Private Walter Dickinson United States Marine Corps, World War I 27th Company, Fourth Provisional Regiment
July 19, 2023 - Walter was born on Friday, September 1, 1893 in the far east Texas town of Shelbyville, that had once served as the seat of government for Shelby County. He was one of six children, John Allen, Jr. (1881), William Franklin (18183), Susie (1885), Lee (1887), and Mattie (1890) born to Sallie Elizabeth Corday and John Allen Dickinson Sr. his mother had died by the 1900 census as his father was listed as a “widower” with four children living on a farm in Shelby County.
World War I Record
On June 5th, 1917, two months after the United States entered the World War, Walter as required by the Selective Service Act of 1917 registered for the military draft at Precinct 5, Shelby County. His registration card (Form # 1, draft # 1287) noted: age 23; natural born citizen; employed as a farmer for Jack Brody of Shelbyville; single, Caucasian; no prior military service and he did not claim any exemption to the draft. Physically he was described as of medium height and weight, gray eyes, brown hair and was not bald.
A year later on June 18th, 1918 Walter traveled to Shreveport, Louisiana where he voluntarily enlisted in the US Marine Corps. Following the oath of enlistment, he was given USMC serial # 124391 and sent to Parris Island, South Carolina where he completed basic training with Company C, Recruit Depot. His military record shows that he was then assigned to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic with 27 Company, Fourth Provisional Regiment. He served there for the duration of the war that ended on November 11th, 1918. Private Dickinson returned to the United States and was honorably discharged December 19 with a character rating of “Excellent”. For his eighteen months of military service, he was awarded the World War I Victory Medal that would become available the following year in 1920 upon application.
World War I Record
Returning to civilian life he gained employment in the oil refinery business and married Miss Gladys Sweatman on December 27th, 1925 in Silsbee, Hardin County, Texas. They would be blessed with two children, Joe Allen (1927) and Betty Sue (1931). The family lived in Jefferson County, Texas where he worked for and retired from the Pure Oil Company. On April 27th, 1942 Walter for the second time in his life registered for a military draft and although not called to serve, he saw another world war begin and end. Walter died at the age of 71 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Port Arthur, Texas on October 11th, 1964. He was buried in Oak Bluff Memorial Park, Port Neches, Jefferson County, Texas where his wife Gladys joined him in 1997. Day is done, God is nigh.
SOURCES:
(1): Year: 1900; Census Place: Justice Precinct 2, Shelby, Texas; Roll: 1669; Page: 1; Enumeration District: 0087; FHL microfilm: 1241669
(2): Registration State: Texas; Registration County: Shelby County
(3): "Texas, World War I Records, 1917-1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9MN-8ZLV?cc=2202707&wc=334... : 26 March 2015), Marine Corps, enlisted > Abbe, Roy Lester-Lamb, Norman Elvin, 1917-1920 > image 1384 of 2959; Texas Military Forces Museum, Austin
(4): Texas Department of State Health Services; Austin Texas, USA
