USA > New York > The world war book : being a record of the war activities of this community and a brief personal history of those who entered the service of their country > Part 3
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The son of Dr. Alfred R. Crain and Harriet S. Manley Crain, was born at Richfield Springs, Otsego County, New York, on August 13th, 1899. He secured his preliminary education at the Richfield Springs and Albany High Schools and later attended the National Military Academy at Cornwall-on-Hudson, N. Y.
He enlisted in the United States Navy on April 24th, 1918. Had three months' training at the U. S. Naval Radio School at Newport, R. I., and was later assigned to the U. S. S. Evans, doing convoy duty between Boston and Liverpool, England. He made three trips across the Atlantic.
Was discharged from the service during February of 1919.
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RUFUS BAKER CRAIN
The son of Dr. Alfred R. Crain and Harriet S. Manley Crain, was born at Richfield Springs, Otsego County, New York, on April 12th, 1888. His preliminary education was secured in the public schools of Richfield Springs and New York City, graduating from the Richfield Springs High School in the class of 1907, which he followed with a postgraduate course in that institution.
He obtained his degree as Doctor of Medicine at the Albany Medical College, Union University, in 1913, serving as an interne in the Albany Hospital during the year 1913-14. He afterwards was an assistant in- structor in medicine in the Albany Medical College, 1913-1916, and prac- ticed his profession at Cornwall, N. Y., 1916-1917.
He was called to the service on August 9th, 1917, attached to the Medical Corps, U. S. A., and immediately assigned for foreign service with the British Expeditionary Force, France.
Left for overseas August 29th, 1917, and served with the British forces until March 21st, 1919. Transferred to the American Expedi- tionary Force on March 25th, 1919.
He was attached to Holborn Military Hospital, Mitcham, Surrey, England, for hospital course of seven weeks. Arrived at Le Havre, France, October 29th, 1917. Assigned to Home Counties Field Ambu- lance, 58th Territorial Division (in Ypres salient). On May 10th, 1918, transferred to the 3rd Batt., London Regt., Royal Fusiliers, as Battalion Medical Officer.
Promoted to Captain on November 14th, 1918. Was gas poisoned on April 18th, 1918.
His experiences on the battle front include the operations about Ypres, November, 1917; battle of St. Quentin, March 21st, 1918; defense of Amiens, April, 1918; Somme advance, August and September, 1918; Lens, October, 1918.
Captain Crain arrived in New York on April 25th, 1919, and was discharged from the service on April 29th, 1919.
On June 11, 1919, notice was sent to Captain Crain from Adjutant- General W. E. Cole of the forwarding to him of a military cross, awarded by the British government.
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LE ROY CAVERLY CRIM
The son of Jerome Perry Crim and Pamela Crim, was born at Richfield Springs, Otsego County, New York, on August 2nd, 1887. His early school training was obtained at the Richfield Springs High School. He is a graduate of the Bliss School of Electrical Engineering, Washington, D. C., and holds a diploma from the International School of Corre- spondence qualifying him in the same line of technical training. After concluding his education he was engaged in electrical construction, engineering, and power plant operation. At the time of his enlistment, January 30th, 1918, had attained a prominent place in his chosen field.
Enlisted specialist, graduate of Coast Artillery School, Fort Monroe, Virginia, and assigned to Headquarters, 50th Co., C. A. C., he was sent to Camp Eustis, Virginia, where he had a limited military training, but intensive electro-mechanical instruction.
He remained in France four months, embarking and disembarking through Brest, and was attending school at Angers, receiving final instruction, when the armistice was signed, November 11th, 1918.
Received a warrant rating from Washington as Electrician-Ser- geant 1st Class, dated July 16th, 1918. He is now engaged with the Southern New York Power Company at Hartwick, New York.
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FRANCIS JOHN CRIST
The son of Frank and Sarah M. Crist, was born in Cullen, Herkimer County, New York, on August 15th, 1897, and received his education in the Richfield Springs High School. He assumed various clerical posi- tions, but during the war held a responsible position with the Goodyear Rubber Company at Akron, Ohio. He entered the service of his country August 1st, 1918, reporting for duty to Camp Wadsworth, South Caro- lina, where he was attached to the 5th Pioneer Infantry and in training for about six weeks. He was then sent overseas, being attached to the 4th Pioneer Infantry, and landed at Brest. Here he received his final training and was in Paris on his way to the front lines when the armis- tice was signed, November 11th, 1918.
At this writing Private Crist is doing military police duty for the United States at Brest and expects to be engaged in this service for at least six months longer before he is sent back to the United States.
