Chapter XXIX

OVER THE TOP IN THE WORLD WAR

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The World War, which began in 1914 and lasted until 1919, was the greatest war in human history, and the only one that drew into its vortex nations of every continent.  It is sometimes called the Great War and the War of the Nations, but no name has been found or can be suggested which can fittingly describe its magnitude.

In respect to number of men engaged and casualties, amount of money lavished, human effort expended, number of nations involved and changes in political and social structure resulting from it, the World War has no parallel among the conflicts which men have been fighting from the dawn of history.  When it loosed all the hatred and brutality inherent in human nature, bringing out primitive passions and racial antipathies in all their rawness, this war also served as background for nobility and courage almost divine, and it illuminated with startling clearness some of the fundamental conceptions of freedom and justice upon which the future security of humanity rests.

From the American point of view the war has two periods: the first extends from August 4, 1914 to April 6, 1917 - from the violation of Belgium to the declaration of war against Germany by the United States; the second period embraces seventeen months, April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918, during which our country played a glorious part and was in certain respects the most important member of the group of powers associated against Germany.

When we entered the war all our military forces, both the regular army and the militia, numbered only 202,000 men.  The first duty of Congress was to raise an immense army.  In May, 1917, a law was passed establishing the "Selective draft."  Under this law 10,000,000 men between the ages of 21 and 31 were enrolled in the national army on June 5, 1917.  Numbers were attached to the names and then drawn by lot.  Later men were "called to the colors" in the order in which their numbers were drawn.  The next

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Congress declared subject to military duty all men between 18 and 45.  A second enrollment on September 12, 1918, increased the army by 13,000,000.  Of course it was not intended to put all these 23,000,000 men into the field unless we were forced to do so.  To call them out gradually "draft boards" were appointed.  As the war department called for soldiers, each draft board summoned before it a number of the enrolled men of its vicinity and had them examined by physicians.  If they were perfectly healthy and there was no other reason for excusing them, they were sent to "the colors."  In spite of all exemptions made by the draft boards, the new army grew with immense rapidity.

As fast as the recruits could be trained they were sent abroad for active service.  Some were sent far afield, even to eastern Siberia, where German sympathizers were fighting the Russians, some for the same reason were sent to Archangel in northern Russia, some went to Italy, where the Austrians made dangerous advances in 1918; but the great bulk went to France.  June 26, 1917 is a memorable day in American history, for on that day our soldiers began arriving in Franc.  Never before had American soldiers set foot on the continent of Europe as belligerants.

At first our men went across at the rate of about 50,000 a month, but in the spring of 1918 there was a need for rapid re-enforcement of the allied lines.  We had not ships enough to move our army more rapidly, and England came to our aid.  With the help of British ships we were able to send over 250,000 men a month.  July 4, 1918, the government announced that our "first million" was on French soil.  When the war closed we had 2,000,000 men in foreign service, all of them at least three thousand miles from home.  This was far the most stupendous military achievement in American history.

In March, 1918, after making peace with the revolutionary Russian government, Germany threw her whole strength upon the Western Front.  On March 21st, with overwhelming superiority of numbers, the Germans burst upon the British at the point where their line joined with the French.  Regardless of their losses the German commanders hurled forward dense masses of picked troops in successive waves.  By nightfall terrible gaps had been formed in the British front line.  Through these gaps the German torrent of

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fire and steel was surging against the British reserves.  Thus began the battle of Picardy, one of the fiercest ever known.  The Germans purpose was to capture Amiens and separate the British and French armies.  But though the allied lines bent far back, they did not break.  The invaders were forced to halt a few miles east of Amiens, April 1, 1918.

When it was known that a detachment of American engineers took part in the heroic combat which checked the Germans under the walls of Amiens the whole nation rejoiced, but this did not lessen our anxious eagerness to get our whole army to the front.  It was then that we made the arrangement with England which enabled us to rush our re-enforcements across the ocean.

As England and France had put their last men into battle, the one chance to overcome the German myriads lay in America's re-enforcement.  The Germans knew this and for that reason their commanders, Von Hindenburg and Von Ludendorf, pressed their attack with reckless indifference to the sufferings of their own men.  They meant to crush England and France before America could arrive.  Lloyd George, the prime minister of England, described the situation as "a race between Field Marshall Von Hindenburg and President Wilson."  The President won.  Our "first million" turned the scale.

At the moment of deepest anxiety, when Amiens was in danger, the Allies put all their armies under the command of one general, Ferdinand Foch.  This great soldier had distinguished himself at the battle of the Marne.  His appointment as generalissimo was applauded in all the allied countries, not only of his ability but because it was felt that the crisis demanded a single directing head.  President Wilson cabled General Foch his congratulations.  General Pershing went at once to Foch's headquarters and said: "The American people would hold it a great honor for our troops to engage in the present battle - infantry, artillery, aviation - all that we have - are yours to dispose of as you will."

From the end of March to the middle of July, Foch slowly, stubbornly, drew back before the Germans.  He dared not do otherwise until America's first million was on hand.

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   Meanwhile, in their second drive, April, 1918, the Germans struck the British with redoubled fury, aiming to hew their way through to the English Channel and separate the British army from England.  Sir Douglas Haig called upon his soldiers to "hold every position to the last man."  The dogged courage of the British and the arrival of French re-enforcements kept the Germans from reaching the Channel.

Turning southwest, the Germans in their third drive, May 27 to June 1, again reached the Marne.  During this drive the Americans began to share in the fighting.  Our 1st Division, in a brilliant engagement, save the town of Cantigny, May 28th.

In the first battle of Chateau-Thierry, Americans of the 2nd Division, who had been hurried tot he front, contributed nobly to bringing the third drive to a standstill on June 1st.

While the Germans were pressing their fourth drive, June, 1918, American marines seized and held Belleau Wood, where they conducted themselves so gallantly that the French government has renamed the place "The Wood of the Marine Brigade."  The Germans lost heavily in their fourth drive and made few gains.  A lull in the fighting followed the storming of Vaux by the Americans on July 1st.

Two weeks later the Germans opened their fifth drive by a second furious attack on Chateau-Thierry, July 15th.  The battle extended eastward sixty miles through the famous city of Reims, which had been desolated by German Shells.  In this battle Americans played a great part.  The 42nd Division held a position east of Reims against furious attacks.  The 26th Division captured Torey.  At Chateau-Thierry a terrific German advance crossed the Marne, but was at length driven back by the Third American Division in some of the grimmest fighting of the war.  The fifth German drive was held as if by a stone wall.  This was due to the arrival of America's first million.  Foch had 300,000 Americans in his battle line on the Reims front.  The remaining Americans, placed a less critical points, made it possible for him to bring up great numbers of French veterans to the vicinity of Reims.  A million men, including 300,000 Americans were massed in front of the Germans when their attempt at a fifth drive came to nothing.  Thereupon Foch attacked them.  On July 18th, 1918, began the second battle of the

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Marne.  At last the advantage of numbers was with the Allies, and the Germans were swept backward with the fury of the Allied advance in a crushing defeat.

Foch now assigned to General Pershing a part of the front that was to be held altogether by American troops.  This "American sector" stretched southeastward from a point near Verdun, past the town of St. Mihiel.  A "salient" or projection, of the German line had its apex at St. Mihiel.  The Germans called this projection a dagger thrust at the heart of France.  To drive them out of the St. Mihiel salient was the first duty of the American First Army, as Pershing's men were called.  Swiftly, Silently, 60,000 Americans were assembled along the two sides of the salient.  No American army had ever before attempted so large of an undertaking.  To prevent the Germans from knowing what we were about, our troops moved to their positions only at night.  Our airmen scouted over the enemy's lines and brought back exact information of their arrangements.  A hundred thousand maps were prepared and distributed among the soldiers.  Five thousand miles of telephone wires were laid.  In the rear 70,000 hospital beds were ready for the wounded.  During the battle more than 1,500,000 shells were fired from the American cannon.

