CPL Willie Watson Hillsman

CPL Willie Watson Hillsman was born 8 Oct 1893 in Amelia County, Virginia the first of 10 children born to James Albert and Lula Lee (Watson) Hillsman. The family farmed while living near Leigh, Virginia.

Willie enlisted in C Company 2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry on 26 Mar 1917.  When it was reorganized for service in France, Willie was assigned to G Company 116th Infantry. He married Evlyn Gladys Fretwell on 9 May 1918.  It may be that the couple eloped just prior to the regiment going to Camp McClellan, Alabama. Of course, Willie had to go with them. After the unit trained there, CPL Hillsman shipped with the unit aboard the USS Finland to France, departing Hoboken, New Jersey on 15 Jun 1918.  CPL Hillsman was killed in action on 8 Oct 1918.

CPL Hillsman was repatriated in 1930.  He now rests forever in Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Amelia County, Virginia.

Willie and Evlyn had no children.  She would re-marry and have several children with her second husband. 

PVT Zelig Brooks

Courtesy of step4iq

PVT Zelig Brooks was born 24 Aug 1893 in Novaridak, Russia now Belarus. He was inducted 4 May 1918 in Brooklyn, New York and assigned to 5th Company 58th Brigade 9-20 May 1918.  He was assigned to D Company 116th Infantry on 5 Jun 1918 and was killed in action while serving with that unit on 8 Oct 1918.

PVT Brooks is buried in Union Fields Cemetery in Ridgewood, New York.

PVT Satorius Fabricatoro

courtesy of Soil Sister

PVT Satorius Fabricatoro was born 10 Apr 1889 in Atripalda, Italy. He apparently immigrated to the United States in 1907. Beyond this we don't have much information about Satorius also known as Satorino. 

When he was drafted he was soon assigned to D Company 116th Infantry. it seems that some army clerk began spelling his name as "Fabricatose" and this is the name that was used at first and in a post-war list of the regiment casualties. PVT Fabricatoro was killed in action on 8 Oct 1918 near Consenvoye, France.

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

His next of kin was given as his aunt, Mrs. Concetta Veanvieri of 478 Mulberry Street, Newark, New Jersey.

PVT Ernest Allen

PVT Ernest Allen was born 10 Oct 1895 in Louisville, Mississippi, the youngest of 7 children born to Chelsey Edward G. and Elizabeth Jane (Carr) Allen.  The family farmed.

After being drafted, Ernest was assigned to I Company 116th Infantry and trained with the unit at Camp McClellan, Alabama before shipping overseas in June 1918.  He was aboard the USS Finland with his unit for that journey to France.  PVT Allen was killed in action on 8 Oct 1918.

PVT Allen is memorialized on the tablets of the missing at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

PVT Harry Sylvester Todd

PVT Harry Sylvester Todd was born in 1892 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania to Marcillus Price and Annie M. (Goss) Todd. His father worked as a day laborer and as a bartender in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  In 1911, Harry was working as a packer, perhaps in a cigar factory. 

Harry had enlisted in A Company 1st Virginia Infantry in March 1917.  That unit became B Company 116th Infantry upon federalization.  PVT Todd was promoted to PFC on 20 Aug 1917 and then reduced in rank to PVT on 26 Nov 1917 (reason unknown, but this could be done at this time without prejudice). He shipped out for France with his unit aboard the Finland on 15 Jun 1918.  PVT Todd was killed in action.  Again, there is a discrepancy between the after action report and official records with dates of either 8 Oct 1918 or 11 Oct 1918.  We believe that the date of 8 Oct 1918 shown on the memorial is correct.

PVT Todd is memorialized in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. His mother would make the pilgrimage to the cemetery in 1932.

Grandfather, Lewis Kenneda Todd, served in both K Company 178th Pennsylvania Infantry and G Company 186th Pennsylvania Infantry in the Civil War.

PVT James Pirto

PVT James (Gennaro) Pirto was born in June 1890 in Naples, Italy.  He was the 2nd child and 1st son of the 7 children born to Lewis and Anna (Diphillipe) Pirto. The family immigrated in 1900 and Lewis worked in Manhattan as a barber. In 1918 the family lived at 2239 Adams Place in New York City.

