My Great Grandfather was a great man. I never got to meet him, as he died in '75 and I was born in '90. Every older person in town knew of him and speeks highly of him. He was a hardworking and honest man. He never swore or drank or even raised his voice after the war. He married and raised a family. He became a higherupper at the American Optical Factory in town, help make pilot goggles and sniper lenses.

He joined the Army in April 1918. He trained at Camp Devens. He was in the Infantry. In a few different companies while here. He set sail for combat in France in mid July 1918 with Co I 163rd Inf. He was in France for a short bit before he got transferred into Co D 58th Infantry 4th Inf Div. He was gassed in action. He saw combat at Vesle Sector, Toulon Sector, St Mihiel Offensive and Meuse Argonne Offensive. His Capt told Charles flank on the right to keep moving forward and not to give up, so they gave it all they had. His Capt John H Rodman moved to the middle and left flanks and ordered a retreat, he never made it back to my great grandpas flank. His comrades were killed in action, and for over 24hrs he was alone dodging machine gun fire and snipers and shells. Bullets flew by him like rain. The following night he was wounded and captured on Oct 1st 1918. He went through hell in the POW camps for over 2 months before they got freed.

When my grandfathers (a WWII USN Vet) passed away, I found a box with all my great grandfathers medals, dog tags (cord soaked in blood stains), pictures, letters he wrote home and also his MIA letter the army sent the family and a letter from Capt H Rodman years and years after the war appologizing that he was captured. My great grandfather was a true war hero. In a letter he wrote home he said " America is a nation worth fighting for, everyday I thank God I am an American ". I respect the hell out of him and all WW1 Veterans, what they went through was so awful. We should never forget them all.

Charles Thompson (1893)