Before I Forget

Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940

FamilySearch is an amazing resource when searching for an ancestor or proof of his/her residence, birth date, or military discharge dates. And it is free to those who register.

If a record or an image you want isn't available online at their site, FamilySearch will tell you where you might find it.

I've just spent an hour viewing these links below. Some contain a FAVORITE sentence of mine:
"To view a digital version of this item, click here." Ahh, access!

Veterans Administration Master Index - via FamilySearch Historical Records:
https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/United_States,_Veterans_Administration_Master_Index_-_FamilySearch_Historical_Records

U.S. National Archives, Military Records, 1885-2004
https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/United_States,_National_Archives,_Military_Records,_1885-2004

I bookmarked this site. Once again, FamilySearch is free to those who register:
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2968245

This link connects you to what is inside the Granite Mountain Record Vault buried deep in Utah. #TornadoProof
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/4092378?availability=Family%20History%20Library

My Dad served in Korea during the war. Years ago we ordered and received his military file from NARA (National Archives) and also his father's records from the Great War.

I thought I had exhausted the many online military databases available regarding my Grandfather's service in World War I. But upon signing on to FamilySearch today, it suggested a record I hadn't seen before.

It was a simple card showing his enlistment and discharge dates. Full legal name, address, DOB. Yes, I already knew those dates from other records, but hey! It's another source. Secondary proof! Proof I might obtain when learning of a distant cousin whose birth date is unknown.

An added bonus was seeing yet another (miss)spelling of Grandpa's middle name. A three-syllable word that I've not seen with any other person. This rendition appeared to be typed phonetically: Sulvenious. #SMH

It was a reminder to allow for misspellings when searching databases by keyword.

Military Exemption Denied

On his draft card dated June 5, 1917 my 21 year old grandfather replied, "Support of parents (Mother and stepfather)" to Question No. 12: Do You Claim Exemption From Draft (specify grounds).

He was denied, and later sent to France and Germany along with his older brother Urban.

Elton Wiser served with the 357th Infantry, U.S. Army from October 3, 1917 to May 26, 1919 when the USS Huron sailed from St Nazaire, France, bringing the Yanks back home.

Today I found this article from The Tulsa World newspaper published September 25, 1917, p. 6. It mentions my grandfather and others from Oklahoma who sought exemptions from the draft--and were denied.

Elton's father was born in Germany in 1845. He and his young brothers immigrated to Texas with their mother in the early 1850s. He married, farmed, and had many children. But he died at age 50--just months before his son Elton was born:

-- The Galveston Daily News, Wednesday, October 30, 1895, p. 2.

While proud to have served under his hero Gen. John Pershing, I know my grandfather Elton was deeply troubled by the battles he witnessed. Today we call it PTSD. But I never thought to ask him if he felt conflicted fighting in the country of his ancestors. Those ancestors of a man he hadn't known.

On The 11th Day At The 11th Hour

From the warmth of our home we watched the televised Veterans Day Parade held in downtown Tulsa. I think the mid-day wind chill was about 28 degrees. Several hundred hearty people appeared to watch the parade in real time.

Did you ever wonder what your local paper had to say on Armistice Day when The Great War ended? Me, too.

And this front page of The Tulsa Daily World is from the next day, November 12, 1918.

When enlarged the small print is still difficult to read. Here are two articles that share a poor description of how Tulsans made merry shortly after hearing the splendid news of the War's end. Both articles are from the pages shown above:

Father And Son Meet Near A World War I Battlefield In 1918

From The Daily Ardmoreite newspaper, p. 3, January 24, 1919, Ardmore, Oklahoma:

I wonder how often this occurred among families while serving on the front lines in the two World Wars. Brothers, yes. But fathers and sons meeting up?

The other son mentioned who was also in the Marine Corps? That would be Homer Carlisle Hurley. Here Homer appears with his brother, John, on a Marine Corps Muster Roll dated June 12, 1918:

John was discharged October 30, 1919, and Homer on January 27, 1919.

All three Hurleys made it home safely after The Great War. Homer died 1974 in Oklahoma City. Brother John D, Hurley died 1984 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Their dad, Oscar Lee Hurley, was born 1867 in Salem, North Carolina to James D. Hurley (1842-1922) and Melissa Emaline Gibson Hurley (1827-1904). When Oscar was three, his parents and sisters left North Carolina and moved to Texas. That must have been quite a journey.

