William C. Anderson
Submitted by: Donna Blews {Granddaughter}
William J Anderson born around 1899. William Anderson 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
William Anderson was born in New Britain, Ct. Grew up in New Britain,Ct.,and joined the Connecticut National Guard ...he was E.Pvt.,Co.I,1st Regt.Conn.Inf.,N.G. Feb 22, 1917...he was called to service March 26, 1917 and then drafted into the U.S. Service August 5,1917.
He was transfered to Co.I,102nd Infantry., R.S.O.152, 26th Yankee division...he served in France and fought at St.Mihiel, Verdun, Chateau Theirry, Siechwprey and was wounded in action twice, severely on July 22, 1918 in the right leg and loosing his left index finger. He became part of the AEF September 16, 1917 to March 25, 1918.
He was honorably discharged April 4th, 1919.
Roy William Billingsley
Submitted by: Deborah Billingsley Cavalcante {Grandniece}
Roy William Billingsley was born around 1901. Roy Billingsley served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1921.
Story of Service
My great-uncle, Roy William Billingsley, was born on 20 July 1901. He had lost his mother in January of 1913. Shortly after his mother's death, his father put him and his younger brother, James Stanley, in the Louisville Industrial School for Boys, to finish their education. He gave their youngest sister, Alice Rose, to a family in Oklahoma and then he skipped town, never to be heard from again.
Roy enlisted in the Army, at age 15, on 9 Apr 1917 (Regiment 30th Inf. Company “A”) and was stationed at Camp Merritt, NJ. According to his Roll of Honor entries he was in the Aisne defensive June 1918, the Chateau-Thierry July 1918, and the Champagne Marne defensive July 1918 when he was captured by the Germans 18 July 1918 and spent time in a prisoner of war camp, Camp Rastatt. He was released Dec 9, 1918. But in the interim, he was reported dead. In August 1918, the Courier Journal wrote that he had “given his life in battle against Hun.” Back home in Louisville, they held a memorial service for Roy.
When he was released from the POW camp, he returned to his company. When he returned home about a year later, his sister Pearl fainted when she saw him standing at the door. He was honorably discharged 23 Jul 1921.
Uncle Roy later enlisted in World War II 19 Sep 1942. He was honorably discharged 11 Mar 1943.
Matthew Thomas Cleary
Submitted by: Mel Keenan {American Legion Post 255 Commander}
Matthew Thomas Cleary was born around 1893. Matthew Cleary served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1916 and the service was completed in 1918.
Story of Service
Matthew Thomas Cleary, Born September 24, 1893, at Lima, NY. He grew up in Caledonia but attended school in Avon, which was closer. Father, James B. Cleary, and Mother, Margaret Hayes Cleary, moved to Avon, NY when Matt was in the military. Siblings included John J. Cleary and Raymond J. Cleary of Caledonia, Marie A. Cleary, Avon.
Citizenship, native, educated at Cathedral School, St. Agnes Grammar School, Avon, NY, Avon High School, June 21, 1910, and Rochester Business Institute, March 16, 1915. Civilian occupation as farmer on James B. Cleary farm on Route 5 in Caledonia.
Previous military experience, saw service on the Mexican border at McAllen, Texas with Troop M, 1st NY Cavalry during 1916 and 1917. Date of entry into the service, February 8, 1916. At the time of death he was Sergeant in company D, 105th Machine Gun Battalion, 27th Division.
Matthew T. Cleary enlisted in Troop M, 1st NY Cavalry, February 6, 1916. The following June his regiment with the entire National Guard was ordered to the Mexican Border owing to the serious border trouble.
Larry Dean Donbeck
Submitted by: Madonna Jervis Wise community member
Larry Dean Donbeck born around 16 January 1897, Larry Donbeck served in World War 1 with the the United States Navy . The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1919.
