Shayne Posted 30 September , 2023 Author Share Posted 30 September , 2023 On 28/09/2023 at 01:07, FROGSMILE said: The lowermost photo shows two men of the 26th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Division, plus another from an undetermined unit. I think it is a G. I am still waiting on the rest of my Ggrandfather's service records to see if he might be one of these men. If he is I'm sure the company will be listed. I could make out some of the Major campaigns on his discharge papers (handwritten rather than typed so harder to read) and it says they started in Apr of 1919 in France. I appreciate all the help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRC Posted 2 October , 2023 Share Posted 2 October , 2023 Here’s some of the information previously shared by PM with @Shayne and subsequently confirmed as relating to the great grandfather (Is this) Robert Davis Parker, born 8th February 1890 and died 7th April 1968 and who is buried in Houston National Cemetery, Texas? https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/3119002/robert-davis-parker The picture of the grave marker is deliberately blurred on the Billion Graves website so you have to sign up to see the image. From what little I can make out it seems to associate him with Kentucky and that he was an Army Corporal in WW1. https://billiongraves.com/grave/Robert-Davis-Parker/6576236 The Texas Death Register entry has him born Sadieville, Kentucky and that he died in the Veterans Administration Hospital at Houston. His father was John Parker and his mother Martha Warnolk. His social security number was 276 01 4610. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KS14-2FT There is a Veteran Administration Master Index card for a Robert Davis Parker which shows him leaving the Army on the 27th August 1923 and he has an address at some point of 1301 Hamilton Avenue, Hamilton, Ohio. He was then a Private 1st Class in Company I, 8th US Infantry. But his date of birth is shown as 8th January 1889 and there seems to be some confusion over when he enlisted, 1914 and 1920 being recorded.I believe that soldiers service number was 55960. I’m really not sure that is the right man – he is recorded as having died 7th April 1968 but it wouldn’t be the first time two mens records have got mixed up. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WMFW-Z62M A Robert D. Parker, aged 21 years and 9 months, a farmer, born Sadieville, Kentucky, enlisted on October 11th 1910 at Columbus Barracks, Ohio in the 4th Infantry. But he was discharged October 12th, 1913, at Galveston, Texas. There is a note against many of the entries on the page which I think reads “Exp.Serv.Part”. The next bit reads for that man “Very Good”, which I suspects refers to his general military character. The next bit I suspect is just the initials of the person making the entry. Roberts’ entry is also one of the minority marked “Retained”, so I wonder if he was some sort of paid reservist. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDR-PK4M [To be continued…] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRC Posted 2 October , 2023 Share Posted 2 October , 2023 Part 2 of 4. Building from that here are the related muster rolls, detachment rolls and monthly rosters I could track down for 55960 Robert (D.) Parker. All relevant notes have been expanded where possible for ease of comprehension and admin references removed. Any errors in doing so are mine. I’ve added in some general notes about his units and battles involved in at key points. I’ve also added what I thing are the related pieces from the discharge document you have. 31st October 1912 to 31st December 1912. Muster Roll Company “C”, of the Fourth Regiment of Infantry includes:- Private Robert D. Parker enlisted Columbus Barracks, Ohio, 11th October 1910 for three years. The entry is spread over two pages, with the right hand page not clearly linked to the name on the left as displayed on familysearch. Counting the number of lines on the page I believe the note that relates to him is that he was on serving with a regimental detachment as a Mounted Orderly, V.O.C.O. since March 16th 1912. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6FNC-6JS9 31st December 1912 to 28th February 1913. Muster Roll Company “C”, of the Fourth Regiment of Infantry includes:- Private Robert D. Parker enlisted Columbus Barracks, Ohio, 11th October 1910 for three years. The entry is spread over two pages, with the right hand page not clearly linked to the name on the left as displayed on familysearch. Counting the number of lines on the page I believe the note that relates to him is that he was on detached service was a Mounted Scout sine December 19th 1912, qualified as a Marksman July 25th 1911 and owed the U.S. Q.M.C. 10 cents for one soup plate! https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6FN7-8S1R “Trouble with Mexico caused the regiment to be stationed on the Texas border in 1913. On 1 January 1914 the regiment was at Galveston, Texas, as part of the 5th Brigade, 2nd Division where it had been since February 1913.