Minor
M. Coleman, Private, U.S. Army:
Served as a laborer in the Office of
the Coast and Geodetic Survey from July 12, 1917, to September 15, 1917,
when his resignation was accepted on account of his having been drafted
into the military service of the United States. He was honorably discharged
at Camp Shelby, Miss., on July 26, 1919.
Luther
H. Conoly, Private, U.S. Army:
Served
as a foreman, hand, with one of the field parties operated under the
Division of Geodesy until April 30, 1918, when he separated from the
party and entered the U.S. Army as a private.
Cornelius
N. Conover, Lieutenant, U.S.N.R.F.:
On September
24, 1917, by Executive Order No. 2707, he was transferred with the
Coast and Geodetic Survey Steamer BACHE to the service and jurisdiction
of the Navy Department. Previous to his transfer he was Chief Engineer
on the Steamer BACHE.
On October
19, 1917, he was enrolled as Lieutenant (j.g.) in the U.S. Naval Reserve
Force and was ordered to continue with his duties as Chief Engineer
of the U.S.S. BACHE, in which capacity he served until November 16,
1918, when he was transferred to the Naval Sea Transportation Service,
and on July 21, 1920, he was transferred to the U.S.S. TRINITY. At
this date he is still in the active service of the Navy.
His
chief duty during the period of the war was on board of the U.S.S.
BACHE engaged in guard duty off Cape Henry, Va.
Thomas
Cooke, Officer’s Steward, U. S. N. R.
F.:
Transferred
with the Coast and Geodetic Survey Steamer ISIS by Executive Order
No. 2707 on September 24, 1917. He was enrolled in the U.S. Naval
Reserve Force and served on the U.S.S. ISIS as Officer’s Steward
from September 24, 1917, until April 25, 1919 when he returned to
the Coast and Geodetic Survey.
Guy
H. Cooper, Private, U.S. Army:
Served
as a reorder with one of the field parties operated under the Division
of Geodesy until August 20, 1918, where he separated from the party
and entered the U.S. Army as a private.
Harold
A. Cotton, Lieutenant, U.S.N.R.F.:
On September
24, 1917, by Executive Order No. 2707, he was transferred to the services
and jurisdiction of the Navy Department. Previous to his transfer
he was with the Coast and Geodetic Survey as a commissioned Junior
hydrographic and Geodetic Engineer. Effective from the date of his
transfer he was enrolled as Lieutenant (j.g.) in the U.S. Naval Reserve
Force and on March 8, 1919, he was promoted to Lieutenant, U.S.N.R.F.
He served on the U.S.S. BACHE as navigating Officer from September
24, 1917, to January 9, 1918, when he was assigned to the duty of
Executive Officer until November 16, 1918, when he was assigned as
Commanding Officer of the vessel, and he served in that capacity until
the vessel was returned to the Coast and Geodetic Survey, on June
20, 1919. For detailed information relating to services, reference
is made to the activities of the U.S.S. BACHE referred to in another
part of this report under the heading of “Vessels of the Coast
and Geodetic Survey”.
He was
detached from active duty with the U. S. N. R. F. on July 8, 1919,
and returned to the Coast and Geodetic Survey on July 10, 1919.
George
D. Cowie, Captain, Coast Artillery Corps, U.
S. A.:
On September
24, 1917, by Executive Order 2707, he was transferred to the services
and jurisdiction of the War Department. Previous to his transfer he
was with the Coast and Geodetic Survey as a Commissioned Hydrographic
and Geodetic Engineer.
Upon
receipt of orders to report for duty at the Coast Artillery School
he proceeded to Ft. Monroe, Va., on October 5, 1917, and entered the
2nd Training Camp as a student.
After
completing the course at the school he volunteered for immediate service
in France and sailed from New York on December 24, 1917, via Halifax,
Liverpool and Southampton arriving at Le Havre, France, three weeks
later.
Soon
after arriving at the American Railway Artillery School at Mailly-le-camp,
Marne, and after a month of inaction, he volunteered for duty as an
Aerial Observer, eventually being attached for duty with Battery C,
52nd Railway Artillery then in camp at Haussimont, Marne.
While
at this camp his duties consisted of infantry drill, gas drill, gun
drill and school instructing.
In March
he went with his Battery to St. Germaine, Neurtheote-Moselle, (Luneville
Bacarrat Sector), and until July, 1918, was engaged in the construction
of a large ammunition dump, light and standard gauge railways, and
in gun drills with the large railway guns. During this time occasional
excitement was added by German bombing planes, and enemy gun-fire
when details were removing ammunition from positions beyond Luceville,
but on the whole the sector was quiet.