In a rainy dawn, on September 12, 1918, American soldiers sprang out of their trenches both south and west of the salient and rushed upon the German lines.  So sudden, so irresistible, was the double rush of the Americans that the German defense crumbled before it.  At some points the Germans were not able to save themselves by flight, and the German cooks were forced to serve oncoming Americans with hot breakfasts they had prepared for their comrades.  Within twenty-four hours the two American advances from the opposite sides of the salient had joined hands, and the Germans had been driven back to a new line along the northeast side of what two days before had been St. Mihiel salient.

The Germans had now been pushed back to the great system of defences which they had occupied in March before the drive at Amiens began.  It was known as the Hindenburg line.  Besides trenches and forts it comprised intricate entanglements of barbed wire to impede the advance of the infantry.  Probably no other line of fortifications ever made was so complete.  The trenches often

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were floored with concrete and lighted by electricity.  Behind the line was a railway - its "artery" as the soldiers said - linking the cities of Strassburg, Metz, Sedan and Lille.  The Germans confidently believed that the Allies could never pierce the Hindenburg line.  But Foch knew that he could.  He meant to drive right through it at several points and cut the "artery" - that is the railway - and thus he would make it impossible for the Germans in the various parts of the line to act together.  Each portion of the German army would have to fight its own battle without the help and supplies from elsewhere, or beat a hasty retreat.  Just what Foch planned came to pass.  The battle of the Hindenburg line - the greatest battle in history - employing four million men - ended in a splendid victory for the Allies.

Foch paid us the compliment of allowing the Americans to open this colossal battle.  The First American army struck the Germans opposite it September 26, 1918.  But the men of our First army were not the only Americans engaged.  In other armies - French and British - American soldiers were included; they won fresh honors with a British army that attacked in Belgium, and with the famous British Fourth army that assaulted the line near Cambrai.  On September 29th, General Rawlinson of the British Fourth army sent forward a column composed of three divisions, the 27th and 30th American and 46th British.  This column effected the first breach in the Hindenburg line.  Sir Douglas Haig said: "The deeds of the 27th and 30th American Divisions, which took Bellicourt and Nauroy and gallantly sustained the desperate struggle for Bony, will rank with the highest achievement of the war."

Just as Foch had foreseen, after a few days the great battle broke up into a series of battles, in each of which a part of the German forces made its own separate defense against one of the advancing armies of the Allies.  None of these actions was more obstinate or more heroic than our battle of the Argonne, September 26 to November 7th.  This battle takes its name from the Argonne Forest, a region of hills and thick woods through which the Germans had constructed four successive lines of defense.  One after another, these lines were pierced by the Americans amid frightful tempests of shell fire.  An incident that will never be forgotten was the adventure of the "lost battalion," - part of the 77th Division, which

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went forward more rapidly than intended, was cut off, surrounded, and for three days, practically without food or water, held its own until rescued by the main American advance.  In this great battle we employed over 1,000,000 soldiers, captured 16,000 prisoners, took 3,000 machine guns, and lost 120,000 killed and wounded.  The fighting ended at the old town of Sedan, where our army for the first time raised the American flag over a captured European city, November 7, 1918.

From Sedan we were preparing to advance northeastward when news came that Germany had sued for peace.  The German government signed an armistice on November 11, 1918, and hostilities ceased.  One of the terms of the armistice was to allow the Allies to occupy three bridges across the Rhine, - at Mayence, Coblenz, and Cologne, - and at the east end of each bridge a small territory which would enable the Allies to rush their armies into central Germany should war be renewed.  The aim of the Allies was to render Germany helpless while they debated among themselves the terms of a treaty of peace.  The French occupied the bridgehead at Mayence, the British occupied Cologne, and Coblenz was occupied by the Americans.  Coblenz, the occupied territory opposite and the bridge connecting were turned over to American soldiers to guard and an American general to rule.

RECORD OF FAYETTE COUNTY DURING THE WORLD WAR

In the great World War, yet fresh in our memory, Fayette County played a part of which any county might be proud.  Many of our patriotic young men responded promptly when the president issued a call for volunteers, and were enrolled in the West Virginia National Guard, over two thousand responded cheerfully to the call of Uncle Sam under the selective draft, several of our noble young women have a record as nurse in the world war service in the United States and overseas, while those who staid at home did most active service in each and every campaigned launched for the purpose of helping to win the war.  Home guards were named by the sheriff to serve in the absence of the militia, a county board in charge of the food conservation campaign was organized and did efficient work, a county council of defense appointed by the governor aided in the sale of bonds and helped in the problems of food

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and fuel conservation, a civil army was organized in every magisterial district for the purpose of waging an active campaign for the sale of liberty bonds, a war savings campaign was organized and the public practice thrift and economy in order to assist the country in financing itself and the allies, the bankers of the county rendered great assistance to the cause in placing war bonds so that in every bond campaign Fayette county exceeded her allotment by a wide margin.  Our record was equally in all other war activities.  Enormous quantities of coal were needed.  When the appeal for coal was made our miners worked overtime to produce it.  The schools released teachers, changed their courses of study, sold bonds and thrift stamps, made bandages for the Red Cross, and did everything in their power to help win the war.  The county was most active in the nation wide movement to advance the cause of the Red Cross.  A county chapter with about 50 auxiliaries enrolled over 15,000 members, prepared great quantities of material for war relief work, and raised nearly $100,000 in funds to carry on the work of this great organization.  Fayette county contributed over $5,600 to the Young Men's Christian Association fund used for the purpose of preserving the morals and morale of the American army; the sum of $2,200 was raised for the Salvation Army war fund for work among Unites States soldiers; in a campaign for untied war charity the county raised over $31,200; in the War Savings Stamp drive the pledges and sales in Fayette county amounted to $1,333,000.  In each of these drives and campaigns practically every section of the county contributed.  Every drive made during the war period resulted in a great victory, and in each instance Fayette county went over the top with a whoop.

The newspapers also played a very important part.  They were disseminators of information for the government.  They spread the details of the draft, the registration, and all war time activities.  They acted as salesmen for Liberty Bonds and War Savings Stamps.  They solicited fund for the Red Cross, Young Men's Christian Association, Salvation Army, and various other war charities.  The engaged actively in all other government propaganda.

The Vagrancy Bill was the first so-called war measures.  It required every able-bodied male citizen of the state between the

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age of 16 and 60 to perform at least 36 hours of labor during a period of one week in some employment for the support of himself and those depending upon him.  It was further provided that unemployed citizens would be subject to arrest as vagrants and if put to work by the counties and municipalities, half of their allowance would go to those dependent upon them.  This measure was in effect throughout the war and for six months thereafter.

On the call of the President, April 2, 1917, over 90 boys from Fayette county responded and reported for duty, being enrolled in the West Virginia National Guard.  They were transferred to Federal service August 5, 1917.