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_Infantry_Regiment_(United_States) 28th February 1913 to 30th April 1913. Muster Roll Company “C”, of the Fourth Regiment of Infantry includes:- Private Robert D. Parker enlisted Columbus Barracks, Ohio, 11th October 1910 for three years. The entry is spread over two pages, with the right hand page not clearly linked to the name on the left as displayed on familysearch. Counting the number of lines on the page I believe the note that relates to him is that he was on detached service as a Mounted Scout since February 28th 1913, (the roll entry for the month is ticked rather than noted). https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6FNH-YPQV 1st March 1913 to 30th April 1913. Regimental Detachment Muster Roll doesn’t add anything as far as I can tell. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:H534-RM6Z 30th April 1913 Muster Roll Company “C”, of the Fourth (Infantry). Private Robert D. Parker enlisted Columbus Barracks, Ohio, 11th October 1910 for three years. The entry is spread over two pages, with the right hand page not clearly linked to the name on the left as displayed on familysearch. Counting the number of lines on the page I believe the note that relates to him is that he was on detached service was a Mounted Scout since February 28th 1913, (the roll entry for the month is ticked rather than noted). https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6FNH-YJVX 1st May 1913 to 30th June 1913. Muster Roll Regimental Detachment, Fourth Infantry serving at Galveston includes:- Private Robert D. Parker enlisted Columbus Barracks, Ohio, 11th October 1910 for three years. The entry is spread over two pages, with the right hand page not clearly linked to the name on the left as displayed on familysearch. Counting the number of lines on the page I believe the note that relates to him is that he was to receive a Clothing Allowance of $8.48. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:H534-RH3Z 30th June 1913 to 31st August 1913. Privates of the Regimental Detachment of the Fourth Infantry includes:- Robert D. Parker. Enlisted October 11th, 1910 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:H534-RXN2 Main muster roll shows him on detached service at the Regimental “Det” Camp 4th Infantry, Galveston, Texas. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6FNC-X2QV 31st August 1913 to 31st October 1913. Muster Roll of the Regimental Detachment of the Fourth Infantry includes:- Private Robert D. Parker, enlisted October 11th 1910. Note. Honorably discharged at Galveston, Texas, October 12th 1913 per ETS. Retained in the service two (2) days to make good AWOL April 12 to 13, 1913. Character of service – Honest and faithful. Character – Very Good. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:H534-RPPZ 31st December 1913 to 26th February 1914. Muster Roll of 127th Company, Coast Artillery Corps includes note assigned to Company January 6th 1914 and joined Company same day. Had previously been discharged October 12th 1913 from Regimental Details, 4th Infantry Regiment as a Private. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68YM-ZPSG From 1911 to 1916 this company was based at Fort Crockett, Texas - see page 445 of this source. https://cdsg.org/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/FORTS/CACunits/CACcomp.pdf 30th April 1914 to 30th June 1914. Muster Roll of 127th Company, Coast Artillery Corps has a handwritten note above the entry for Private Robert D. Parker which I think reads (in truncated form) “Transferred to “G” Company 26th Infantry July 10th, 1914”. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68T1-LSCX 30th June 1914 to 31st August 1914. The part of the Muster Roll of 127th Company, Coast Artillery Corps, dealing with adjustments to the unit strength notes that Private Robert D. Parker, enlisted 6th January 1914 “Transferred as Private to Company “G”, 26th Infantry July 15th 1914 and left the Company the same day”. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68T1-NZ73 Same period Muster Roll for Company “G”, 26th Infantry muster roll includes:- Private Robert D. Parker enlisted January 6th 1914. Noted Transferred as Private from 127th Company CaC, July 15th 1914. Joined the Company on the same day. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z7NJ-2MW2 31st August 1914 to 31st October 1914. Company “G”, 26th Infantry muster roll includes:- Private Robert D. Parker enlisted January 6th 1914. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z751-LYPZ Same information for 31st October 1914 to 31st December 1914. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z7J3-5J2M And 31st December 1914 to 28th February 1915. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3H5-S9MZ-L?cc=3346936&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AZ7N1-933Z 28th February 1915 to 30th April 1915. Company “G”, 26th Infantry muster roll includes:- Private Robert D. Parker enlisted January 6th 1914. Noted AWOL March 11th to 14th 1915. