The first draft for WWI is complete.  Have begun working on the WWII list.

Progress on the book

I've returned to this project (FINALLY) and have a first draft for 108 of the 135 World War I names. Truly amazing stories. Lots of deaths from pneumonia/influenza. Three suicides.

Clarence Ernest Livingston - WWII

Clarence Ernest Livingston (WWII) died in an apparent accident when he fell from his ship (USS Breton) while it was under full power maneuvers. He was sighted in the waters but by the time the ship turned around he was lost. His body was never recovered. He is memorialized on the West Coast Memorial in the Presidio in San Francisco, Calif.

Research Resuming

Over the past 2 weeks, I have once again began research for the book. I have researched 4 entries and almost have them ready to publish.

Major Delay in Publication

Because of the sudden, unexpected death of my husband of 31 years, publication of the book has been delayed for approximately one year.

While I am deeply distressed over this delay, it just cannot be helped. I am too overwhelmed at the moment to continue to the research.

Frieda

Carrol E. Ballenger

Carrol E. Ballenger
34385462

Conflict: World War II
Branch of Service: U.S. Army
Unit: 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division
Rank: Private First Class
Serial Number: 34385462
Death: 23 June 1944 in France
Cemetery: Plot H, Row 27, Grave 28, Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-mer, France
Medals / Citations / Awards: Purple Heart


Carrol E. Ballenger was born 21 December 1921, a son of Paul Edward and Mattie C. Ballenger of Inman, S.C. He had the following brothers: Charles, Maxie, Bernard, and W. Marshall.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army 10 September 1942. He received his training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and Camp McCoy, Wis. He went overseas in November 1943. He was killed in action in France 23 June 1944 and was temporarily interred at the U.S. Military Cemetery, St. Laurent Sur Mer #1, St. Laurent Sur Mer, France, Grave 168, Row 9, Plot M.

Sources:
American Battle Monuments Commission n.d.
Spartanburg Herald Journal
Military Personnel Record

Robert Franklin Ballard

Robert Franklin Ballard
34644206

Conflict: World War II
Branch of Service: U. S. Army
Unit: Co. G, 187th Glider Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division
Rank: Private
Serial Number: 34644206
Death: 15 February 1945 in Ft. McKinley, Luzon Island, Philippine Islands
Cemetery: Plot D, Row 4, Grave 95, Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines
Medals / Citations / Awards: Purple Heart

Robert Franklin Ballard was born 31 May 1923 in Spartanburg, S.C. He was a cotton mill worker when he was inducted into service at Ft. Jackson, S.C., 30 January 1943. His induction papers indicate that he smoked cigarettes and that he had broken the second finger on his left hand in 1938. At some point he was transferred to Camp Mackall, N.C., for it was there on 23 October 1943 that he was bitten by a snake. Records indicate the he was crawling through the brush and was bitten on the back of the left hand. A tourniquet was applied and an anti-toxin administered (even though they indicated that they did not know what kind of snake had bitten him). He returned to duty on the 27th. On 5 January 1944, he was on a troop train from Camp Mackall, N.C. When he pulled a mattress down from an upper berth he knocked down the board separating the beds. It fell on his right foot breaking his second toe. He was assigned to Service Co., 511th Parachute Infantry, Camp Toccoa, Ga., and was sent to Camp Polk., La., for training. In April 1944, Pvt. Ballard and two others in his unit were Court Martialed for being absent without leave at Camp Polk, La. He was found guilty and sentenced to 5 months confinement and hard labor at the Camp Polk Stockade. His sentence was remitted.
He was placed on parachute jumping status 17 June 1944. He was killed in action 15 February 1945 in the Southwest Pacific Area. His death record indicates that he was killed instantly by a gunshot wound to his neck.
His mother was Matilda Gray Ballard 209 Johnson St., Arcadia, S.C. He also had a brother Eugene.

Sources:
American Battle Monuments Commission n.d.
Military Personnel Record

Robert Smith Bailey

Robert Smith Bailey
4138416

Conflict: World War I
Branch of Service: U. S. Army
Unit: Battery B, 3rd Regiment Field Artillery
Rank: Private
Serial Number: 4138416
Death: 12 October 1918
Cemetery: Oakwood Cemetery, Spartanburg, S.C.
Medals / Citations / Awards:

Robert Smith Bailey was born in Anderson Co., S.C., 4 September 1891. He entered the Army 29 August 1918. He was assigned to Co. K, 2 Prov Regiment, 156 Depot Brigade until 31 September1918. At that point, he was assigned to Battery B, 3rd Regiment Field Artillery, Replacement Draft Camp Jackson, Columbia, S.C. He was to have been appointed meat inspector for the government. All the papers had been completed and sent to Washington for approval when he was stricken with influenze which developed into pneumonia. He died at the Camp Jackson Base Hospital 5 October1918. He was married to Iris Gentry, wife, Spartanburg, S.C., who was at his bedside when he died.
He was a business man with the wholesale brokerage firm of Erwin & Bailey of Spartanburg.
The funeral was held at the home of his in-laws: M. O. and Sara Gentry, 132 North Dean St., Spartanburg. Services were conducted by Rev. J. J. Gentry of the Southside Baptist Church. Private Bailey was a member of the First Baptist Church and a Mason. He was buried in Oakwood Cemetery with Masonic Honors.

James D. Bailey

James D. Bailey
34650703

Conflict: World War II
Branch of Service: U. S. Army
Unit:
Rank: Private First Class
Serial Number: 34650703
Death: 31 January 1944 in Italy
Cemetery: Cowpens City Cemetery
Medals / Citations / Awards:
Additional Information: DOW - Died of wounds - from Cowpens
(South Carolina. Adjutant-General's Office 1972)

James D. Bailey was born 16 January 1923 in North Carolina, a son of Preston H. and Janie Viola Bailey of Cowpens, S.C. He had the following siblings: Howard, Robert R., Helen Sue, Janie (or Jennie) C., and Mary V., and Selma M. His father was in banking. In 1920 he was with the Bank of Saluda [N.C.] and in 1930 was listed in the census as a “commercial trader of stocks and bonds”.
Private Bailey served in the 30th Infantry, 3rd Division of the U. S. Army. He had been overseas for five months prior to the report that he was killed in action in Italy on 31 January 1944. He was buried in the Cowpens City Cemetery, Cowpens, S.C.

George Glen Ayers

George Glenn Ayers
5520114

Conflict: World War II
Branch of Service: U. S. Navy
Unit: Naval Reserve
Rank: Seaman, First Class
Death: 14 September 1943 in England
Cemetery: Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England
Burial: MIA or Buried at Sea
Medals / Citations / Awards: World War II Victory Medal; Purple Heart

George Glen Ayers was born 4 December 1922, a son of James Moses and Georgia E. Ayers of Rt. 5, Spartanburg, S.C. He was a Baptist. He had the following siblings: Mary A., Claude G., and Lida. George was the only one in his family born in South Carolina – all the others were born in Tennessee. His father and uncle Daniel Ayers were florists.
He enlisted 3 February 1942 for 3 years. He was serving as an armed guard on an armed merchant ship, the S S. Luckenbach, when it was attacked by an enemy bomber in the Arctic Sea and presumed lost as of 13 November 1943. He is memorialized on the Tablets of Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England.