During the month of May, 1917, the war time activities in the county began in earnest.  The first Fayette county draft board, appointed by Governor John Cornwell, for enrollment and enlistment under the selective draft law, was composed of the sheriff, county clerk, health officer, a democrat and a republican.  The personnel consisted of Sheriff Henry McGraw, who was chairman and chief executive officer; county clerk, R. J. Stegall, clerk and custodian of records; Dr. E. J. Grose, medical examiner; J. E. Vawter a democrat; and J. W. Eary, a republican.  The county board held its first meeting on May 23rd, and took oaths of office.  The members of the board entered upon their duties with enthusiasm and willingness.

On Tuesday, June 5th, the men of Fayette county, between the ages of 21 and 30, not already in naval or military service of their country, went to their regular voting places and enrolled for prospective service in the military arm of the government.  The day was a semi-holiday throughout the county. At Montgomery and Ansted there were patriotic meetings with flag raising and speeches.  The total enrollment of Fayette county was 6,328.  Of this number 556 were registered as aliens.  Nearly 125,000 were registered in West Virginia.

In July 1917 Fayette county was divided into two military divisions.  Fayetteville and Kanawha districts composed District No. 1, with headquarters at Fayetteville.  The districts of Falls, Mountain Cove, Nuttall, Sewell Mountain and Quinnimont composed District 2, with headquarters at Claremont.  New river and

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Great Kanawha formed the boundary line between the two districts.

Two separate draft boards were chosen by Governor Cornwell for Fayette county as follows: Draft Board Division 1 - Dr, Gory Hogg, president; A. W. Hamilton, secretary; and J. C. Massau as other member.  Draft Board Division No. 2 - C. C. Beury, president; Dr. J. H. Bannister, secretary; and W. C. Nuckols as other member.  The new boards took over the records and registration cards completed by the former board composed of the sheriff, county clerk, health officer, and two other members.

      Each man enrolled in each military division was given a Serial Number, same running in consecutive order.  In District No. 1 the numbers given extended from 1 to 3392; in District No. 2 the numbers extended from 1 to 2384.

These men were then called to the colors in order in which the draft numbers were drawn at Washington.  The first ten numbers drawn were: 258, 2522, 458. 1436. 2624. 854. 1894. 1878, 3257. and 1095.  Those holding number 258, the first number drawn, in Fayette county, were Leonidas N. Bibb of Oak Hill in District Number One, and Robert Knight of Longacre in District Number Two.

On the first call to the colors under the selective draft, the quota of West Virginia was fixed at 9,1010.  A heavy draft quota fell on Fayette which was required to furnish 618 mn.  Only one other county furnished more men under this call than Fayette and that county was McDowell.

Numerous patriotic young men of Fayette volunteered their services to the country several months before their numbers would be reached, and enlisted in the navy and various branches of army.

The first quota of men in Fayette subject to the draft were called to Claremont and Fayetteville for examination on August 6th, 7th and 8th.

The first contingent of Fayette's 618 soldiers for the National Army left home on September 5th, and were sent to Camp Lee, at Petersburg, Virginia.  There were 29 young men from the two divisions of Fayette county in this first contingent.

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  War realities were brought close to hundreds of Fayette county homes when 240 more of our young men left on Sunday, September 23, 1917, for Camp Lee, Virginia.  Friends and relatives gathered by the hundreds to bid them good bye.  Every effort was made to send them away with a smile.  The men gathered at Montgomery and Claremont.  They were in good spirits and while realizing the importance and gravity of their situation they were willing and even

eager to go.  While waiting for the trains at the stations the men whiled away their time by singing various songs, and they were given a rousing send-off by all those who witnessed their departure.

On October 5th the third contingent from Fayette county numbering 120 left home bound for Camp Lee.  On October 30th Fayette sent 200 colored men to Camp Lee to enter upon their duty as soldiers.  Officers at Camp Lee praised the colored men saying: "They behaved like gentlemen and gave no trouble."  One Lieu-

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tenant said he felt sure that West Virginia would feel proud of her colored soldiers.

The last contingent of the first draft quota containing about 50 men from Fayette county left home for Camp Lee about November 20th.  Most of the Fayette county boys were assigned to the Field Artillery, and became part of the famous "Blue Ridge, or 80th Division.

At the close of the year 1917, Captain Breckenridge Jones, chief of the department of military census and enrollment, at the behest of Governor Cornwell, made a statistical report of West Virginia's fine fighting record.  The report showed that West Virginia, including drafted men then had more than 15,000 men in various branches of Uncle Sam's fighting forces.  From the outbreak of the war until December 15th, a total of 2,891 West Virginians enlisted in the regular army.  A total of 4,745 were inducted into the army through the national guard.  In a similar period 400 enlisted in the navy, and 102 joined the marine corps, making a grand total of 8,138 volunteers.  In that period 7,324 were sent to the cantonments through the draft.  Thus West Virginia's fighting forces summarized were: Army volunteers, 2,891; National Guard, 4,745; Navy, 400; Marine Corps, 102; and Selective service, 7,324.

In March 1918 an emergency call was issued for 90,000 men to be drawn from the registrants not then in service, and the call provided that farm labor was not to be exempted.  This call meant that West Virginia must furnish 1,200 soldiers, while Fayette would be required to furnish 72 men.  On April 2nd, following, Fayette county sent 74 men to Camp Lee.

On April 6th, Major General Enoch Crowder, provost marshal general, sent out a call to all states for a total of 150,000 men for a second call to the colors under the draft.  On April 20th, Fayette sent 49 men to Camp Meade.  This was Fayette's quota of the 1,039 called from West Virginia.  This contingent was followed by several others at short intervals.  On May 10th, Fayette county dispatched 26 young men who were sent to Fort Thomas, Kentucky.  During the month of May, Fayette county sent 300 registrants to training camps, under the big call for 6,000 men from the state of West Virginia.  The first delegation under this call were scheduled to entrain during the five day period beginning May 25th.

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   During the month of May, West Virginia was called to send 900 men to educational institutions for instruction in mechanical trades at government expense.  Under this call 100 men were sent to Akron, Ohio, and 800 men from West Virginia were sent to Richmond, Virginia.  Fayette county sent 20 men under this call to Richmond, who entrained on May 15th.

Two draft calls were issued May 14th, aggregating 51,600 men to go to Columbus Barracks about June 2nd.  West Virginia's quota was 1,500.  On may 23rd, 50 men from Fayette were sent to Columbus Barracks, and on May 25th, 115 from the county were sent to Camp Lee.  A draft call was issued for 245 colored men about June 15th.

On June 5th, 1918, all young men who had reached the age of 21 years since June 5, 1917, went to their various precincts and were registered.  There were 474 men registered in Fayette county on this day.

On June 21st, a contingent of 167 colored men left Fayette for Camp Sherman at Chillicothe, Ohio.  On July 13th, 800 more men from West Virginia were sent to Richmond, Virginia, for instruction in mechanical trades, Fayette county again sent 20 young men with this delegation.  On July 16th, a colored contingent was sent to Camp Dix, New Jersey.  On July 31st, 13 men were sent to Camp Meade, Maryland.  On August 3rd, over 140 colored men were sent to Camp Custer at Battle Creek, Michigan, and on August 14th, 28 colored men went to Greensboro, North Carolina for agricultural and mechanical training.  On August 30th, about 60 men entrained for Camp Greenlief, Georgia.  During the month of August, 10 men were also sent to Perdue University, Indiana, for training in auto mechanics and cement construction.

On August 29th, a registration was held for all reaching the age of 21 years since June 5th.  About 100 more young men of draft age were enrolled at this time.

Congress having declared subject to military duty all men between the ages of 18 and 45, a second general registration took place on September 12th.  About 8,200 were enrolled in Fayette county in this registration.  There were 666 registered as 18 years of age, and 3,600 from 19 to 36 years of age.

