**Readers desiring a quick review of the US participation in WWI can find a summary in the blog at:
https://storiesyet2btold.blogspot.com/2025/03/framinghams-world-war-one-ww1-unsung_16.html**
Image: Ancestry.com
Earl Forest Blake was born in Framingham on 31 January 1898. His father and mother, Edwin and Isabel lived in South Framingham. His parents were both originally from Maine. Edwin was employed as a laborer. Not much is known about Earl's early life. Like many of his peers, it's unlikely he attended public school. We do know he enlisted in the Massachusetts National Guard on 29 March 1917. His unit, Company E of the 6th Massachusetts National Guard was federalized on 30 March 1917. The US declared war on Germany on 06 April; Earl "mustered-in" on 07 April (Army Serial Number 64559).
Soon thereafter,the 26th Infantry Division was established. The 26th was known as the “Yankee Division” due to its New England National Guard roots (primarily the 5th, 6th and 9th MA National Guard Infantry Regiments).The Division had two Infantry Brigades (51st and 52nd), with four total infantry Regiments. The 101st and 102nd Infantry Regiments were assigned to the 51st Brigade; the 103rd and 104th to the 52nd brigade. Earl was one of 100 Massachusetts enlisted men who were assigned to the predominantly Connecticut National Guard 102nd Infantry Regiment. Because of this, his initial training took place in New Haven, CT not Framingham. The 26th was assigned to the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) from 27 October 1917-07 April 1919.
Yankee Division Patch
Image: Public Domain
Earl, arrived in France on or about 27 October 1917 aboard the troop ship ADRIATIC.
ADRIATIC
Image: greatships.net
The 102nd's first significant clash with the enemy took place on 28 February 1918 in the Chemin-des-Dames sector of France. The Chemin-des-Dames (literally "the ladies path") is a 20 mile long ridge line that lies between the Aisne and Ailette Valleys. Its location and underground quarries made it ideal for the building of defensive fortifications. The German attack included both conventional and poison gas artillery shelling.
Soldier and Horse in Gas Masks
Image: The National Archives
Earl was awarded a “Silver Star for his Victory Medal" for his actions on 15 April 1918 in the Toul Sector of the line. His citation indicates it was for "extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy." He was also the recipient of the French Croix de Guerre. This medal was created in 1915 to recognize French soldiers and Allied units for acts of valor and combat bravery. Of note: at that time, the US 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 WWI equivalent. US Veterans having received the Citation and Star were automatically qualified for the Silver Star Medal.
Victory Medal w/Silver Star
French Croix de Guerre
Earl and the 102nd Infantry Regiment also participated in the following significant Allied offensives:
Champagne-Marne - 15-18 July 1918
Aisne-Marne - 18 July-25 July 1918
St. Mihiel - 12-15 September 1918
Meuse-Argonne - 26 September-11 November 1918 (Armistice Day)
Troop Ship AGAMEMNON Arriving in Boston 07 April 1919
Image: Pictorial History of the 26th Division
Earl would depart Brest, France on 31 March 1919 aboard the troop ship AGAMEMNON. The ship arrived in Boston on 07 April 1919. He was discharged from the Army on 29 April 1919.
25 April 1919 Boston Victory Parade for the Returning Yankee Division
Image: Leslie Jones Collection, Boston Public Library
Welcome Home Program for Boston Victory Parade
Image: The Massachusetts and City of Boston Committee of Welcome
In 1920, Earl found gainful employment as a lineman for a local electric company. In 1936, he lived on Hillcrest Street in Framingham. By 1942, he had moved to Franklin where he worked as a lineman for the Union Light and Power Company. At that time, Union Light was the primary electrical provider for Franklin. This was before the creation of major regional providers like New England Electric (eventually National Grid).
Earl passed away on 14 November 1959. His final resting place is in Mount Hope Cemetery in Roslindale, MA.
Sources
"American Armies and Battlefields in Europe," Center of Military History, United States Army, 1938
“Framingham, An American Town,” by Stephan Herring, 2000
The Framingham History Center
"To Conquer Hell, The Meuse-Argonne, 1918," by Edward G. Lengel, 2008
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
"My Experiences in the World War, Volume II,” by General John J. Pershing, 1931
"A Pictorial History of the 26th Division United States Army," by Albert E. George and Capt. Edwin H. Cooper, Ball Publishing Company, Boston, 1920
“Report of the Commission on Massachusetts' Part in the World War," Jesse F. Stevens, 1929
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