Hi Helen,
The 308th Field Signal Battalion was originally part of the 83rd Division
of the AEF. They had initially been formed as a line division on the
western front. But there was a dire need for Depot Divisions to support
the AEF. They began to stage via Camp Merritt in New Jersey, and sailed to
France during the late spring of 1918. Most of the division arrived in
France by June 28th, 1918. However the previous day the 83rd was
re-designated the 2nd Depot division and the division was stripped of some
units. Among these was the 308th Field Signal Battalion. I'm not sure
what unit they were assigned to after that, but I believe they were sent on
to Cherbourg.
You might be interested in this
picture:
Aviation was originally assigned to the Signal Corps and remained a part of
the Signal Corps until May 1918 when it became the Air Service. Eddie
Rickenbacker joined the Army in April 1917 and was assigned as a driver
with General Pershings Staff in France. He met Billy Mitchell who helped
him get into Aviation and he was assigned to the 94th Aero Pursuit Squadron
in March 1918.
I find it quite doubtful that they men flew together, especially since
Elmer M. Cox was a Private. They may have met somewhere along the line or
been in units with close proximity to each other, but I suspect that is it.
Run some Google searches and you can find plenty of info on Eddie Rickenbacker.
Joel
I am hoping to solve a mystery about a distant relative and hope there
are
a few WWI buffs out there who can help me--
I have a distant relative who was in WWI-- he was from
Indianapolis. Part of his service and obit reads:
After passing through the bitter fighting which took place at
Chateau-Thierry and the Argonne forest and after he had been assigned to
that part of the Army of Occupation stationed near Coblenz, Germany, Elmer
M. Cox, 628 North Temple Avenue, died of broncho-pneumonia on Feb. 28,
1919. Notification of Private Cox's death has been received from the War
Department by his mother, Mrs. Blanch Cox.
Private Cox enlisted at Canton, O., and was assigned to Company G, 332d
Infantry, at Camp Cherman, O. He sailed for France on June 11, 1918,
where he was assigned to Company G, 308th Field Signal Battalion. He was
born in Indianapolis, Dec. 19, 1894.
Crown Hill online records have: Cox, Elmer M, d. 02/02/1920, PVT 1/CL C
308TH BATTY US FLD SIG BAT, Plot: 9 1486, *
The family story circulating is that this soldier flew with Capt. Eddie
Rickenbacker. Being a retired US History teacher-- something tells
me this is not quite right. I think the soldier was on the ground, in
the signal corps-- he may have known Rickenbacker or even flown on a
mission with him, but I don't think he was actually in the air.
Where would I go to get a war record on him? Would Indy have it since
he was a resident of Indy? He is buried at Crown Hill, but the year
of off, so I don't know if the year is the actual burial or if it is just
an error.
Any info on how to untwist the mystery will be
appreciated. Thanks. Helen Zuber Keusch
forever searching the EAKINS, FORD/FOARD, MELTON, WALCUP, SANDEFUR, EZELL,
HANDLEY, THOMASSON, BIGGERSTAFF, ZUBER, GUTEKUNST/GOODART, ANTHIS,
BANGERT, LAND, CRABTREE, BENNETT, EDWARDS, REEVES, WOFFORD families--my
lines; and on hubby's side the families of MEHRINGER, SCHITTER/SCHUETTER,
HOCHGESANG, SCHMITT, HURST, BECHER, KEUSCH, ZIMMERMAN, ACKERMAN, BURGER,
and HOPF (and some side-lines).
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