Oscar married Lula Mangum in 1893, and they had nine (known) children. All born in Texas. It was after World War I that I next find his family living in Ardmore, Oklahoma. The 1920 Federal Census indicates Oscar was employed as a carpenter "for the circus." I hope his younger children got free tickets to the event.

After Oscar's death outside of Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1942, his widow Lula applied for his military headstone.

Oscar's half-brothers, George and Caswell, had fought in the Civil War. Caswell died of disease near their North Carolina home in 1862. My 2xGGrandfather George was 17 when he and other Confederates were sent to New York Harbor to a Yankee prison.

One hundred years ago, it may not have been uncommon for several in a family to enlist and fight in a foreign land. But to this 21st century descendant, it seems odd--strangely odd, to have had brothers who fought in the Civil War and a younger brother who then fought in Europe some 47+ years later.

He Refused To Give His Middle Name To The Draft Board

My maternal 2nd Great Uncle Ivor McCormick met with the Chaves County draft board on September 12, 1918 in New Mexico. He was 39 years old and a resident of nearby Hagerman.

And he got on the wrong side of Mr. M. H. Long's high horse:

On the backside of Ivor's draft card is a record of Mr. Long's disgust with Dr. McCormick's reply:

"Refused to give middle name. Needs military training"

And I say, GO IVOR!

The Yanks Are Coming!

Even though World War I had ended November 11, 1918, a number of American servicemen stayed in Europe to assist the occupation army. Six months later, many assigned to the Headquarter Company's 357th Infantry set sail from St. Nazaire, France on May 26, 1919. Their transport ship home was the USS Huron. Among those soldiers was my grandfather (No. 45) who was soon to land in Newport News, Virginia at Camp Stuart. Well, not that soon. One paper I have shows he arrived on American soil on June 7th. His older brother, Urban, was also on that ship. He is listed as No. 61 on the second image below:

SOURCE: Ancestry's database: U.S., Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists, 1910-1939.

Wikipedia tells me: USS Huron was "formerly the Norddeutscher Lloyd liner SS Friedrich der Grosse (or Friedrich der Große) built in 1896, which sailed Atlantic routes from Germany and sometimes Italy to the United States and on the post run to Australia. At the outset of World War I the ship was interned by the U.S. and, when that country entered the conflict in 1917, was seized and converted to a troop transport. Originally commissioned as USS Fredrick Der Grosse, the ship was renamed Huron — after Lake Huron, the center lake of the Great Lakes — while undergoing repairs and conversion at a U.S. Navy yard. The ship carried almost 21,000 men to France during the hostilities, and returned over 22,000 healthy and wounded men after the Armistice."

Source: US Navy - Photo #: NH 106366-A, Naval History and Heritage Command website, Public Domain https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8535880, and U.S., WWI Troop Transport Ships, 1918-1919, via Ancestry.com

Private Elton Wiser had enlisted October 3, 1917 from McClain County, Oklahoma. The Army officially released him from duty on June 18, 1919 at Camp Pike in Arkansas. You will see that he served in both France and Germany, and saw battle at St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne. Other offensives recorded in his file: Villers-en-Haye, Puvenelle, Preny, and Sebastapol.

When I first requested his military file from the National Archives in St. Louis, we were told it had been destroyed in the 1973 fire. But in a later package we were happy to learn the NARA had indeed recovered much of his file--although a bit singed.

In his final years my grandfather spoke of his time in Europe. And, frequently! I regret I didn't record his stories via audio or pen. As a child I remember him describing the noise of battle as DEAFENING while the shells fell. How some men frozen with fear didn't duck from bullets headed their way. How his unit missed meals, and went for days without bathing. Funny the things you remember being told as a kid. In particular, Grandpa confused me by bragging that he abstained from drinking wine while in France, as did many of his comrades when off duty.

"Hey, Wiser! Come with us. We're going to the village to drink" they would call to him.

