2LT John Collins Leavell

2LT John Collins Leavell was born 6 Nov 1895 in Salem, Virginia the oldest of seven children of John Burrell and Willie Virginia (Hurt) Leavell.  His father was a wagon maker.

John enlisted as a PVT in G Company 2nd Virginia Infantry on 6 December 1915.  He had no prior military experience at that time and because he was less than 21 years of age, his father had to give his permission for his son to enlist.  We do not know when he received his commission but he was a 2LT when killed in action on 8 Oct 1918.

2LT Leavell's body was not recoverable and he is remembered on the tablets of the missing in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

PVT Albert Leo Ratell

PVT Albert Leo Ratell was born 16 Oct 1888 in Merritt, Michigan the 3rd of 4 children of Frank and Chornance (Laberdie) Ratell. In 1909 he married Minnie Lavigne.  The couple divorced in 1913.

After entering the Army, Albert was assigned to F Company 116th Infantry. He was transported with his unit aboard the Finland which departed Hoboken, New Jersey on 15 Jun 1918. PVT Ratell was killed in action on 8 Oct 1918.

Albert is memorialized on the tablets of the missing in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

PVT Abraham Fuchs

PVT Abraham Fuchs was born 1 May 1895 in Russia.  He lived at 757 Kelly Street, Bronx, New York and worked as a salesman at E. Marino's at 818 161st Street, also in the Bronx.

Abraham was drafted in May 1918 and sent to H Company 116th Infantry at Camp McClellan.  He shipped out with the unit aboard the USS Finland in June 1915, his emergency contact being a friend. PVT Fuchs was killed in action on 8 Oct 1918.

PVT Fayett Sexton

courtesy of SoilSister

PVT Fayett Sexton (his given name may have been Lafayette) was born in April 1899 in Carterton, Virginia the 8th of 9 children of George W and Cynthia Jane (Fields). The family farmed.

After entering the Army, Fayett was assigned to G Company 116th Infantry.  He was with the unit when it left Hoboken, New Jersey aboard the USS Finland on 15 Jun 1918. PVT Sexton was killed in action on 8 Oct 1918.

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

PFC Joseph Alfred Byers

PFC Joseph Alfred Byers was probably born Boiling Spring in Alleghany County, Virginia in June 1899. He was the youngest of 3 children and only son born to Samuel Lee and Sarah E. (Fridley) Byers.  The family farmed.

Joseph likely entered the National Guard unit with his cousin when the federalization was announced. Sent to Camp McClellan, Alabama the unit was reorganized as part of H Company 116th Infantry. The unit sailed for France from Hoboken, New Jersey aboard the USS Finland on 15 Jun 1918.  The ship docked in Saint Nazaire, France on 28 Jun 1918. After training in trench warfare and time in a "quiet" sector on the front lines the 116th was part of a major offensive in the vicinity of Verdun. PFC Byers was killed on the first day of the offensive.

PFC Byers is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

First cousin to PVT Hobson Dewey Byers also of H Company who was killed in action on 23 Oct 1918.

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.

PVT John S. Purcell

PVT John S. Purcell was born 10 Jul 1888 in Arkansas the 3rd and youngest child of Henry William and Caldonia (Carter) Purcell.  His parents divorced and his mother remarried.  John's step-father farmed.

After entering the army, John was assigned to D Company 116th Infantry.  He was in service with that unit when he was killed in action on 8 Oct 1918.

PVT Purcell's body was returned to the U.S. and he is now buried in Lewis Cemetery in Hickory Ridge, Arkansas.

CPL Rosco Stevens Hawks

CPL Rosco Stevens Hawks was born 8 Jun 1894 in Roanoke, Virginia. He was the eldest of 8 children born to William Anderson and Mattie Ellen (Wood) Hawks. His father had worked as a carpenter in Mercer, West Virginia and as Postmaster in Pridemore, Virginia.

Rosco enlisted in L Company 2nd Virginia Infantry on 28 May 1917 and took part in the Mexican Border service with that unit. When the unit was again called, this time for duty in France, PVT Hawks went with them to Camp McClellan, Alabama.  CPL Hawks shipped out aboard the USS Finland with his unit on 15 Jun 1918 and arrived in France on 28 Jun 1918. CPL Hawks was killed in action on 8 Oct 1918.

