James Robert Dodge in World War I

Here is a record I stumbled upon recently - the Army Transport Passenger Lists from World War I. My great-grandfather, James Robert Dodge, was drafted in to the U.S. Army in early August of 1918. He returned home in August of 1919. I've wondered what the time frame was for basic training and travel and arrival to and from the front. These records help shed light on this chapter of my great-grandfather's life. 

His story in World War I however, begins in 1917. Grandpa Jim registered for the World War I Draft in June of 1917. Each registrant filled out a draft card, answering questions about their birth, citizenship, occupation and family, physical description, as well as grounds for draft exemption. While Grandpa Jim stated that his parents were dependent on him for their support, he did not claim them as an exemption from the draft.

WWI Draft Card

Following registration for the draft, each registrant received a questionnaire that were to be completed and returned by each draftee (the completed questionnaires no longer exist). These questionnaires helped the local draft board determine classification for each registrant. The local draft board then informed each draftee of their classification. Those that were classified 1A were to report for physical examination. Those that passed the physical examination were then ordered to report to the local draft board to be inducted in to the Army. 

Grandpa Jim received and returned the questionnaire in January of 1918. He also received his classification in January (1A) and completed his physical examination in February. He was ordered to report for induction in early August of 1918.

Classification List

When Grandpa Jim reported for induction in to the Army, he was first sent to a mobilization camp, where he was accepted for military service. Because of the urgent need for American soldiers at the front, he began his basic training at Camp MacArthur in Texas. He was then sent to Hoboken, New Jersey, to sail to France and there he would complete his basic training. He sailed on the President Grant on September 23, 1918 and arrived at Saint Nazaine, France on October 7, 1918, a voyage of nearly two weeks.

Army Transport Passenger List - September 1918

Following his arrival in France and completion of basic training, Grandpa Jim was assigned to Company F, 9th Infantry Regiment within the Second Infantry Division. According to his enlistment record, Grandpa Jim was involved with the March to the Rhine and the Army of Occupation in Germany. The March to the Rhine began on November 17, 1918 and crossed from France, through Belgium and Luxembourg, to Germany, a distance of some sixty miles. The distance was covered in six days. On December 1, 1918, the Army entered into Germany, and crossed the Rhine River on the 13th of December. This is where Grandpa Jim remained until July of 1919, when demobilization and return home began. He sailed from Brest, France on July 23, 1919 aboard the Princess Matoika and arrived back at Hoboken, New Jersey on August 1, 1919. 

Army Transport Passenger List - July 1919

After returning to the States, Grandpa Jim marched with the Second Division up the streets of New York City in a celebratory parade on August 8, 1919. Many of the New York newspapers give detailed accounts of the day's celebrations. Following the celebratory parade, Grandpa Jim was sent to Fort D.A. Russell in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he was honorably discharged on August 16, 1919. Along with his arrival and discharge, he received his final payment for his service in the Army: $88.55. The Final Payment Voucher lists a breakdown of his final pay: $76.30 (including a $60.00 bonus) and $12.25 travel pay back home to Buena Vista from Cheyenne. 

Final Payment Voucher - August 16, 1919

The Chaffee County Democrat from August 23, 1919 reported the return of Grandpa Jim to Buena Vista: 'We are glad to welcome in our midst Mr. James R. Dodge, who returned Sunday [August 17] from overseas.'

Enlistment Record & Honorable Discharge