Horace Clinton Burnette
Submitted by: Marshall Burnette {Grandson}
Horace Clinton Burnette born around 1887, Horace Burnette served in World War 1 with the United States Navy . The enlistment was in 1916 and the service was completed in 1919.
Story of Service
My grandfather, Horace Burnette, joined the Navy in 1916 after losing his wife due to childbirth. This left Horace with two young sons to care for.
While on leave from his ship (where he served as a rated Water Tender) in Brest, France his ship received orders to quickly leave port and he was left behind. He reported to the nearest Navy office & was assigned duty as a shore patrolman.
While in France he met and married the beautiful Renee Le Fur and, after the end of the war, they returned together to the USA aboard the USS Leviathan.
Horace marched, with his unit, in the WWI Victory Parade through Paris under the command of General John J. (Blackjack) Pershing.
Horace and Renee had five children together. Horace's primary occupation was farming in both north and south Georgia. Five of his sons also served in the military with four of them being WWII veterans.
George Koenig
Submitted by: George Carter {Grandson}
George Koenig born in 1893, George Koenig served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1918 and the service was completed in 1919.
Story of Service
My Grandfather, George Koenig, was very proud of his U.S. Army service in World War I as part of the American Expeditionary Force.
(Note: Most of this information is from the personal diary that he kept while in the Army. Some of his notes are difficult to read or decipher, so this summary is a best effort supplemented by his official U.S. Army Discharge and Enlistment records, as well as the history of the U.S. Army 3rd Division, troopship rosters, newspaper and other historical references.)
He joined the Army on June 24, 1918 at the age of 25 from his home state of Minnesota and, after completing basic training, was soon shipped overseas. He arrived in Le Harve, France on October 4, 1918 and was then sent to Camp Hunt in the Southwest of France. He was stationed at Camp Hunt until November 11, 1918 (Armistice Day).
Paul & Stanley Wikarski
Submitted by: Kent Wikarski {nephew}
Paul Wikarski was born around 1887, Stanley Wikarski was born around1891. Paul & Stanley Wikarski served in World War 1 with the United States Navy and United States Army, respectively.
Story of Service
Brothers Paul & Stanley Wikarski children of Polish immigrants were born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. Paul the older of the two lied about his age and entered the Navy when he was only sixteen and a half years old. Paul served as a Chief Gunners Mate aboard the U.S.S. Ohio as part of the Atlantic Fleet during WW!. Just four years earlier, in 1914, he took part in the invasion of Veracruz while serving on the U.S.S. New Hampshire. Paul died of accidental drowning during his 5th enlistment period in 1922 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Stanley enlisted in the Army and completed basic training at Fort Custer, Michigan as a member of 85th Infantry. Because of his contractor experience, he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion 310th Engineers, a divisional support regiment later assigned to the V Army Corps 1st Army under General Pershing. Records show that the 310th Engineers deployed in support of the Division at various battles. At some, point Stanley was exposed to a poison gas attack. Like many men, he died prematurely due to post war afflictions. He died at the National Home for Disabled & Solders in Milwaukee in 1932.
Montgomery Howe “Trey” Polk
Submitted by: Diana Quinn Cotton {grandniece-in-law}
Montgomery Howe “Trey” Polk was born around 1895. Joseph Maxim 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
Montgomery Howe “Trey” Polk, son of Walter H. Polk and Lillian (Montgomery) Polk, was born on April 4, 1895, in Natchez, Mississippi. Trey’s maternal great-grandfather was General Charles Clark, a Confederate Civil War Governor of Mississippi. He was related on his father’s side to Lt. Thomas Polk, who buried the Liberty Bell to save it from the British.
Trey played on the Mississippi A & M College football team and served during World War I as a 1st Lieutenant in Co. “A” 125th Infantry AEF France.
The following is a letter that Trey wrote to his future brother-in-law, Henry Eugene Quinn, during the war:
Frederick Lee Wilber
Submitted by: Barbie Jo Nielsen Great Granddaughter
Frederick Lee Wilber born around 1895. Frederick Wilber 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
Served in 77th Div, Co. G 2nd Bn, 308th Inf Regt. Served during the "The Operation of the So-Called "Lost Battalion," Oct. 2nd to Oct. 8th, 1918. Meusse-Argonne, France.
Charles Harry Prewitt
Submitted by: Louanne Pelletier {Daughter}
Charles Harry Prewitt was born around 1898. Charles Prewitt served in World War 1 with the United States Navy. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1917.
Story of Service
My father was an engineman on a Navy ship and the ship was in the Black Sea. He served 4 years in the navy.
John Joseph Winters, Sr.
Submitted by: John J Winters {Grandson}
John Joseph Winters, Sr. was born around 1892. John Winters 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 First Class John J. Winters, Albany, NY
Enlisted June 11, 1917
October 29th received uniforms @ Troop B Armory, Albany
Set sail aboard the RMS Carmania (troop ship) May 3, 1918
Arrived in Liverpool England May 16th
BASE HOSPITAL NO. 33
Base Hospital No. 33 was organized in June, 1917, at the Albany Hospital, Albany, N. Y., and was mobilized November 19, 1917, at Troop B Armory, Albany, N. Y., where it remained in training for five months. On April 26, 1918, the organization entrained for Camp Merritt, N. J., where it remained until May 2. It embarked May 3 on the Carmania, leaving the same day for Liverpool, England, where it arrived May 16, 1918. It left immediately for the rest camp at Knotty Ash, where it remained for two days and was then transferred to the American rest camp, Winnall Down, Winchester. At Winnall Down the unit remained awaiting permanent assignment until June 3, 1918. The majority of the personnel during this time were assigned to duty in hospitals and camps in England. On June 3 the unit was assigned.
Hugh Patrick Shields
Submitted by: Cathleen Shields Berger {granddaughter}
Hugh Patrick Shields was born around August 15, 1893. Hugh Shields 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
Served in the Argonne and Belleau Wood. Survived mustard gas. Returned home to raise a family on Shields Street in Philly.
Oras Lenord Stutler
Submitted by: John Burgett {Grandson}
Oras Lenord Stutler was born around 1896. Oras Stutler served in World War 1 with the United States Arm . The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1917.
Story of Service
Served in France in infantry unit.