CPL Hawks was memorialized on the tablets of the missing in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

CPL Walter A. Menzel

courtesy of SoilSister

CPL Walter A. Menzel was born in October 1897 in James City County, Virginia the first of 7 children to be born to George Earnest and Susie Frances (Gary) Menzel. George was a fisherman.

After entering the service, Walter was assigned to G Company 116th Infantry. He was transported to France with his unit aboard the USS Finland which departed Hoboken, New Jersey on 15 Jun 1918.  CPL Menzel was killed in action on 8 Oct 1918.

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

PVT James Ira Brunson

PVT James Ira Brunson was born 7 Feb 1896 in Texas to James Joshua and Sue (Melton) Brunson. The family farmed in Talahatchie County, Mississippi.

When James was drafted in 1918, he was farming in Arkansas.  Assigned to I Company 116th Infantry, James trained with that unit at Camp McClellan and Anniston, Alabama before sailing with the unit for France aboard the USS Finland.  Arriving in France at the end of June 1918, there was more training before the regiment went into the line.  PVT Brunson was killed in action on 8 Oct 1918.

PVT Brunson was repatriated in 1921 and buried in Fort Smith National Cemetery in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

PVT Ollie H. Mitchell

PVT Ollie H. Mitchell was born in July 1899 in Danville, Virginia.  He was the first born of 8 children of Augustus Lafayette and Elizabeth Albert (Adkins) Mitchell. His father was a weaver in one of the city's textile mills.

When Ollie entered the Army he was assigned to C Company 116th Infantry. PVT Mitchell sailed to France with his unit aboard the USS Finland which departed Hoboken, New Jersey on 15 Jun 1918. After debarking at the port of Saint Nazaire, France on 28 Jun 1918 the unit underwent training in trench warfare before being assigned to a "quiet" sector in the front lines. A major offensive began on 8 Oct 1918 in the vicinity of Verdun of which the 116th was a part. PVT Mitchell was killed in action on that day.

PVT Mitchell was certainly repatriated and we believe he was re-interred near Danville.

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. 

PVT Thomas Howard Taylor

PVT Thomas Howard Taylor was born 14 Jan 1887 to Marcus L. and Missouri S. (Brewer) Taylor of Russellville, Alabama.  The family farmed.

Thomas was assigned to C Company 116th Infantry.  He was killed in action 8 Oct 1918.

PVT Taylor is buried in Spruce Pine Cemetery in Spruce Pine, Alabama.

PVT William Clifford Devitt

PVT William Clifford Devitt was born 20 Feb 1891 in New Orleans, Louisiana the 3rd of 7 children born to William Joseph and Mary E. (Cameron) Devitt.  His father was a warehouseman and laborer.  His parents appear to have separated by 1910 and his mother remarried.

When drafted, William was working as a "cotton yardman" and supporting his mother.  They were living at 1355 Religious Street in New Orleans. William was assigned to L Company 116th Infantry and shipped out for France with that unit.  They departed Hoboken, New Jersey aboard the USS Finland on 15 Jun 1918 and arrived in France on 28 Jun 1918.  The entire regiment then moved to training and then into the line.  They were part of an attack in the vicinity of Molleville Farm and PVT Devitt was killed in action there on 8 Oct 1918.

PVT Devitt was repatriated and re-interred in Saint Patrick Cemetery #1 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

PVT Hambleton F. Andrews

PVT Hambleton F. Andrews was born the 5th of 12 children on 10 Sep 1895 in Caroline County, Virginia to Frederick Jennings and Ida Ross (Beazley) Andrews.  The family farmed.

PVT Andrews was assigned to D Company 116th Infantry when he was killed in action on 8 Oct 1918. 

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.

PVT Clarence Everett Burton

PVT Clarence Everett Burton was born 6 Aug 1889 in Rector, Arkansas to Zachariah and Anna (Lewis) Burton.  His father died in 1893.

PVT Burton was assigned to D Company 116th Infantry and was killed in action on 8 Oct 1918.

PVT Burton is buried with family in Oaklawn Cemetery in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

PVT George A. Golden

PVT George A. Golden was born in Augusta County, Virginia about 1899.  He was the son of Julius Sampson "Plunk" and Lottie Catherine (Moore) Golden.  His father worked on the railroad.

George was assigned to D Company 116th Infantry and was killed in action on 8 Oct 1918. His body was returned to the U.S. and he is buried with family in Glen Kirk Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Waynesboro, Virginia.  

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.