Returning Soldier Starts a Shoe Repair Business

From the March 6, 2019, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1919, 100 Years Ago.

"Joe Cohn, a returned soldier lad, who was in the service for seven months at Camp Jackson, South Carolina, (my grandfather's base) has recently been mustered out, and has started a shoe repair shop in the little building next to the Nehring Electrical Works on East Lincoln Highway in DeKalb.

"Cohn was a cobbler by trade when he entered the service, and was in business in Earlville, and when mustered out, thought DeKalb looked good to him and is getting his share of the business at this time."

--Cooter

Lt. Pfaff's WW I Experience Much Like My Grandfather and Great Uncle's

The last two posts I wrote about Claude Pfaff and his World War I experience.  He had his training at Camp Jackson near Columbia, South Carolina, as did my grandfather, William Graham Hood.  And like Mr. Pfaff, my grandfather never had to ship off to France.  Also, my grandfather was honorably discharged at Camp Sevier.

My Great Uncle, David Mabury Prince was a lieutenant, but trained at Camp Sevier and went overseas.

Find out about my grandfather and great uncle by clicking the David Prince and William G. Hood labels.

Small World.  --Cooter

Our World War I Soldier, Claude Pfaff-- Part 2: Camp Jackson and Camp Sevier

Claude Pfaff enlisted and was sent to Camp Jackson, a major training and staging base established near Columbia, South Carolina.  Here, battalions were formed before being sent overseas to fight in France.

Claude was promoted to Band Sergeant and assigned to the 156th Depot Brigade.  Using his musical talents, he played the bugle for military ceremonial occasions as well as morale-lifting events at such locations as the base hospital, the Red Cross Convalescent House and the Liberty Theater, which seated 3,600 soldiers.

On September 26, he was transferred to Camp Sevier, Greenville, South Carolina, and in October, he was commissioned out of the ranks to lieutenant.

With the war coming to an end and the Armistice going into effect on November 11, 1918, the military quickly demobilized and Pfaff was honorably discharged on November 30, 1918 as a second lieutenant and returned to civilian life.

A World War I Story.  --Cooter

New Hanover County's Role in World War I-- Part 3: Camp Jackson, South Carolina

There were also many men drafted into military service from New Hanover County, North Carolina.  Robert Sanders, a black man, was one of them.

Cleveland Van Buren was sent to Camp Jackson, South Carolina.  My grandfather also was sent to this camp for training.

There were four classes of recruits.  Class 1 meant you were immediately available for service.  Only Class 1 was called up for service.

Blacks were also drafted.  More Blacks than Whites were drafted.

There were a total of 32 training camps for America's World War I servicemen.  Some existed before the war and others were built during it.

--Cooter

World War I Military Career of William G. Hood

From my mother, I learn the following:

He was drafted into the Army.  He went to training at Camp Jackson in South Carolina.

His father had tried to keep him at home as he was needed on he farm.

He never went to Europe  because he changed the flat tire of his camp's commander's wife and the colonel had him remain in camp as a personal chauffeur.

His platoon was sent overseas and involved in fighting.  At one point his clothes were sent overseas, but he never was.