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z7NL-Y5N2 30th April 1915 to 30th June 1915. Company “G”, 26th Infantry muster roll includes:- Private Robert D. Parker enlisted January 6th 1914. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ZW7N-BC3Z Same information 30th June 1915 to 31st August 1915. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z7NT-MVT2 31st August 1915 to 31st October 1915. Company “G”, 26th Infantry muster roll includes:- Private Robert D. Parker enlisted January 6th 1914. Note : To have two thirds (2 / 3) of his pay per month for two (2) months detained until he is discharged from current enlistment. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z7J9-J3W2 31st October 1915 to 31st December 1915. Company “G”, 26th Infantry muster roll includes:- Private Robert D. Parker enlisted January 6th 1914. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z7NT-SJ3Z Same information 31st December 1915 to 29th February 1916. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z7ND-CKPZ And 29th February 1916 to 30th April 1916. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z4YM-RZN2 And 30th April 1916 to 30th June 1916. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z7JF-VBPZ And 30th June 1916 to 31st August 1916. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z7JM-Q52M And 31st August 1916 to 31st October 1916. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z7J3-6TW2 31st October 1916 to 31st December 1916. Company “G”, 26th Infantry muster roll includes:- Private 1st Class Robert D. Parker enlisted January 6th 1914 and noted appointed Private 1st Class November 1st 1916. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z7NL-N2W2 31st December 1916 to 28th February 1917. Company “G”, 26th Infantry muster roll includes:- Private Robert D. Parker enlisted January 6th 1914 – but I believe the accompanying note indicates he was reduced from Private First Class to Private on the 22nd February 1917. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z7J3-TNN2 28th February 1917 to 30th April 1917. Company “G”, 26th Infantry muster roll includes:- Private Robert D. Parker enlisted January 6th 1914. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z7NX-M33Z 30th April 1917 to 30th June 1917. Company “G”, 26th Infantry muster roll includes:- Mechanic Robert D. Parker enlisted January 6th 1914. Expanding out the note in full it appears to read “Appointed Mechanic from Private May 23rd, 1917, Company Order 8/1917. Left US June 14th 1917, arrived in France.” https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z7NZ-FTT2 Part of the discharge record image you posted in the thread “Another who are they” https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/306209-another-who-are-they/page/2/ From Wikipedia. World War 1 “After returning to the same location[Philippines] for another tour of duty), the regiment fought off Mexican bandits and settled disputes in the Indian Territory, until it was selected as one of only four Regular Army infantry regiments deemed fit for immediate combat to form the 1st Expeditionary Division (later redesignated the 1st Division) in June 1917, shortly after the American entry into World War I. Thus began the regiment's long association with the "Big Red One". As part of the first American soldiers to arrive in France, the regiment immediately left for the front. Along with its sister regiments of the division, it earned more campaign streamers than any other regiments during World War I.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/26th_Infantry_Regiment_(United_States) When the United States entered World War I in April 1917, it had no divisions. President Woodrow Wilson promised the Allies he would send “a division” to France immediately. Four infantry regiments (16th, 18th, 26th and 28th) and three artillery regiments (5th, 6th and 7th) were ordered from the Mexican border in Texas to Hoboken, NJ, to board transports for France. On June 8, 1917, Brigadier General William Sibert assumed command of them as the “First Expeditionary Division.” Organized as a “square” division of more than 28,000 men, the First Division was twice the size of either the Allied or German divisions on the Western Front. https://www.fdmuseum.org/about-the-1st-infantry-division/history-of-the-first-division/ 30th June 1917 to 31st August 1917. Company “G”, 26th Infantry muster roll includes:- Private Robert D. Parker enlisted January 6th 1914. Note: “To forfeit 2/3 his pay per Month for 3 Months July 22nd 1917. Reduced from Mechanic to Private August 18th 1917. “ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z7NP-693Z 1st September 1917 to 31st October 1917. Company “G”, 26th Infantry muster roll includes:- Private Robert D. Parker enlisted January 6th 1914. