World War I

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Catawba County
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FAMILY
MEMBERS WHO
SERVED

The CRANFORDS
Cranford, Reid Davis
Cranford, Spencer Rouse

The DEALS
Deal, Albert Ardell

The GOBLES
Goble, James Linden

The JOHNSONS

The LOFTINS
Loftin, Bidwell
Smith, Arthur Wilburn
Wilson, Thomas Robinson

The SETZERS

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FAMILY
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LOFTIN:
Beatty
Corzine
Cranford
Fisher
Givens
Harwell
Kaiser
Lanier
Lomax
McCorkle
Rudisill
Sherrill
Upright
Washington
Work

SETZER:
Aderholdt
Barringer
Bovey
Bushart
Deal
Heavner
Herman
Ikert
Miller
Motz
Rankin
Witherspoon

GOBLE:
Babst/Bobst
Douglas
Faber
Fink
Fulbright
Hefner
Meinhert
Miller
Muller
Pabst/Bobst
Robinson

JOHNSON:
Corzine
Fink
Hamilton
Kaiser
Leslie
Lewis
Moore
Sherrill
Upright
Wilkinson

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MILITARY PAGES

Revolutionary War
(19 Apr 1775 - 03 Sep 1783)

The Civil War 
(12 Apr 1861 - 22 Jun 1865)

World War I
(28 Jul 1914 - 11 Nov 1918)

World War II
(01 Sep 1939 - 02 Sep 1945)

Korean War  
(25 Jun 1950 – 27 Jul 1953)

Vietnam War 
(01 Nov 1955 - 30 Apr 1975)

Gulf War
(17 Jan 1991 – 28 Feb 1991)

War on Terror
(07 Oct 2011 - Present)