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PULASKI B. CULBERT, JUNIOR
The son of Pulaski Culbert and Mary Culbert, was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, on June 26th, 1898. He was educated at the Richfield Springs High School.
He had been employed by the D., L. & W. and S. N. Y. R. R. Com- pany previous to his enlistment in June, 1918.
He enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps, was assigned to the 115th Co., 3rd Regiment, and first sent to the General Training Station at Paris Island, S. C., where in September, 1918, he earned a marksmanship badge.
From Paris Island he was sent to San Domingo, West Indies, where he is stationed at this writing, May 20th, 1919.
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JOHN FRANCIS CURLEY
The son of Martin Curley and Anna Curley, was born at West Exeter, Otsego County, New York, on May 12th, 1895. He attended the West Winfield High School and is a graduate of the Utica Business Institute.
He was engaged in clerical work when the call came to man the farms and he was employed on the home farm when he was called to the greater service, on October 5th, 1917.
He reported at Camp Devens, Mass., and was assigned to Co. K, 303rd Infantry. Later transferred to the office of a supply company.
After training for ten months he was sent overseas in July of 1918. First camp was Winchester, England; then to Le Havre, France, and finally to Meillant, where the company was engaged in training and equipping men for the front when the armistice was signed.
Then he was moved nearer the front and to a town called Is-em-Tille, and here assigned to a Prisoner of War Escort Company, No. 223, being engaged in office work and supply purchasing.
At this writing, May 15th, he is still engaged in the latter position, with no knowledge as to the time of his ultimate release from the service.
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PALMER GEORGE CUTTS
The son of Edward B. Cutts and Clara Cowles Cutts, was born at East Winfield, Herkimer County, New York, on May 5th, 1894, and attended the public school of that neighborhood.
He had worked at the trade of carpenter, when he entered the service on April 4th, 1918, reporting at Camp Dix for military training. He was later sent overseas and landed at Folkestone, England, about the middle of May, 1918.
He was a member of Co. M, 309th Infantry, 78th Division. After his arrival in England he was moved into France and then put in the front line trenches in Italy.
He was kept in the fighting lines, being in the St. Mihiel sector until October 14th, 1918, when he was gassed and wounded, and con- fined to the hospital until February, 1919. He was then assigned to police and guard duty at Genay, France.
He shipped home from Bordeaux and landed in New York on May 30th, 1919, receiving his discharge shortly after his arrival.
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PATRICK JOSEPH DALY
The son of Edward Daly and Bridget Daly, was born in Exeter, Otsego County, New York, on April 21st, 1888. He attended school at Exeter and Richfield Springs, and for one year was in the Law School, New York University. Later he received an appointment to the New York City police force, and was with this municipal department for about seven years, severing his connection with it to enter the service, enlisting in September of 1917.
Was at Camp Upton for training, sailing for overseas service the latter part of January, 1918. At this writing, May 20th, he is with the Army of Occupation overseas.
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JOHN ALBERT DERTHICK, JUNIOR
The son of John Albert Derthick and Isabel Hadley Derthick, was born at Brooklyn, New York, on September 11th, 1897. He graduated from Public School No. 152, Brooklyn, and Erasmus High School. After finishing his education he entered the Bankers' Trust Company of New York, where he held an important position as teller when he enlisted in April of 1917, with Troop E, 1st New York Cavalry.
He was sent to the Mexican border for police and guard duty with his troop, and in the fall of 1917 was sent to Spartanburg, S. C., and became identified with Co. L, 106th Machine Gun Battalion.
He sailed overseas in May of 1918, landing at Brest, and was sent to the front with the British forces under General Haig.
He was made a Corporal in July of 1918 for an especial act of bravery and saving the life of his army chum and intimate personal friend.
He was in continuous fighting with the 27th Division to October, 1918, until he was taken from the front line trenches on October 17th, 1918, suffering from pneumonia. He died in the Hospital at Rouen on October 27th, 1918.
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JOHN DOMBROWSKI
Was born in Lithuania, Russia, in 1890, where he received his early education. He came to the United States in 1912 and worked at mill- work and farming in and about Richfield Springs. He entered the serv- ice in October, 1917, and was immediately sent to Camp Devens, Mass. After preliminary training at Devens he was sent to Camp Gordon, Atlanta, Ga., and attached to the 325th Field Hospital. Later he was transferred to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, from which Camp he was honorably discharged from the service.
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HERBERT ANDREW DYE
The son of Andrew Dye and Lily Dye, was born at Burlington Flats, Otsego County, New York, on March 5th, 1890. He attended school at Burlington and was engaged in farming when he entered the service on February 27th, 1918.