But, no. He was adamant that he never went to bars. Why, I watched the popular 1960's TV show Combat, and knew soldiers drank. Was he just saying this for my benefit? Or was he really a teetotaler. He spoke of it often enough that I thought he "doth protest too much." At least I hope so.

Older relatives recall his painful suffering from what we now call PTSD. Grandpa was so very proud of his service, and was especially honored to have served under General Black Jack Pershing. He kept an 8 x 10 photo of the good general on his wall. See Elton in uniform before his journey to Europe. He was 21 when he enlisted in 1917.

Decades later after learning of his genealogy, I've often wondered this: Elton's father was born in Sachsen (Germany) in 1845. La famille of his mother had immigrated from France in the early 1700s. Did he ever question the irony of fighting his dad's former countrymen in his mother's homeland?

Draft Cards - Wiser Brothers

Four of Six Brothers: Amie, Elton, their nephew Melvin (Odus' son), Jess and Odus in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. And yes, Jess appears to have walked off the set of the TV drama Madmen. The year? Unknown. But I'm guessing it is between 1926-1932, because Melvin was born in 1905. Please comment below if you know.

My paternal Grandfather served in France and Germany during World War I with his older brother Urban. His four remaining brothers were not called up. But all had registered with local draft boards. Three types of draft cards were used then with American citizens. Each had varying questions. Some answers to those questions help descendants fill in the gaps of their family history: birth place, height, weight, eye/hair color, workplace, and a signature. I love seeing signatures from people long gone!

SEE SIX WISER BROTHERS' DRAFT CARDS: remember to click on the image to make it larger. CLICK AGAIN to return to this page

Odus Udel Weiser (27 Dec 1878 to 12 Dec 1942)

Jess Elmer Wiser (24 Oct 1884 to 16 Dec 1946)

Rufus Ira Weiser (7 Jan 1887 to 8 July 1956)

Emeal Lemuel "Amie" Wiser (23 Nov 1888 to 24 April 1968)

Urban Sylvester Weiser (19 July 1893 to 1 Oct 1966)

and Elton Sylvenus Wiser (13 May 1896 to 24 Nov 1976)

OLD MAN'S DRAFT OF 1942: I found five of six brothers' draft cards for World War II. Men of a certain age were required to report to the Board. And historians are glad they did, as it provides further data about our families. But first, this paragraph from familysearch.org's WIKI page explains it better:

Fourth Registration (Old Man's Draft)

Included men with a date of birth from April 28, 1877 to February 16, 1897.

On April 27, 1942, the Selective Service conducted the fourth of six draft registrations. The "World War II Selective Service Draft Cards: Fourth Registration, 1942" is often referred to as the “Old Man’s Registration” or the “Old Man’s Draft".

This registration was different from the others conducted by the government. It's sole purpose was to gather information regarding manpower resources in the United States. The registration included men born between 27 April 1877 and 16 February 1890 - ages 45 to 64 - and listed their industrial capacity and skills that could be used for military support during World War II.

Odus Weiser's 1942 Draft Card: (two pages)

Jess Wiser's Two Pages:

Rufus Wiser's Two Pages:

Emeal "Amie" Wiser's Two Pages:

Elton Wiser's Two Pages:

Lastly, I've death certificates for four of the six Wiser brothers. Both Texas and Missouri are terrific in sharing vital records. I've grouped them all together here. Heart disease seems to run in the Wiser family, take heed!

-- My source for all these cards is Ancestry.com.

How Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down On The Farm

This sheet music cover for a song published in 1919 that became a "smash hit." I know it from the Judy Garland movie, For Me And My Gal. It has been sung in other movies. Perhaps you've heard it? The soldier boys of World War I had returned home from battle in Europe. Many of them were no longer satisfied to work on the farm as their parents and grandparents had. Much has been written about this post-war cultural shift.

Popular vaudeville artist Nora Bayes sings it here. No date given, but I imagine it was near the time of the 1919 release by Joe Young, Sam E. Lewis (lyric's) and Walter Donaldson (music). Hear it as it was sung 105 years ago:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

A 1936 VERSION: Thanks to Michael R. for sharing this from The Our Gang Follies of 1936:

The song's lyrics:

Reuben, Reuben, I've been thinking

Said his wifey dear

Now that all is peaceful and calm

The boys will soon be back on the farm

Mister Reuben started winking and slowly rubbed his chin

He pulled his chair up close to mother

And he asked her with a grin:

"How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm

After they've seen Paree'

How ya gonna keep 'em away from Broadway

Jazzing around and painting the town

How ya gonna keep 'em away from harm, that's a mystery

Imagine Reuben when he meets his Pa

He'll kiss his cheek and holler "OO-LA-LA"!

