Corporal Aron Garrett
United States Army, World War I
Company B, 412 Reserve Labor Battalion
©By Larry Hume, VFW Post 8904, Center, Texas
June 29, 2026 - Aron Garrett was born in the far east Texas community of Timpson, Shelby County on March 18, 1894 to Peggie Strange and Andrew Garrett. His large family grew up on a rented farm his father worked with the help of eleven children. Times were hard and Aron only completed a fourth-grade education that left him not being able to read or write.
On June 5, 1917, two months after the United States entered the World War in Europe, Aron registered for the military draft as required by the Selective Service Act of 1917. He completed his registration card (Form 1) at Precinct 16 in Shelby County, and it noted: age as 23; address Tenaha; a natural born citizen; self-employed as a farmer; single; African race; no prior military service; and he claimed an exemption to the draft “but can’t give a reason”. Physically he was described as of medium height and built with black eyes and hair and was not bald. He signed the form with an “X” that was witnessed by registrar J. R. Nichols.
Thirteen months later Aron received his draft notice and took the oath of enlistment at the county seat of Center, Texas on July 19, 1918, and became US Army Private Garrett, serial # 3513251. He and the other inductees of the day were then entrained to Camp Travis, San Antonio, Texas to begin basic training with the 165 Depot Brigade. Following basic, he was reassigned to Company B, 412 Reserve Labor Battalion, also located at Camp Travis. He was promoted to the rank of Corporal on October 15 and the war ended the following month, November 11, 1918. After eight months of military service, Aron was honorably discharged on March 14, 1919, and for his service, he was awarded the World War I Victory Medal.
Returning home to Shelby County he resumed the life of a farmer and on November 7, 1919 he and Miss Nora Bond were married. It is unknown if they had children, but the 1930 census showed an adopted daughter, two-year-old Wynedda living with them. Aron died at the age of 76 at Memorial Hospital in Center, Texas on August 6, 1970. Akins Funeral Home provided for his funeral arrangements, and he was buried in the Friendship Bobo Baptist Church Cemetery, Tenaha, Texas with his wife Nora who preceded him in 1964. Day is done, God is nigh.
SOURCES:
(1): Year: 1910; Census Place: Justice Precinct 7, Shelby, Texas; Roll: T624_1588; Page: 23A; Enumeration District: 0155; FHL microfilm: 1375601
(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-77ZQ?cc=2202707&wc=334... : 26 March 2015), Enlisted men > Gamble Buford-Gibbs, Frank, 1917-1920 > image 1263 of 3781; Texas Military Forces Museum, Austin.
(4): Year: 1930; Census Place: Precinct 7, Shelby, Texas; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 0023; FHL microfilm: 2342124
(5): Texas Department of State Health Services; Austin Texas, USA
