“You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye
Who cheer when soldier lads march by,
Sneak home and pray you'll never know
The hell where youth and laughter go."
"The War Poems”
― Siegfried Sassoon
World War I began in August of 1914.After over two years of neutrality,the US officially entered the war on 06 April 1917 when Congress passed a resolution declaring war on Germany.At that time,the country could only muster around 130,000 soldiers.The nation quickly mobilized.According to General John Pershing in his “My Experiences in the World War,Volume II,” on 31 October 1918 the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in France consisted of 76,800 officers and 1,790,823 enlisted troops.Furthermore,in 1918 they were arriving in France at a rate of 250,000 men per month.This was an amazing accomplishment in such a compressed timeline.According to Stephan Herring, 1,500 Framingham residents registered for service. Approximately 1,100 served,with half actually deployed overseas.There were 33 deaths,with 12 killed in action.
General John J. Pershing, AEF Commanding Officer
Image: Missouri Military Portraits
US troops disembark from a transport ship (1918)
Image: USAHEC
American troops’ first true “baptism of fire” took place in May of 1918 at Cantigny,France.This was a successful,one US division (around 28,000 men) attack.In early June,two US divisions stopped the 1918 German Spring Offensive’s advance on Paris near Chateau-Thierry.In July,nine American divisions were involved in a counter-attack against a salient (or “bulge”) in the lines near Chateau-Thierry.With each battle, “green” American troops gained hard fought experience and learned to collaborate and operate with their French and British Allies.
Image: National WW1 Museum and Memorial
Around 300,000 American “doughboys” participated in the 2nd Battle of the Marne,which took place in July and August.In September,550,000 US troops (and 110,000 French soldiers) reduced another “bulge” in the line near St. Mihiel. The Meuse-Argonne Offensive was a part of the final Allied offensive of World War I.It was fought from 26 September until 11 November 1918,when the Armistice was signed.It was the largest operation of the AEF in World War I,with over a million Americans participating.This battle resulted in over 26,000 “leathernecks” and “doughboys” being killed in action (KIA) and over 120,000 total casualties.
Western Front 1918
Image: US Army Center of Military History.
The US sustained more than 320,000 casualties in WWI,including over 53,000 killed in action,which was less than 63,000 non-combat related deaths,in no small part due to the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918,and 204,000 wounded.
Framingham’s World War One (WW1) Unsung Heroes
Corporal John F. Jordan, US Army
John Francis Jordan was born in Framingham on 08 February 1898. He lived on Hayes Street.John joined the Army at the age of 16, just in time to participate in the 1916 raid into Mexico to track and capture Mexican outlaw Pancho Villa.The expedition was led by US Army General John J. Pershing,who would later be designated the head of the AEF.
John Jordan served in the AEF from 07 September 1917 until 05 April 1919.He was assigned to Company L,101st Infantry Regiment of the 26th Infantry Division.The 26th was also known as the “Yankee Division” due to its New England National Guard roots (primarily the 5th, 6th and 9th MANG Infantry Regiments).
WWI Yankee Division Patch
Image: Public Domain
Corporal John F. Jordan
John was awarded a “Silver Star” for his Victory Medal for his actions on 01 July at Chateau-Thierry.Of note: at that time, the Silver Star Medal did not exist (it was not established as an individual medal until 19 July 1932).The Citation and Star for the ribbon was its equivalent.He was also cited for “marked gallantry” during the 2nd Battle of the Marne,specifically during the period 18-25 July 1918.
Victory Medal w/Silver Star
John was discharged on 28 April 1919.Upon his return to Framingham,he was employed by Dennison Manufacturing from 1919-1933.He would later work for the Department of Labor as the Supervisor of the Regional Wage-And-Hour Division.His office was in Worcester.During WWII, he would become the Deputy Director of the town’s Civil Defense unit.He was also a Town Meeting Member for 18 years.He would be selected as Commander of the Framingham American Legion Post-74.Post-74 was named after Corporal James J. McGrath who was killed in action on 31 May 1918.McGrath was also a member of Company L of the 101st Infantry Regiment.John passed away on 03 November 1984 at the age of 88.
Of note: four members of the Jordan family, 3 brothers and a cousin served in France. They were:
Prior to the war they all worked at Adams Express Company.
John F. Jordan
Images: Framingham History Center (FHC)
Sergeant Gustave Herman Carlson, US Army
Gustave Carlson was born on 30 September 1894.He grew up on Apple Street and later lived on both Waverly and Gilbert Streets.He enlisted in the Army on 17 April 1917.He was a member of Company B, of the 26th Infantry Division’s 104th Infantry Regiment.Gustave was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for extraordinary heroism near Verdun on 15 October 1918.He was severely wounded on 10 November 1918,for which he received a Purple Heart.Before the end of the war,he was also awarded the “Silver Star” for his Victory Medal and the French Croix de Guerre for bravery.
DSC
Victory Medal with Star
Purple Heart
French Croix de Guerre
Gustave’s first job on his return from Europe was as a Shipper for Dennison Manufacturing.He would later embark upon a career with the US Postal Service.He passed away on 08 May 1953.
Private James Alphonsus Cunningham
James A. Cunningham was born on 06 January 1892.At the time, his family lived on Grant Street.In 1910,he was a Dennison Manufacturing employee.He enlisted in the Army on 31 May 1917. He was assigned to the First Infantry Division’s Company A of the 2nd Machine Gun Battalion.James was wounded in action on 12 September 1918 during the St. Mihiel Offensive.He was later cited by the First Division for “gallantry in action and especially meritorious service.” The 2nd Machine Gun Battalion was awarded the French Croix de Guerre three times.
WWI First Infantry Division Patch
Purple Heart
Victory Medal
French Croix de Guerre (3 awards)
James was discharged from the Army on 30 January 1919.He returned to Framingham where he was again employed by Dennison as a Draftsman.He passed away on 08 September 1974 at 82 years old.
The 31 May 1918 Rupt-de-Mad Raid
Image: FHC
On 31 May 18, Co. L of the 101st Infantry Regiment participated in a trench raid in the vicinity of the Rupt-de-Mad Creek,near Toul,France.The 300 man raid was conducted to collect intelligence, capture prisoners and seize weapons.Four Framingham men participated – James J. Mc Grath, Frederick S. Murphy,James J. Gilleran and John P. Dunn.It is also likely John Jordan was also involved.As previously discussed,Corporal James Mc Grath was killed during this engagement.Sergeant Frederick S. Murphy was also killed by gas.Fred was eventually awarded the “Silver Star” for his Victory Medal.Like John Jordan,he also participated in the 1916 Mexican Expedition.James J. Gilleran and John P. Dunn were both wounded by gas.John was also severely wounded on 26 September 1918. Gilleran would become a Clerk at R.H.Long Manufacturing.Dunn later served as the Framingham Town Treasurer.
Sergeant Fred Murphy
Image: FHC
Post-Raid Picture
Image: FHC
First Division Museum at Cantigny Park, Illinois
“Framingham, An American Town,” by Stephan Herring
The Framingham History Center
The Library of Congress
Massachusetts National Guard, Historical Services Directorate
The National Archives
National Museum of the United States Army
The National WWI Museum and Memorial
“Official Programme for the Home Coming of the 26th Infantry Division,” 26th Infantry Division, 1919
“My Experiences in the World War, Volume II,” by General John J. Pershing, 1931
“Report of the Commission on Massachusetts' Part in the World War” by the Commission on Massachusetts' Part in the World War (Stevens, Jesse F. Stevens, 1929)
U.S. Army Center of Military History