Story of Service
Lovely article in local newspaper..."The Delphi Journal," Delphi, Indiana, November 7, 1918
LARRY DONBECK WRITES FROM THE FRONT
Somewhere in France, October 7, 1918
My Dearest Sister,
I must write you now, for it has been so long since I have written to you. I expect you are wondering just what your big brother is doing. Well, he has been very busy for the last three weeks. You see I was in the drive! We drove the Germans away back. They retreated at first without showing much opposition. Many prisoners were taken. We captured a big bunch the first day of the attack. They were mostly older men and boys. It sure looked good as we went into action to pass big lines of these prisoners on their way back to the camp.
Peter J. Ebels
Submitted by: Tom Ebels {Great Grandson}
Peter J. Ebels was born around 1899. Peter Ebels 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
First Enlisted in Service March 27, 1917 in Michigan National Guard Co. M 32nd Michigan Infantry. Was discharged on July 31, 1917 for underweight (126 lbs. 68 in).
Re-enlisted August 1 (next day) 1917, and served until April 19, 1919. Made necessary weight by eating 1 dozen bananas and drinking 2 quarts of water.
Went overseas with my Company but came back with Demobilization Co. Was overseas February 19, 1918-March 27, 1919.
Willie Edwin Mutz
Submitted by: Robert {Grandson}
Willie Edwin Mutz born around 1899, Willie Mutz served in World War 1 with the the United States Navy . The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1919.
Story of Service
Was only 6 years old when my Grandfather passed away. From what I learned: He was on a ship that provided convoy security from the East Coast to the UK.
Pictures below.
Fred Himmelberger
Submitted by: Wayne Pieper {Grandson}
Fred Himmelberger born around 1897. Fred Himmelberger served in World War 1 with the United States Marine Corps. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1918.
Story of Service
Applied for enlistment Feb. 25, 1917 at New York, NY. Commissioned Corporal May 1, 1918. US Marine Corp. 51st Co., 5th Regiment, 2nd Division AEF.
Served in France from June 27, 1917 to Sept. 15, 1918. France: Verdun Section March 17 to May 5, 1918. Bois de Belleau, Chateau-Thierry Section June 1 to June 6, 1918.
Awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French Government and a Bronze Star for the US Government for courage and bravery displayed in carrying his wounded comrades to the rear under a violent bombardment. Was wounded in action on June 6, 1918 and awarded the Purple Heart.
Arrived back in the U.S. on Sept. 30, 1918. Discharged Feb. 26, 1919.
Louis Z. Daris
Submitted by: Charles L. Daris {Son}
Louis Z. Daris born around 1895. Louis Daris 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
Enlisted, boot camp in Syracuse, training in Camp Green N.C., attached to 4th Div. 47th Inf. Combat in St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne. Served in Army of Occupation in Germany. Sergeant.
Writing the memoirs of his participation in the American Expeditionary Forces twelve years after the end of the First World War, my father proudly declared that the time he was in uniform was “the greatest experience of my life.” Reading them, one can sense that he relished every minute of it, including terrifying moments in combat or coping with mind-numbing mud whether in the trenches or on his never-ending marches. But he never lost his sense of humor. The ubiquitous mud and frequent rain often prompted him and his buddies to remark with no little irony, “sunny France!”
He served in the 4th Division, 47th Infantry, Company A. Throughout his service he wrote copious notes in the small diaries he kept with him. These treasured memories made it possible for him to narrate his adventures in detail years later. He also researched the origins of the U.S. participation in the war and the history of his own regiment and incorporated his findings into his memoirs.
Jaget Singh
Submitted by: Tanveer Kalo
Jaget Singh served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1918 and the service was completed in 1918.
Story of Service
Private Jaget Singh was born about 1889 in British India. Prior to 1918,Singh immigrated to the United States and settled in Tacoma, Washington.
Private Singh was inducted into the U.S. Army in Imperial County, California on October 10, 1918. He was assigned to the 166 Depot Brigade at Camp Lewis, Washington until his discharge. He did not serve overseas.
Singh was honorably discharged on December 9, 1918.