for France with that unit aboard the Finland on 13 Jun 1918.  CPL Wrenn was killed in action in the battle for Molleville Farm on 25 Oct 1918.

CPL Wrenn rests forever in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. 

CPL Clarence Jones

CPL Clarence Jones enlisted from Virginia and was assigned to E Company 116th Infantry and was killed in action serving with that unit.  He was buried at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

PVT Harvey Floyd Tatum

PVT Harvey Floyd Tatum was born 2 Feb 1896 in Disputanta, Virginia. He was the youngest of the eight children born to Allen T. and Mary Ann Elizabeth  Assigned to E Company 116th Infantry, Harvey was shipped to France aboard the Finland departing from Hoboken.  Ennie N. Tatum is listed as his next of kin and his rank is recorded as CPL. PVT Tatum was killed in action on 25 Oct 1918.

PVT Tatum was buried in the Meuse-Argonne Cemetery.

PVT Bernard Radford

PFC Bernard Radford was born February 1898 in Castalia, North Carolina to William Sylvester and Caroline Francis (Harris) Radford.  The family farmed and Bernard did the same.  In August 1917 he married Katie Pierce.

When Bernard entered the service he was assigned to E Company 116th Infantry.  He was killed in action on 25 Oct 1918.  He is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

His wife, Kate or Katie, did not remarry until 1943. 

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 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.

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 John White

courtesy of Marijke Taffein

PVT John White was born 21 Jan 1892 in New York City, New York. John was literate but likely had a grammar school education and in 1917 he was working for a Eagle Pencil Company at 14th between Avenue C and Avenue D alongside the East River. John was living at 283 Avenue C at the time.

After he was drafted on 4 May 1918 PVT White went to Fort Slocum and on 7 May 1918 he was assigned to L Company 116th Infantry before the unit was sent to France in June 1918. He might have been estranged from much of his family because he gave his paternal spinster aunt, who also lived apart from all the family from a young age, as his next of kin. Arriving in France, PVT White went through trench warfare training with his company and then into the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. PVT White was killed in action on 23 Oct 1918. 

PVT White rests forever in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, France.

SGT Robert Anderson McGuffin

SGT Robert Anderson McGuffin was born in Staunton, Virginia on 3 Feb 1897 to Charles Robert and Sarah Elizabeth (Lusk) McGuffin. Sarah was his father's second wife. Robert graduated from Staunton Military Academy in 1917. His father was a bank clerk and bookkeeper. His maternal-grandfather CPT John Andrew Montgomery Lusk served with the Rockbridge 2nd Light Artillery Battery during the Civil War. Robert was assigned to A Company 116th Infantry when he was killed in action on 23 October 1918. He is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery but his family also erected a cenotaph in Thornrose Cemetery in Staunton, Virginia.

PVT Frank Austin Phelan

courtesy of Marijke Taffein

PVT Frank Austin Phelan was born 7 Nov 1888 in Providence, Rhode Island the 5th of 7 children of Patrick Francis and Mary C. Phelan.  His father was a native of Ireland and worked as a carpenter and as a pattern maker in a machine shop.  By 1910, Frank was working as a clerk in a drug store.  When he registered for the draft in 1917, Frank was working in Massena, New York for the Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA).

Frank already had a year's experience as a PVT in the Rhode Island National Guard when he was called to active duty and assigned to L Company 116th Infantry.  He trained with the unit at Camp McClellan, Alabama and then sailed with the regiment from Hoboken, New Jersey aboard the USS Finland.  After training for trench warfare the regiment went into the line in a "quiet" sector.  When the command organized a big "push" in October 1918, the 29th Division was part of it.  PVT Phelan was killed in action on 23 Oct 1918.

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

PFC Robert Anderson Smith

PFC Robert Anderson Smith was born 5 Jan 1896 in Halifax County, Virginia the eldest of 3 children of James Henry and Josephine Rose (Strange) Smith. His father farmed but died in 1903. His mother remarried but was soon widowed again.  In 1910, at age 14, Robert helped support the family by working as a messenger.

After entering the Army, Robert was assigned to G Company 116th Infantry. On 15 Jun 1918, he and his unit left Hoboken, New Jersey aboard the USS Finland bound for France.  PFC Smith was killed in action on 23 Oct 1918.

PFC Smith was buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.  In 1930, his mother made the pilgrimage to France to visit his grave. 

Paternal grandfather, Anderson R. Smith, served as a PVT in F Company 34th Virginia Infantry in the Civil War. Maternal grandfather, Robert James Strange, served as a PVT in C Battery 1st Virginia Artillery, also during the Civil War.

CPL Walker C. Meade

courtesy of SoilSister

CPL Walker C. Meade was born about 1895 in Wise County, Virginia.  His father was William E. Meade who lived near Saint Paul, Virginia.

After entering the service, Walker was assigned to G Company 116th Infantry.  He was transported to France with that unit aboard the USS Finland, departing Hoboken, New Jersey on 15 Jun 1918.  CPL Meade was killed in action on 23 Oct 1918.

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

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 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. 

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.