Private Preston Archer
United States Army - World War I – Died of Pneumonia
Company F - 358th Infantry Regiment - 90th Division
December 6, 2022 - Preston was born in Panola County, Texas on March 6th, 1895, to Sarah Cornelia Johns Alfred and Sam Preston Archer just days before the beginning of spring. His mother had been previously married to J. H. Alfred who died in 1887 leaving her with three young sons, Marcellus Henry, James Warren, and Reuben She married Sam in 1890 and his other siblings were Loma, Willie, Cornelia, and Frank. They grew up on a farm the family rented in rural Panola County as many did at that time in history.(1) By the 1910 census, Preston was living with his half-brother Reuben as both parents had died, Sam in 1905 and Sarah in 1910 of typhoid fever.(2)
The United States entered the World War on April 6th, 1917, when Preston was 22 years old. As required by the Selective Service Act of that year, he registered for the military draft on June 5 at Precinct 16 in Shelby County, Texas. His registration card (Form 1) noted his residence as Timpson, employment as a farmer, single, no prior military service and no exemption to the draft claimed. He was described as tall and slim with blue eyes, black hair, and was not bald.(3)
Eleven months later on May 13th, 1918, Preston took the oath of enlistment at Center the county seat of Shelby and was assigned Army serial # 2244089 and sent to Camp Travis, San Antonio Texas where he completed basic training with 59 Company, 165th Depot Brigade. Remaining at Camp Travis he was assigned as an infantryman with Company F of the 358th Infantry Regiment, 179th Infantry Brigade, 90th Division. The division was organized in August 1917 and trained for combat before departing New York Harbor for France on June 20th, 1918 aboard the troopship SS Euripedes. He named his brother Reuben as the next of kin in the event of an emergency.(5)(6)
Arriving some eleven days later the division was sent to the Department of Côte-d’Or in Northeastern France for training with headquarters at the Commune of Aignay-le-Duc. Private Archer and his unit participated in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel, fought September 12-15th, 1918, and were engaged in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive that began September 26th when Preston contracted pneumonia and died at the age of 23 on October 2nd. His comrades would continue the offensive until the armistice was signed on November 11, 1918 ending the World War.(6) His remains were buried in Grave # 104, New American Cemetery, Angers, Maine-et-Loire department, 190 miles southwest of Paris. His brother Reuben was notified by cablegram # 276.(7)
In October 1919, families were given the choice of leaving their loved ones buried in an American Cemetery in Europe with their comrades or bring them home for reburial. With both of his parents deceased the Preston siblings chose to bring their brother home to Shelby County, Texas. With this decision in hand, the Graves Registration Service of the Army Quartermaster Corps began the process that was not an immediate one given the huge number of 46,000 remains. It also did not help that the French took until late 1920 to finally lift their band on the return of bodies. The cost to recover the dead would reach $30 million or $400 million in today’s dollars.(8)
His remains were disinterred on December 3rd, 1921 for preparation and shipment to Antwerp which occurred six days later. His along with the remains of another Shelby County soldier, Jodie Ferguson departed Antwerp, Belgium on December 28, 1921, aboard the Army Transport Crook for the journey home. The New York Herald, January 23rd, 1922 reported that “the Crook arrived at Pier 2, Army Base, Brooklyn New York on January 14th, with the remains of 669 fallen soldiers and nearly 1000 other soldiers who had survived the war. A memorial service was held on January 22nd for the fallen with more than 500 people in attendance that included delegations of Gold Star Mothers, the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Rev. Thomas E. Swan conducted Episcopal services, Father Aloysius C. Dineen the Catholic services, and Rabbi Lee J. Levinger, the Jewish rites. A volley was fired by the 34 Infantry from Fort Hamilton”.
The final leg of Private Preston Archer’s journey began on January 18th, 1922 when his casket departed New York aboard a train with a military escort. The train arrived in Timpson, Texas five days later on January 23rd and was received by a Mr. P. W. McKittrick, Jr.(7) Met by family, friends, fellow citizens, and veterans, he was laid to rest in the Corinth Cemetery, Timpson, Shelby County, Texas three years and two months following his death. Day is done, God is nigh.
SOURCES:
(1) Year: 1900; Census Place: Justice Precinct 3, Panola, Texas; Roll: 1663; Page: 20; Enumeration District: 0068; FHL microfilm: 1241663
(2) Year: 1910; Census Place: Justice Precinct 7, Panola, Texas; Roll: T624_1583; Page: 25B; Enumeration District: 0129; FHL microfilm: 1375596
(3) Registration State: Texas; Registration County: Shelby County
(4) "Texas, World War I Records, 1917-1920." Database with images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 18 July 2022. Texas Military Forces Museum, Austin.
(5) The National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985; Record Group Number: 92; Roll or Box Number: 434
(6) “AEF Unit Histories Available Online.” Accessed March 2, 2021. http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/unithistories.htm.
(7) Series: Card Register of Burials of Deceased American Soldiers, 1917 – 1922 Record Group 92: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774 – 1985
(8) https://www.historynet.com/rest-in-peace-bringing-home-u-s-war-dead.htm