James was inducted on 2 May 1918.  He was almost immediately assigned to M Company 116th Infantry.  He sailed for France aboard the USS Finland with his unit departing on 15 Jun 1918.  His training in France on trench warfare was probably the only military training that he and many others would get before they went into the trenches in a "quiet" sector. PVT Pirto was killed in action on 8 Oct 1918.

PVT Pirto's body was not recovered and he is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

1LT Herbert R. Holleman

1LT Herbert R. Holleman was born about 1896 in Suffolk, Virginia to John Lee and Eva Leonard (Wood) who had moved there from North Carolina. In 1910 his father was working as a blacksmith in Suffolk.  The second of 4 children (3 boys and 1 girl), Herbert seems to have had a normal childhood for the time.  He never married and had no children.  Assigned to A Company 116th Infantry, 1LT Holleman was killed 8 Oct 1918, just 2 days before fellow officer 2LT Blackham.  1LT Holleman is buried in the Faith Tabernacle Cemetery in Highland Springs, Virginia.

PVT Demian Zeludko

PVT Demian Zeludko was born in 2 Sep 1892 in Zeshui, Russia.  Demian arrived in the U.S. in February 1915 having come through Canada. He apparently was a carpenter who worked for Jackson Cushion Spring Company in Jackson, Michigan.  He was living in Jackson, boarding with Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gryczko of 1032 North Blackstone Street.

When he was drafted, Demian was assigned to L Company 116th Infantry.  He sailed for France aboard the USS Finland, departing Hoboken, New Jersey on 15 Jun 1918 and docking in France on 28 Jun 1918.  The regiment trained in trench warfare and then went into the line.  A big push was begun in the Verdun sector on 8 Oct 1918 and PVT Zeludko was first reported missing that day but later confirmed as killed, likely by the statements of other members of L Company.  His body was not recovered. 

PVT Zeludko is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. 

PVT William King

PVT William King was born 2 Jul 1890 in New York, New York the first-born of John and Catherine (Jolly) King.  We think that father John was a teamster and he apparently died about 1908. In 1910 William was working on the docks.  The family lived for many years at 50 or 150 Cherry Street.

After William entered the army in 1918 he was assigned to H Company 116th Infantry.  He was with the unit when it sailed for France aboard the USS Finland in June 1918.  PVT King was killed in action on 8 Oct 1918.

We think that PVT King was repatriated and is buried in the New York area.

PVt Robert Lee Lafferty

PVT Robert Lee "Bus" Lafferty was born in September 1895 in Lacrosse, Arkansas to James Frank and Julia M. (Ward) Lafferty. The family resided in Lacrosse, Arkansas where his father worked as a blacksmith.

On a hot mid-August day in the year of the 1901 drought, Frank Lafferty with his wife Julia (Ward) Lafferty left La Crosse, Izard County, Arkansas by way of wagon-drawn by horses or mules owned and driven by Bob or Pete Wilkerson. Their children at the time were Fannie, Robert Lee, Emmett Lee, and Hester Lee. (If this is the correct year Hester was only six months old) She was born the 1st day of Feb 1901. They left behind two daughters. Edith was the name of one of them. They died at a very young age. Mr Wilkerson told Emmett, in the early 30's, that he never thought that he (Emmett) could complete the trip because of a very high fever, (don't know what kind of fever.)

When arriving at Lead Hill they moved into a house owned by the Penix Family and Frank after arriving at Lead Hill he worked at a cotton Gin and also at  a Flour and feed Mill, probably owned by the Milum Family. (Frank was probably a miller by trade since there was a Lafferty Mill on Lafferty Creek in Izard County. He was also a blacksmith and a boatsman. There move could have been made because Julia's folks were living at Lead Hill at the time. Julia's mother and three sisters are buried in and near Lead Hill.

