I just found out my Grandfather served in the U.S. Army in WWI (1 Viewer)

[Louis Badolato]

As some of you may recall, my Mother passed away September 5th. I have been going through her possessions, and lo and behold I found a beat up old photo album, and when I say old, I mean like 100 years old. It was photographs of my family in America starting shortly after my Great-Grandfather Leopold Badolato arrived in the United States in 1884. Some of the last photographs in the album, from circa 1919, were of my Grandfather's return from WWI in his Doughboy Uniform! I had no idea my Grandfather (and namesake) served our Country in WWI. He kind of looked like a teenage version of me (the poor guy!).^&grin

I knew all about my maternal and paternal Uncles service in WWII, and my Father and other paternal Uncles' service in the Korean War, but no one had ever spoken to me about my Grandfather's service, maybe because he passed away in the 1950's, ten years before I was born. In any event, I will get my kids to help me scan the photos and post them on this thread tomorrow. I can't tell you how honored I feel to know my Grandfather, the first Louis Badolato, served our country in WWI!^&cool^&cool^&cool^&cool^&cool

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Louis,

It’s Very cool when you find an interesting photo of a relative who is long gone in a uniform from a bygone day! I have a great one too of my Great great uncle in the US Cavalry deployed to Manila in 1900. Wish I had more of them...

Dave

 

[Louis Badolato]

Dave,

I would love to see your relative’s photo as well! Growing up I had a neighbor whose grandfather had served in, among several other places, the Philippines during the insurrection in 1900. I bought all of his grandfather’s militaria at a garage sale for $25 and change, and it’s what started me collecting. His Kraft Bayonet, Sword, Medals, Burton’s he cut off the Uniforms of captured soldiers and a sword he took from a Spanish officer are all on display in my collection to this day.

 

[mestell]

That's really terrific Louis. Family history and genealogy can be so very interesting. I always new that my grandfather was a veteran "dough boy" of WWI, but a few years ago my maternal aunt gave me a large box which is just full of his memorabilia from his time in France between 1917-1919. Included are dozens upon dozens of photographs that he took, post cards, letters from his French girl friend, parts of his uniform, 24 hour passes signed by his commanding officer, and many other various personal items. I am very happy to be in possession of these items as much as I know you are to have your grandfather's photos . . . .
:smile2: Mike

Chester W. Wagner, Company F, 17th RR Engineering Btl, AEF

​

 

[Louis Badolato]

Mike,

That is just fantastic!^&cool^&cool^&cool^&cool I love the photograph of Corporal Wagner!:smile2:

 

[mestell]

Mike,

That is just fantastic!^&cool^&cool^&cool^&cool I love the photograph of Corporal Wagner!:smile2:

My grandfather thanks you for the promotion Louis . . . . He was actually a PFC at discharge in 1919. In this photo, the two "V" shaped chevrons (also known as overseas stripes) indicate that he had been in France between 12 and 17 months when this photo was taken. US soldiers received one chevron for every 6 months in the theater of operations. These were worn on the lower left sleeve. Similar chevrons worn on the lower right sleeve indicated how many times they were wounded.

:smile2: Mike

 

[Louis Badolato]

My grandfather thanks you for the promotion Louis . . . . He was actually a PFC at discharge in 1919. In this photo, the two "V" shaped chevrons (also known as overseas stripes) indicate that he had been in France between 12 and 17 months when this photo was taken. US soldiers received one chevron for every 6 months in the theater of operations. These were worn on the lower left sleeve. Similar chevrons worn on the lower right sleeve indicated how many times they were wounded.

:smile2: Mike

Thanks for educating me, Mike, I thought they were corporal's stripes. I'm sending the photos of my grandfather to Ken Osen, in the hope that he can tell me a bit about my Grandfather's service from whatever insignia are visible on his uniform.:smile2:

 

[Louis Badolato]

Here are the photos of my Grandfather in Uniform (the elderly gentleman in the first photograph is my great-grandfather Leopold):

 

[DMNamiot]

Very cool photos! I will scan the one I have and post it too. I have some insignia and a cavalrymen enlisted hat cord I actually wear on my cowboy hat from the Spanish American War that I have collected over the years as well.

Dave

 

[Louis Badolato]

Here are the photos of my Grandfather in Uniform (the elderly gentleman in the first photograph is my great-grandfather Leopold):

I have no idea what my Grandfather's rank or unit was, but I couldn't resist purchasing this complete WWI U.S. Quartermaster Sergeant's Uniform with Occupation Patch:

 

[mestell]

The four chevrons on the lower sleeve indicate that the original owner of this uniform was in service for at least 24 months and no more than 29 months. Each chevron represents 6 months of active duty in the theater of operations he was in. Very nicely preserved uniform . . . .
:smile2: Mike

 

[Louis Badolato]

The four chevrons on the lower sleeve indicate that the original owner of this uniform was in service for at least 24 months and no more than 29 months. Each chevron represents 6 months of active duty in the theater of operations he was in. Very nicely preserved uniform . . . .
:smile2: Mike

Yes, but there are Sergeant stripes on the right upper arm of the tunic, here are some photos of the uniform tunic and pants hanging on display, and the cap on top of an antique tellurium:

 

[Phantom Warrior]

My grandfather also fought in WWI in the Army of the Tsar. He's the one sitting and the resemblance of me at 20 to my grandfather at 20 in the photo is uncanny. I've been told that he was in the Cossack Cavalry and was a translator. He did speak several languages and had a real affinity for horses.

The colour picture is likely what my grandfather's uniform looked like - the colours being that of a Corporal of the Don Cossacks.




Terry

 

[Louis Badolato]

Great photo of your Grandfather, Terry!^&cool^&cool I found a fourth photo of my grandfather in his Uniform in the Album (it was smaller than the others, so I missed it):