Joseph E. Kaes
Submitted by: Mary J. Ryan (grand niece)
Joseph Edward Kaes served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 11/16/1916-11/21/1918.
Joseph Edward Kaes was born on Christmas Day, 1896 in South Boston, Massachusetts to Jacob and Katherine Kaes, emigres from the Alsace region of France. He was the youngest of their 11 surviving children.
My grand-uncle Joseph Kaes enlisted on November 16, 1915 with Company A, 9th Infantry Massachusetts National Guard and served on the Mexican Border. Prior to his enlistment, he was employed in a candy factory. Joseph Kaes reported for duty on March 26, 1917, mustered April 3, Company A, 9th Infantry Massachusetts National Guard (Co. A, 101st Infantry, 26th Division). He went overseas on September 7, 1917 as a member of the Yankee Division for the American Expeditionary Forces. On Sept 14, 1917, Joseph Kaes was appointed Private First Class.
Branton H. Henderson
Submitted by: Francis Brooks
Branton H. Henderson served in World War 1 with the United States Navy. The dates of service are: Known
US Navy Reserves, 1917-18: Active Duty, US Navy, Sept. 1918 to Dec. 1918.
Seaman Second Class, 1918, at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, WA. Princeton University, class of 1921.
Russell M. Lee
Submitted by: Colonel (Retired) Jeffrey Lee
Russell M. Lee served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known April 22, 1917 - September 1919.
My grandfather, Russell Mulford Lee, voluntarily enlisted in the Allied Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F.). The year was 1917. His Service number was R-155205. He followed in a long Lee tradition of military service. His father had served with the Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry, also known as Rush’s Lancers during the American Civil War. Rush's Lancers were one of the finest volunteer cavalry regiments during the American Civil War.
Approximately 4.4 million Americans were ultimately mobilized during World War I. Russell Lee was among the first of those Americans.
Albert J. Matelena, PFC
Submitted by: Brian Smith
Albert J. Matelena, PFC served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 27 February 1917 to 30 May 1919..
ALBERT fought in World War I from 27 February 1917 to 30 May 1919. He was in Company E, 2nd Infantry Battalion, 311th Infantry Regiment, 156th Infantry Brigade of the 78th Division until his discharge.
He was inducted at Camp Dix for basic training just after his 22nd birthday, on 12 February 1918. Because of his earlier heart damage, he was excused from most daily drills due to pain over his heart. His entrance exam at Camp Dix on 2 March 1918 has him weighing 126 pounds and being 5' 4 3/4" tall.
Gaspare Arnone
Submitted by: Tom Arnone
Gaspare Arnone served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Unknown .
This individual (my father) enlisted in the U.S. Army when he was 27 years old. He served in Company G, 319 Infantry Division and was wounded by a machine gun in the left arm in the Meuse Argonne battle on September 20 1918. He was honorably discharged on July 16, 1919.
I still have his Honorable Discharge certificate from the U.S. Army. It is old but very readable.
Charles Andrew Besaw
Submitted by: Elliott Zink
Charles Andrew Besaw served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known August 1917 to November 1, 1918.
Charley Besaw was a private in the 354th Infantry Regiment and was killed in action at Meuse-Argonne on November 1, 1918.
He was my Grandfather's uncle, and my Grandfather remembered when he was conscripted and when word came that he had been killed.
Charley was a farmer and was engaged to be married when he returned. My Grandpa said that he was the "fun" uncle, and was always telling jokes.
Nathan Colaner
Submitted by: Andrew J. Lang
Nathan Colaner served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known November 10, 1917 - May 1919.
Nathan Colaner was a member of the 308th Trench Mortar Battery, which was part of the 158th Field Artillery, 83rd Division. For the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the 308th TMB and Ammunition Train were assigned to the 32nd Division, the "Red Arrows". Nathan would see combat near Brabant-Sur-Meuse. On October 24th, 1918, in an action that earned this unit several medals and commendations, Nathan was a member of the crew for Mortar #2. They had "not even fired a shot" before the gun was hit by German artillery. The entire crew was severely wounded, including Nathan. The crew from Mortar #1 came over to crew the battery and they fired off approximately 15 shells before the mortar came off the sled. He would survive the war.
Capt. Joseph L. Bachus
Submitted by: Richard C. Bachus
Capt. Joseph L. Bachus served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known June 12, 1916 to 1944.
Joseph L. Bachus spent the better part of four decades in nearly every branch of the U.S. military, but his combat experience in the trenches of France during WW I solidified his decision to dedicate his life to professional soldiering.
His men called him "Smokey Joe" -- not only for the smoldering pipe that was his constant companion, but for his fiery method for turning a rabble of undisciplined recruits into a tough fighting force. Some may have hated him back home during the rigors of training in Michigan and Texas, but he was "the idol of his men" by the time his unit reached the fighting in France.
Private Angelo Iossa
Submitted by: MSG Angelo R. Iossa (US Army Retired)
Private Angelo Iossa served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The dates of service are:
5 April, 1918 to 22 August, 1919 .
Private Angelo Iossa, my paternal Grandfather, served in WWI from 5 April, 1918 to 22 August, 1919 with the American Expeditionary Forces, 3rd Division, 7th Infantry Regiment’s (Cottonbalers), Machine Gun Company.
According to his Birth Certificate, Honorable Discharge, and Enlistment Record, which were given to me at my Father’s passing, Angelo was born on 17 February, 1896 in Marigliano, Italy. He worked as a rose grower in Madison, NJ (Nicknamed: The Rose City) prior to his induction into the United States Army on 20 November, 1917 in Morristown, NJ.