Posted on 11/11/2014 7:13:01 PM PST by uscga77
Today was originally, Armistice Day, the end of World War I. Here's to my Grandfather, Edward Smith who served in a machine gun company in the Meuse-Argonne Forest and St Miheil battles. He saw more than any person should ever see and said very little about it to his wife or his son, my dad. It's said he suffered the ill effects of mustard gas. He did enjoy his time after the war in the Army of Occupation. Here's to grandpa, one of those Yanks who helped turn the tide of that awful war and bring it to an end.
God Bless our Vets, one and all!
My English teacher in high school was a Tommy, gassed at Ypres, I believe it was, also walked with a limp from wounds. He’s long gone but here’s to Mr. Scott.
God bless your grandfather and all of our vets - all heroes to me!
I had one Great Uncle who also was gassed. I am not sure which battle but he got a fairly substantial disability pension. This area was poor at the time and he was considered quite a catch by the girls because he had a pension.
I had another Great Uncle who was given a full scholarship to the Sorbonne after the war. I was talking to some of my Cousins in Georgia and a couple of them thought he was a Georgia grad. Another Cousin told them, no he went to that French school.
They were clearly disappointed that he was not a bulldog. I thought it was funny. That Uncle became very wealthy and was at one time supervisor of Bank operations for all of Latin America for Chase Manhattan. He operated out of Cuba.
And, here’s to my Cousin, born in 1899, who died at Meuse Argonne.
hear, hear!
My grandfather entered the war late and was due to go “over the top” for the first time 12 November.
My father accepted his commission on 6 Dec. 1941, which gave him rank over a bunch of people.
In military college, one of my professors was a one eyed and peg leg vet of the Spanish-America and WWI. He also was gassed.
God bless you and your family. Thanks for sharing your memories with us.
My Dad’s father, and his brother were in France. Uncle Will (I never knew him) was gassed.
So when WWII came, my grandmother made my father join the Navy, rather than get drafted into the Army.
My great grandfather also served in a machine gun battalion at Meuse Argonne and Saint Mihiel! He was in the 5th Division (Red Diamond)
Wouldn't it be something if our ancestors knew each other?
I'm going to have to dig up the specifics.
I still have his service medals, uniform, mustard gas mask, and several pieces of paperwork, etc.
He was wounded in his leg by German Machine gun fire Sept 28, 1918, spend two years in various Army hospitals in France.
Finally discharged December 24, 1919. Walked with a limp the rest of his life. Received a total of $64 upon discharge. I have his Purple Heart medal.
I am always so proud of my Dad.
Records are available from
National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132
There was a fire in 1973 which destroyed lots of records there, but much information remains.
They gave me a link
http://www.nara.gov/regional/stlouis.html
and a phone number (314) 810-0800
To quote:
"If you are a veteran or a deceased veteran's next of kin, please consider submitting your future requests online by visiting us at
http://vetrecs.archives.gov
I used these links back in 2009 - don't know if they still work.
The Great War, the War to end all Wars...
My mother lost 3 uncles at Gallipoli in 1915..
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