He was sent to Camp Upton for training until April 26th, 1918, when he went overseas, arriving at Brest, France, on May 4th, 1918, a member of Co. E, 302nd Ammunition Train of the 77th Division. Was sent to Bordeaux on May 11th, where he remained in training until July 14th. He then moved up to the Baccarat sector in France, being there from July 21st to August 4th; then in the Vesle sector, from August 11th to the 18th; then in the Oise-Aisne offensive, from August 18th to September 16th; then in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, from September 28th to November 11th. In all these engagements he suffered no dis- ability of any sort.
After the armistice was signed the 77th Division was moved back to Chaumont, France, for drilling and training for two months. On February 7th, 1919, the Division was moved to La Marne, where it remained until April 16th, 1919. Then transferred to Brest, arriving there April 22nd.
On April 26th, 1919, sailed from Brest on the U. S. S. President Grant, arriving in New York City on May 6th. Was sent first to Camp Mills, then Camp Upton, where he was discharged from the service on May 19th, returning to Richfield Springs, his father's home, and intending to take up his former occupation of farming.
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ELMER JAMES ELLSWORTH
The son of Jesse J. Ellsworth and Anna M. Ellsworth, was born at Schuyler Lake, Otsego County, New York, on July 2nd, 1898. He was educated in the High Schools of Schuyler Lake and Cooperstown.
He enlisted on April 8th, 1917, in Co. G, N. Y. N. G .; transferred to Co. G, 107th U. S. Infantry, 27th Division, October 10th, 1917, and trained in the following camps: Van Cortlandt Park, New York, six weeks; Camp Wadsworth, S. C., for seven months, in all modern methods of warfare, making it one of the best trained combat divisions sent overseas.
He sailed from Newport News on May 10th, 1918, and served in France and Belgium in the following engagements and operations: East Poperinghe Line, July 9th to August 20th, 1918; Dickebush sector, Bel- gium, August 21st to the 30th, 1918; Hindenburg Line (vicinity of Bony), September 27th to the 30th, 1918.
He was wounded in action with the enemy in the attack on the Hindenburg Line, south of Vendhuile, France, September 28th-October 2nd, 1918, receiving a machine gun bullet in the left shoulder, and was operated on in the Hospital at Rouen, France, and was also confined later in the hospital at Bristol, England. He was returned to his com- pany on December 10th, 1918.
He arrived in the United States on March 6th, 1919, via the U. S. S. Leviathan, and went to Camp Merritt, N. J., parading with the famous 27th Division in New York City on March 25th, 1919. He was dis- charged from Camp Upton on April 2nd, 1919.
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ALBERT LESLIE EVANS
The son of J. D. Evans and Maria Walrath Evans, was born at Ham- mond, New York, on January 10th, 1879. He married Leah Craig, who with their three young children is living in Watertown, N. Y., during the absence of Lieutenant Evans.
He attended as a young man, the Potsdam Normal Training School and graduated from the Albany Business College. He is a graduate of Hamilton College, class of 1904, where he won the Pruyn medal for oratory. He is also a graduate of the Auburn Theological Seminary, class of 1908, and there won a scholarship which enabled him to study social work in England for one summer.
After this he took up the work at the John Hall Memorial Chapel, with its Settlement work, at 342 East 63rd St., New York, under care of the Fifth Avenue Church. He served there for seven years and then accepted the call to the First Presbyterian Church at Richfield Springs, N. Y.
Although engaged in his life's work, the ministry, he felt the dire need of men to serve their country as well as their God, and volunteered his services. He was at Camp Meade from February, 1918, to April 7th, 1918, and was first assigned to Headquarters Army Artillery.
On arriving in France he was placed with the Headquarters Gen- eral Intermediate Supply Depot and later made Senior Post Chaplain, bearing the rank of First Lieutenant.
Chaplain Evans is still located at the largest Supply Depot in France and has the supervision of ten other Chaplains. He has recently been made School Officer of the post, in addition to his duties as Post Chap- lain.
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HARRY SYLVESTER FEDERAL
The son of J. M. Federal and A. J. Federal, was born in New York City on the 31st day of December, 1897. He obtained his education at the Sharon Springs High School. Was variously employed previous to his enlistment, working at one time as a machinist, and at the time of his enlistment, April 18th, 1918, was a conductor on a street car line.
He was sent to Fort Standish and assigned to the 29th Co. of the Coast Artillery Corps. Also trained at Fort Andrew and from there was transferred to Camp Eustis, Va., to the 48th Artillery. He was then sent to Camp Stuart preparatory to going overseas. Here he was taken ill and after his recovery was sent to Camp Hill in a company of casuals, finally being assigned to the 45th C. A. C. From Camp Stuart he sailed as a member of the A. E. F. and landed at St. Nazaire, France. From the rest camp he was sent to southern France and was several months at St. Denis, a country place, and was later stationed at Lebourne, sailing for home from Bordeaux.