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   A quota of 200 from Fayette county were sent to Camp Lee during the first week of September, and a contingent of 60 colored men were sent to Camp Upton on September 25th.  During the month of September a draft call was issued for the entrainment of 181,833 men between the dates of October 7th to 11th.  West Virginia's quota was fixed at 1,190 men who were to be sent to Camp Humphries.

A Students' Army Training Corps was organized about this time, having two branches (1) the collegiate, to which young men qualified by high school graduation were eligible (2) the vocational section, to which grammar school graduates were eligible.  Recruits were produced by voluntary induction.  Student-soldiers were not in a deferred class, but were on active duty and on private's pay.  High School graduates were urged to enroll in college during the month of September to await induction upon application in October.  On October 31st, 15 young men left Fayette county for Morgantown to receive special training for army service in the Students' Army Training Corps.  Those going from Fayette were as follows: Leslie D. Lucas and Howard Koontz of Fayetteville; Fred McLain of Oak Hill; Horace W. Carver, Gomer D. Carson and Thomas G. McClelland of Montgomery; Sherman T. Coleman of Victor, James R. Scott of Cannelton; Charles D. Brafford of Nuttallburg; Ray Kious of Graydon; Dwight A. Hogg of Mount Hope; Charles E. Vawter, Harry H. Gill, Roy Ferguson and Howard B. Ferguson of Ansted.

In October a draft call was issued for the mobilization of 290,773 men before November 21st.  West Virginia was instructed to send 851 to Camp Meade and 562 colored men to Camp Humphrey, but hostilities ceased on Monday, November 11th.  On November 12th, the Fayette county draft board received orders to suspend all existing calls to service of registrants.

The American army had reached a total strength of 3,764,677 men hostilities ceased, according to official figures of the War Department.  Of that number, 2,200,00 had been sent to France, Italy or Russia.  The remainder were under arms in this country.  Fayette county sent 2,332 soldiers in response to the call of Uncle Sam during the great conflict of the World War.  Only McDowell county sent more soldiers to war than Fayette.  The number sent by McDowell county was 3,081.

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   The noble young men of Fayette county performed their military duties with zealous patriotism.  They spent many wearisome months in various training camps and cantonments in the United States, braved the dangers of the sea and the perils of the submarine crossing the ocean, and a great many faced the German foe on many gory battlefields.  Fayette county boys were found in nearly all of Uncle Sam's fighting units, and from this county were at least a few in practically nearly every division.  Some saw active service in France, some fought in Italy, and some were sent to the far away region of Russia, while others were stationed for training in England.

Fayette county boys took part in the heroic combat which checked the Germans under the walls of Amiens; in a brilliant engagement they helped to save the town of Catigny; in the first battle of Chateau-Thierry some were hurried to the front and contributed nobly in helping bring the third German drive to a standstill; they conducted themselves gallantly when the Germans were pressing a drive against Belleau Wood, which was seized and held by American maries; they were at the storming of Vaux; they met the second furious attack on Chateau-Thierry when the German advance was driven back by some of the grimmest fighting of the war; they were at the capture of Torey; they were in the second battle of the Marne when the Germans swept were backward with the fury of the allied advance in a crushing defeat; they helped to drive the Germans out of the St. Mihiel salient during the battle in which more than a million and a half shells were fired from the American cannon; and last but not least, quite a number of Fayette county boys took part in the battle of the Hindenburg line, the greatest battle in history which employed four million men and ended is such a splendid victory for the Allies; they were with the column composed of three divisions which effected the first breach in the Hindenburg line; and after this great battle had broken up into a series of battles, our boys put up a most obstinate and heroic struggle in the Argonne forest, a region of hills and thick woods through which the Germans had constructed four successive lines of defense, and one after another, they helped to pierce these lines amid frightful tempests of shell; and they were at the old town of Sedan when the fighting ended and our army for the first time

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raised the American flag over a captured European city on November 7, 1918.

One Fayette county soldier won for extraordinary heroism three decorations, an American Distinguished Service Cross, a French Croix de Guerre with palm and an Italian Croce di Guerra.  Three others were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.  One of our boys was awarded a French Croix de Guerre with bronze star, while another was awarded a French Croix de Guerra with silver star.    Eight were cited in orders which entitled them to wear a silver star on the bar denoting award of the Victory Medal.  Hundred of others did brave heroic deeds that would have entitled them to decorations had their gallantry and courage been known so that recognition of the same could have been acknowledged in a citation.

During the World War 48 boys from Fayette county laid down their lives on the altar of patriotism, thus making the supreme sacrifice.  Of this number 17 were killed inaction, 6 died of wounds received in battle, 9 died of other causes overseas, and 16 died of disease and other causes in various cantonments and camps of the United States.

The first Fayette county boy to lose his life while in service of his country was Knight Shawver, who was downed in New river at Hinton, June 12, 1917.  He was a member of Company G, West Virginia National Guard on duty at Hinton.  He was in swimming when seized with cramps.  He was the son of Noah Shawver, and his home was at Layland.

More than a hundred Fayette boys were wounded, either slightly or seriously, during the great conflict.  It would be almost impossible to ascertain the exact number.  Many were gassed, some suffered the effects of shell shock, while others contracted diseases or bodily ailments from which they will probably never recover.

Another proof of the distinguished ability of many Fayette county boys is a record to which we can proudly point of about fifty young men who were commissioned officers in our National Army.  Scores of others were warranted as non-commissioned officers and performed their duties in a most creditable and able manner.

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   While much has been said of the part our boys played in the service of Uncle Sam, we desire to mention at least a few of the young ladies who did their bit to help the great cause.  Perhaps there were others of whom we do not know.

Miss Effie Koontz, daughter of J. M. Koontz of Fayetteville, who had been in Washington, D. C. for several years as a department stenographer, enlisted in the U. S. Navy as a yoeman in April 1917.  Only women having knowledge of either typing, stenography, telegraphy, telephony or radio were enrolled in this service.

Miss Margaret McGraw, formerly of Ansted, saw overseas service as a West Virginia nurse.  Her record of service is as follows: Base Hospital, Camp Service, South Carolina, to June 11, 1918; Base Hospital 3 to January 14, 1919; Base Hospital 103 to July 22, 1919; Demobilization Station, New York City, to discharge.

Miss Faith Gosling, daughter of Rev. B. F. Gosling, formerly of Fayetteville, had service in the United States as a war hospital nurse.  Her record of service is as follows: Post Hospital, Morrison, Virginia, to May 27, 1919; Walter Reed Hospital to discharge.

Miss Helen T. Kelly of Montgomery was a nurse in the world war service in the United States.  Her record of service is as follows: Post Hospital, Langley Field, Virginia, to discharge.

      Miss Sarah Jane Bell of Victor was a nurse in the world war service in the United States.  Her record of service is as follows: General Hospital 22, Richmond, Virginia; Debarkation Hospital 52, to discharge.

Miss Dana Huddleston of Kanawha Falls was a nurse in the world war service in the United States.  Her record of service is as follows: Base Hospital, Camp Lee, Virginia to discharge.

During the war period enormous quantities of coal were needed.  When the appeal for coal was made, our miners, being greatly reduced in numbers by the heavy draft quotas, worked overtime to produce the amount of coal necessary.  The coal miners and employees about the mines and ovens certainly did their share in helping to win the war by producing 9,555,518 gross tons of coal and 369,153 tons of coke for the year ending Jun 30, 1917; by producing 8,828,080 tons of coal and 455,403 tons of coke for the year

[Pg 710]

ending June 30, 1918; and by producing 8,062,999 tons of coal and 382,884 tons of coke for the year ending June 30, 1919.

