Charles Benjamin Mead
Submitted by: Lola {granddaughter-in-law}
Charles Benjamin Mead 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
MILITARY: Register of Deeds, Wessington Springs, Jerauld County, South Dakota.
Honorable Discharge from the United States Army #5859.
Charles B. Mead 3131541 – Mech Casual Det 324-163 DB Co K 157th Inf.
Said Charles B. Mead was born in Blair, in the State of Nebraska. When enlisted he was 22 7/12 years of age by occupation a carpenter. He had blue eyes, brown, hair, medium complexion, and was 5 feet 9 inches in height.
Enlistment Record:
Grade: Mechanic
Enlisted or inducted May 24th, 1918, at Wessington Springs, SD
Battles, engagements, skirmishes, expeditions A.E. F.
Knowledge of any vocation: carpenter
Wounds received in service: none
Physical condition when discharged: good
Triple typhoid prophylaxis completed June 11th 1918
Paratyphoid prophylasis completed June 11th, 1918
Married
Character: Excellent
Remarks: no AWOL, no absence
Entitled to travel pay
Left US Aug 11th 1918
Returned to US April 11th 1919
Following is a production of the handwritten journal Charles Benjamin Mead kept with regard to his military life. The small notebook is in the possession of his daughter, Theone Mead Whitlock, Kalama, WA.
"Army life of Charles B. Mead"
June 5, 1917 - I registered
May 24, 1918 - 5 o'clock, I reported to the local board of Jerauld County, Wessington Springs, So. Dak. for orders to go to camp. I left the said town mentioned above on May 25.
May 25, 1918 - left for Camp Lewis, Wash.
June 7, 1918 -
(enclosed with the journal was a hand written postcard from "Lewis Branch, Tacoma, WA dated June 7, 1918 - Camp Lewis, Wash. 10th C. 3 Btn. 166 D.B., American Lake, Camp Lewis, Wash. which read: Dear Brother, Well sport, I have not much here to write but will put all I can. Well, Jim, how goes it. Got here safe and sound and am feeling fine. Got two shots in the arm and was a sick boy believe me. Passed the ex. all write and am a real soldier. Well write soon. Have not got any mail yet. It takes two or three days to get it. With love, Ben.")
I was examined and fitted out with clothes there and remained there some twenty odd days, after which I came out of quarantine and
Date: left for Camp Kearny, Calif. I arrived there after four days of traveling and there was made mechanic of Co. K. 157 Inf. 40 Div. and after about a month of training, I was sent to Camp Mills, New York.
August 6, 1918 - I arrived in Camp Mills the 6th day of August (1918). We were refitted and left on the 8th for Boston, Mass.
August 8, 1918 - Arrived in Boston the 8th and then went aboard the steam ship “Berrima” and steamed for New York harbor and
August 11, 1918 - started for England the llth of August (1918). We were aboard about 17 days and had a very nice trip, with no trouble from subs.
August 28, 1918 - We landed in England the 28th of Aug. (1918) and took train for South Hampton, where we remained in what they call a rest camp, but I'd call it a work camp, over nite and most of the next day
August 29, 1918 - and to steamer “Harvard”, an American coast steamer and arrived in La Harve France. There we hiked several kilometers and stayed in another rest camp over nite and
Date: took train for Neronde, France (near Lyon). From there another long hike
Date: and landed at San-Cergues & St. Martin (Rhone Alps Region see Clermont Ferrand). It was some time till we left, about 2 1/2 mo.
Date: and then hiked to Lagorce (LaGorce) and took train for Monkeyville, another long hike and arrived in Cheminon-La-Ville.
Date: Left Cheminon-La-Ville for Bordeaux District and hit the village of Ponte Du La Haye on the 9th of Jan.
Jan 9, 1919 – Village of Ponte Du La Haye, France. Transferred to Isle St. George and remained there for a period of 6 weeks and then was transferred to H. Co. 157 Inf. at Ponte Du La Maye and remained there about 2 weeks and
Date: then took a hike for embarkation camp No. 1. and moved to No. 2 camp and then went through the delouser.
Date: I remained at Camp Genicourt (Genicart), France, the embarkation camp for six weeks and then loaded on the “USS Julia Luckinback” a captured German boat and started for the good old USA. When out two days, we hit a storm and most everybody got sea sick, including myself. We had some bad luck when about twelve hundred miles out and lost a propeller blade and it delayed us several days, making the trip fifteen days in all.
Date: Went to Camp Merritt, N.J. and stayed in quarantine ten days.
Date: Took train for Camp Dodge, IA and got my discharge on the 24 of April (1919).
