Private Norman Vaught
United States Army, World War I – Died Nonbattle
27 Company, 7 Battalion, 165 Depot Brigade
July 24, 2024 - Norman was a New Year’s baby born January 1, 1888, in the far east Texas town of Timpson that had been founded just three years before. His parents, Julia Woolvine and James Reagan Vaught, were married in Nacogdoches, Texas, on April 9, 1874, and little is known about them. It is believed that James lived from 1851 to 1914 and Julia from 1856 to 1935. His parents were divorced at an unknown date, and his mother remarried a merchant, Mr. Leonidas Houston Weaver, on December 13, 1892. Norman had four known siblings: Charlie (1875), Florence (1877), Robert (1883), and Lula Mae (1886).
On June 5, 1917, two months after the United States entered the World War in Europe, Norman registered for the military draft as required by the Selective Service Act of 1917. He completed his registration card (Form 1, draft # 1640) at Precinct 14 in Panola County, Texas. His card revealed the following information: age 29; address, Gary, Texas; natural born citizen; employed as a farm hand for the Adkerson Farm; single; Caucasian; no prior military service, and he did claim an exemption to the draft “dependent mother.” Physically, he was described as having a medium build and height, blue eyes, and black hair (not bald).
Receiving his draft notice, Norman took the oath of enlistment on May 27, 1918, in Carthage, Texas, and became US Army Private Vaught, serial # 3061377. He and the other inductees of the day were then sent by train to Camp Travis, San Antonio, Texas, to begin basic training with 27 Company, 7 Battalion, 165 Depot Brigade. A week later, Norman entered the Base Hospital, where he died on June 11 of pulmonary congestion at the age of 30. According to his Texas World War I military record, his sister Florence was the first to be notified of his death. The Palestine Daily Herald, June 14, 1918, reported that Sergeant Frank E. Parker of Palestine accompanied the remains to Arp, Smith County, Texas, where it is believed funeral services were held. Norman was then buried in the Elkins Cemetery, Omen, Smith County, which is three miles from Arp. Day is done, God is nigh.
Sources:
(1): Year: 1900; Census Place: Justice Precinct 7, Panola, Texas; Roll: 1663; Page: 15; Enumeration District: 0072; FHL microfilm: 1241663
(2): Registration State: Texas; Registration County: Panola County
(3): "Texas, World War I Records, 1917-1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9MN-8Q5Y?cc=2202707&wc=334P-K68%3A1561331302%2C1561334101 : 26 March 2015), Army enlisted, dead > Moffett, Samuel Fenell-White, Willie G, 1917-1920 > image 2799 of 3275; Texas Military Forces Museum, Austin.
(4): Texas Department of State Health Services; Austin Texas, USA