After a short time at Lead Hill they moved to Kenner, Boone County, Arkansas, where a railroad was being built. Frank set up his blacksmith shop as the work on the railroad was done by hand using horse drawn slips to build and shape the railroad bed in order to lay the ties and rail. After the railroad was completed they moved back to Lead Hill where he may have worked in the Blacksmith shop for a while.

They moved to the Blackwell farm in 1904 or 1905 (This is near Monark, Marion County, Arkansas.) After starting to farm Frank made one crop and had begun another when he died on this farm in 1906. He died apparently of a fever cased from drinking contaminated water from a large spring on this farm. (Beavers were living in a cave out of which the spring was flowing). Robert Lee (Bus) was old enough at this time to help out with the farm work , such as driving the teams of mules and oxen for plowing.

After Frank's death times were very hard and the only work that Julia could find was doing washing's and fire building for the school.
                                 
After induction, Robert was assigned to I Company 116th Infantry.  He trained with the unit at Camp McClellan, Alabama.  The unit departed Hoboken, New Jersey aboard the USS Finland on 15 Jun 1918 and debarked in France on 28 June.  PVT Lafferty was killed in action as recounted in this letter:

My Dear Mrs. Lafferty:

It is with deep sympathy in your bereavement we send you this record which we have received from Paris concerning the death of Pvt. Lafferty. Our informant is Pvt. Herman Lee, whose home is Timberville, Va. Under date of Jan. 13, he made the following statement to one of our Red Cross Searchers: "We went over the top for the first time on October 8th and were advancing over No Man's Land in line of skirmishers and had gone about two hundred yards when a large shell struck along-side Pvt. Lafferty, on his left and killed him instantly. I did not stop as the attack had just begun and I do not know where his body was buried, as we did not come back in that direction for several days. For the exact location of the grave we suggest you write direct to Chief Graves Registration Bureau, Headquarters, Service of Supply, American E.F. , A.P.O. 717, France. Wherever possible, photographs of the graves are taken and sent to the families, to our Bureau, and if one is sent of Pvt. Lafferty's burial place, we shall of course, forward it to you promptly. Reverently we think of the sacrifice you have made to our country though this soldier and assure you we feel it a privilege to help you in any way we can.

Yours sincerely W.R. Castle, Jr.

PVT Lafferty's body was apparently not recovered and he is memorialized on the tablets of the missing at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

Brother, Emmett Lee Lafferty, served as a SGT in World War One. 

PVT Salvatore Guinto

PVT Salvatore Guinto was born December 1893 in San Cataldo, Provincia di Caltanissetta, Sicilia, Italy.  Salvatore arrived in the U.S. in 1914. He lived with his uncle, Guiseppe (aka Joseph) Guinto, at 5 Rivington Street, New York, New York in 1918.

Salvatore was drafted and entered the Army on 4 May 1918 at Fort Slocum, New York.  He was first assigned to the 6th Recruit Company. On 9 May 1918 he was reassigned to K Company 116th Infantry.  He may have trained with the unit at Camp McClellan, Alabama for a short period before the unit was sent to Hoboken, New Jersey where they boarded the USS Finland for the trip to France.  The unit underwent more training before being moved to the front.  PVT Guinto was killed in action on 8 Oct 1918.

PVT Guinto is memorialized on the tablets of the missing at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

PVT Joseph Quattrosische

courtesy of Ann Cady

PVT Joseph Quattrosische was born about 1896 in Sorone, Italy. He had a sister, Francesca, who was still living in Italy in 1918.

Joseph was drafted on 2 May 1918. He was sent to France aboard the SS Lapland on 14 Sep 1918. It is likely that he was already ill from the voyage when he was assigned to H Company 116th Infantry and was soon evacuated, eventually to a hospital in Liverpool, England where he died of pneumonia on 6 Oct 1918.

PVT Quattrosische was repatriated in 1920 and re-interred in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

NOTE: Joseph's name seems to have been misspelled often.

