Family in World War I

Today is Veteran's Day 2018 and that makes it 100 years since the end of World War I.  I thought I'd bring attention to relatives of mine that were part of WWI.

I don't happen to have any direct ancestors who were in the Great War, due to ages, deaths of my ancestors, so below are all relatives of some sort, not direct ancestors.  I've listed what branch of the armed forces they were in and any other notable information I might have.

I know there are more I haven't found yet, but this is who I have for now!  I also think it's important to note that of the 8 men listed here for my paternal side, 3 of them died from Influenza.  This was the Flu Pandemic of 1918 which unfortunately not many have a memory of as a warning for today. 

Maternal Side

My maternal 1st Cousin 4x removed Edward John KIRBY was a Private in the US Army. He began service on 07 Jun 1917 at the age of 20, he was born in the Finger Lakes area of New York.


My maternal 2nd cousin 3x removed Hiram N. MADIGAN was a Private in the US Army. He grew up on a farm in Ontario County, New York. Here is is mentioned in the 17 Aug 1917 Democrat and Chronicle out of Rochester, NY:

My maternal 3rd cousin 2x removed Clarence Vernon MIX was a Private in the US Army. Born in Kansas, his family moved to Idaho to farm, and he is the older brother of Paul, below.


My maternal 3rd cousin 2x removed Paul Irven MIX was a Private in the US Army. Born in Kansas, his family moved to Idaho to farm, and he is the younger brother of Clarence, above.


Paternal Side

My paternal Great Grand Uncle Anton Roman POKORNOSKI was a Private in the US Army, from 20 Dec 1917 through 20 Nov 1918. He was a farmer by trade, born in Minnesota.  He was 26 when he went to war.


My paternal Great Grand Uncle Michael N. PAWLAK was a Private in the US Army.  He never saw action overseas though, he died in Chicago of Influenza on 07 Oct 1918.  He was only 22 and had lived on a farm his whole live in Minnesota.


My paternal 1st cousin 2x removed Bernard C. HARRISON was in the US Army.


My paternal 1st cousin 3x removed Joseph LEWANDOSKI was a Private in the US Army.  He died in France on 28 Sep 1918 of Influenza.  He was only 24 and had lived on a farm in Minnesota his whole life.


My paternal 1st cousin 3x removed Thomas C. PAWLAK was a Fireman 3rd Class in the US Navy.  Born in Minnesota, he was in the Navy from 15 Dec 1917 through 17 Dec 1918; he was a 22 year old farmer, born in Minnesota.


My paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed Ellis Reuben HARRISON was in the US Army. He died of Influenza at Camp Meade in Maryland on 16 Aug 1918, he was 24 years old and had always lived in Maryland. Here he is listed on a Death List within a long article about the current state of the Flu epidemic in the 15 Oct 1918 Baltimore Sun:

My paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed Freddie Eugene HARRISON was in the US Army.


My paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed John William BURDETTE was in the US Army.