He was honorably discharged from the service at Camp Dix,, N. J., February 12th, 1919, and returned to his place of enlistment, South Bos- ton, where the railroad corporation with which he was employed at the time of his enlistment put him back in his former position.
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LUTHER FREDERICK FERGUSON
The son of James Ferguson and Adelia Ferguson, was born at Lynch- burg, Virginia, on June 9th, 1886. He attended school at Charleston, West Virginia.
He followed the carpenter's trade and was a machine operator in the coal mines. He came north to New York City in 1910 and to Rich- field Springs in 1912, following the business of contractor and carpenter.
He entered the service on May 27th, 1918. Reported to Camp Wadsworth, S. C., and was immediately assigned to the 52nd Pioneer Infantry, remaining in camp there for six weeks. Was then transferred to Camp Upton, Long Island, and shipped overseas on August 2nd, 1918, landing in Brest on August 11th.
In France he was held at Napoleon's Old Barracks, awaiting trans- portation for the front, for one week. He then entered a Gas School and went to the front on August 20th.
From September 6th he was in range of shell fire continuously until November 11th, when the Armistice was signed.
The principal engagements he participated in were Meuse, Argonne and Verdun. He was slightly gassed and lost his speech for two weeks, but continued fighting actively during that period.
Returned from Brest on the U. S. S. "K. I. Luckenback" and was discharged from Camp Dix on April 8th, 1918, returning to Richfield Springs.
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FRANCIS LAUGHLIN FINN
The son of Laughlin Finn and Mary L. Finn, was born at Richfield Springs, Otsego County, New York, on January 25th, 1891, and attended the Richfield Springs public school.
About 1910 he went to New York City and later received an appoint- ment in the postal service.
He entered the army in July of 1918, and was sent to Fort Ontario, Oswego, N. Y., for ten weeks training. Transferred to Camp H. G. Wright, Fisher's Island, N. Y., and continued training until December 18th, 1918, when he was discharged from the service.
At Camp Wright he was appointed a Corporal, 4th Co., Coast Artil- lery Corps. After his discharge he was again made a postal employee.
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WILLIAM CURTIS FRETTS
The son of Mead W. Fretts and Lula B. Zoller Fretts, was born at South Columbia, Herkimer County, New York, on April 29th, 1899, and received his education in the local school.
He was engaged in farming when he enlisted on July 2nd, 1917. Was a member of Co. M, 1st New York Infantry. Discharged from the Na- tional Guard and mustered into the Federal Army, August 5th, 1917; transferred on August 1st, to Co. F, 102nd U. S. Engineers. Trained at Camps Weller, Wadsworth, Humphrey and Stuart.
He was a member of the famous 27th Division, and had nine months service overseas, landing at St. Nazaire. Hiked to the Belgium front; in Belgium to Arras, to St. Emily.
Was in the following engagements: Battles, Hindenburg Line, Sep- tember 29th and 30th, 1918; Bony, September 30th; Le Selle River, St. Souplet, October 17th; Jonc-de-Mer Ridge, October 18th; Vierstraat Ridge, August 31st to September 2nd, 1918; the Knoll-Geulement Farm, September 27th, 1918; St. Maurice River, October 12th to 30th, 1918. Was also in minor engagements on the Poperinghe Line and in the Dickebush Sector, in July and August, 1918.
He was gassed at the Battle of St. Souplet on November 2nd, 1918, and was in the Hospital at Amiens for six weeks.
Was discharged from Camp Upton on April 3rd, 1919.
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DARWIN GARLOCK
The son of Fred Garlock and Nettie Flint Garlock, was born at Lone Rock, Wisconsin, on December 29th, 1890. He received his school train- ing in the Richfield Springs public school.
He had been following the trade of carpenter at the time of his call to the service, on June 24th, 1918. He entered the infantry as a private in Co. 10, 152nd Depot Brigade, at Camp Upton, Long Island, New York. Transferred to the 345th Supply Co., 87th Division, and was appointed Wagoner on August 11th, 1918, at Camp Dix.
At Camp Dix he was engaged in driving a four line mule team, fitting him for a very necessary and hazardous arm of the service overseas.
He sailed for France on August 24th, 1918, and remained in the A. E. F. until January 5th, 1919.
While overseas he served as a wagoner in the Supply Train of the 345th Infantry at several different bases of supply, both of food and ammunition.
