PVT Arthur Seeger

PVT Arthur Seeger was born in Greenleaf, Michigan on 30 Jan 1888 to Andrew and Mary Ann Seeger.  Andrew supported his family of 11 by farming.

Arthur was likely drafted and was assigned to C Company 116th Infantry.  He died of pneumonia on 24 Oct 1918.

GREENLEAF TWP. YOUNG MAN DIED IN FRANCE 

Arthur Seeger, Son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Seeger, Victim of Pneumonia Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Seeger received word Wednesday evening of the death of their son, Arthur Seeger, in France. The young man had been wounded in action and later developed pneumonia which caused his death on Oct. 24 [1918]. 

He was born in Greenleaf Township on Jan. 21, 1886, and spent his entire life there until he entered the service on March 30. He sailed for France in July. The last letter received from him was dated Sept. 4. He had then been 16 days in the trenches and had had several close calls but was unharmed.

 (Cass City Chronicle, Nov. 22, 1918, p. 1.)

PVT Seeger is buried in Elkland Township Cemetery in Cass City, Michigan. 

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 William Lester Rodenhizer

PVT William Lester Rodenhizer was born 11 Feb 1899 in Danville, Virginia to William Henry and Rosa Belle (Tanksley) Rodenhizer.  His father was a weaver in a local mill.

William was assigned to C Company 116th Infantry while it was training at Camp McClellan.  He was  killed in action on 24 Oct 1918.

PVT Rodenhizer is buried in Leemont Cemetery in Danville, Virginia. 

CPL Abner Odell Witt

courtesy of Darrell Landrum

CPL Abner Odell Witt was born 13 Jul 1899 in Charlottesville, Virginia. He was the 3rd of 6 children born to Abner Thomas and Nannie Thomas (Weeks).  His father worked as a railroad mail clerk.

After entering the Army, Odell (as he was called by his family), was assigned to L Company 116th Infantry. He was wounded in combat on 23 Oct 1918 and, according to a newspaper account of a letter, he died within 20 minutes.

CPL Witt was repatriated and in December 1921 was re-interred in Spring Hill Cemetery in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Maternal grandfather, Jesse Burle Weeks, served in B Battery, 13th Battalion Light Artillery during the Civil War. Paternal grandfather, Abner Thomas Witt, served in B Battery 10th Battalion Heavy Artillery.

PFC Franklin Tucker Wilkins

courtesy of Susan in Charlottesville

PFC Franklin Tucker Wilkins was born 19 Apr 1884 in Charlottesville, Virginia the 7th of 8 children born to George W. and Nancy (Johnson) Wilkins.  His father worked as a carpenter. In 1910, "Tuck" was living with his oldest brother's family and working as a plumber.

After entering the service Tuck was assigned to H Company 116th Infantry, trained with the unit at Camp McClellan and Anniston, Alabama and sailed with the unit aboard the USS Finland for France.  PFC Wilkins was killed in action on 23 Oct 1918.

PFC Wilkins was repatriated and is now buried near family in Oakwood Cemetery in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Tuck's father served as a PVT in A Company 19th Virginia Infantry in the Civil War.

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 Hobson Dewey Byers

courtesy of J. Stockwell

PVT Hobson Dewey Byers was born 11 Mar 1898 in Alleghany County, Virginia the 3rd of 5 children of John William and Bettie Agnes (Givens) Byers. The family farmed and later, John would work at a papermill in Covington, Virginia.

It seems that Hobson and his older brother Roy enlisted together in a unit which was reorganized as a part of H Company 116th Infantry as both were assigned to the unit. Both brothers were aboard the USS Finland when the unit was sent to France in June 1918.  The brothers were in close proximity when PVT Hobson Byers was killed in action on 23 Oct 1918.

Hobson was repatriated and is buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Covington, Virginia.

His brother Roy Kenneth Byers served as a PFC and survived the war.  He would pass away in 1960 from injuries suffered as a passenger in an auto accident. 

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.

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.

Cook George Washington Webster

courtesy of Marlin Diehl

Cook George Washington Webster was born 3 Feb 1890 near Rockingham County, Virginia to Joseph Henry and Mary Elizabeth (Faught) Webster.  His mother died just 5 years later, soon after giving birth to her 3rd son. In 1900, at age 10, George is recorded as working for Peter S. Hartman as farm labor.

After entering the Army, George was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 116th Infantry. He likely trained with the unit at Camp McClellan and Anniston, Alabama and then sailed with that same unit to France aboard the USS Finland. Arriving in France in June 1918, George was killed in action on 23 Oct 1918 by the same artillery shell that killed Musician Austin Herman Hersh.

Cook Webster was repatriated and now rests forever in the Dayton Cemetery in Dayton, Virginia.

PFC Robert E. McLemore

PFC Robert E. McLemore was born in December 1890 in Petersburg, Virginia to Allison Steele and Emma Francis (Sandford) McLemore. His father worked as a box maker for a tobacco company. In 1910, Robert was working as a shoemaker.

After entering the Army, Robert was assigned to G Company 116th Infantry.  He was assigned to that unit when it boarded the USS Finland and departed Hoboken, New Jersey for France on 15 Jun 1918. PFC McLemore was killed in action on 23 Oct 1918. His body was apparently not recoverable.

