Tag Archives: France

WWI Remembrance – First Lieut. Harry A. Williams

Posted on

First Lieut. Harry A. Williams. Photo courtesy Lynne Williams Miller.

FIRST LIEUT. HARRY A. WILLIAMS    

     Harry Williams was born on a farm in Cooks, Michigan, February 7, 1887 and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Milton Williams. For six years prior to entering the service he was employed as a government clerk in Washington, D.C. In the fall of 1917, he entered an officers’ training camp near Chattanooga, TN., and was sent overseas in the spring of 1918.

     First Lieutenant Harry A. Williams, 7th Infantry, was posthumously issued a Silver Star Citation for action near Fossoy, France, on July 15, 1918. During an intense artillery preparation by the enemy, Lieutenant Williams voluntarily took command of a platoon of the company to which he was attached for the purpose of liaison. Through absolute disregard of personal danger and high qualities of leadership these men were safely conducted from their support position, through Fossoy, under terrific shell fire, arriving at the front line in time to assist in stopping the enemy’s advance. Read More...

WWI Remembrance – The Perilous Atlantic

Posted on

     On February 5, 1918, the sinking of the troop transport ship SS Tuscania sent shock waves across the nation, including the town of Manistique. The Tuscania was a former luxury passenger liner that had been pressed into service as a troop carrier by the United States Army.  The Tuscania had sailed from Hoboken, New Jersey on January 24, 1918 with 2,013 soldiers and 383 crewmen on board. Despite being escorted by a British convey, the Tuscania was struck by a torpedo fired from a German submarine, and sent to the bottom of the Irish Sea. The vast majority of the troops aboard the Tuscania were rescued by the Royal Navy Destroyers Mosquito and Pigeon, but 210 souls were lost, including both military personnel and crewmen. Read More...

Somewhere In France – October 25, 1918

Posted on
Sgt. Arthur Danielson (right) somewhere in France (1918-1919)

Sgt. Arthur Danielson (right) somewhere in France (1918-1919)

Somewhere in France

Oct. 25th, 1918

Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Danielson

Dearest Bro. and Family—

           Will try to write a few lines to you today and let you know that I am still on earth and very much alive.

           Have been on this front just a month now but it seems a year since we moved up here.

           Have seen what war is like now and I will say like Sherman said “War is hell,” only more so.

           Have seen many prisoners go by, and many wounded but those dough boys never make a whimper as they come by, some walking, others riding in ambulances and big trucks. Read More...