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Our Family in World War I     28 Jul 1914 - 11 Nov 1918 LOCATION: Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Pacific Islands, China and off the coast of South and North America   The Great War (as it was originally called) began on 28 Jul 1914 and lasted until 11 Nov 1918.  It wasn't until the onset of World War II that it became known as World War I.   World War I involved the world's great powers which were assembled in two opposing alliances. The "Allies" were the British Empire (including Great Britain, Canada, Australia, India and South Africa),  as well as France and Russia.  The "Central Powers were composed of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy.   Both of these alliances reorganized (Italy actually switched sides and joined the Allies), and expanded as more nations entered the war. Ultimately more than 70 million military personnel, including 60 million Europeans, mobilized in one of the largest wars in history.  Because of new technology, more than 9 million combatants were killed, largely because of enormous increases in lethality of weapons.   USA World War I uniform as seen at Fort Dobbs, Statesville, NC, "Military Timeline" Photo courtesy of Curtis Loftin   The conflict began on 28 Jul 1914 with the Austria-Hungary invasion of Serbia, in response to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and was followed by the German invasion of Belgium, Luxembourg and France - and a Russian attack against Germany.  The Russian Empire collapsed in March 1917, and Russia left the war after the October Revolution later that year.   The direction of the war changed on 06 Apr 1917 with the entrance of the United States and its American Allies.    Russia withdrew from the war which allowed for the final structure of the alliance, which was based on five Great Powers: the United States, the United Kingdom , France, Italy and Japan.   WWI weapons demonstration at Fort Dobbs, Statesville, NC, "Military Timeline" Photo courtesy of Curtis Loftin       "Allies" during World War II     UNITED STATES   UNITED KINGDOM   UNITED KINGDOM   FRANCE       28th President   King   Prime Minister   81st Prime Minister Woodrow Wilson   George V   H. H. Asquith   Rene Viviani 28 Dec 1856 - 03 Feb 1924   03 Jun 1865 - 20 Jan 1936   12 Sep 1852 - 15 Feb 1928   08 Nov 1863 - 07 Sep 1925   RUSSIA   JAPAN   CANADA   AUSTRALIA       Emperor   Emperor   Prime Minister   6th Prime Minister Nicholas II   Yoshihito Taisho   Robert Borden   Joseph Cook 18 May 1868 - 17 Jul 1918   31 Aug 1870 - 25 Dec 1926   26 Jun 1854 - 10 Jun 1937   07 Dec 1860 - 30 Jul 1947         (Monarch was: George V)   (Monarch was: George V)   INDIA   SOUTH AFRICA   SERBIA   MONTENEGRO       Commander Lt. Gen.   1st Prime Minister   King   1st King (& only King) John Nixon   Louis Botha   Peter I   Nikola/Nicholas I 1857 - 1921   27 Sep 1862 - 27 Aug 1919   29 Jun 1844 - 16 Aug 1921   07 Oct 1841 - 01 Mar 1921 (Monarch was: George V)   (Monarch: George V)           BELGIUM   ITALY   ROMANIA   PORTUGAL       King   King   King   2nd President Albert I   Victor Emmanuel III   Ferdinand I   Teofilo Braga 08 Apr 1875 - 17 Feb 1934   11 Nov 1869 - 28 Dec 1947   24 Aug 1865 - 20 Jul 1927   15 Feb 1843 - 28 Jan 1924     World War I trunk with helmets, clothing and other articles Photo courtesy of Curtis Loftin       "Central Powers" during World War I     Those we fought against during World War I were called "Central" powers.    The Central Powers consisted of the German Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the beginning of the war. The Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers later in 1914. In 1915, the Kingdom of Bulgaria joined the alliance. The name "Central Powers" is derived from the location of these countries; all four (including the other groups that supported them except for Finland and Lithuania) were located between the Russian Empire in the east and France and the United Kingdom in the west. Finland, Azerbaijan, and Lithuania joined them in 1918 before the war ended and after the Russian Empire collapsed.   GERMANY   AUSTRIA HUNGARY   OTTOMAN EMPIRE   BULGARIA       Emperor / Kaiser   Emperor   35th Sultan & Caliph   Czar Wilhelm II   Franz Josef I (Charles I)   Mehmed V   Ferdinand I 17 Jan 1859 - 04 Jun 1941   18 Aug 1830 - 21 Nov 1916 (17 Aug 1887 - 01 Apr 1922)   02 Nov 1844 - 3 Jul 1918   26 Feb 1861 - 10 Sep 1948       The War Ends     Germany had its own trouble with revolutionaries toward the end of the war and finally agreed to a cease-fire on 11 Nov 1918 - later known as Armistice Day. The war had ended in victory for the Allies.   Of the 60 million European soldiers who were mobilized from 1914 to 1918, 8 million were killed, 7 million were permanently disabled, and 15 million were seriously injured. Germany lost 15.1% of its active male population, Austria–Hungary lost 17.1%, and France lost 10.5%.   Diseases flourished in the chaotic wartime conditions. In 1914 alone, louse-borne epidemic typhus killed 200,000 in Serbia.  From 1918 to 1922, Russia had about 25 million infections and 3 million deaths from epidemic typhus.  Before World War I, Russia had about 3.5 million cases of malaria but after the war its people suffered more than 13 million cases in 1923.   