William Anderson
Submitted by: Nathaniel Jenkins, Jr. {Grandson}
William Anderson was born around 1894. William Anderson 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
My grandfather, William Anderson, a South Carolina native, was a real American War Hero. He was a quiet and warm man, a jack-of-all-trades born in the late1800s, and he lived a humble life in Asheville, North Carolina. He was part of an all-black regiment that fought with French soldiers against the Germans during World War I.
When my mother would take me and my sisters to visit him, he would frequently show us his medal that he had tucked away in an old tarnished tin Sucrets box. The medal, shaped like an Iron Cross backed by crossed swords, was marred with time; and it had an aged green and red ribbon attached. My grandfather would beam with pride every time he displayed the medal, but as little kids we didn’t fully understand the significance of his pride. Apparently, he wanted his grandchildren and great-grandchildren to know what he'd done--and to be proud of him.
Many years later, I discovered that Grandfather Anderson's efforts on the battlefield earned him a coveted French medal, the Croix de Guerre or Cross of War, for bravery in combat action. That's the same honor given Audie Murphy, the most decorated American combat soldier of World War II.
Henry Vernon Rothe, Sr.
Submitted by: Glenn Rothe {grandson}
Henry Vernon Rothe Sr. born around 1901, Henry Rothe served in World War 1 with the the United States Army . The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1918.
Story of Service
My only memory is my grandfather mentioning gas and bombs...I saw his bayonet once. I wish to research more soon.
Nilkanth Ramchandra Chavre
Submitted by: Tanveer Kalo
Nilkanth Ramchandra Chavre born 1895. Nilkanth Chavre 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 Nilkanth Ramchandra Chavre was born on September 2, 1895 in either Vaduja or Kolhapur, British India. He immigrated to the United States on February 16, 1916 on the ship Stumpalia via Genoa, Italy. Chavre settled in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
He studied at the College of Engineering and Architecture at the University of Michigan. Chavre was listed in 1919 Catalogue of the University of Michigan under the College of College of Engineering and Architecture's roster.
On June 5, 1917, Chavre registered for the draft while as an engineering student at University of Michigan. His draft card recorded his race as Caucasian, birthplace as Kolhapur, naturalization status as an alien. The card also recorded that he was single and resided at 210 Glen Ave.
Paul Ratkovich
Submitted by: T.J. Cullinane, community historian
Paul Ratkovich born in 1896, Paul Ratkovich 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
Paul Ratkovich served as an Infantry Sergeant with the First Infantry Division in the Great War.
He was born in Zagreb, Croatia on April 29, 1896, one of six children to Paul V. Ratkovich (1863 -1937) and the former Julia Malkovich (1861 – 1946). The family would later migrate to the United States and settle in Colorado.
Paul’s home of record was 249 Poplar Ave in Canon City, Colorado. He joined the U.S. Army in 1917 and was assigned serial number 246503. He is pictured in his Army uniform in 1917.
After completing training, Paul, now promoted to Corporal, would deploy to France as a member of the 2nd Company, Training Battalion, of the 26th Infantry Regiment. The unit would embark on the U.S.S. Mount Vernon, a former luxury liner seized from Germany upon America’s entry into the war. The unit sailed for France from Hoboken, New Jersey in late 1917.
Louis Napoleon Jerome
Submitted by: Mike Keehr {grandson}
Louis Napoleon Jerome born 1/23/1892. Louis Jerome served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1918 and the service was completed in 1919. He died in 1975.
Stephen Dorje
Submitted by: Tanveer Kalo
Stephen Dorje born around 1887. Stephen Dorje 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
Private Stephen Dorje was born on June 24, 1887 in Darjeeling, British India. He immigrated to the United States on January 24, 1915 on the ship Minnewaska from British Indian via London, England at age of 30. The New York Passenger List from this date recorded, Dorje's race as British Indian and final destination as Washington, D.C.
Dorje registered for the draft on June 5, 1917 in D.C. His World War I draft card recorded his race as Mongolian and married. The card also recorded that he worked as a butler for Samuel Ross at 2328 Mass Ave in D.C and was an alien.
Dorje entered in the U.S. Army on January 28, 1918. Private Dorje was assigned to the Field Remount Squadron 301, Quartermaster Corps. On April 30, 1918, Dorje departed from Hoboken, New Jersey with his unit on the ship Finland for France.
Alfred Jette
Submitted by: David Wyman {grandson}
Alfred Jette born around 1895, Alfred Jette served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1917.
Sam Alle
Submitted by: Tanveer Kalo
Sam Alle born around 1894. Sam Alle 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
Private Sam Alle was born on either February 15, 1894 or May 25, 1893 in British East India. He immigrated to the United States prior to 1918. He settled in Savannah, Georgia and worked as a laborer.
He registered for the draft on June 5, 1917. Alle's World War I draft card recorded his race as Malayan (Malaysian), birth of place East India, and as an alien. Next to the word alien there is something written, but it is illegible.
On July 20, 1918, Alle was ordered to report to the Chatman military board for Camp Gordon in Atlanta, Georgia. He was assigned to 5th company 2nd Training Battalion of the 157th Depot Brigade until July 27, 1918.
Charles R. Williams
Submitted by: Tanveer Kalo
Charles R. Williams born around 1894, Charles Williams 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
Private Charles R. Williams was born in British East India on September 5, 1894 . He immigrated to the United States in 1904 and settled in Baltimore, Maryland. Williams married Mary E. at some point prior to his military service. Mary was from D.C. and was black.
Williams was inducted into the U.S. Army on September 10, 1918. He was first assigned to the 152 Depot Brigade at Camp Upton, New York until November 8, 1918. His next assignment was the colored unit 446 Res Lab Battalion.
He left for France on July 30, 1918 from New York City on the ship Megantic with an unassigned unit, but part of the 6th Division.