The Veterans - Solomon B Osborn

Solomon Barrett Osborn was born February 9 1896 in Pawling, NY to James and Lucinda Barrett Osborn. He served in World War 1.

He was Inducted September 26 1917 in Dutchess county, NY.
He served Overseas from Jan 15, 1918 to June 18 1919.
He was in  Company I 308 Infantry until October 27 1917, which was part of the 77th Division,
then MTC (Motor Transport Corps) 360 American Mission Reserve Mallet until Discharge June 25 1919 The Reserve Mallet was organized from members of the former American Field Service and were responsible for transport of equipment and ammunitions.

Although we do not exactly which missions Solomon was involved with, the Reserve Mallet participated in
Cambrai  Offensive Nov 25 1917
Somme Defensive March 21 1918
Aisne Defensive May 27 1918
Mondidler-Noyon Defensive, June 9 1918
Champagne-Marne Defensive July 15 1918
Aisne-Marne Offensive July 18 1818
Somme Offensive Aug 8 1918
Oise-Aisne Offensive Sept 10 1918
Meuse-Argonne Offensive Oct 1 1918

Solomon returned to  his home in 1919. On 29th of February, 1920 he married Blanche Lutz in Patterson, Putnam County, NY. He had a daughter, Ruth  and son Donald. He owned a service station in Downtown Pawling.  he was a member of  both the Pawling Baptist Church and the Pawling Grange. Solomon died 27 July 1982 in Mount Kisco, Westchester county, NY. He is buried in the Pawling Cemetery, Dutchess county, NY.

The Veterans - George Dykeman

George Raymond Dykeman born 17 Oct 1894 in Pawling, Dutchess County, NY to Peter and Effie K. Hooker Dykeman. 

In the  4 Dec 1917 paper, The Poughkeepsie Enterprise has George on a list of  drafted men who were leaving tomorrow. 

He was Inducted Dec 5 1917 in Millbrook, NY and started at Camp Upton. He served Overseas from April 16, 1918 to April  18 1919. He was in  Company A 305 Infantry, then the Machine Gun company 305 Infantry until Discharge, which was May 9 1919. 

The 305th was Part of the 77th Division, which has also been called "New York's own" as the men it included were primarily from  NY city and the surrounding counties.The 77th Infantry Division was the first United States Army division to arrive in France in World War I.

The division began leaving Camp Upton on March 28, 1918, and sailed from Boston, Portland (Maine), via Halifax and New York City. With the exception of the artillery, all units proceeded through Liverpool, across England and landed at Calais, France. 

Campaigns George was known to be involved in were:
June 21 1918-August 18 1918 Baccarat Sector
August 18 1918 - Sept 6 1918 Vesle Sector
Meuse- Argonne Offensive September 26 1918-Nov 11 1918
.
George returned to  his home in 1919. In 09 Aug 1925  he married his brother's sister-in-law, Flossie B Ellis. He had four sons, Thomas, Robert, Calvin and Albert. He was a Farmer with Brother Henry. Also  a Truck Driver with the Coleman Lumber company. he was a member of  both the Pawling Baptist Church and the Pawling Grange. George died June 11 1979 in Pawling, NY


Sources include:
Poughkeepsie Eagle-News
Poughkeepsie Enterprise
NYS military abstracts
77th Division memorial poster
Debra Fraser Dykeman
Ginger Dykeman Sheldon
Henry Dykeman Jr.
Jean Wright Dykeman
History of the Victorious 77th booklet
Poughkeepsie Journal

The Veterans - Lester A Cornell

Lester Cornell, born Nov 20 1889 in Amawalk, Westchester county, New York to Joshua Cornell and  Alice Cornell. Inducted May 25 1918  in Westchester County, NY. 

Served overseas from June 1918 to June 1919. Co H 2nd Pioneer Infantry, Then HQ Company 2 Pioneer Infantry, then 207 MP until discharge.

The 2nd Pioneer Infantry went overseas to France prior to the 1st Pioneer Infantry.The 2nd landed at Bordeaux and from there went to Bassens, in the Gironde to become acclimated and readied for service at the front.

 Some Companies  were put into service acting as guards and military police from the time of their arrival  in various French cities. In many cases, this MP service continued the entire time they were overseas. 

Other companies of the  2nd Pioneer Infantry had the job of building roads through the thickly forested terrain, salvaging ammunition from burnt-out trucks and abandoned artillery positions and helping bring supplies forward.

Until we find Lester's full military record we do not know what service Lester actually did or what action he may have seen.  Lester returned home in the summer of 1919, and returned to his life as a carpenter. In 1923, he married Florence Purdy and they raised a family in Yorktown Heights, NY.  Lester was afflicted in later years with arthritis, and died in  August of 1978. He is buried in Amawalk cemetery, not far from where he was born.