In addition, a major influenza epidemic spread around the world. Overall, the 1918 flu pandemic killed at least 50 million people.   By the end of the war, four major imperial powers — the German, Russian, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires — ceased to exist.  Germany & Russia lost a great amount of territory, while Austro-Hungarian & Ottoman empires were dismantled entirely. The map of central Europe was redrawn into several smaller states.   Poland reemerged as an independent country, after more than a century.  The Kingdom of Serbia became the backbone of the new multinational state called the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later renamed Yugoslavia).  Czechoslovakia, combining the Kingdom of Bohemia with parts of the Kingdom of Hungary, became a new nation.  Russia became the Soviet Union and lost Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia, which became independent countries. The Ottoman Empire was soon replaced by Turkey and several other countries in the Middle East.   WWI weapons at Fort Dobbs, Statesville, NC, "Military Timeline" Photo courtesy of Curtis Loftin   World War I Conclusions:  Allied victory, Armistice with Germany (11 Nov 1918), Paris Peace Conference (1919), Treaty of Berlin (25 Aug 1921), End of the German, Russian, Ottoman and Austria-Hungary Empires, Formation of new countries in Europe and the Middle East, transfer of German colonies and regions of former Ottoman Empire to other powers, and the establishment of the League of Nations.       WWI Family Involvement     Members of various branches of our family served in some capacity in the military during World War I.     Catawba County War Memorial in Newton, North Carolina   Photo courtesy of Curtis Loftin       The CRANFORDS       Cranford, Reid Davis b. 18 Jul 1897 - d. 19 Jul 1918 FRANCE   Reid was the son of Manley Wilson Cranford Jr. & Sarah Elizabeth Caldwell He was the grandson of Manley Wilson Cranford Sr. & Mary Martha Lomax He was the nephew of Laura Rossie Cranford Loftin (Mrs. William Alexander Loftin) He was the 1st cousin of Alonzo Lester Loftin, Frances Ivey Loftin Drum, Zettie Wilson Loftin Beatty, Arthur Lee Loftin, W. Garland Loftin, Hattie Pearl Loftin & Cordie Bland Loftin Wilson Enlistment Date: 15 Dec 1917 Enlistment State: South Carolina Enlistment City: Paris Island Station: Company N Age at Time of Enlistment: 20 Branch: U.S. Marines Grade: Private Education: 2 years College Marital Status: Single Height: ?? Weight: ?? lbs. Terms of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the war or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President.   Reid attended Davidson College He was a First Bass with the Glee Club at Davidson College in 1916 (age 19) He was a First Tenor with the Glee Club at Davidson College in 1917 (age 20)   U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls show Reid at the following locations: 15 Dec 1917, Company N Marine Barracks, Paris Island, SC Dec 1917, Company L, Marine Barracks, Paris Island, SC Feb 1918, Company M, Marine Barracks, Paris Island, SC Feb 1918, 137th Company, 2nd Replacement Battalion, Maine Barracks, Quantico, VA Mar 1918, 137th Company, 2nd Replacement Battalion, Maine Barracks, Quantico, VA Apr 1918, 138th Company, 2nd Replacement Battalion, 32nd Division, Quantico, BA Apr 1918, 83rd Company, 6th Regiment, Marine Barracks, Quantico, VA Jul 1918, 83rd Company, 6th Regiment, US Marines, Soissons FRANCE   Reid was a member of the 83rd Company, 6th Regiment, U.S. Marine Corp   Reid died 19 Jul 1918 at the Battle of Soissons in north-eastern France at the age of 21. The Allies suffered 107,000 casualties (95,000 French and 12,000 American), while the Germans suffered 168,000 casualties.     He is buried at Davidson College Cemetery, Davidson, Mecklenburg Co, NC         Cranford, Spencer Rouse b. Abt. 1893 - d. 07 Jul 1960   Spencer was the son of Manley Wilson Cranford Jr. & Sarah Elizabeth Caldwell He was the grandson of Manley Wilson Cranford Sr. & Mary Martha Lomax He was the nephew of Laura Rossie Cranford Loftin (Mrs. William Alexander Loftin) He was the 1st cousin of Alonzo Lester Loftin, Frances Ivey Loftin Drum, Zettie Wilson Loftin Beatty, Arthur Lee Loftin, W. Garland Loftin, Hattie Pearl Loftin & Cordie Bland Loftin Wilson Enlistment Date: 29 Nov 1917 Enlistment State: South Carolina Enlistment City: Paris Island Station: Company H Age at Time of Enlistment: 24 Branch: U.S. Marines Grade: Private Education: 2+ years College Marital Status: Single Height: ?? Weight: ?? lbs. Terms of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the war or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President.   