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z7KY-7QZM Although the first American troops arrived in Europe in June 1917, the AEF did not fully participate at the front until October, when the First Division, one of the best-trained divisions of the AEF, entered the trenches at Nancy, France. https://www.loc.gov/collections/stars-and-stripes/articles-and-essays/a-world-at-war/american-expeditionary-forces/ · Robert’s discharge record. Lorneville(?) Sector October 21st to November 20th 1917. 1st November 1917 to 31st December 1917. Company “G”, 26th Infantry muster roll includes:- Private Robert D. Parker enlisted January 6th 1914 but entry noted appointed Private 1st Class December 1st, 1917. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ZWZF-4VPZ 1st January 1918 to 28th February 1918. Private First Class 55960 Robert D. Parker, enlisted January 6th 1914, Transferred from Company “G” 26th Infantry to Ordnance Department and attached 26th Infantry for duty February 2nd 1918. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z78H-HV3Z I’ve struggled to find out quite what the Ordnance Department attached to a US Infantry Battalion did. Drawing on snippets my best guess is that they manned forward positioned arms dump, armed weapons, (presumably grenades, mortar shells and the like) and disposed of unsafe ordnance, presumably enemy as well as allied. Not a cushy number – if one of those dumps took a direct hit then there would be nothing left to bury. And with the ebb and flow of battle a forward arms dump could well need to wired for destruction at short notice to prevent it from falling into the hands of the enemy. From the staffing lists the Ordnance Department seldom rose to more than a dozen men. I suspect it may have been roughly one man per Company. · Robert’s discharge record. Toul Sector January 15th to April 3rd 1918. 1st March 1918 to 30th April 1918. Ordnance Department of the Regular Army, stationed in France, includes:- Private 1st Class 55960 Robert D. Parker. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z78Z-DJ6Z Same information 30th April 1918 to 30th June 1918. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z78C-WPT2 May 28th 1918. The First Division won the first American victory in World War I at the Battle of Cantigny. Cantigny is a small village north of Paris, in the Picardy region of France. Held by the German Army, Cantigny formed a dangerous salient in the Allied lines. On May 28, 1918, the First Division attacked and defeated the German forces in the village and held it against repeated German counterattacks, despite suffering more than 1,000 casualties. The success raised the Allies’ morale, convinced the British and French that the Americans were capable of operating in independent fighting units, and disproved German propaganda about American incapacity. Cantigny also was the first significant use of modern, combined arms operations by the US Army. The division was supported by French air units, flame thrower teams, tanks and artillery. https://www.fdmuseum.org/about-the-1st-infantry-division/history-of-the-first-division/ · Robert’s discharge record. Cantigny May 28th to May 30th 1918 · Major Operations. Montdidier-Noyen April 25th to July 7th 1918. 18 to 22nd July 1918. Battle of Soissons. Wikipedia on the 26th Regiment records – “At Soissons alone, the regimental commander, executive officer, two of three battalion commanders and the regimental sergeant major were killed in action; sixty-two officers were killed or wounded; and of the 3,100 Blue Spaders that started the attack, over 1,500 had been killed or wounded.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/26th_Infantry_Regiment_(United_States) · Robert’s discharge record. Marne Offensive July 18th to July 26th 1918. 31st July 1918. Ordnance Detachment 26th Infantry includes:- Private 1st Class 55960 Robert D. Parker. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z783-YJPZ Same information 30th August 1918. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z7ZB-32N2 And 30th September 1918. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z78N-R5PZ And 30th November 1918. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z78Z-HXZM · Robert’s discharge record. Lucy Sector August 7th to August 24th 1918. The Battle of Saint-Mihiel was a major World War I battle fought from 12–15 September 1918, involving the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) and 110,000 French troops under the command of General John J. Pershing of the United States against German positions. It was the first large offensive launched mainly by the United States Army in World War I, and the attack caught the Germans in the process of retreating. This meant that their artillery was out of place and the American attack, coming up against disorganized German forces, proved more successful than expected. The Saint-Mihiel offensive began on 12 September with a threefold assault on the salient. The main attack was made against the south face by two American corps. On the right was the I Corps (from right to left the 82nd, 90th, 5th, and 2nd Divisions in line with the 78th in reserve) covering a front from Pont-à-Mousson on the Moselle west toward Limey; on the left, the IV Corps (from right to left the 89th, 42d, and 1st Divisions in line with the 3rd in reserve) extending along a front from Limey west toward Marvoisin. The American I Corps reached its first day's objective before noon, and the second day's objective by late afternoon of the second. The attack went so well on 12 September that Pershing ordered a speedup in the offensive. By the morning of 13 September, the 1st Division, advancing from the east, joined up with the 26th Division, moving in from the west, and before evening all objectives in the salient had been captured. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Saint-Mihiel · Robert’s discharge record. St. Mihiel Offensive September 12th to September 13th 1918. The Meuse–Argonne offensive (also known as the Meuse River–Argonne Forest offensive, the Battles of the Meuse–Argonne, and the Meuse–Argonne campaign) was a major part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire Western Front. It was fought from September 26, 1918, until the Armistice of November 11, 1918, a total of 47 days. The Meuse–Argonne offensive was the largest in United States military history, involving 1.2 million American soldiers. It is also the deadliest battle in the history of the United States Army, resulting in over 350,000 casualties, including 28,000 German lives, 26,277 American lives and an unknown number of French lives. American losses were worsened by the inexperience of many of the troops, the tactics used during the early phases of the operation and the widespread onset of the global influenza outbreak called the "Spanish flu". The second phase began on October 4, when the first assault divisions (the 91st, 79th, 37th and 35th) were replaced by the 32nd, 3rd and 1st Divisions. The 1st Division created a gap in the lines when it advanced 2.5 km (1.6 mi) against the 37th, 52nd, and 5th Guards Divisions.[vague] It was during this phase that the Lost Battalion affair occurred. The battalion was rescued by an attack by the 28th and 82nd Divisions (the 82nd attacking soon after taking up its positions in the gap between the 28th and 1st Divisions) on October 7. The Americans launched a series of costly frontal assaults that finally broke through the main German defenses (the Krimhilde Stellung of the Hindenburg Line) between October 14–17 (the Battle of Montfaucon (French: Bataille de Montfaucon)). During the Battle of Montfaucon Missouri and Kansas National Guard soldiers were the first U.S. troops who tried to break through the stronghold of the Hindenburg Line at Côte de Châtillon but they were repulsed due to poor leadership. Next, the elite U.S. 1st Infantry Division tried and failed after suffering catastrophic casualties. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meuse%E2%80%93Argonne_offensive Unaware of what his men were stepping into, General Pershing launched the offensive on September 26. It did not go well. Here's how Perret described it: "The attacking force walked into a buzz saw. Woefully inexperienced, crammed into a narrow twenty-five mile front, the Americans got nowhere.... All he could think to do now was to push more men into the fight, take even heavier losses and hope something would give before the First Army was bled into defeat. He noted grimly in his diary, 'There is no course except to fight it out.'" This was the ominous situation confronting MacArthur's Rainbow Division, called up from St. Mihiel, when it relieved the exhausted 1st Division on October 11. The Germans wasted little time in welcoming them. According to one American officer: "Late that night Gen. MacArthur came over to my headquarters on more or less of an inspection tour. While we were talking the Germans were constantly shelling the valley with gas shells, mostly mustard and tear gas. I remember well that both the General and I consumed so much of the gas that neither of us could hardly see or talk on account of the effect of the fumes." The Rainbow Division found themselves in a key spot, since, as Perret describes, "If the Romagne Heights was the key to the Kriemhilde Stellung, the key to the Romagne was a low hill mass known as the Cote de Chatillon." The Rainbow was given two main objectives in this phase of the Meuse-Argonne offensive: take the two dominant hills in the area, Hill 288 and the Cote de Chatillon; then drive the enemy north of the nearby towns [St. Georges and Landres-et-St. Georges] and establish a line on the high ground there. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/macarthur-ww1-cote-de-chatillon/ · Robert’s discharge record. Meuse-Argonne Offensive October 11th to November 11th 1918. 31st December 1918. Ordnance Detachment 26th Infantry includes:- Private 55960 Robert D. Parker. (But none of the Privates listed are shown as 1st Class). https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z789-TF2M 28th February 1919. Ordnance Detachment 26th Infantry includes:- Private 1st Class 55960 Robert D. Parker. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z7Z1-3ZT2 Same Information 31st March 1919.https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z78X-LLMM 30th April 1919. Ordnance Detachment 26th Infantry stationed in Germany includes:- Private 1st Class 55960 Robert D. Parker. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z7Z1-Z9PZ Same information 31st May 1919. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z787-36N2 And 30th June 1919. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z7ZL-5TPZ And 31st July 1919. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z7ZT-X1MM · Robert’s discharge record. Army of Occupation January 1918 to July 25th 1919. 30th September 1919. Private 1st Class Robert D. Parker lost off strength of the Ordnance Personnel attached to 26th Infantry. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z7ZF-V96Z Appointed Corporal Ordnance from Private 1st Class September 19th, 1919. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DDV8-46N2 30th November 1919. Corporals of Ordnance of the Ordnance Detachment, A.F.in G, Metternich, Germany, includes:- R-55960 Robert D. Parker. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DDV3-FZPZ Same information 31st December 1919. Corporals of Ordnance of the Ordnance Detachment, A.F.in G, Metternich, Germany, includes:- R-55960 Robert D. Parker. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DDPQ-NF3Z And 31st January 1920. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DDGG-JBMM And 29th February 1920.https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DD1X-T4MM And 31st March 1920.https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DDJ5-3R3Z And 30th April 1920.https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DDJP-BRW2 And 31st May 1920. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D6G9-CTW2 And 30th June 1920. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DDV8-TT3Z And 31st July 1920.https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DDV3-1PPZ 31st August 1920. Ordnance Department, A.F.in G., Metternich, Germany includes:- Corporal Fifth Grade R-55960 Robert D. Parker. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DD5P-5T6Z Same information 30th September 1920.https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DDJB-WJZM And 31st October 1920. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DDJ1-TQZM And 30th November 1920. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DDJY-71N2 And 31st December 1920. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DDVN-N5W2 31st January 1921. Privates of the Ordnance Detachment, A.F.inG, Metternich, Germany, includes:- R-55960 Robert D. Parker. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DDVZ-FBMM 28th February 1921. Losses of the Ordnance Detachment, Metternich, Germany Private R-55960 Robert D. Parker transferred 8th Infantry February 21st, 1922, left station 25th February 1922. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DDJY-W6W2 Muster Roll for “I” Company, Eight Infantry, then stationed at Coblenz, Germany for the same date includes:- Private R55960 Private Robert D. Parker. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HP7T-CFN2 31st May 1921. Muster Roll for “I” Company, Eight Infantry, then stationed at Coblenz, Germany includes:- Private R55960 Private Robert D. Parker. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HP7T-84W2 30th June 1921. Muster Roll for “I” Company, Eight Infantry, then stationed at Herschbach, Germany includes:- Private R55960 Private Robert D. Parker. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HP7T-6J6Z 31st July 1921. Muster Roll for “I” Company, Eight Infantry, then stationed at Coblenz, Germany includes:- Private R55960 Private Robert D. Parker. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HP7T-XRMM Same information 31st August 1921.https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HP7T-F8ZM And 30th September 1921.https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HP7T-FTN2 And 30th November 1921.https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HP7T-JTMM And 31st December 1921.https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HP7T-NBZM 31st January 1922. Monthly Roll for “I” Company, Eight Infantry, then stationed at Coblenz, Germany includes:- R55960 Private First Class Robert D. Parker. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HP7T-VFZM Same information 28th February 1922. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HP7T-VGPZ And 31st March 1922. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HP7T-K6MM And 30th April 1922. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3HF-58FG?cc=3346936&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AHP7T-KB3Z And 31st May 1922. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HP7T-2XMM And 30th June 1922. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HP7T-V3N2 And 31st July 1922.https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HP7T-2PMM And 31st August 1922. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HP7T-LLW2 And 30th September 1922. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HP7T-LCPZ And 30th November 1922.https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HP7T-LF6Z And 31st December 1922. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HP7T-GLMM 24th January 1923. Monthly Roster for “I” Company, Eight Infantry, then stationed at Coblenz, Germany on change of station to Fort Moultrie, South Carolina includes:- R-55960 Private First Class Robert D. Parker. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HP7T-246Z 31st January 1923. Monthly Roster for “I” Company, Eight Infantry, then at Sea aboard U.S.A.T. “St. Mihiel”, includes: - R-55960 Private First Class Robert D. Parker. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HP7T-P3N2 Image of the USAT St Mihiel arriving Savannah, Georgia February 7th 1923 with the 8th US Infantry courtesy http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/22/092203214.jpg 28th February 1923. Monthly Roster for “I” Company, Eight Infantry, then stationed at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina includes:- R55960 Private First Class Robert D. Parker. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HP7T-PF3Z Same information 31st March 1923. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HP7T-PP3Z And 30th April 1923. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HP7T-5Q3Z 30th May 1923. Monthly Roll for “I” Company, Eight Infantry, then stationed at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina, includes:- R55960 Private First Class Robert D. Parker. Entry noted he had been on furlough since May 8th 1923. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HP7T-5M2M Same information 30th June 1923.https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HP7T-512M And 31st July 1923. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HP7T-RZZM 31st August 1923, Roster for “I” Company, Eight Infantry, Amongst those lost from the strength this month was Private First Class R-55960 Robert D. Parker, discharged on the 27th. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HP7T-RLZM [To be continued…] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRC Posted 2 October , 2023 Share Posted 2 October , 2023 Part 3 of 4. Summary of the military career of Robert Davis Parker based on Part 1 and 2. 11th October 1910. Robert Davis Parker enlisted in the Fourth Regiment of Infantry at Columbus Barrack for three years. Judging by his Veterans Card he made himself a year older for some unknown reason, as he was over 18. He was posted to Company “C”. His service number is unknown. He served with a detachment of the Fourth Infantry as a Mounted Scout \ Orderly for much of his service. On the 25th July 1911 he was rated Marksman. In February 1913 he is likely to have been with the regiment when it moved to Galveston, Texas, as part of the on-going border troubles. Robert was discharged at Galveston on the 12th October 1913, being retained for two days to make up for going AWOL April 12th – 13th, 1913. His military character was rated “Honest and faithful” and his personal character “Very Good”. He had remained a Private throughout his service. It seems likely Robert remained in Texas, as he enlisted again on January 6th 1914 in the 127th Company, Coast Artillery Corps which was stationed at Fort Crockett, Texas. But the artillery life was not for him and on the 15th July 1914 he transferred to “G” Company, 26th Infantry, possibly themselves stationed in Texas (tbc). In March 1915 he had 4 days AWOL – this possibly relates to his having two thirds of his pay detained for two months, payable on satisfactory completion of his enlistment. He finally put enough time of good behavior to be promoted Private First Class on the 1st November 1916. But such dizzy heights were not for him – he was busted back to Private on the 22nd February 1917. Similarly on May 23rd 1917 he was appointed to the trade rank of Mechanic, only to have it stripped from him on August 18th 1917. This seems to have followed on from another disciplinary issue, this time being stopped two thirds of his pay for three months. In the intervening months his unit was one of four Mexican border based Regiments order to France. They sailed from Hoboken, New Jersey. The muster roll isn’t clear as to whether the members of “G” Company sailed on the 14th June 1917 from the US, or arrived in France on that date. The four regiments made up the First American Division. The Division became familiar with Western Front life with rotation into quieter sections of the front held by the French in the Lorraine area – Roberts’ paperwork refers to the Lorneville (tbc) sector and the Toul sector. Sometime in the first two months of 1918 Robert was promoted back up to Private 1st Class. On the 2nd February 1918 he came off the books of the 26th Infantry Regiment and transferred into