SGT Edward Walker Beal

courtesy of Barent Parslow

SGT Edward Walker Beal was born 16 Mar 1898 in Scottsville, Virginia. He was the first born of the 10 children born to Samuel Edward and Beatrice Van Allen (Henwood) Beal.  His father worked as a carpenter and the family farmed.

Edward was assigned to B Company 116th Infantry when he died of disease on 4 Nov 1918.

SGT Beal is buried in the Saint Mihiel Cemetery and there is a cenotaph for him in the Beal Cemetery in Antioch, Virginia.

Grandfather, Samuel Herald Beal, served in D Company 1st Virginia Infantry Battalion (CSA) during the Civil War. Brothers, Kenneth Woodson Beal and Frederick Herald Beal served during the 2nd World War. 

PVT Joseph Ignatius Clark

courtesy of Doug Illsley

PVT Joseph Ignatius Clark was born 30 Apr 1891 in New York City, New York the 4th of 6 children born to James C. and Delia K. (Hart) Clark.  Both parents were natives of Ireland.  His father worked as a painter. In 1910, Joseph was working as a butcher.  His father apparently died before 1917.

When Joseph registered for the draft in 1917, he was working as a time clerk for a Mr. Phillips at 114 Liberty Street in Manhattan.  He lived with his mother at 370 West 46th Street.  After being inducted, he was eventually sent to Camp McClellan, Alabama and there assigned to L Company 116th Infantry.  He was with that unit when it boarded the USS Finland for France on 15 Jun 1918.  After the unit arrived in France on 28 Jun 1918, it was sent for more training before being put in the "training sector" of the trenches.  PVT Clark apparently became ill and died on 13 Oct 1918 in hospital as the rest of his unit was making a big push in the Meuse-Argonne.

PVT Clark was laid to rest in the Saint Mihiel American Cemetery.

Joseph's only brother, James Alphonsus Clark, also served in the war.  He trained at Camp Humphreys (now Fort Belvoir), Virginia and was assigned to B Company 130th Engineers. 

PVT Matthew L. Chatten

PVT Matthew L. Chatten was born in March 1897 in Chatham, Virginia to George Lee and Martha Jane (Hodnett) Chattin.  The family farmed.

Matthew was assigned to C Company 116th Infantry when he died of other causes on 11 Oct 1918. 

PVT Chatten is buried in the Saint Mihiel American Cemetery. Brother, Robert Henry Chatten, also served in the Army during the Great War.

PVT Louis Maietta

PVT Louis Maietta, b. 1 Mar 1893 - d. 8 Oct 1918. Born in Cervinara, Italy to Antonio and Rosa Maietta, Louis immigrated with his parents in 1907 crossing on the ship Virginia. The family settled in Peekskill, NY. At some point in time Louis became a machine operator for Remington Arms Company. Assigned to H Company 116th Infantry, PVT Maietta became ill and died of pneumonia in France. He was survived by his parents and is buried in the Saint Mihiel American Cemetery in France.

Supply SGT Bedford C. Lam

Supply SGT Bedford C. Lam was born 19 Sep 1896 in Alleghany County, Virginia the only son of Charles Davis and Anna Eliza (Moore) Lam. His father was a policeman in Covington, Virginia.

Bedford first enlisted in H Company 1st Virginia Infantry on 1 Dec 1914 at the age of 18.  His mother signed the permission because he was not yet of age. PVT Lam was still with the unit when it was reorganized for Federal service to form H Company 116th Infantry.  He was with the unit for training at Camp McClellan and when it sailed for France in June 1918.  Because of his experience he was eventually put in a position of responsibility as the unit supply sergeant. SGT Lam died of disease on 1 Aug 1918. 

Supply SGT Lam was buried in the Saint Mihiel American Cemetery.