Spencer attended Davidson College   U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls show Reid at the following locations: Nov 1917, Company H, Marine Barracks, Paris Island, SC Dec 1917, Company H, Marine Barracks, Paris Island, SC Jan 1918, Company I, Marine Barracks, Paris Island, SC Feb 1918, Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Brooklyn, NY Mar 1918, Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Brooklyn, NY (Barracks Detachment) Apr 1918, Marine Barracks, Naval Ammunition Depot, Dover, NJ Apr 1918, 12th Company, Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, NY, NY Oct 1918, Marine Barracks, Naval Ammunition Depot, Dover, NJ (Promoted to Sergeant) Jan 1919, The Marine Detachment, U.S. Naval Hospital, Chelsea, Mass Apr 1919, Marine Barracks, Naval Ammunition Depot, Dover, NJ             The DEALS       Deal, Albert Ardell b. 24 Mar 1900 - d. 02 Jun 1933   Albert was the son of Lemuel Marston Deal & Olie Celia Stillman He was the grandson of Michael Daniel Deal & Melissa Ann Hussong He was the great grandson of Michael Daniel Deal Sr. & Mary W. Wheeler He was the great-great-grandson of William Diehl & Susannah Ikert He was the great-great-great-grandson of Johann Wilhelm Diehl & Mary Ann Crosby He was the husband of Gladys Josephine Baker (1909 - 1935) Enlistment Date: ??? Enlistment State: Iowa Enlistment City: ??? Company: F US Regiment: 26th Infantry Division: 1 Age at Time of Enlistment: 20 Branch: U.S. Army Grade: Corporal Education: ??? Marital Status: Single Height: ?? Weight: ?? lbs. Terms of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the war or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President.   Albert married Gladys "Josephine" Baker on 21 Jan 1926 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah when he was 25 and she was 16. Albert died in 1933 at the age of 33 and Gladys died in 1935 at the age of 26.   Albert was buried in the Gilbert Cemetery in Gilbert, Story County, Iowa Find-A-Grave   Headstone Application         The GOBLES       Goble, James Linden b. 05 Nov 1895 - d. 15 Jul 1964   James Linden Gobel was the great-great-grandson of Corban Goble Sr. & Elizabeth Robinson He was the great-grandson of Absolom Goble & Chatarina Hunsucker Little He was the grandson of Luther Absalom Goble & Margaret Ann Rhodes He was the son of James Andrew Goble & Margaret Ann Forbes He was the husband of (1) Annie Mae Berry and (2) Mary Helen Wallace James Linden Goblel was the 3rd cousin of Martin Luther Goble Enlistment Date: 05 May 1917 Enlistment State: Georgia Enlistment City: Ft. Screven Station: Company D Age at Time of Enlistment: 21 & 6/12 Branch: Army Grade: Private 1st Class Unit: Co. D, 18th Machine Gun Battalion Education: 7th Grade Marital Status: Single Height: 5 ft. 7 in. Weight: ?? lbs. Discharged: 12 Jul 1919 Terms of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the war or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President.   All of James Linden Goble's military records have his last name spelled "Gobel" whereas Census Records, Social Security information, Death Certificate and his grave stone all spell his last name "Goble".   Enlistment and Discharge Record   Unit Roster   Honorable Discharge From the U.S. Army   James' Discharge lets us know that he was 21.5 years old when he enlisted, that he had gray eyes, light hair, fair complexion and was 5 ft 7 inches tall. He was discharged on 12 Jul 1919.   Military Signature   U.S. Army Transport Records   The 1918 Transport Document shows James Linden Gobel departing New York, New York on 07 Jul 1918 on the ship Desna but a destination is not listed.   The 1919 Transport Document shows James Linden Gobel departing from Brest, France, on 21 Jun 1919 aboard the ship Montana. His U.S. arrival location was Brooklyn, New York, on 30 Jun 1919 before he returned to Clover, South Carolina.   1918 Transport Record   1919 Transport Record     James Linden Goble died 15 Jul 1964 in  Gastonia, Gaston County, North Carolina, at the age of 68. He was buried in the cemetery at Bethany Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Clover, South Carolina.   Military Grave Marker   Certificate of Recognition from President Lyndon B. Johnson   The United States of America honors the memory of James L. Gobel This certicate is awarded by a grateful nation in recognition of devoted and selfless consecration to the service of our country in the Armed Forces of the United States. Lyndon B. Johnson President of the United States   Thanks to James Linden Goble's daughter, Mary Diane Goble, for sharing information about her father       The JOHNSONS       None identified at this time         The LOFTINS       Loftin, Bidwell b. 07 Feb 1894 - 10 Aug 1918   Bidwell Loftin was the son of Oliver Cromwell Loftin and Isabelle "Belle" Jane Moore He was the nephew of William Alexander Lofin He was the 1st Cousin of Alonzo Lester Loftin Entrainment Date: 18 Sep 1917 Entrainment Camp: Camp Croft, SC Local Board: Macon, North Carolina Station: Company M 120th Infantry, 30th Division Age at Time of Entrainment: 23 Branch: Army Grade: Private Education: Some Marital Status: Single Height: "Tall" Weight: "Slender" Terms of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the war or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President.   Bidwell's Draft Registration Card from 05 Jun 1917 shows that he was 23 years old with light brown hair and brown eyes. He was tall, slender and working at a cotton mill in Long Shoals, NC. He requested an exemption from serving in the military but was denied. Since the 1920 Census showed that he could read and write, it's unusual for him to make a "mark" for his name instead of an actual signature.   WWI Draft Registration Card   Bidwell was ordered to report to the Local Board on 18 Sep 1917 for military duty. He served in Company M, 120th Infantry, 30th Division.   