During the early part of July 1917, Sheriff Henry McGraw named 65 emergency home guards to serve, under the direction of the governor, in Fayette county during the period of the war.  These officials were provided for by an act of the legislature to provide a special home guard or militia organization to serve in the absence of the regularly established militia.  The home guards were without any authority whatsoever unless under orders from the governor who might call upon them to go to any part of the state in the event of a riot or disorder beyond the power of local police to control.  Service was not compulsory but once accepted they could not resign and were obliged to go at the call of the governor.  They were paid $3 a day while on duty, while in service.

A civil army was organized in every magisterial district by those who remained at home for the purpose of waging an active campaign for the sale of liberty bonds.

A county board in charge of the food conservation campaign was organized and did efficient work.  J. W. Cavendish was selected as president and Dee Crane as secretary.  The following district members were selected: A. A. Hedrick of Fayetteville district; M. E. Kincaid of Kanawha district; J. T. Peters of Falls district; W. L. Kincaid of Mountain Cove district; Ida Walker of Nuttall district; H. C. Hodge of Sewell Mountain district; and Clark Woofer of Quinnimont district.

To extend and render more effective service in the program of the State Council of Defense, Governor Cornwell named local county boards throughout the state to co-operate with the state and national councils.  The first duties of these boards were to aid in the sale of bonds and to help in the problems of food and fuel conservation.

In Fayette county, the governor named the following as members of local board, or County Council of Defense: Arthur Duncan, Wm. McKell, J. M. McVey, Dr. Gory Hogg, John Nuttall, W. L. Lee and C. A. Goddard of Fayetteville district; V. C. Champe and C. P. Dent of Kanawha district; Jos. H. Boyd of Quinnimont district; H. H. Blackburn of Sewell Mountain district; H. H. Rothwell

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of Nuttall district; W. H. Ramsey of Mountain Cove district; and C. A. Conley of Falls district.

In August, 1917, the Food Control Act was passed by Congress giving the President, acting through a Food Administrator, very wide powers in fixing the prices and regulating the distribution of foodstuffs and fuels.  Herbert C. Hoover was placed in charge of the Food Administration of the United States.  Earl W. Oglebay was appointed Food Administrator for West Virginia, and S. W. Price was named as County Food Administrator for Fayette.  Dr. H. A. Garfield was placed in charge of the Fuel Administration of the United States.  J. Walter Barnes was appointed as Fuel Administrator for West Virginia, and B. E. Bare was named as County Fuel Agent for Fayette.

In January, 1918, Frank A. Vanderlip was put in charge of the thrift movement for the national government.  Robert L. Archer was appointed State Director of War Savings for West Virginia.  About the same time a War Savings campaign was organized in Fayette county with F. D. Drumheller as chairman.  An executive committee was appointed as follows:  S. A. Scott, R. J. Stegall and Dr. Gory Hogg of Fayetteville district; C. P. Dent of Kanawha district; C. A. Conley of Falls district; W. H. Ramsey of Mountain Cove district; H. O. Boley of Nuttall district; James Prince of Quinnimont district; and R. M. Smith of Sewell Mountain district.  District committees were also appointed.  A plea was made for thrift.  Banks were urged to instruct the public how to save their money.  The federal reserve board issued a New Year plea for war time economy in the form of a suggestion to banks to promote thrift campaigns in their communities in order to assist the country in financing itself and the allies.

The first task assigned to Mr. Bare in January, 1918, as fuel administrator was to gather data as to wagon mines and retail coal yards in the county.  There were a few of these.  At that time a request was made for the use of as few electric lights as possible on Thursday and Saturday nights, which were designated as "Lightless Nights."  This order was intended for small towns as well as the big city, and a uniform compliance with same showed a proper spirit.

[Pg 712]

   The food administration planned a consistent campaign to increase the use of Irish potatoes.  Grocers were urged to inaugurate a "Potato Day" each week, and make a special price for potatoes for that day.

January 21st,1918, was observed as the first of ten "heatless Mondays" in Fayette county.  The larger towns closed shop and patriotically obeyed instructions to the letter.  This order had been issued by the Washington fuel controller through J. Walter Barnes, state fuel administrator.

Food Administrator Hoover issued 1918 food conservation program of which the chief features were: A baker's bread of mixed flours beginning Monday, February 4th, with a five per cent substitution of other cereals for wheat until a twenty per cent substitution should be reached February 24th; sale by retailers to householders of an equal amount of substitute flour for every pound of what flour purchased at the time wheat flour is bought; sale by millers and wholesalers of only 70 per cent of the amount of wheat sold during the previous year.  Two wheatless days a week were designated, same to be on Monday and Wednesday.  One wheatless meal a day was also ordered.  Tuesday of each week was designated as meatless day, and Saturday of each week was designated as porkless day.  One meatless meal a day was also ordered.

National Thrift Week was observed the week beginning February 3, 1918, which was known as National Thrift Day, for the purpose of promoting thrift and to put emphasis in thrift as a factor in winning the war.

Earl W. Oglebay, state food administrator, fixed prices to be paid by the consumers in the state for staple products, for the first week in February:  Beet sugar, 9 cents per pound; cane sugar, 10 cents; wheat flour, 1/8 barrel $1.70; navy beans, 19 cents per pound; potatoes, 3 1/2 cents.

A statement was issued that the kind of wheat flour substitutes fixed by law were: hominy, corn, grits, cornmeal, corn flour, edible corn, starch, barley flour, rolled oats, oatmeal rice, rice flour, potato flour, buckwheat flour, sweet potato flour, soy bean flour, and feterita flour and meals.  Public eating places were instructed to serve but two ounces of wheat bread to each person at any meal.

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   In February, 1918, Fayette county agents were appointed to enroll skilled labor for war service.  The following were named to assist the State Commissioner of Labor: T. J. Davis and Chalers Swindler of Montgomery; John Nuttall of Fayetteville; C. A. Conley of Gauley Bridge; C. A. Kincaid of Oak Hill; J. Oscaar Allen of Mount Hope; R. A. White of Layland; G. R. Blizzard of Edmond; J. H. Sprouse of Minden; and F. D. Drumheller of Thurmond.

During the month of March, Dr. Price, county food administrator, received the following advice from the state administrator: On account of the difficulties in securing wheat substitutes, potatoes may be used as a substitute in the ratio of four pounds of potatoes to one pound of flour, but provisions do not extend to farmers having potatoes on hand.

The following food conservation rules were issued: No dealer is permitted to sell a pound of wheat without a pound of one of the substitutes.  Hens should not be killed until May 1st.  Once cent a pound is considered a fair dealer's profit on a pound of sugar.  Consumers are requested not to hoard food but to buy only for their immediate use.

      During the first week in April, S. W. Price, county food administrator requested the merchants of Fayette to keep a record of all flour and sugar sold and to make weekly reports to him.

April 6, 1918, the first anniversary of the entry of the United States into the war, was designated as "Liberty Day".  Flags were unfurled and the people generally made it a noisy day in order to impress German sympathizers that we were hundred per cent American citizens and solidly arrayed in the defense of liberty against the kaiser.  On this day the third Liberty Loan campaign was launched.  About this time the name of "sauer kraut" was changed to the patriotic designation of "Liberty cabbage."

