Harley Chandler Huxford
Submitted by: Chelsy Proper {local museum director}
Harley Chandler Huxford born around 1896. Harley Huxford served in World War I with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1918.
Story of Service
Private Huxford died on May 29, 1918 of wounds received at the Battle of Cantigny. He is buried in the Somme American Cemetery in France.
There is a cenotaph in his memory under the name Harlock Chandler Huxford at the Saint Stephen Episcopal Church in Saint Stephen, South Carolina.
Anton Roger
Submitted by: Paul Skretkowicz, Jr. {grandson}
Anton Roger born around 1899, Anton Roger served in World War 1 with the the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1917.
Story of Service
Charles Bellwood Bleasby
Submitted by: Robert DeSousa {Husband of granddaughter}
Charles Bellwood Bleasby born around 1887, Charles Bleasby served in World War 1 with the U.S. Navy. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1917.
Story of Service
Charles conitued to serve in the Navy Reserve after the war attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Emory Leroy Woodruff
Submitted by: Joseph Maxim {Grandson}
Joseph Leroy Maxim born around 1883. 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
Emory Leroy Woodruff born July 1883 in Stevensville, Pennsylvania, enlisted in the Army in June 1917 at Fort Slocum, New York. My grandfather arrived in France in Nov 5, 1917 having traversed the Atlantic aboard the SS Carpathia, sister ship to the Titantic.
He was assigned to Co. F 16th Infantry regiment, part of the 1st Expeditionary Division AKA "The Big Red One" until his discharge after the armistice.
He took part in numerous battles including the Meuse-Argonne, Fleville and Verdun where he was shot in the back. He was transported back to the US arriving in New York Dec 26, 1918 and spent the remainder of his time recuperating from his wounds but living the rest of his life with a bullet lodged near his spine.
Frank Pitcher Durkee
Submitted by: Elijah Shalis {Great Grand Nephew}
Frank P Durkee born around 1899, Frank Durkee served in World War 1 with the the United States Army . The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1917.
Story of Service
Private First Class Frank Pitcher Durkee was born in Onsted Michigan to Eleazer Blackman Durkee and Jennie Elizabeth Dunham.
He was sent forward to scout out enemy German lines and obtained intel on a machine gun nest, and while crawling back was struck by a sniper's bullet. He made it to his Company Commander and provided the intel enabling the machine gun nest to be taken out. He died of wounds two days later at age 22.
In 2012 he was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and World War One Victory Medal.
The Durkee-Seager American Legion Post in Onsted Michigan is named after him.
Frank Harris, Jr.
Submitted by: JoAnn Artis Stevens {Great Grand Niece}
Frank Harris Jr. born around 1888. Frank Harris 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
Frank was born in the rural farming community of Greene County. He was born to a mother and father who were direct descendants of slaves.
Frank's mother Jenny lived on a farm at the time her son entered the armed forces. Frank who was a Jr. served honorably as an Engineer with the Colored Company C. African American troops who served in World War I are not highly recognized, nor have received the honor deserved. Their stories have not been widely told. This is an opportunity to uplift not only Frank but the many what was then called "Colored" troops to be uplifted as well.
Thanks and we are thankful tor all of our men and women who have served.
Archibald Charles Huston
Submitted by: John Cooke {grandson}
Archibald Charles Huston born around 1893. Archibald Huston 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
Edmond Lloyd Freeman
Submitted by: J. Ray Freeman {great nephew}
Edmond Lloyd Freeman born around . Edmond Freeman 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
Served in France.
Dick W. Bakker
Submitted by: D. Kent Decker {nephew}
Dick W Bakker born around 1896. Dick Bakker 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 First Class Dick W. Bakker, Company E, 308th Infantry. In just four months, Dick Bakker went from managing a grain elevator in Renville, Minnesota, to deadly battle in the Argonne Forest as part of the Lost Battalion.
He wrote thirty-two descriptive and heart wrenching letters home that are woven into The Journey: An American Soldier in World War I. The letters provide a unique insight into life in the training camps and along the train routes as America rushed troops and equipment to the Western Front.
The Journey, an American Soldier in World War 1, commemorates Dick's service amidst the turmoil that gripped the country during that hurried summer of 1918. The story includes heart-breaking letters from Dick’s mother as the Bakker family struggled to cope with the tragedy of war .