World War I Heroes Will Not Be Forgotten
THE NATION JOINED ‘THE WAR TO END ALL WARS’ 100 YEARS AGO TODAY
Seventeen heroes and their sacrifices in World War I are not forgotten in McDonald County.
One hundred years ago today, the United States joined forces with its allies — France, Russia and Britain — to fight in World War I. Under the command of Major General John J. Pershing, more than 2 million U.S. soldiers fought on battlefields in France.
The global war that originated in Europe began July 28, 1914. It ended ended Nov. 11, 1918.
Records show that 17 McDonald County soldiers gave their lives during that war effort. Those World War I heroes — as well as those who lost their lives in World War II — were honored with a tribute in The Pineville Democrat on May 23, 1946.
That special 1946 newspaper page was recently framed and will be featured in the Military Room when the McDonald County Historical Society Museum opens May 27.
Those from McDonald County who paid the ultimate price include soldiers from all over the county.
The newspaper ad states: “In grateful memory to the men of McDonald County who lost their lives in World War I and II. May
the … names be inscribed in our memory and this list of Heroes be added to that Roll of Honor which bears the names of all those who died for this country of ours in all other wars. May we on this Memorial Day 1946 pay them respectful homage,”
Those who died serving in World War I are:
• Walter Balwin, Goodman
• Basil W. Brown, Pineville
• Raymond M. Carney, Anderson
• William P. Cover, Anderson
• Everette A. Crispin, Noel
• James O. Emery, Pineville
• Albert B. Hackney, Pineville
• William D. Pendergraft, Jane
• Albert Hopkins, Rocky Comfort
• Joseph F. Hutchinson, Anderson
• Marion T. Legore, Cyclone
• Clancey E. Bunch, Pineville
• Virgil F. Link, Rocky Comfort
• John L. Madden, Anderson
• Clarence Oakes, Noel
• Daniel T. Rogers, Anderson
• Charley Schneider, Anderson
According to information provided by the Missouri Digital Heritage website, almost 750,000 men from Missouri registered for the draft. More than 156,000 served in all branches of the armed forces and more than 10,000 were wounded or killed in action. Men from Missouri served in all military branches during the war.
According to the website Over There: Missouri and the Great War, Missouri actively contributed to various aspects of the war effort, even before America joined the hostilities. Missouri industries fulfilled military contracts to supply mules, munitions and other goods to Allied armies.
I n Ju ly 1 9 1 9, the U.S. Congress passed an act that a record of service be provided for each marine, sailor and soldier who served between April 6, 1917, and Nov. 11, 1919, and created and furnished to the adjutant general of the individual states. Clerks in the Department of the Army and the Department of the Navy created these cards. The project continued into the 1920s, the Missouri Digital Heritage website states.
In 1995, Archives staff proposed to create a database of information from the World War I military service cards. The database, completed in 2002 and placed online at the Secretary of State’s website, enhanced access to the military records for scholars and family historians.