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MARSHALL P. GETCHEL
The son of Frank B. Getchel and Jennie Getchel, was born at Richfield Springs, Otsego County, New York, on January 9th, 1890, and educated in the public schools of his native village.
Previous to his entrance into the service, March 29th, 1918, he had been engaged in the observation of the assembling and general manu- facturing of typewriters and adding machines, with a view to fitting himself for an efficiency and production engineer.
He was assigned to the 19th Co., 5th Battalion, 159th Depot Brigade, Camp Zachary Taylor, Ky. Served as line man for about two months and taken into the office as Company Clerk, serving as such for about six months. Transferred to 1st Training Battalion, 159th Depot Brigade, as Sergeant.
Promoted to Sergeant-Major in 1st Battalion, serving about four months. Honorably discharged from 1st Battalion, 159th Depot Bri- gade, April 2nd, 1919, to accept appointment as Army Field Clerk, and assigned as such to the 159th Depot Brigade on April 3rd, 1919.
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EARL GOULD
The son of Charles Gould and Mary Gould, was born at Mount Upton, Chenango County, New York, on September 8th, 1892, and was educated in the district school of his neighborhood.
He was engaged in farming when called to the service, on September 22nd, 1917, and was first assigned to Co. A, 303rd Infantry, then to 301st Machine Gun Battalion, H. Q., then Co. C, then 302nd Machine Gun Battalion.
Sent overseas with Co. B, 12th Machine Gun Battalion, from Boston on July 8th, 1918, and landed in London on July 22nd. Previous to his sailing he had been in training at Ayer, Mass., for a machine gunner.
For a time he was stationed at Montreshed, France, near St. Nazaire.
He was at Verdun, Argonne Forest and went over the top with his company three times, suffering no injury.
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WILLIAM DELOS GRIFFIN
The son of Leon Griffin and Lulu Wolcott Griffin, was born at Richfield Springs, Otsego County, New York, on June 17th, 1896. He attended school at Richfield Springs and was employed at the Utica Knitting Company mills when he enlisted and was later sent to Camp Dix, April 4th, 1918.
He shipped overseas on May 20th, 1918, from Hoboken to Halifax, landing at Southampton on June 8th. Then was sent to Folkestone on the English coast and on June 13th crossed the Channel for France. After being in a rest camp for four days, moved south just back of the Arras front, being at Marquay for about a month, then to Vitry. On September 10th he went into the lines at the St. Mihiel front. Was here in the trenches for twenty-one days.
From St. Mihiel he started with his Co. H, 309th Infantry, for the Argonne woods, going into the lines on the 15th of October and over the top on the following day.
On the morning of the 18th of October, 1918, he went over the top again and was wounded in the arm and back. He was in the hospital for over a month. At this writing, May 20th, 1919, he was expected to go to a seaport town very soon, and from there to ship for home.
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HERBERT ROSS HADCOCK
The son of James A. Hadcock and Martha Marilla Hadcock, was born at Mount Elgin, Ontario, Canada, on July 30th, 1877, and is the husband of Grace L. Wikoff Hadcock. His preliminary education was obtained in the public schools of Mount Elgin and Ingersoll. In 1901 he gradu- ated from the Y. M. C. A. College, located at Springfield, Mass.
He served as Y. M. C. A. secretary at Warren, Penn., and later at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
He enlisted in the 90th Canadian Regiment in the autumn of 1914, and was called to military Y. M. C. A. work in April, 1915. As a tech- nically trained Y. M. C. A. secretary, his services in the army continued along the line of his training.
During 1915 and 1916 he was supervisor of military Y. M. C. A. organizations in the camps located in British Columbia and Alberta, visiting and supervising the work in all of the military and internment camps in that area.
He was called overseas by cable in December of 1917, and later became the Supervisor of Y. M. C. A. work in the 1st Division of the Canadian Army.
He was commissioned a Lieutenant in February, 1918, and a Captain in August, 1918.
He was gassed in October, 1918, during the final Canadian drive.
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GORDON A. HAGGERTY
The son of Dr. S. A. and Lelia Haggerty, was born in Richfield March 18th, 1897. He attended school in Richfield and in Richfield Springs and later the School of Pharmacy of Union University. He was a licensed pharmacist and spent his vacations during the college year in this line of work. He enlisted in the service June 21st, 1918, and reported at Pelham Bay Park August 5th, 1918, where he was under training for six weeks. He was then detailed for a time in an infirmary and February 19th, 1919, was ordered to the U. S. S. America as pharmacist mate, third class.
As this is written, information is at hand that he has been at sea for the past three months, with only twelve days in port and without shore leave. He has made the trip back and forth to Brest three times and is just about to make the fourth trip.
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