Adam Jacob Christel
Submitted by: Jeffrey Christel {great grand-nephew}
Adam Jacob Christel born around 1895. Adam Christel 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
He served in France with Company "L", 3rd Battalion, 311th Infantry Regiment, 78th Division. Honorably Discharged as a Private First Class.
Fred Hitner
Submitted by: Robin Hitner {Great Nephew}
Fred Hitner was born around 1893. Fred Hitner 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
Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, I was told that I had great uncle from Nashville, named Fred Hitner, who died in WWI. His name is listed on a World War I memorial statue located in Centennial Park in Nashville that I visited several times growing up. My dad had a picture of his grave and cross located in Belgium (see attached). It appeared to be a temporary mass grave. We had no pictures of himself in our possession. Unfortunately, my dad did not have much information on Fred except for his parent’s names and what look like a typed draft of an obituary.
This unofficial obituary stated that he “lost his life in Waeregham, [Waregem] Belgium in the service of his country on November 11, 1918.” I could never find an official newspaper obituary. Other documents such as the Gold Star Records from the Tennessee State Library and Archives listed the same date and place. I thought how interesting that he died on the last day of war. I became extremely interested in finding out how and where he died.
Knowing that Fred was buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Nashville, I paid a visit to see his grave. To my astonishment, he had no gravestone. His father and his second wife are buried on the other side of the cemetery. Fred was buried next to his mother, maternal grandmother and his first stepdad Martin Givens. I talked to the cemetery office manager who instructed me on how to obtain a free headstone from the Department of Veterans Affairs. I only had to pay the cemetery to set up the gravestone.
Harry Henry Zoleman
Submitted by: Patricia Smith {granddaughter}
Harry Henry Zoleman born around January 17,1895. Harry Zoleman 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
My grandfather was the first of many who listened, from his hometown of Doe Run Mo. Who went from Private First Class in 1918, came to sergeant.
His daughter was my mother, Leora Zoleman Simon. She got a lot of items from his picture when it hung in living room wall for many years, where his eyes were following every where you would go.
My grandfather had pictures of his company L 138 th infantrymen, where he served in the war with, where they all on a ship called Missanabie, going to Saint-Nazaire France, 1918. I am very proud of my grandfather, wish I had got to know him.
Ollis Bryant Ferguson
Submitted by: Robert Bruce Ferguson {great-nephew)
Ollis Bryant Ferguson was born around 1887. Ollis Ferguson 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
Ollis Bryant Ferguson was born in 1887. Ollis was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1918. He had a brother and several cousins at the French front. Unlike so many, Ollis survived The Great War.
After Ollis was inducted at Kelly Field, Texas (near San Antonio); he attended aviation school. Ollis served overseas from June of 1918 until September of 1919. He was in several aero squadrons, but his precise duties are a mystery. At one point during the war to end all wars, he was reportedly shot down while working for the “British Air Service.”
Ollis enlisted as a Private but left the service as a Sergeant 1st Class.
Joseph M. Connors
Submitted by: Claude A. Poirier {Commander, American Legion Post named after Veteran}
Joseph M. Connos was born around 1893. Joseph Connors served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1911 and the service was completed in 1918.
Story of Service
The history of Legion Post #139 is intertwined with the history of the town tor the past half century, the post having celebrated its jubilee year In 1969, along with the National American Legion.
Early 1n 1919, Edward N. Wilson, expressing the sentiment ot the majority of returned WWI servicemen, applied to the Mass. state secretary of the American Legion, Leo A. Spillane, for permission to form a local American Legion post. A formative meeting as held an July 19, 1919 at the Ayer Board of Trade, with 35 men present.
Dr. Bertrand H. Hopkins was elected temporary chairman and Mr, Wilson temporary secretary. It was voted unanimously to form a post and to apply for a charter.The name of the Post was decided on after contemplating six names submitted by a committee. It honors Sergeant Joseph M. Connors, Machine Gun Company, 26th U.S. Infantry, First Division, who was Killed in Action. Sgt. Connors fell in the battle for Exermont, near Very, on the heights of the Aire, on October 4, 1918.
Ralph H. Christie
Submitted by: Kevin Mahoney {Grandson}
Ralph H Christie was born around 1896. Ralph Christie 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
Ralph Christie aka (James Henry Christie) born in Woburn, Massachusetts, son of Edgar B Christie and Mary Ann (Hammond).
He enlisted with his brother David Christie in Woburn, on April 2, 1917, Co G 5TH Infantry National Guard; transferred to Co G 101 Infantry to December 3, 1918.
Prisoner of War Escort Co 81A.S.C. to discharge; Private 1st Class same as his brother.
David B. Christie
Submitted by: Kevin Mahoney {Great Nephew}
David B. Christie was born around 1894. David Christie 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
David was born on May 19, 1894, at Blackstone, Mass.
Son of Edgar B Christie and Mary Ann (Hammond) both deceased before the war. Brother of Ralph of Winchester, Mass and Blanche (wife of Ralph W. Abbott).
Enlisted on April 7, 1917; reported for duty on July, 25. 1917.
Mustered 9 August, Co G, 5TH, Inf, Mass . National Guard; transferred to CO G, 101ST Inf, 26th Division, Overseas 7 Sept, 1917.
Richard E. Tatum, Sr.
Submitted by: Debra Lynch {Granddaughter} via the Virtual Explorer app
Richard E. Tatum, Sr. 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
The 810th Pioneer Infantry was a short-lived (September 1918 - December 1918), all black (African-American) Infantry Regiment. He was part of Company D, rank CPL.
Annie Elizabeth Jones
Submitted by: Mark Johnson {Great Nephew}
Annie Elizabeth Jones served in World War 1 with the American Red Cross. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1919.
Story of Service
Annie E Jones was a nurse from Canada (Lanark, Ontario) who served with the American Expeditionary Force. The article below was published in the Lanark newspaper.
My father's Aunt Nan was born in Lanark, Ontario to Jacob and Magdaline Jones. Annie's contribution in the First World War is outlined in the news item below which appeared in the Lanark or Kingston newspaper.
There may have been a little confusion whether she was with the Canadian Expeditionary Force or the American Expeditionary Force. She eventually moved to America after the war.