As my last post shows, a number of the men on New Hanover County's memorial died before they got to the battlefields. Other casualties of war died on foreign soil.
 CFM 1997.088.0093 Gift of Suzanne Sheetz
Although the U.S. entered the war in April of 1917, it took some time before large numbers of troops were sent overseas, and even then, they did not immediately fight. The first U.S. casualties in the war occured in November, 1917. Most of America's fighting men were not involved in combat until the last months of the war. This is reflected in the death dates of the local men who were killed in action.
Douglas W. Pate died of wounds he received during the war, but it is not clear when or where he died, or what branch of the services he was involved with. Pate was born January 10, 1895 in Robeson county. He was living in Wilmington when he registered for the draft on June 5, 1917. It seems likely that he died between July and November of 1918.
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| CFM 1998.119.0011 Gift of Hugh MacRae, III |
Lieutenant David Worth Loring died in Belgium on August 24, 1918. When he registered for the draft, Loring was living at 308 N. Front Street. He worked for the railroad. When the Wilmington Morning Star Reported Lieutenant Loring’s death on September 17, 1918, the article said he died of “wounds received in action.” According to the paper, David was initially declared physically unfit for duty, and he had an operation so that he could serve.
Loring was married to Viola Shaw Loring.
The couple wed in April of 1916. The Lorings had a baby boy who lived 15 hours
in January 1917.
So in the span of two years, Viola Loring lost a son and a husband.
Lieutenant Loring was awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross. He is
buried in Flanders Field American cemetery.
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| The Heart of America, 1918 CFM 1963.002.0029 Gift of General John Van Bokkellen Metts, Jr. |
Corporal Bennie King died on September 29, 1918. He served in the U.S. Army 119thInfantry Regiment, 30thInfantry Division. He is listed on the tablets of the missing at Somme American Cemetery.
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| The Winners of the Marne, 1918 CFM 1963.002.0016 Gift of General John Van Bokkellen Metts, Jr. |
Private Vaughan E. Smith served overseas from May 9, 1918 to Sept 29, 1918 when he was killed in action. Smith enlisted in New York on May 23, 1917. His father, Robert E. Smith, lived in Wilmington, and so that seems to be why he is on the New Hanover County memorial. Smith served in the U.S. Army 107th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division. He is buried at the Somme American Cemetery, Bony, France
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| To the Beautiful Land of France, 1918 CFM 1963.002.0030 Gift of General John Van Bokkellen Metts, Jr. |
Private William M. Turner died on October 15, 1918. He served with the army's 167th Infantry Regiment, 42nd Division. He is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne, France.
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| CFM 1997.060.0029 |
Captain Joseph J. Loughlin died on 9 Nov 1918. He is buried in St. Mihiel American Cemetery, Thiaucourt, France. Loughlin served in the 322nd Infantry Regiment, 81st Infantry Division. Josepth was married to Eleanor King Loughlin. The couple had three children. Two of Loughlin's children helped dedicate the World War I memorial in 1922.
Private Walter S. Brock of Seagate was killed in action on November 10, 1918. He was born 13 Sep 1885. He is buried at Mount Lebanon Chapel cemetery, at Airlie.
Private Brock had the misfortune to die just one day before the war ended.
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| The War officially ended on Nocember 11, at 11A.M, Paris time |
Colin Makepeace MacRae was even unluckier. He died on January 30, 1919, when he was lost overboard at sea from the U.S.S. South Dakota. MacRae was still in his teens. Colin's brother, Marion, also served in the First World War.
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