During
July and August he was with his outfit engaged on railway construction
near Avrainville, north of Toul, on the spur-line tracks leading to
large-railway gun positions for the St. Mihiel offensive. During this
time the German bombers were particularly active.
In September
he acted as Battalion orienteer and did survey and construction duty
in connection with emplacing and firing the 15" railway guns
on positions near Barnecourt and Neviant, and in the vicinity of Pont-a-Mousson,
during the St. Mihiel offensive.
Following
this he performed similar duty preceding and during the Meuse-Argonne
offensive while his Battalion was in position near Verdun. During
both of these engagements the enemy gun fire was fairly heavy causing
considerable damage to the railway tracks and positions but fortunately
little damage to the gun crews. By the middle of October, the American
Forces having advanced considerably to the north of Verdun and the
batteries in positions near Verdun being used only for desultory firing
to the eastward of the Meuse River, he was sent with Battery C, 52nd.
Artillery which he now commanded, to assist in rebuilding the railway
line from Verdun toward Sedan. The battery after living in pup tents
near the ruined village of Chattancourt finally managed to get comfortable
billets in the old French dug-outs at Dead Man’s Hill, and remained
there until after the Armistice was signed.
Following
this he returned with his battery to Haussimont, Marne, put the guns
in order for transfer back to the French Army and was then transferred
to command of Battery F 42nd Artillery.
While
waiting at Nantes and St. Nazaire for transportation to the states
he acted as Commander of the 3rd Battalion, 42nd, during which time
this battalion participated in formal ceremonies with the French,
had the colors of Battery E decorated, and a number of men and officers
awarded the Croix-de-Guerre and D.S.C.
At St.
Nazaire he commanded a battalion escort of honor to General Pershing
on the occasion of his visit to inspect the troops waiting for debarkation
in January.
He left
France late in January, served as Police Officer during the trip on
the Transport Vreenland, arrived at Camp Stuart, Va., February 17th,
and moved to Camp Eustis, Virginia a few days later.
From
this time until he was honorably discharged on March 6, 1919, he was
engaged in mustering out those of his Battery (Regular Coast Artillery
Corps), whose periods of enlistment were completed.
He was
discharged at Fort Monroe, Va., and reported on the following day
to the Coast and Geodetic Survey.
John
W. Cox, Second Lieutenant, C. A. R. C., U.
S. Army:
On September
24, 1917, by Executive Order, 2707, he was transferred to the service
and jurisdiction of the War Department. Previous to his transfer he
was with the Coast and Geodetic Survey as a commissioned officer with
the rank of Aid.
On October
3, 1917, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant, Coast Artillery Reserve
Corps, U.S. Army, effective September 24, 1917, and was ordered to
the Coast Artillery School, Fort Monroe, Va., for a course of instruction,
where he arrived on October 4, 1917.
He remained
at the school at the Second Coast Artillery Camp, at Fort Monroe until
November 27, when he was ordered to Fort Caswell, N.C., of the Coast
Defenses of the Cape Fear. Upon arrival there, he was assigned to
the First Company, C.A.C. (Mine Co.) And he remained with that company
during the term while stationed at Fort Caswell except for about one
month during which time he was attached to the Sixth Company C. A.
C.
On January
4, 1918, he was detailed by the Fort Commander for special duty under
Capt. Wagner the Construction Quartermaster, for drawing plans in
connection with construction work. He was relieved from this duty
on February 1, and ordered to build a narrow gauge wooden railroad
about three miles in length for use in hauling materials with mule
drawn carts. For use in this work he had detailed to him thirty soldiers
and also the necessary wagons and drivers.
Beginning
about April 1, 1918, he took a ten weeks course in Heavy Artillery
at Fort Caswell, and thereafter returned to the Mine Company, where
he had training in planting and taking up wires, and while engaged
in this work he also served as instructor in small boat drill.
On May
15, 1918, he was detailed for duty as Police and Prison Officer at
Fort Caswell, and he served in this capacity until September 20, when
he was detached and ordered to the Anti-Aircraft School at Fort Monroe,
Va., for a course in Anti-Aircraft Fire. After completing this course
he was assigned to an overseas unit at Camp Eustis, Va., the Eighth
Anti-Aircraft Battalion, later changed to the Fifteenth A. A. Sector,
but the Armistice was signed before arrangements for transportation
had been completed and the battalion did not go overseas.
He was
honorably discharged from the U.S. Army and returned to the Coast
and Geodetic Survey on December 20, 1918, in accordance with Executive
Order 3029.