June 28, 1918, was set as National War Savings Day.  During the month of June, the Fayette County War Savings Stamps committee secured the speaking services of Colonel Perowne, a British army officer, who had seen many months of hard service and who had a graphic story of his trench experience which he related at various places in the country.  During the month of this campaign he spoke at Landisburg, Winona, Ansted, Gauley Bridge, Boomer, Smith-

[Pg 714]

ers, Cannelton, Montgomery, Fayetteville, Oak Hill, Minden, Glen Jean and Mount Hope.

The War Savings Stamp drive was a great victory.  Fayette county went over the top with a whoop.  With an allotted quota of $1,328,000, pledges and sales in Fayette country amounted to $1,333,000.  Fayetteville district made the banner showing, with Quinnimont district following.

Only two other counties in the state raised higher amounts of War Savings Stamps pledges.  Kanawha was first with $2,200,000, and Harrison second with $1,500,000.

During the early part of 1918 the Salvation Army organized a drive for $30,000 in West Virginia.  Hon. J. S. Darst took charge of the work in the state.  In January, Col. C. C. Beury accepted the chairmanship for the Fayette County Salvation Army fund for work among United States soldiers.  The quota for the country was $2,000, but through the effort of Chairman Col C. C. Beury this amount was exceeded, the contributions reaching the sum of $2,200.

Previous to this drive, a continent wide Young Men's Christian Association campaign to raise a fund of $35,000,000 was launched during the week beginning November 11, 1917.  The purpose of this fund as stated was to preserve the morals and morale of the American army. to aid the gallant British and French soldiers, and to stimulate the great Russian army to renewed activity.  West Virginia went over the top in this drive by raising the amount of #335,000.  The state's quota was the sum of $200,000.  Fayette's contribution to this fund brought forward subscriptions amounting to $5,607.19.

In a campaign for United War Charity during the latter half of 1918 Fayette county raised the sum of $31,268.50.  Practically every section of the county contributed.

Fayette county was not left behind in the nation-wide movement to advance the cause of the Red Cross.  A County Chapter and auxiliaries were early organized, the membership greatly increased, much material was prepared for war relief, and funds raised to carry on the great work.

The wide awake citizens of Mount Hope started the ball rolling, and following an enthusiastic meeting on June 18, 1917, the na-

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tional organization at Washington, D. C. authorized the Fayette County Chapter of the Red Cross with auxiliaries.  At the initial meeting the following officers were chosen: Chairman, S. A. Scott; Vice-Chairman, D. S. W. Price; Secretary, W. B. Reed; Treasurer, F. D. Drumheller.  The following were appointed as an Executive Committee: P. M. Snyder, T. H. Snyder, E. E. Jones, J. E. Garrett, W. R. J. Zimmerman, E. L. Nuckolls, C. B. Lee, J. S. Lewis, C. C. Beury, Alex McNabb, J. Wilbur Davis and Thomas Nichol.

The financial committee consisted of L. S. Tully, chairman; Wm. McKell, F. D. Drumheller, C. B. Lee and N. S. Blake.  The propaganda committee was composed of J. F. Palmer, chairman; Mrs. S. A. Scott, vice-chairman; Mrs. J. E. Garrett, Mrs. Templeton Adair, Mrs. Dowst, Mrs. O. F. McCoy, Mrs. J. M. McVey, Mrs. S. W. Price, Mrs. J. D. Boone and J. Wilbur Davis.

The quota of Red Cross members for Fayette county was 9,953, but before the middle of January, 1918, the total membership in the county had passed the 12,000 mark.  At the close of January, 1918, there were 32 auxiliaries of the Fayette Chapter of the Red Cross.

On September 30, 1918, J. F. Palmer, executive secretary of the Red Cross in Fayette county, reported a membership of 14,076.  Of this number 13,114 enrolled as annual members paying one dollar each, 815 enrolled as subscribing members paying two dollars each, 92 as contributing members paying five dollars each, one enrolled as a life member paying fifty dollars, and six became $100 patrons.  The total amount received from membership fees was $16,679.00.  Donations amounted to $9,014.52; sale of needles amounted to $90.00.  The drive for the Red Cross War Fund in 1917 netted the sum of $11,228.87, while the drive for the war fund in 1918 brought contributions to the amount of $51,946.61.  The total receipts of the Fayette Chapter of the Red Cross up to September 30, 1918, amounted to $88,959.93 from which the sum of $78,555.85 was disbursed, leaving a balance at that time of $10,404.08.

During a period of about eighteen months, from the date of organization of the County Chapter in June, 1917, to the signing of the armistice on November 11, 1918, the Red Cross workers were busy at all times and prepared great quantities of material for war relief.  The county Chapter with about 50 auxiliaries enrolled over 15,000 members and raised nearly $100,000 in funds to carry

[Pg 716]

on the work of this greatest of all humane organizations.  This is indeed a record of which we feel justly proud.

Upon entry into the war hitherto unheard-of appropriations of money were required to maintain a vast army and greatly increase the navy.  Before many months had elapsed the United States government was spending over one billion dollars per month, including loans to allied nations.  To meet such expenditures income taxes were increased, many internal revenue taxes were more than doubled, many special taxes were levied and the nation began to borrow money from its citizens and to issue bonds which were appropriately called "Liberty" bonds.

In addition to these major loans, the government inaugurated during the same period the sale of "thrift" stamps for 25 cents face value, to be exchanged in quantities for $5 bonds, called "baby" bonds, to mature in five years.

A meeting of Fayette county bankers was held at Thurmond on May 25, 1917, to consider plans for assisting the government in placing war bonds.  All Fayette bankers expressed a willingness to assist in the sale of bonds.  They began at once to urge their patrons as a matter of self-preservation and national pride to subscribe generously for the war bonds.  The following appeal was sent out: "The Liberty Loan is the first call to arms.  It is a poor soldier who deserts the army when the battle begins.  Everyone who refuses to do all in his or her power in the present national crisis is a deserter.  It should be obeyed by all who have patriotic blood in their veins."

On June 15th, 1917, the First Liberty Loan amounting to 2 billion dollars was more than fifty per cent oversubscribed.  Four million individuals participated in the load throughout the country.  The banks of Fayette county had about half a million dollars subscribed to the Liberty Loan at the close of the campaign.  Following is the subscription of the various banks: Bank of Glen Jean, $92,350; Ansted National Bank, $86,100; New River Banking and Trust Company, $71,300; Bank of Mount Hope, $62,250; Montgomery National Bank, $60,000; Merchants National Bank, $34,000; Merchants and Miners Bank, $25,000; National Bank of Thurmond, $15,000; Bank of Gauley, $14,150; Winona National Bank, $11,000; Fayette County National Bank, $10,000; Bank of Pax, $1,100.

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   At the close of the campaign on October 27th, subscriptions to the Second Liberty Loan aggregated $4,617,532,300 with 9,500,000 persons contributing in the United States.  The quota of Fayette county was $708,530.  Over 2,200 subscribers in Fayette took $1,314,600 in bonds.  The county came handsomely over the top in this second Liberty Loan Bond campaign with subscriptions nearly double the quota apportioned.  This was three times the amount of subscription for the first bonds offered.  The Bank of Mount Hope led with $425,000 and the New River Banking and Trust Company held second place with $209,100.  The Huntington Herald Dispatch of October 29th contained the following: "If the finals of the Liberty Bond sales in West Virginia do not show that the apportionment for this state has been gained it will not be the fault of Fayette county and the people therein.  Allotted $700,000 to be raised this country raised over a million dollars."