PFC McLemore is listed on the tablets of the missing in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

Brother William Arrington McLemore may have served with F Troop 12th Cavalry in the Phillipines in 1907. Brother Charles Edward McLemore served as a PVT in G Company 163rd Infantry during the war. 

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.

CPL Harry Stratton Walker

courtesy of Darrell Landrum

CPL Harry Stratton Walker was born 24 Mar 1895 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia the son of Thomas Doub and Mollie Clara (Walker) Newton. His father managed a tobacco factory in Danville, Virginia.  Harry's parents would divorce before 1908 and his mother would remarry Edwin Archer Matthews.  As he approached adulthood, Harry, who was named "Harry Walker Newton" at birth, decided to take is maternal grandfather's name rather than use the surname Newton or take his step-father's name.

After entering the Army and being sent to France, Harry was assigned to L Company 116th Infantry. SGT Walker was killed in action on 23 Oct 1918.

From a newspaper article:

Captain Ewart Johnson, commander of Company L, 116th Infantry has written to Mrs. E. A. Matthews a letter of high commendation of her son, Sergeant Harry S. Walker, who was killed October 23, after volunteering to relieve the desire of wounded men for water and food.

Captain Johnson, after expressing his sympathy and that of his company for the surviving members of the Lynchburgers' family, said: "When I took command of "L" company your son, Harry S. Walker, was a private. I think one of the first promotions I made was his. I first made him a Corporal and then without delay promoted him to a sergeant as I saw in him a splendid ability to lead his men and a readiness to do any duty well..."

CPL Walker was repatriated and now rests forever in Spring Hill Cemetery in Lynchburg, Virginia.

His namesake grandfather served as a SGT in the Charlotte Light Artillery during the Civil War.

CPL John D. Sudduth

CPL John D. Sudduth was born 30 Mar 1900 in Warrenton, Virginia to John and Sallie B. (Wines) Sudduth.  His father was a "laborer".

When he entered the service, John was assigned to D Company 116th Infantry.  CPL Sudduth was killed in action on 23 Oct 1918.  He was repatriated and is buried in the Warrenton Cemetery in Warrenton, Virginia.

PVT George W. Bishop Jr

PVT George W. Bishop Jr. was born 7 Apr 1893 in Estill County, Kentucky to George W. and Elizabeth Ann (Hubbard) Bishop.  The family farmed.  George married Golda Gentry and they would have a daughter born in May 1917 who would die in June 1917.  Golda died in December 1917 of tuberculosis (which disease also took 3 of her sisters).

When George entered the Army he was assigned to G Company 116th Infantry.  It was with that unit that he shipped out to France aboard the USS Finland on 15 Jun 1918. PVT Bishop was killed in action on 23 Oct 1918.

He was repatriated and is buried in King Cemetery in Estill County, Kentucky. 

PVT Paul Ashton Cofer

PVT Paul Ashton Cofer was born in March 1893, likely in Sussex County, Virginia to James Oliver and Virginia May (Bowden) Cofer.  His father farmed and operated a lumber mill.

PVT Cofer was assigned to B Company 116th Infantry when he was killed in action on 23 Oct 1918.  He rests forever in Oakwood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia.

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. 

Musician 2nd Class Austin Herman Hersh

Musician 2nd Class Austin Herman Hersh was born 6 Jan 1892 in Elizabeth, New Jersey the 2nd of 4 sons born to Edward Simon and Lily G (Hackes) Hersh.  His father was born in Austria and owned a dry goods store in Elizabeth with his brother. Austin earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College in 1916.

After entering the Army, Austin would be assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 116th Infantry and travel with the unit to France, serving as the Regimental musician.  Musician Hersh was killed in action on 23 Oct 1918 when he was carrying hot food to a front line trench and a shell exploded in the kitchen killing a cook outright and injuring Hersh so badly that he died before he could be evacuated.

Musician 2nd Class Hersh was buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. There is a cenotaph to his memory at BNai Israel Cemetery in Newark, New Jersey.

Younger brother, Robert Wilson Hersh, served 1917-1919.

PVT LeRoy Hooten

courtesy of Norman and Kim Clark Hiatt

PVT LeRoy Hooten was born 2 Jul 1892 in Washington, North Carolina together with his twin, Ruby, to James B. and Nancy J. (Bowen) Hooten. His father worked as a mechanic and wholesaler.

After entering the army Roy (as he was known in the family) was assigned to I Company 116th Infantry.  He trained with the unit at Camp McClellan, Alabama and shipped to France aboard the USS Finland with the unit.  Arriving in June 1918, the unit trained and then moved into the line.  PVT Hooten died of disease on 23 Oct 1918.

PVT Hooten was repatriated in 1920 and buried in Oakdale Cemetery in Washington, North Carolina.

PVT Arthur Blanton

PVT Arthur Blanton was born 2 May 1893 in Harlan County, Kentucky the youngest of 3 sons of Henry Clay and Louisa (Howard) Blanton.  The family farmed.

After entering the Army, Arthur was assigned to H Company 116th Infantry.  He was with that unit aboard the USS Finland for the trip to France in June 1918.  PVT Blanton was killed in action on 23 Oct 1918.

PVT Blanton was repatriated and rests forever in New Freedom Cemetery in Spiro, Kentucky.