PVT Edward Doyle Northrop

PVT Edward Doyle Northrop was born 10 Oct 1887 in Albemarle County, Virginia the 2nd of 8 children of Edmunds Francisco Ximenes "Frank" and Lydia Vesey (Coles) Northrop. The family farmed in Albemarle County. In 1917, Edward was working as a brakeman for Southern Railway Company and living in Orange County, Virginia.

After entering the Army, Edward was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 116th Infantry.  He was sent to France with the unit aboard the USS Finland in June 1918.  PVT Northrop died on 5 Oct 1918.

PVT Northrop was repatriated and re-interred in the Oakwood Cemetery in Charlottesville, Virginia.

PVT Ollie Davis

PVT Ollie Davis was born 13 May 1895 in Hollytree, Alabama.  He was the 6th of 9 children born to John Patrick and Wilham Amanda (Berry) Davis. The family farmed and by 1917 Ollie was farming for himself.

Ollie was inducted and designated as a replacement for combat losses. He sailed for France aboard the SS Walmer Castle departing New York City on 20 Jun 1918. We think that PVT Davis was assigned to L Company 116th Infantry sometime between 1 Jul 1918 and mid-September. After the 116th underwent trench warfare training the unit was put into a "quiet" sector for further training. It was shortly after that PVT Davis was wounded and died of his wound(s) on 20 Sep 1918.

PVT Davis was repatriated and re-interred in the Davis Cemetery in Jackson County, Alabama.

Ollie's father served in K Company 4th Tennessee Cavalry (CSA) during the Civil War. 

PFC Francis Edwin Brown

PFC Francis Edwin Brown was born 18 May 1896 in Scaly Mountain, North Carolina to Edwin P. and Mary Etta (Hoden) Brown. His family farmed.

Francis had moved to Virginia where in worked in a guncotton plant at the time he registered for the draft.  A member of the 4th Virginia Infantry when Virginia mobilized, he was assigned to E Company 116th Infantry.  PFC Brown was wounded and later died of his wound(s) in the 116th Field Hospital on 13 Sep 1918.

PFC Francis was repatriated and is buried in the Wesley Chapel Cemetery in Dillard, Georgia.

PFC Rubin Pete Gardner

PFC Rubin Pete Gardner was born in 1899 the son of George Washington and Cora Lee (Worrell) Gardner.

After entering the service, Rubin was assigned to E Company 116th Infantry.  PFC Gardner died of wounds on 6 Sep 1918.

His body was returned and PFC Gardner is buried in Cypress Chapel Christian Church Cemetery in Suffolk, Virginia.

PVT Vester D. Hall

PVT Vester D. Hall was a member of C Company 116th Infantry when it was training at Camp McClellan, Alabama. He shipped out to France with that unit on 15 Jun 1918 and died from and accidental gun shot wound in France on 2 Sep 1918.  He is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

His only known surviving relative was Virgie Leona "Lena" (Hall) Cook and she died of pulmonary tuberculosis in January 1920.

PVT Clyde Ramon Burton

PVT Clyde Ramon Burton was born in 2 Feb 1895 in Culpeper, Virginia the youngest of 3 children born to Edward and Octavia (Sullivan) Burton.  His mother died 2 years after his birth and his father apparently died before Clyde turned 15.  It seems that Clyde was then passed on to others to raise as he is not with his father in 1917

Clyde gave his occupation as farmer in Leon, Virginia  on 5 Jul 1917 when he enlisted in B Company 2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry for Mexican border duty. Recalled for duty in Europe, PVT Burton trained with the Regiment at Camp McClellan and Anniston, Alabama before boarding the USS Finland for the trip to France.  His sister was listed as next of kin on the ship's manifest. PVT Burton was killed in action on 31 Aug 1918.

PVT Burton found his final rest at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

CPL Herbert William Fowlkes

CPL Herbert William Fowlkes was born in November 1892 in Haytokah, Virginia to Rufus C. and Alice (Anderson) Fowlkes.  The family farmed.  Alice died 22 Sep 1895 and Rufus remarried a year later.