The Third Liberty Loan campaign which ended May 4, 1918, with 17,000,000 subscribers realized $4,170,000,000.  Fayette county again went over the top with an oversubscription, during this campaign, of the sum of $431,450.  The quota for the county was $544,000, while the total subscriptions amounted to $975,450.  Ansted made the best showing of any town in the state in bond sales during this campaign.  With a quota of $22,800, her sales amounted to $108,350.  Out of a total population of 1,030 she produced 549 subscribers.  There were enough $100 bonds taken in the town to supply one to every man, woman and child within her borders.  Chairman W. L. Burruss of the Ansted Liberty Loan committee received a telegram from State Chairman W. A. MacCorkle complimenting Ansted upon her showing, declaring it to be the best made by any place in this section.  Ansted made claim to this honor of being the banner Liberty Loan town in the state, and challenged any community anywhere to produce a better showing than that which she made in the Third Liberty Loan drive.

In September the Fourth Liberty Loan with 21,000,000 subscribers realized $6,866,416,300.  The call had been for six billion dollars.  The quota for Fayette county was $1,400,000.  The county again went over the top, the subscriptions amounting to $1,546,900, nearly a fifth of a million over the mark.

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   After hostilities ceased, a fifth loan appropriately styled the "Victory Loan" calling for $4,5000,000 was launched April 21, 1919, and was over subscribed.  The quota of Fayette county for the Victory Loan was $791,000.

      Fayette county came forward in her usual manner and helped to finish the job by over subscribing her quota amount of $6,450.  The total subscriptions for the county was $797,450.  The largest amount of over subscription came from the Montgomery National Bank.  The New River Banking and Trust Company and the Ansted National Bank made the next best showings.  Every town and community went over the top, and the showing is one of which the county the county may well be pleased.

CITATIONS AND DECORATIONS AWARDED SOLDIERS
OF FAYETTE COUNTY DURING THE WORLD WAR

AMERICAN CITATIONS AND DECORATIONS

Distinguished Service Cross

FELIX R. HOLMES, Captain, 129th Infantry, 33rd Division.  Residence at appointment, Kilsythe, W. Va.  Awarded D. S. C. for extraordinary heroism in action near Consenvoye, France, October 11, 1918.  After being wounded and ordered to the aid station, Captain Holmes reported to his regimental headquarters, giving a detailed report of the forward conditions.  His strength failing while attempting to reach the aid station alone, he was assisted to the place, where he had his wounds dressed and was tagged for evacuation, but instead returned to the front line through intense shell, machine-gun and sniper fire, and took command of his company.  Other decorations: French Croix de Guerre with palm, and Italian Croce di Guerra.

LAWRENCE E. THOMPSON, Corporal, Company F.  16th Infantry.  Residence at enlistment, Minden, W. Va.  Awarded D. S. C. for extraordinary heroism in action near Soissons, France, July 19, 1918.  In order to ascertain the location of a machine gun which was inflicting heavy losses upon his platoon, he unhesitatingly went forward and was killed in the performance of this courageous duty.

CITATIONS IN ORDERS

A citation in orders from brigade commander or higher commanding officer, or from the War Department, which did not carry with it a medal or decoration entitled the soldier cited to wear a silver star on the bar denoting award of the Victory Medal.  For convenience all such citations will be referred to as silver star citations.

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     JOSEPH L. HARVEY, 1st Sergeant, Headquarters Company, 313th Field Artillery, 80th Division.  Residence at enlistment, Harvey, W. Va.  Cited in General Order 14, 155th Field Artillery Brigade, May 26, 1918.  On September 29, 1918, Sergeant Harvey exhibited extraordinary courage and gallantry in action by volunteering to go forward to the northeastern edges of the Bois de Forges to endeavor to locate hostile guns which were firing effectively on our infantry.  Although his position was heavily shelled all day, he remained there with great bravery and located by its flashes the hostile gun, which was then taken under fire by the 315th Field Artillery and silenced.

EMMETT D. HUGHES, Private, first class, 1st Field Signal Battalion, 2nd Division.  Residence at enlistment, Montgomery, W. Va.  Cited in General Order 82, 2nd Division, December 31, 1918, for conduct in the region of the Argonne Forest and the Meuse River, November 1-11, 1918.

CECIL S. PANNELL, Private, first class, Headquarters Company, 16th Infantry, 1st Division.  Residence at enlistment, Ansted, W. Va.  Awarded silver star citation for gallantry in action.

BERNARD ROBERTS, Sergeant, Company B, 18th Infantry, 1st Division.  Residence at enlistment, Montgomery, W. Va.  Awarded silver star citation for gallantry in action.

JESSE M. SPADE, Cook, Company L, 16th Infantry, 1st Division.  Residence at enlistment, Glen Jean, W. Va.  Awarded silver star citation for gallantry in action.

DECORATIONS AWARDED SOLDIERS OF FAYETTE COUNTY BY
FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS

FRANCE

Croix de Guerre (Cross of War)

FELIX R. HOLMES, Captain, 129th Infantry, 33rd Division.  Residence at appointment, Kilsythe, W. Va.  Awarded Croix de Guerre with palm, under Order No. 13,024 D, January 21, 1919, General Headquarters French Armies of the East, with the following citation" He displayed remarkable courage at the attack of Plat Chene Wood on October 11, 1918.  Although wounded in the arm by a shell fragment and sent to a first aid station, he stopped enroute at the regimental post of command to make a report on the situation of the troops on the front line.  After having been bandaged, he went back to the lines without informing the surgeon and had to cross open ground swept by violent fire in order to rejoin his company and resume command of it."  Other decorations: American Distinguished Service Cross, and Italian Croce de Guerra.

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     CARL H. SAMPLES, Sergeant, first class, Company B, 117th Engineers, 42nd Division.  Residence at enlistment, Dunloop, W. Va.  Awarded Croix de Guerre with bronze star, under Order No. 497 D, March 21, 1918, 60th Regiment, French Infantry, with the following citation: "He volunteered for the raid of March 9, 1918, and although under fire for the first time he rushed on the enemy trenches with the most absolute contempt for danger, giving to all the finest example of bravery."

HUGH L. THOMPSON, Sergeant, Company D, 28th Infantry, 1st Division.  Residence at enlistment, Oak Hill, W. Va.  Awarded Croix de Guerre with silver star, under Order No. 14,943 D, March 25, 1919, General Headquarters French Armies of the East, with the following citation: "A very brave sergeant who cooly led a patrol and brought back sixteen prisoners."

ITALY

Croce de Guerra (Cross of War)

FELIX R. HOLMES, Captain, 129th Infantry, 33rd Division.  Residence at enlistment, Kilsythe, W. Va.  Awarded Croce di Guerra by Chief of Staff, Italian Army, April 14, 1919.  Other decorations: American Distinguished Service Cross and French Croix de Guerre with palm.

LIST OF SOLDIERS FROM FAYETTE COUNTY WHO WERE KILL-
ED IN ACTION, OR DIED OF WOUNDS OR DISEASE
DURING THE WORLD WAR

KILLED IN ACTION

JOE ALESCI, Private, Company K, 317th Infantry.  Killed in action October 12, 1918.  Residence, Pax, W. Va.

OSIE E. ARTHUR, Private, Company F, 131st Infantry.  Killed in action October 9, 1918.  Residence, Montgomery, W. Va.

WILLIAM L. BAINBRIDGE, Private, Company L, 28th Infantry.  Killed in action May 28, 1918. Residence, Longacre, W. Va.

JAMES R. CARVER, Private, Company E, 7th Infantry.  Killed in action July 15, 1918.  Residence, Edmond, W. Va.