How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm

After they've seen Paree'

How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm

After they've seen Paree'

How ya gonna keep 'em away from Broadway

Jazzing around and painting the town

How ya gonna keep 'em away from harm, that's a mystery

They'll never want to see a rake or plow

And who the heck can parleyvous a cow?

How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm

After they've seen Paree'

SOURCE:

By Waterson, Berlin & Snyder Co. - http://libx.bsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ShtMus/id/725, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35629174

Flynn Button, KIA 1918 in France

Found an interesting death notice for a young man from Osage County, Oklahoma. No relation to my family, but they lived nearby. Flynn Franklin Button, survived by his parents Frederick and Alice Button, and four siblings: Gertie, Gardner, Pearl and Olive. Only 23 when he died in France at Le Chatelet, Departement du Cher, Centre.

He trained at Camp Travis in Texas with the 358th Infantry, 35th Division, Co. C, and was sent overseas in April of 1918. I looked on both ancestry.com/ and Fold3 just now, but don't find any military records save for his draft card from June of 1917. IHmm, tried "Dutton" and "Sutton." My lunch hour is nearly over, so I'll quick share his photo and obit that researcher Emily Jordan shared to a memorial page for young Flynn.

Died on the field of battle,

I was noble thus to die,

God smiles on valiant soldiers,

His record is on high.

From a Muskogee, Oklahoma newspaper on Oct. 10, 1918.

He Died In France--ONE DAY Before Armistice

Meet 27 year old Sergeant Arthur Hibdon. He joined the U.S. Army from Linn Creek, Missouri and served in Europe in the 11th Infantry Regiment, 5th Division. He died November 10, 1918--the day before World War I ended. How sad for his family! He is buried in Romaine, France in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. See his draft card below. (click on the gallery to see three images)

NOTE TO COFFEE COUSINS; Arthur was the grandson of William James and Nancy (Wolff) James of Moniteau, Morgan & Camden Counties in Missouri, from whom our John Coffee also descends. His parents were: John William Hibdon (1856-1926) and Sarah (James) Hibdon (1860-1945). Arthur was the fifth of their ten children. He is my maternal first cousin--three times removed.

At age 70, Arthur's mom was contacted by the U.S. Army about traveling to Europe with other to visit her son's grave. She declined, but her name is listed in the 1930 database: U.S. World War I Mothers' Pilgrimage, Mrs. Sarah M. Hibdon of Barnett, Morgan County, Missouri. Are you familiar with the Mothers' Pilgrimage? Another name given is The Gold Star Mother Pilgrimages of the 1930s.

This from the National Archives' "Prologue Magazine" -- Gold Star Mothers' Pilgrimage

During the 1920s, the Gold Star Mothers' Association lobbied for a federally sponsored pilgrimage to Europe for mothers with sons buried overseas. Although many of the women who belonged to the organization had visited their sons' graves, they realized that women often could not afford the trip to Europe. In their testimony, these women placed great emphasis on the bond between a mother and son. The bond between wife and husband seemed almost secondary in the congressional debates. The bond between fathers and sons was barely considered--the association maintained that the maternal bond surpassed that of the paternal bond.

In 1929 Congress enacted legislation that authorized the secretary of war to arrange for pilgrimages to the European cemeteries "by mothers and widows of members of military and naval forces of the United States who died in the service at any time between April 5, 1917, and July 1, 1921, and whose remains are now interred in such cemeteries." Congress later extended eligibility for pilgrimages to mothers and widows of men who died and were buried at sea or who died at sea or overseas and whose places of burial were unknown. The Office of the Quartermaster General determined that 17,389 women were eligible. By October 31, 1933, when the project ended, 6,693 women had made the pilgrimage.

Thank you for popping in. I welcome your comments and/or "upvote."