Ernest L Wrentmore Jr.
Submitted by: K.C. Picard-Krone {State World War 1 historian}
Ernest L Wrentmore, Jr. was born around 1904. Ernest Wrentmore served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1919.
Story of Service
Ernest L. Wrentmore, Jr. was the 12 year (10 months) old son of Maude Vinora and Dr. Ernest Wrentmore Sr of West Farmingham, Ohio who decided on the morning of September 28, 1917 to skip school and enlist in the army. A big, strapping boy who easily passed for a young man on the brink of manhood, Ernest was five foot, six in his stocking feet, and weighed over 145 pounds. He easily passed the physicals and no one questioned the vital statistics he scribbled down on the enlistment documents: Henry E. Monroe of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, age 18.
His distraught family became aware of his disappearance when Ernest didn’t return home that night and they started a search of the area. Finally a clue to his whereabouts surfaced eight months later when the Army mailed an overseas card to their home address in May. By this time he had already made the perilous trek through the German submarine infested waters to the Western Front in France.
Steve Lakios, Sr.
Submitted by: Stephen Lakios {Son}
Steve Lakios, Sr. born around 1891. Steve Lakios served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1919.
Story of Service
My father Steve Lakios, was born 1891 in Icaria, Greece. He had an adventurous childhood, after two months of schooling at seven, his father, Stefanous pulled him from school and he sailed the Mediterranean and Black seas for eleven years on his fathe'rs two masted ship, and grandfather's three masted cargo ship. Steve learned eleven languages, it is amazing to me he did not join the navy.
He came to America in 1909, took the required classes and became a citizen.
He worked 16 hours a day, six days a week in construction, on Sunday he helped a friend run a Greek restaurant.
He saved and put his money in a rented locker, like so many other immigrants, as they did not trust banks.
Steve knew the US was going to enter the war, he enlisted from Youngstown, Ohio. Several weeks later the draft started and he was pressed to help train the vast numbers of new recruits. As he had nine weeks of tough training already.
2Lt. Fritz Winifred Alexander Sr.
Submitted by: Johnette Brooks {GA WWI African American Historian}
2Lt. Fritz Winifred Alexander Sr. was born around 1893. 2Lt. Fritz Alexander served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1917.
Story of Service
"Heroic Gems of the Red Clay: Honoring the Valor of Georgia WWI African American Talented Tenth."
GEORGIA'S HOWARD UNIVERSITY SERIES
Georgia WWI Gems of Howard U
While the majority of Georgia’s colored college students attended Atlanta University, we have ten (10) students who attended Howard University and another Howard Graduate who returned to Georgia to serve as Dean at Atlanta University. Many of them became Commissioned Officers, as well as, the elite “Talented Tenth” that the times demanded.
The 10 natives were: 2Lt. Fritz W. ALEXANDER; Capt. Charles H. GARVIN; 1Lt. Benton R. LATIMER; Capt. Charles C. MIDDLETON; Major Louis R. MIDDLETON; 1Lt. Charles A. SHAW; 2 Lt. Austin J. SIMMS; Pvt. DeWitt T. WALTON; I.O. WESTERLAND; and Capt. Christopher C. WIMBUSH. 1Lt. Rayford LOGAN worked at Atlanta University after the war.
Alfred Henry Phelps
Submitted by: Seth Phelps {Son}
Alfred Henry Phelps was around 1890. Alfred Phelps served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1917.
Story of Service
Do not know, as he never spoke of it. He was in and out of VA hospital from the time I was 3 years old until he died at the VA hospital in Jackson, Mississippi in 1950.
Charles H. Popejoy
Submitted by: Patrick Huston {Neighborhood Friend}
Charles H. Popejoy was born around 1890. Charles Popejoy served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1917.
Story of Service
Private First Class: served overseas in France a veteran during WWI (1917-1918). Also called "First World War, "The Great War" and "The War to End All Wars."
Duty assignment was with the 16 Discharge Company.
Awarded the WWI Victory Medal.
George Kirby Traylor
Submitted by: Patrick Huston {Grand Nephew}
George Kirby Traylor was born around 1889. George Traylor served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1918.
Story of Service
Private; served overseas in France a veteran during WWI (1917-1918). Also called "First World War, "The Great War" and "The War to End All Wars."
Assigned to an American Army infantry division fighting on the western front lines. Awarded the WWI Victory Medal.
Roy Preston Smith
Submitted by: Patrick Huston {Grand Nephew}
Roy Preston Smith born around 1886. Roy Smith served in World War 1 with the United States Army . The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1918.
Story of Service
Corporal: served overseas in France a veteran during WWI (1917-1918). Also called "First World War, "The Great War" and "The War to End All Wars."
Assigned duty with 81st Field Artillery, 8 division (8th Infantry Division). Arrived in Europe/France September 1918; sent to individual units in combat as an individual replacement on the western front lines. Awarded the WWI Victory Medal.
Chester I. Huston
Submitted by: Patrick Huston {Grand Nephew}
Chester I. Huston served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1918.
Story of Service
Corporal: served overseas in France a veteran during WWI (1917-1918). Also called "First World War, "The Great War" and "The War to End All Wars."
Chester was 23 years of age when killed in action on July 4th, 1918 in combat duty during battle for France on the western front lines.
Buried with full military honors in Braceville-Gardner cemetery; Braceville, Grundy County, Illinois. Awarded the Purple Heart medal and WWI Victory Medal.
William Edward Huston
Submitted by: Patrick Huston {Nephew}
William Edward Huston born around October 17,1891. William Huston served in World War 1 with the United States Army . The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1918.
Story of Service
Corporal: served overseas in France a veteran during WWI (1917-1918). Also called the "First World War", "The Great War" and "The War to End All Wars."
He was assigned duty with Company "A" 108 Ammo Train. Delivered ammunition by truck to the western front lines.
Awarded the WWI Victory Medal.