NOAH A. DICKSON, Private, Company K, 11th Infantry.  Killed in action November 6, 1918.  Residence, Thurmond, W. Va.

WILLIE H. HANNAH, Private, Company B, 16th Infantry.  Killed in action October 9, 1918.  Residence, Powellton, W. Va.

LONDON F. HISER, Private, Company M, 16th Infantry.  Killed in action July 24, 1918.  Residence, Cliff Top, W. Va.

JAMES W. HONAKER, Private, Company A, 319th Infantry.  Killed in action September 26, 1918.  Residence, Finlow, W. Va.

JAMES L. NELTON, Private, Medical Detachment, 318th Infantry.  Killed in action November 4, 1918.  Residence, Montgomery, W. Va.

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     WILLIAM H. O'BRIEN, Second Lieutenant, 372th Infantry.  Killed in action September 29, 1918.  Residence, Montgomery, W. Va.

EARL C. O'BRIEN, Private, Company E, 7th Infantry.  Killed in action June 21, 1918.  Residence, Kilsythe, W. Va.

HENRY R. RODES, Private, Company K, 315th Infantry.  Killed in action November 5, 1918.  Residence, Boomer, W. Va.

BERT E. SEAY, Private, Company F, 317th Infantry.  Killed in action October 6, 1918.  Residence, Fayetteville, W. Va.

GROVER D. SELVEY, Private, Company M, 319th Infantry.  Killed in action November 2, 1918.  Residence, Divide, W. Va.

CONSTANTINOS G. SEMEINEIKY, Private, Company C, 16th Infantry.  Killed in action July 18, 1918.  Residence, Crosier, W. Va.

LAWRENCE E. THOMPSON, Corporal, Company F, 16th Infantry.  Killed in action July 19, 1918.  Residence, Minden, W. Va.

JAMES WADE, Private, Company C, 26th Infantry.  Killed in action July 20, 1918.  Residence, Marting, W. Va.

DIED OF WOUNDS

HERMAN DEITZ, Private, Company A, 341st Machine Gun Battalion.  Died of wounds November 2, 1918.  Residence, Ramsey, W. Va.

JAMES B. FRYE, Private, Company A, 2nd Military Police.  Died of wounds October 23, 1918.  Residence, Scarbro, W. Va.

JAMES C. LAWRENCE, Corporal, Company E, 117th Infantry.  Died of wounds October 9, 1918.  Residence Cliff Top, W. Va.

FRANK McINTYRE, Private, Company D, 54th Infantry.  Died of wounds September 27, 1918.  Residence, Kilsythe, W. Va.

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ANDREW L. WALKER, Private, Company M, 319th Infantry.  Died of wounds October 31, 1918.  Residence, Springdale, W. Va.

EVERETT WILLIS, Private, Company M, 145th Infantry.  Died of wounds September 28, 1918.  Residence Graydon, W. Va.

DIED OF OTHER CAUSES OVERSEAS

HARRISON O. ANDREWS (Colored), Private, Company A, 367th Infantry.  Died October 6, 1918 of broncho pneumonia.  Residence, Sun, W. Va.

ISAAC T. CALLISON, Private, Machine Gun Company, 355th Infantry.  Died October 6, 1918 of tuberculosis.  Residence, Springdale, W. Va.

WILLIAM CARLIN, Jr., Private, Battery F, 313th Field Artillery.  Died January 5, 1919 of broncho pneumonia and influenza.  Residence, Minden, W. Va.

RUSSELL GAINES (colored), Private, Company C, 505th Engineers.  Died February 5, 1919 of lobar pneumonia.  Residence, Long Branch, W. Va.

WILL GARRETT (colored), Private, Company C, 506th Engineers.  Died June 12, 1919 of transverse myletis trophis of lower extremities.  Residence, Kingston, W. Va.

HENRY L. GODDARD, Private, Company B, 323rd Machine Gun Battalion.  Died October 2, 1918 of broncho pneumonia.  Residence, Sevy, W. Va.

DINK E. PYATT, Private, Company G, 112th Infantry.  Died October 25, 1918 of lobar pneumonia.  Residence, Fayette, W. Va.

HUBERT TAYLOR, Private, Battery C, 149th Field Artillery.  Died February 6, 1919 of pneumonia.  Residence, Prudence, W. Va.

EDWARD W. WALTERS, Private, Company D, 329th Infantry.  Died September 27, 1918 of pneumonia.  Residence, Elmo, W. Va.

DIED OF DISEASES AND OTHER CAUSES IN UNITED STATES

GEORGE BAINBRIDGE, Private, 6th Recruit Company, General Service Infantry.  Died July 14, 1917 of tubercular peritonitis.  Residence, Longacre, W. Va.

OAKLEY BRAGG, Private, Headquarters Infantry Replacement, Camp Lee.  Died September 23, 1918 of broncho pneumonia.  Residence, Newlyn, W. Va.

RICHARD E. CLAYTON (Colored), Private, Company D, 3rd Battalion, 158th Depot Brigade.  Died October 11, 1918 of broncho pneumonia.  Residence, Caperton, W. Va.

JAMES W. COLEMAN, Private, Medical Department, Base Hospital 144.  Died November 26, 1918 of broncho pneumonia.  Residence, Graydon, W. Va.

GEORGE COUSIN (Colored), Private, Company B, 7th Battalion, 158th Depot Brigade.  Died October 5, 1918 of pneumonia.  Residence Macdonald, W. Va.

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     IRA M. DERR, First Lieutenant, Medical Department.  Died November 6, 1918 of disease.  Residence, Montgomery, W. Va.

DELBERT R. ESTEP, Private, 12th Company, 3rd Tran Battalion, 154th Depot Brigade. Died October 2, 1918 of broncho pneumonia.  Residence, Gauley Bridge, W. Va.

CLARENCE McK. HILL, (colored), Private, Detachment A, Convalescent Center.  Died February 12, 1919 of tuberculosis.  Residence, Mount Hope W. Va.

JOHNSON N. HOLLIDAY, Private, Company I, 150th Infantry.  Died February 18, 1918 of mastoiditis.  Residence in Fayette county.

HOMER HUNLEY, Private, Company G, 46th Infantry.  Died December 10, 1917 of spinal meningitis.  Residence, Armstrong, W. Va.

JAMES HUNT, (colored), Private, Company K, 802th Infantry.  Died July 21, 1918 of lobar pneumonia.  Residence, Glen Jean, W. Va.

JAMES MILES, (colored), Private, 158th Depot Brigade.  Died October 15, 1918 of broncho pneumonia.  Residence, Thayer, W. Va.

JAMES PARRISH, Private, Medical Department, Base Hospital 112.  Died October 5, 1918 of pneumonia.  Residence, Hawks Nest, W. Va.

SAMUEL R. SAPP, Private, Headquarters Detachment, 17th Battalion, Infantry Replacement.  Died October 3, 1918 of broncho pneumonia.  Residence, Graydon, W. Va.

KNIGHT SHAWVER, Private, Company F, 2nd West Virginia National Guard.  Drowned June 12, 1917.  Residence, Layland, W. Va.

MILLARD JOHN PENNINGTON, Cook, first class, U. S. Navy. Died November 19, 1918 on receiving ship at New York, N. Y.  Residence, Kaymoor, W. Va.

ROSTER OF FAYETTE COUNTY SOLDIERS IN THE WEST VIR-
GINIA NATIONAL GUARD REPORTING FOR DUTY ON
CALL OF THE PRESIDENT, APRIL 2, 1917 AND
TRANSFERRED TO FEDERAL SERVICE, AUG. 5, 1917

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