Alfred M. Johnson's Army Discharge Paper
I was fortunate to receive this original document a while back. This family treasure has thankfully been saved through the years. The first to keep it was his wife Olena (Haner) Johnson/Culbertson (1903-1996), and then she passed it along to their son, Lloyd Johnson (1923-2014). Lloyd's daughter gave it to me. Alfred was my paternal grandfather.
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| IMAGE: Scanned image of fragile original document. Honorable Discharge Form No. 525 for Alfred M. Johnson's separation from the U.S. Army on 18 March 1919. [Front] |
The content of this document includes handwritten entries in red and rubber-stamped entries in purple.
-------- transcription begins of front --------
Honorable Discharge from The United States Army
[rubber stamped form]
STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA,
ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE,
BISMARCK.
THIS DISCHARGE WAS PRESENTED FOR VERIFICATION
Jan. 21, 1922 AND THE AMOUNT OF $ 450.
OF THE CLAIM UNDER PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 206, SESSION LAWS.
1919 AS AMENDED, ASSIGNED TO
Oscar Gilbertson, Douglas, N. Dak.
WILL BE PAID DIRECT TO THE ASSIGNEE.
[signed] G. A. Fraser,
ADJUTANT GENERAL
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
This is to Certify, That * Alfred M Johnson
†2,113,931 Ch. Mec. 335th FA (Car Det 111)
UNITED STATES ARMY, as a Testimonial of Honest and Faithful
Service, is hereby Honorably Discharged from the military service
of the United States by reason of ‡ let inst A.G.A. 11/15/18 and WD letter 11/30/18.
Said Alfred M. Johnson was born
in Lake Preston, in the State of So. Dak.
When enlisted he was 23 years of age and by occupation a Carpenter.
He had Blue eyes, Brown hair, Fair complexion, and
was 5 feet 7 inches in height.
Given under my hand at Camp Dodge Iowa. this
18th day of Mar, one thousand nine hundred and Nineteen.
[signed] George M Davis
Major Inf U.S.A.
Commanding.
----------------------------
Form No. 525, A.G.O.
Oct. 9-18.
* Insert name, Christian name first; e.g., "John Doe."
† Insert Army serial number, grade, company and regiment or arm or corps or department; e.g., "1,620,302"; "Corporal,
Company A, 1st infantry"; "Sergeant, Quartermaster Corp"; "Sergeant First Class, Medical Department
‡ If discharge prior to expiration of service, give number, date, and source of order or full description of authority therefor.
3--3164
-------- transcription ends of front --------
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| IMAGE: Scanned image of fragile original document. Honorable Discharge Form No. 525 for Alfred M. Johnson's separation from the U.S. Army on 18 March 1919. [Back] |
-------- transcription begins of back --------
ENLISTMENT RECORD.
Name: Alfred M. Johnson Grade: Ch. Mec.
Enlisted, or Inducted, Sept 18, 1917, at Minot No. Dak.
Serving in First. enlistment period at date of discharge.
Prior Service: * None.
Noncommissioned officer: Mec. to Ch. Mec.
Marksmanship, gunner qualification or rating: † None
Horsemanship: Not Mounted
Battles, engagements, skirmishes, expeditions: A.E. F.
[Rubber Stamped Form]
INTER-URBAN RAILWAY
Ticket from Camp Dodge to
Minot ND
Form S3 No.4064
Date Issued Mar-18-19
H.E. LAVE??, Agen
Knowledge of any vocation: Carpenter
Wounds received in service: None.
Physical condition when discharged: Good
Typhoid prophylaxis completed Oct 11-17
Paratyphoid prophylaxis completed " " "
Married or Single: Single
Character: Excellent
[Rubber Stamped Form]
FORWARDED JUN 6, 1921
APPROVED BY R.E. Firth
FOR VICTORY MEDAL WITH
FRANCE
R.E. FRITH, LT. COL. U.S.A. RETIRED
Remarks: No A.W.O.L. or lost time under GO 31, or 45 Service
honest and faithful. Entitled to travel pay
Serving in Btry "A" 338th F.A. 88 Div. Transferred
to Camp Pike Ark 335th F.A. Service in France, Arr in U.S. Mar 5-19. Left Sept 1st-18
Signature of soldier: Alfred M Johnson
[signed] Roy W. Kenny [??]
1st F.A. U.S.A.
Commanding Det 111
[Rubber Stamped Form]
CAMP DODGE, IOWA
MAR 18 1919
PAID IN FULL $119.65 "INCLUDING BONUS $60.00"
[signed] A.A. Padmone
CAPT. QUARTERMASTER, U.S.A.
* Give company and regiment or corp or department, with inclusive dates of service in each enlistment.
† Give date of qualification or rating and number, date, and source of order announcing same.
3--3164
-------- transcription ends of back --------
I posted this today in observance of Veterans Day 2016. Since I have never seen a form like this before, I thought you too would be pleased to see it.
By a quick review we learn that Alfred's last rank was Chief Mechanic. He entered the U.S. Army in Minot, North Dakota on 17 September 1917. Before his enlistment, he had been a carpenter and he was single. At first, he was a member of the newly formed 88th Division at Camp Dodge, that is located in the town of Johnston, Iowa. Here he received basic training and was assigned to Battery A of the 335th Field Artillery Brigade, until 30 November 1917. He was then sent to Camp Pike, Little Rock, Arkansas to complete his training in preparation for service in France; he was assigned to Battery C of the 335th Field Artillery Battalion of the 87th Division. In June 1918, Alfred and his comrades would begin the trip to France, first stopping in Fort Dix, New Jersey. His battle experience is listed as A.E.F., which stands for American Expeditionary Forces. On 1 September 1918 he left for France, traveling first by train and then by ship across the Atlantic. Upon arrival in France, his Division was turned over to Service of Supply and sent to Pons, France. In Pons, the Division was broken up and units were placed on various work details (a pool of laborers) in the intermediate section. He arrived back in the United States on 5 March 1919, where he was sent again to Camp Dodge, Iowa. Here he was discharged on 18 March 1919 and returned home. For his overseas service he was awarded a Victory Medal with France. That is a lot of travel for a young man from North Dakota. [1,2,3]
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| IMAGE: Snippet of page 1529, of Roster of Men and Women who Served in WWI from North Dakota. [3] |
After his service in France he would return to North Dakota, marry my grandmother, Olena and begin to have a family; but that is a story I'll save for another day.
Sources in addition to Alfred's Record:
1.) "Order of Battle-American Forces-World War I," New River Notes (http://www.newrivernotes.com : accessed 10 November 2016), Eighty Seventh Division (National Army).
2.) "87th Infantry Division (United States)," Wikipedia (https:en.wikipedia.org : accessed 10 November 2o16); revised 10 October 2016.
3.) "Roster of the men and women who served in the army or naval service (including the Marine Corps) of the United States or its allies from the state of North Dakota in the World War, 1917-1918, Vols. 1-4," Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 November 2016) p. 1529, Alfred M. Johnson, Army Number 2,113,931.
I hope you enjoyed this report as much as I enjoyed preparing it. In observance of Veterans Day 2016 in the United States, please take a moment to think of those family members who serve or have served in the military for us. Have a nice day.
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