Ordered to Report to Local Board for Military Duty   Bidwell Loftin in his WW1 uniform     The Oliver Cromwell Loftin Family 1917/18 (Top Row) Eva McAlister, Birdie McAlister, Bidwell Loftin, Roy Loftin, Maude Loftin, Lucy McAlister ((Front Row) Ervin McAlister, Oliver Cromwell Loftin with Mabel Loftin, Zettie with Ada Loftin, Ada McAlister, Ruth Loftin   Records show Bidwell as an Army Transport Passenger that departed from Boston, Massachusetts on 17 Mar 1918 aboard the ship Miltiades with others from Company M, 120th Infantry.   Bidwell died in an accident on 10 Aug 1918 in Belgium at the age of 24. His body was returned home and he was buried in the cemetery at Pisgah Church in Sherrills Ford, NC.   Last Words to Loves Ones: "God Be With You Till We Meet Again"           Smith, Arthur Wilburn b. 21 Jun 1895 - d. 26 Apr 1973   Arthur Wilburn Smith was the son of Lee Dobbins Smith and Jennie Candis Huss He was the son-in-law of Oliver Cromwell Loftin and Isabelle "Belle" Jane Moore He was the husband of Maude Grigg Loftin Entrainment Date: 19 Sep 1917 Discharge Date: 08 Apr 1919 Social Security Number: 242-03-2383 Station: Unknown Age at Time of Entrainment: 22 Branch: Unknown Grade: Private Education: Some Marital Status: Single Height: "Medium" Weight: "Medium" Terms of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the war or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President.   Arthur Wilburn Smith enlisted on 19 Sep 1917 but was discharged on 08 Apr 1919 about 5 months after the end of WW1.   WWI Draft Registration Card         Wilson, Thomas Robinson b. 23 May 1891 - 29 Nov 1972   Tom was the son of John Henry Wilson & Nancy Catherine "Katie" Jones He was the husband of Cordie Bland Loftin He was the son-in-law of William Alexander Loftin & Laura Rossie Cranford He was the brother-in-law of Alonzo Lester Loftin, Frances Ivey Loftin Drum, Zettie Wilson Loftin Beatty, Arthur Lee Loftin, W. Garland Loftin, Hattie Pearl Loftin & Cordie Bland Loftin Wilson Enlistment Date: ?? Enlistment State: ?? Enlistment City: ?? Station: ?? Age at Time of Enlistment: ?? Branch: Army Grade: Sergeant Education: ?? Marital Status: ?? Height: ?? Weight: ?? lbs. Terms of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the war or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President.   WWI Draft Registration Card                   The SETZERS       None identified at this time         WWI Reenactor puts on his gas-mask at Fort Dobbs, Statesville, NC, "Military Timeline"       World War I War Tunes     Music touches our lives in so many ways.  American troops had regular access to radio in all but the most difficult combat situations, and not only did soldiers know specific songs, but specific recordings. This gave a nature to American troops music during WWII, not as much songs sung around a fire or while marching, but listened to between combat on Armed Forces Radio.       SONG Year To Hear "Over There"  (by George M. Cohen, sung by Nora Bays) as recorded from a 78RPM record The song "Over There" was one of the most famous songs of World War I. "Over There" proved to be an inspiration both to the young men who were being sent to fight the war as well as to those on the home-front who worried about their loved ones 1917 Click Here "The Rose of No Man's Land" (sung by Henry Burr) 1918 Click Here "It's a Long Way to Tipperary" (sung by John McCormack) 1912 Click Here "Keep the Home Fires Burning" (sung by John McCormack) 1914 Click Here "Pack Up Your Troubles" (sung by Murray Johnson) 1915 Click Here "Oh, It's a Lovely War" (sung by Courtland & Jeffries) 1917 Click Here "I Didn't Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier"   Click Here [If any of the above links are outdated, please let me know]             Military Pages     Check out all of these Family Genealogy Military Pages to see which family members served - as well as when and where   Revolutionary War (1775 - 1783) The Civil War  (12 Apr 1861 - 22 Jun 1865) World War I (28 Jul 1914 - 11 Nov 1918) World War II (01 Sep 1939 - 02 Sep 1945 Korean War  (25 Jun 1950 – 27 Jul 1953) Vietnam War  (01 Nov 1955 - 30 Apr 1975) Gulf War (17 Jan 1991 – 28 Feb 1991) War on Terror (07 Oct 2011 - Present)     If you have photos or information to share about any of these Military pages, please contact me using the email address below or by calling 828-241-2233.         US WWI Army Uniform     WWI USA weapons demonstration at Fort Dobbs, Statesville, NC Photo courtesy of Curtis Loftin         SOURCES     Fort Dobbs, Statesville, NC http://www.fortdobbs.org/index.html   "World War 1"  http://www.besmark.com/ww1b.html "Allies of World War 1" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allies_of_World_War_I "Central Powers" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Powers "World War 1 Songs"  http://www.besmark.com/ww1b.html "World War I Posters"  http://www.history.army.mil//art/Posters/WWI/WWI.htm   Thanks to James Linden Goble's daughter, Mary Diane Goble, for sharing information about her father. You can contact Diane at goblemd69@yahoo.com .       If you have additional information or photos of family members who served in the military during WWI please contact me.