a small Ordnance Detachment attached to the same Regiment. He was with them at the Battle of Cantigny, (28th May 1918), Battle of Soissons, (18th-22nd July 1918), Battle of St. Mihiel, (12th – 13th September 1918) and as part of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, (11th October to 11th November 1918). As part of the Ordnance Detachment 26th Infantry he then moved with them to become part of the initial Army of Occupation in Germany, until the 26th Infantry returned stateside. The Ordnance Detachment remained, now attached to the command of the American Forces in Germany, and stationed at Metternich. This probably coincided with him being appointed Corporal Ordnance on September 19th 1919. This morphs into Corporal Fifth Grade in the report from month ending 31st August 1920 – I suspect that was a grade re-organization rather than a promotion \ demotion. But of course it couldn’t last. By the time a list of men serving with the Ordnance Detachment was prepared on the 31st January 1921 he was back to being a Private. On the 21st February 1921 Robert was transferred to “I” Company, 8th Infantry Regiment, then stationed at Coblenz. He physically made the move on the 25th. The rest of his time in Germany was spent with “I” Company and apart from a small period in the summer of 1921 it remained at Coblenz. The Muster Roll for 31st January 1922 had him back up to Private First Class, a rank he would retain for the rest of his time in the Army. By the 24th January 1923 the Company were under orders to move to Fort Moultrie, South Carolina. By the 31st they were at Sea aboard the U.S.A.T. ‘St. Mihiel’, arriving at Savannah, Georgia on the 7th February 1923. On the 8th May 1923 he went on furlough and looks like he didn’t return prior to being discharged on the 27th August 1923. [To be continued…] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRC Posted 2 October , 2023 Share Posted 2 October , 2023 Part 4 of 4. While I couldn’t find a webpage for every period on familysearch, the actual source documents are there. If you view the actual documents attached to the webpages linked to in Part 2 you will find that you can scroll back and forth. I usually had to do that to find what unit and period a particular entry for Robert related to. The sourced film used has all the related rolls \ lists for each unit, so by scrolling back and forth you should see the preceding month \ following month. Doing that I didn’t come across any records of Robert being wounded. However I don’t know what practice was being followed – I’ve only used this method of tracking a man through the monthly entries a couple of times so don’t have much experience. While wounds that took a man away from the unit certainly seem to be recorded, (as did ill-health and accidents), I don’t know if that included those who, although wounded, remained at duty. Similarly I don’t know whether such individuals qualified for a Wound Stripe. I also don’t know what the US Army custom was in connection with “appointing” someone to a rank. In the British Army a rank that was an appointment, (in the infantry other ranks Lance Corporal and Lance Sergeant), were unit specific. If a man changed unit he reverted to his underlying rank (Private \ Corporal). If the situation was the same with the US Army then may explain at least one of the downgrades without it necessarily being a reflection on his disciplinary record. It seems very unlikely that the Sergeant kissing goodbye to his daughter at Coblenz in early 1923 is your great grandfather. With that timeline of his Army career it might be easier to pin down when some of those pictures were taken, and then check the names on the related muster rolls for the period. The chances that you will be able to find a photograph in order to make a facial match is slim, but at least with a name and the information available from the likes of the Veterans Administration cards, tied back to the enlistment dates in the wartime muster rolls, it will give you some idea of where to look. Hope that all makes sense. Cheers, Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shayne Posted 3 October , 2023 Author Share Posted 3 October , 2023 Oh my goodness! I could never thank you enough for all this information or tell you how much this means to me! I am still reading over everything but wanted you to know how truly appreciative I am. I can see from your research that familysearch.org seems to provide much more information than Ancestry so I am going to look into that sight. I'd like to also thank everyone else on this site. When doing research, I happened to run across the US Militaria Forum and joined there just to see what feedback and help I might be able to get but have not had one response to my post. All of you have been wonderful help and truly a pleasure to interact with. Keep up the good work gentlemen and know that your time and knowledge is much appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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