Every Veteran Has a Story: Jessie James Turner

Private Jessie James Turner
World War I – Company C, 21 Machine Gun Battalion – US Army

February 20, 2023 - Jesse James joined the Turner family as the fifth child of nine born to Mary Catherine “Mollie” Reed and William “Bill” Barton Turner. Born in the Aiken Community of Shelby County on January 14, 1896. His father born in Alabama and Mother Mollie from Shelby County were married in 1879 when they were 29 and 16 respectively. By 1904 the family would be complete with eight sons, Edgar, J. S., Jacob (died age 12), Boss, Jesse, Charles, Cullen, and Guy along with two daughters, Willie Clarinda and Eva. The family earned their livelihood farming as many of that time did. 

The Selective Service Act of 1917 required that all men between the ages of 21 and 30 register on June 5, 1917 for potential selection for military service. This was necessary as the United States entered the war in Europe on April 6, 1917 by declaring war on Germany for their unrestricted attacks on any foreign shipping that included civilians. President Wilson wanted to use volunteers and needed up to 1 million soldiers but by 6 weeks after war was declared, only 73,000 men had volunteered.

Jesse and his brother Boss met the requirements. Boss lived in Center and registered there at the courthouse while Jesse was living in Swift, Nacogdoches County and had to travel to Nacogdoches that Thursday. Boss was inducted in Center four months later on October 7 and was assigned to Company A, 131 Field Artillery at Camp Bowie, Fort Worth, Texas. Tragedy struck when brother Boss died of pneumonia at the Camp Hospital December 14, 1917. He was buried in the Mount Zion Cemetery in Shelby County.

Jesse received his welcome from Uncle Sam while a resident of Swift, Texas. He swore to support and defend the Constitution in Nacogdoches on June 24, 1918. He and the group he joined with were sent to the 165 Depot Brigade, Camp Travis, San Antonio, Texas for basic training. A month later Jesse was sent to Camp MacArthur, Waco, Texas to join Company, C, 21 Machine Gun Battalion, 7 Division. In August they moved to Camp Merritt, New Jersey in preparation for deployment to France. This happened August 8 as the 21st boarded the Troop Transport USS Louisville. Jesse had designated his mother Mollie as his next of kin. 

The trip took 12 days, and they landed in Brest, France on August 20, 1918. They then moved to the Training Area at Ancy-le-Franc for advanced combat training. On October 10, the Division relieved the 90 Division on the front. The 21st Machine Gun Battalion participated in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive that lasted until the armistice, November 11, 1918. The 7 Infantry Division suffered 296 battle deaths and 1,397 wounded.
Following the armistice, the division remained in the vicinity of the Puvenelle Sector and engaged in the enforcement of the armistice terms, salvage and training. On May 19, 1919 after months of occupation, he boarded the USS Saxonia with Detachment 274 “Enlisted Men, Walking Case Requiring No Dressing Class B”. It is not known if Jesse was injured, wounded or sick as there were no other annotations. The Saxonia arrived at Pier 54, North River, New York with 1,273 soldiers. They are then transported to Camp Mills, New York for discharge processing. Jesse wasn’t discharged until over a month later on July 2, 1919. The delay could have been due to his unknown medical problem. He was given no disability compensation, however.

Jesse returned to his parent’s farm in Nacogdoches County where brothers Cullen and Guy were also living. Father Bill passed in 1926 and Mother Mollie in 1939. During this time, he married Elma Davis and they lived in Orange, Texas where he was employed by the Consolidated Steel Corporation. They had no known children.

Before his death at his residence of a heart attack on May 12, 1971, he would lose sister Willie and brother Cullen. Jesse was 75 years of age. Funeral services were held in the Swift Church of Christ with the Rev. Cleon Scarborough officiating. Interment was in the Swift Cemetery, Nacogdoches County with arrangements by Cason Monk Funeral Home. His survivors at that time were his wife, Elma; brother, Guy Turner of Orange, Texas; and sister, Mrs. Eva Carnley of Goodrich, Texas.

He answered the call to duty. Day is done, God is nigh.