Member of Negro infantry regiment that fought under French command. Became, in 1991, the latest Doughboy to be awarded the Medal of Honor. "Corporal Stowers showed distinguished bravery and leadership as the mortally wounded leader of a squad that captured two lines of machine guns on September 28, 1918 in the Champagne."
Thomason, John W. Jr.
4th Marine Brig., 2nd Division
Career Marine who wrote a Marine Corps classic inclusive of events in the Great War called, FIX BAYONETS. He was also a skilled illustrator.
Thorpe, Elliott R.
US Army, Unit Unknown
Intelligence expert assigned to the U.S. negotiating group at the Paris Peace Conference as a young Lt. In World War II, he was MacArthur's counter-intelligence chief in the Philippines and during the occupation of Japan. He is believed to be the only individual present at the signing of the Versailles Treaty, June 28, 1919 and at the signing of the Instrument of Surrender on the USS Missouri, September 2, 1945.
Truman Harry S.
129th Field Artillery, 35th division
Story is well known. HST commanded an artillery battery in Great War and later presided over end of WWII and the beginning of nuclear age after becoming US President in 1945. His unit, Battery D, did not have a man killed in action despite its heavy service.
Tunney, Gene
USMC, Unit Unknown
Little is known about Tunney's combat record but he did win the Lt Heavyweight boxing championship of AEF and of the Inter-Allied games of 1919. Became World Heavyweight champion, twice defeating Jack Dempsey.
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Van Fleet, James A.
17th Machine Gun Btln; 6th Division
Commanded his MG battalion as Captain in the Meuse-Argonne. Became one of America's greatest soldiers: commanded 8th Rgt at Utah Beach on D-Day; the 90th Division in the Battle of the Bulge; and US ground forces in Greece and Korea. |
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Wainwright, Jonathan
HQ 82nd Division
Worked divisional staff and won DSM as the 82nd Division supported the rescue of the Lost Battalion in the same action in which Sgt. York won the Medal of Honor. Later surrendered Philippines to Japanese, POW 1942-45, but was given position of honor at surrender ceremony by General MacArthur.
Wallace, DeWitt
139th Infantry, 35th Division
While recuperating from his battle wounds, Wallace developed skills at selecting interesting magazine article and abridging them. In 1922 with his wife founded world's most popular magazine, READERS DIGEST.
Weeks, Edward
US Ambulance Corps
The long time editor of Atlantic Magazine received the Croix de Guerre for his work while assigned to the French 37th Division during the Aisne/Marne Counter-Offensive.
Wellman, William
Lafayette Flying Corps / US Air Service
Aviator who became Hollywood director; won first best picture Academy Award for World War One film "Wings".
Weyerhauser, Frederick
US Army Flying Service, Italy
Heir to the lumber fortune, Weyerhauser was in the first group of eighteen Americans led by Fiorello La Guardia to be trained to fly Caproni Bombers by the Italian Air Service. He completed over a score of missions and was awarded Italy's Croix de Guerra. He wrote an excellent memoir, WAR EXPERIENCES - 1917-18, that was excerpted in the Winter 1982 CROSS AND COCKADE. Became CEO and Chairman of Weyerhauser.
White, Paul Dudley
Brit & US Medical Corps / Red Cross
Established cardiologist who joined British Army in 1916 and later switched to AEF. Later served with Red Cross in Macedonia. Became leading advocate of preventive medicine. Gained fame as President Eisenhower's physician after Ike's 1955 heart attack.
Whittlesey, Charles
308th Infantry, 77th Division
New York lawyer who won Medal of Honor for leading "Lost Battalion" out of Argonne Forest. Later committed suicide apparently despondent over the incident. Visit our major article:
Charles Whittlesey - Lost Battalion Leader.
Wickersham, Hunter J.
353rd Infantry, 89th Division
Second Lieutenant Wickersham composed the popular Doughboy poem "The Raindrops On Your Old Tin Hat" the night before he went over the top at St. Mihiel. He was killed in action the next day while earning the Medal of Honor. His poem was posthumously published in CAPT. BILLY'S WHIZ-BANG.
Williams, Lloyd
5th Marines, 2nd Division
Capt. Williams made the most famous and memorable comment by any member of the AEF as his unit approached Belleau Wood: "Retreat hell; we just got here." Capt. Williams did not survive the war.]
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Winslow, Alan
94th Aero Squadron
In April 1918 Lt. Winslow was credited with downing the first enemy aircraft destroyed in action by the US Air Service. He was accompanied on the mission by Lt. Douglas Campbell would would also down a German aircraft and who would become the first Ace of the US Air Service. In July, Alan Winslow was downed in action, captured and lost an arm. |
Wiser, Guy Brown
20th Aero Squadron
DH-4 bomber pilot who was shot down and incarcerated in September 1918. Possibly because the war was coming to a close, the Germans allowed him to keep a diary and paint water colors during his captivity. Excerpts and some of his illustrations are included in Time-LIfe's KNIGHTS OF THE AIR volume.
Wood, Robert
Services of Supply
Worked on Panama Canal and became Colonel in charge of all French ports used by AEF; later in war, Wood made general and was named acting quartermaster general of Army. Afterwards, hired by Montgomery Ward, then by Sears which he greatly expanded. Led isolationist, America First Movement.
Woodfill, Sam
60th Infantry, 5th Division
Former career enlisted man from Indiana who was renowned as the best marksman in the Army. Woodfill commanded a company in the Meuse Argonne offensive. Awarded the Medal of Honor for single-handedly wiping out five machine gun crews with a rifle, Colt 45 and a shovel. Considered by General Pershing to be the outstanding regular soldier in the AEF. See major article: Sam Woodfill - Marksman & Pershing Favorite
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Woolridge, Jesse
38th Infantry, 3rd Division
San Francisco banker who commanded the front line company of the US defense on the Marne River in July 1918. Subsequently wrote a tribute to his unit and regimental commander, Col. [later General] McAlexander afterwhich both were referred to as the "The Rock of the Marne".
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York, Alvin
82nd Division
The most famous Doughboy of the Great War. Only partly due to the famous film starring Gary Cooper. He really did capture 132 German soldiers and 35 machine-guns in the Argonne Forest and was awarded the Medal of Honor. See the article:
Sgt. Alvin York.
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