Herbert enlisted in E Company 2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry on 26 Jun 1916.  He was still assigned to the unit when it was mobilized and re-organized as part of F Company 116th Infantry. CPL Fowlkes was aboard the Finland when the 116th shipped out for France on 13 Jun 1918.  CPL Fowlkes was killed in action on 26 Aug 1918.

CPL Fowlkes was repatriated and re-interred in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

CPL William H Newman

CPL William H Newman was born in January 1897 in Waynesboro, Virginia. He was the 5th of 7 children born to John William and Annette "Nettie" Catherine (Gardner) Newman. His father supported the family as a laborer.

After entering the service, William was ultimately assigned to A Company 116th Infantry.  He sailed with the unit to France aboard the USS Finland.  The ship departed Hoboken, New Jersey on 15 Jun 1918 and arrived at the port of Saint Nazaire, France on 28 June 1918. The unit underwent training in trench warfare before being put into the line in a "quiet" sector.  It was here that CPL Newman was killed in action on 24 Aug 1918.

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

Brother, Charlie Brown Newman, also served in the Army during the war.

PVT Dale Shively

PVT Dale Shively was born 26 Aug 1888 in Madison County, Indiana the 4th of 5 children born to John Wesley and Melissa (Strader) Shively. His father farmed but died in 1915. Dale moved to Indianapolis, Indiana in April 1915.

John entered service 29 Mar 1918 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was sent first to Camp Taylor, Kentucky then transferred to Camp Gordon, Georgia and assigned to 19th Company, 2nd Infantry, Replacement Regiment. John was then transferred to Camp McClellan, Alabama and assigned to G Company 116th Infantry. He was shipped overseas whith his unit aboard the USS Finland on 15 Jun 1918. Accidentally killed 22 Aug 1918, "Somewhere in France."

PVT Shively was repatriated and now rests forever in the IOOF Cemetery in Alexandria, Indiana.

Father, John Wesley Shively served in A and E Companies of the 155th Indiana Infantry during the Civil War.

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.

PVT Alphus C. Robey

courtesy of Doc Wilson

PVT Alphus C. Robey was born 5 Jan 1895 in Alexandria, Virginia the 3rd of 6 children of Alpheus and Anne Elizabeth (Miller) Robey.  His father was a waterman and Alphus followed him into that work. The family lived at 114 Duke Street in Alexandria.

Alphus enlisted in G Company 1st Virginia Infantry and served on the Mexican border and was then one of those men assigned D Company 1st Virginia before it was reorganized as part of H Company 116th Infantry.  He trained with H Company at Camp McClellan and Anniston, Alabama.  He sailed with the unit from Hoboken, New Jersey with H Company on 15 Jun 1918 aboard the USS Finland.  PVT Robey was accidentally shot and killed on 25 Jul 1918. 

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

Older brother, Walter Everett Robey, served as a PFC in H Company with Alphus. Walter died in 1958 and is buried in Alexandria National Cemetery in Alexandria, Virginia.

PVT Enos D. Lewis

PVT Enos D. Lewis was born about 1890 likely in Henrico County, Virginia.  He was a member of B Company 116th Infantry when he died of disease on 7 Jul 1918.

PVT Lewis is buried in Riverview Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia.

PVT Howard Francis Doucette

PVT Howard Francis Doucette was born 25 Jul 1899 in Somerville, Massachusetts to William James and Clara Flora (Warner) Doucette.  His father was a house painter who died in 1907 of kidney disease. After his father's death, his mother worked as a chambermaid in the college dorms and as a domestic/house servant.

It would seem that there is some confusion about Howard's service.  He apparently served with the 104th Infantry, 26th Division and may have enlisted with that unit at the onset of the war because it was local to his residence.  PVT Doucette was killed in action on 6 Jul 1918.

PVT Doucette is buried in Aisne-Marne American Cemetery.  Brothers, William Clyde Doucette and Arthur Frederick Doucette, also served in the Army during the war. 

PVT Doucette is listed here because he was reported by then MAJ Hierome Opie in the "official" history of the regiment in the war as dying in service with the regiment.  However, there are no other records found to date that indicate that he was assigned to any other unit than E Company 104th Infantry.