Wordless Wednesday: World War I Peas in a Pod

World War I left its mark on so many of our brave men.  No matter whether our brave veterans of the war were killed in action, wounded, or wounded and discharged with a disability, it affected the family.  What atrocities these military men saw and lived with until their deaths.

 In my possession is a  photograph taken in 1919 of my grandfather, his bride-to-be and another couple at US Hospital 24 at Parkview just outside of Pittsburgh.  Who are these other people (the ones on the right)?

Scratching my head is one way to think about this and not get anywhere in a hurry.  But, wait!  Last night,  I think, I think I know!!!!

Last night, I stumbled across the September 23, 1920, Uniontown Morning Herald newspaper article announcing the wedding of my grandparents.  So what....

The info contained in the article was eye opening as it detailed that "Mr. and Mrs. J D. KERFOOT were the only attendants at the wedding.  The groom and Mr. KERFOOT were members of the same regiment of the Fifth Division in France, both being wounded in the Argonne fighting and remaining together in the different hospitals for nine months.  There were not separated during their entire stay in the hospitals and their friendship has continued since being discharged from the Army."

Well, alrighty.

Investigation in to KERFOOT has uncovered that he was John Davis KERFOOT of Uniontown, Fayette, PA.  KERFOOT was inducted May 28, 1918, and went overseas July 1918 and was wounded by gunshot in the chest in early October 1918.  He returned back to the U.S., most likely on the USS Mercy in late January 1919 and was sent to US Hospital 24 at Parkview, where he remained until his discharge in the summer of 1919.

You can almost substitute my grandpa's information in the above paragraph by changing the dates by a couple of weeks here and there.  My grandpa went overseas April 24, 1918, was wounded by gunshot to the thigh Sept 29, 1918, in the Argonne Forest, returned back to the US in late January 1919, and was sent to US Hospital 24 at Parkview, where he remained until his discharge in the summer of 1919.

I found a headshot of John Davis Kerfoot.  It is a straight on head shot and the picture in my possession is not.  But, I think it could be the same guy on the right!  Look at the ears and shape of the eye!

I have reached out on Ancestry to one of his kin to see if they will try to confirm or deny the identity of the man in the photo.  Can't wait to hear back!

Did I mention they lived not too far from each other after the war?  Did I mention they had the same occupation?  It's almost as if they were peas in a pod.  Unfortunately, my grandfather died in 1929, while KERFOOT lived a long successful life.  If only there are any stories that have survived that his kin can share.  Is it too much to hope?

Ahh, genealogy.    Thank you John KERFOOT for being an awesome friend to my grandpa.  Who knew that the past can just jump in to the present.....



Sources:
The Uniontown Morning Herald, September 23, 1920, pg 5
Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, WWI Veterans Service and Compensation Files, 1917-1919, 1934-1948[database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
http://www.minerd.com/bio-mcknight,_pearlkerfoot.htm

©2019  AS Eldredge

Tombstone Tuesday: Salute to Our Army and Those Who Served

What a day.  Not only is it Flag Day where we proudly flag our flags, today is also the birthday of the United States Army.  The Continental Congress approved 10 companies of riflemen on this date.  However, the first regular infantry regiment wasn't formed until June 1784.

What is really cool, other than the fact that I am an Army brat, is the men in my family have been serving Uncle Sam much earlier than 1784.  Grandpa John SIMMONS(abt 1730-1795) had opened his little tavern on Wall Street prior to Oct 1770.  The location was close to City Hall, which became Federal Hall in 1785, and the seat of the United States Federal Government.

PHELPS book, The Campaign of 1776 Around New York and Brooklyn tells us in August 1775,  there were some firing between the townspeople and the Asia Man of War under Capt. VANDEPUT. Six days after this firing, the General Committee for Publick Service of New York gave leave to Grandpa John SIMMONS and his brother-in-law, Gifford DALLY, to carry on negotiations.

There are numerous other dates of Grandpa John serving America in its infancy found in historical literature.  He had two brothers-in-law who also served America.  One was the above mentioned Gifford DALLY(1742-1798), who in addition to assisting in the 1775 negotiations, also served America as one of the first United States House of Representatives officers as the House Door Keeper(1789-1795).

 John's other brother-in-law is also quite notable in early American history.  Samuel FRAUNCES(abt 1722-1795) owned another little tavern in New York known as Fraunces Tavern.  During the American Revolution, it is documented he provided food for the American Prisoners.  It was at this tavern that General George WASHINGTON bade farewell to his troops after the American Revolution.

While my family has served America, either in the Army or by early deeds, I salute all patriots who have served or are serving America today.

In the mood to read more?  Check out my earlier words:
Living and Working on Wall Street
Serving America Through Politics and the Military

Ahh, genealogy.  Keep on waving those broad stripes and bright stars in honor of America.

Source:
"Gifford Dalley." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2016. Web. 14 Jun 2016. <http://www.biographies.net/people//en/gifford_dalley>.
http://www.history.army.mil/html/faq/branches.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Fraunces
Phelps, Henry. The Campaign of 1776 Around New York and Brooklyn, pg 103.
Phote by AS Eldredge at St Clair Cemetery Dedication of Tombstones for American Revolution Patriots John Henry and James Glenn, 2005.

©2016 ASEldredge