The Lost Faces of World War One — Part Nineteen

This is the continuation of a series of stories about men who died in World War 1, and whose photographs appeared in a publication called “Our Nation’s Roll of Honor.” The original post and explanation can be found at this link.  There will also be a complete listing of all the names researched at that same blog post.

LOST FACES OF WORLD WAR ONE: Our Nation’s Roll of Honor — Part Nineteen

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PRIVATE GOVAN B. REAGAN
Bernice, Louisiana
Died of Wounds

Govan Bert Reagan was born 9 Dec 1896 in  Spearsville, Union Parish, Louisiana, son of Stephen J. & Clemantine (Tubb) Reagan. His many siblings include Katie P., Cora C., Georgia A., Minor E., Florence E., Rosa D., Effie O., Walton H., Bette E., Clara M., William O., Ottis E., Fannie H., Lonnie C., Clemon Kermit, and Eudine T.

He served as a PFC, in Co. B, 28th Infantry, 1st Division.  He was wounded in battle, in France, and died as a result, on 30 May 1918. [The 28th Infantry was involved in the Battle of Cantigny, on May 28th, so probably he was initially injured at this time].

He was originally buried in Grave #162 #170 American Cemetery, Bonvillers, Oise, France, and was re-interred 7 April 1921 in in Arlington National Cemetery, Section 18 [W/Eur], Site 1439.

 

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LIEUT. RICHARD B. REED
Van Wert, Ohio
Died, Airplane Accident

Richard Brumback Reed was born 25 September 1891 Van Wert, Ohio, the son of John Perry & Estella (Brumback) Reed.  They resided in Van Wert, Ohio where John was a cashier of the Van Wert National Bank. Richard’s siblings included  Orville Sanford Reed  and Ellen Perlena Reed.
[see Genealogy of the Brumback families, page 334 for his mother’s genealogy].

On May 31, 1917, when he filled out his draft registration card, he was a student of aviation at a Military school in Buffalo NY. Richard B. Reed married 9 September 1917 to Gladys Marie Gilliland. No children. She m2d) David LaDoyt Brumback, and had a son David, and daughter Nancy E. Brumback.

The book, “Ohio Military Men, 1917-1918” details the service of Richard B. Reed, indicating that he held the final rank of First Lieutenant. He first enlisted in the Reserve Corps at Ithaca, NY on 11 Jul 1917. He attended the School of Military Aeronautics in  Ithaca NY, then was assigned to Detachment Signal Enlisted Reserve Corps,  England.  He was honorably discharged, rank Private 1st class,  on 16 May 1918 to accept Commission. He was  Lieutenant AS 17 May 1918.  He was assigned to the American Expeditionary Forces 16 May 1918. He died as part of the Army Transport, near Scotland from aeroplane accident on 5 June 1918. His next of kin was notified: Mrs. R. B. Reed, wife, Van Wert, Ohio.”

A newspaper clipping from The Fort Wayne Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, of 13 July 1918 indicates that at first, after the airplane accident, Lieut. Reed’s body was missing, but later was found: “Body of Van Wert Soldier Has Been Found. VAN WERT O., July 13 — The body of Lieutenant Richard Brumback Reed has been found, John P. Reed, father of the young soldier received a cablegram announcing that the body was found on June 24, nineteen days after the accident which cost the life of the aviator. Lieutenant Reed was killed on June 5, when an aeroplane plunged into the sea about two miles from Turnberry, Ayshire, Scotland where he was receiving final training with the No. 1 Royal Flying corps and No 2 Auxiliary School of Aerial Gunners.  The rule now followed is bodies of American heroes will be laid to rest in Europe but the family expected to bring the body home at the close of the war.”

A funeral was held for him.  The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette (Fort Wayne Ind) 20 June 1918, Van Wert News. Impressive services were held Sunday afternoon at the First M.E. church in honor of Lieutenant Richard Brumback Reed, who died while serving with the American aviators in France. A biographical sketch of Lieutenant Reed’s life was read by Rev. George Frantz, followed by an address by Rev. Jesse L. Corley.

After the war ended, his remains were returned to the United States, and he was laid to rest, finally in his family plot at Woodland Union Cemetery, Van Wert, Van Wert Co., Ohio.

 

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SERGEANT J.H. REGNOLD
North Judson, Indiana
Killed in Action

Joseph Holgate Regnold, born 6 February 1895 in Englewood, Cook Co. IL, son of Joseph A. and Anna (Holgate) Regnold. His father was a brick mason. His siblings included: Mildred, M. Irine, Gertie, Maude, Madge, Ruth, Henry, and Arthur.

He served as a Sergeant  in Co. F., 30th Infantry, 3rd Division. He died 9 October 1918, killed in action in Bois de Cunel, France. He is buried in Oak Park Cemetery, Knox, Starke Co., Indiana. [See his Find-a-grave page for additional details].

According to the Indiana Historical Society, “Indiana sent more than 130,000 soldiers to the battlefields during World War I. More than 3,000 of them died, not only in battle but of influenza or pneumonia.”

 

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PRIVATE BENJAMIN SALTZMAN
Brooklyn, New York
Died of Wounds

Benjamin Saltzman/Salzman was born, according to his military service card, about 1897 in New York, the son of Yetta Saltzman of 545 Sackman Street in Brooklyn, New York.

He enlisted in the regular army, at Fort Slocum NY on 30 May 1917, and served as a Private in Co. B 38th Infantry to August 14, 1917; Co. C, 5th Machine Gun Battalion.

He was sent overseas about 18 Sep 1917, and served in two engagements in Europe, from April 13-14, 1918, and on June 6, 1918.   He died 12 June 1918 of wounds received in action, probably initiated around June 6th [this was the Battle of Belleau Woods].

I had a great deal of difficulty in researching this soldier, as there were several Saltzman families, and several Benjamin Saltzman/Salzman’s in the Brooklyn area.  His burial place is unknown.  (His existence in an Ancestry.com family tree, without primary evidence, is basically not proof for me).

 

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PRIVATE LOUIS C. SAYER
Vergas, Minnesota
Died of Wounds

Louis Charles/Carl Sayer was born 18 Aug 1891 in Vergas [or Detroit], Otter Tail Co., MN, son of John & Margaret (Shearer/Scherer) Sayer.  His father was born in Germany, and his mother in Ontario, Canada.  Louis’ siblings included Clements, Henry W., Kate, Tressie, Francis and George.

The Adjutant General’s report on military men in Minnesota shows the following: Louis C. Sayer enlisted in Company A, 1st Infantry, North Dakota Nationa Guard, at Bismarck, North Dakota on Aug. 4, 1917. He served in Company A, 1st Infantry, North Dakota National Guard (that became Company A, 164th Infantry), to Jan. 9, 1918.

He was then transferred to Company L, 18th Infantry, where he remained until his death.  He was promoted to  Private 1st Class, Nov. 20, 1917, then Private, March 12, 1918.  He was sent overseas on Dec. 15, 1917. Louis C. Sayer was wounded, slightly, on Feb. 27, 1918. The European engagements he participated in during WWI include Defensive Sectors: Ansauville (Lorraine); Cantigny (Picardy). He died, May 28, 1918, of wounds received in action. He is buried in Grave 12, Row 12, Block C, Somme American Cemetery, Bony, Aisne, France. [See also Find-A-Grave listing]

He was cited (posthumously) in General Orders No. 1, Headquarters, 1st Division, Camp Zachary Taylor, Ky., on Jan. 1, 1920, for gallantry in action and especially meritorious services. He would have been entitled to wear a silver star.

A funeral was held for him. The Ward County Independent (Minot ND) 20 June 1918. COLEHARBOR SOLDIER KILLED. Memorial services were held at Coleharbor Sunday for Louis C. Sayer, who enlisted in the Bismark company and who was killed recently while fighting in the 18th U.S. Infantry in France. Louis was 24 years of age and formerly conducted a garage at Coleharbor.

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