Alfred Roy McCarty

The following profile was researched and compiled by Candice L. Buchanan and Glenn J. R. T. Toothman III, for RainDayBoys.com.

Birth: November 1892 Washington County, Pennsylvania

Parents: James F. McCarty and Sarah Wilson

Residence at time of enlistment: Washington County, Pennsylvania

Physical description: 5 feet 3 inches tall, fair complexion, brown eyes, brown hair

Death: Drowned while in service 27 August 1918, France

Age at death: 25 years old

Last resting place: 3 November 1921 Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia

Military rank: Serial No. 1241535. Private. Alfred served in three different units during World War I, and also served on the Mexican Border in 1916. His service history is as follows:

1 July 1916 to 30 October 1916 Mexican Border -  Company K, 10th Pennsylvania National Guard

15 July 1917 to 2 May 1918 World War I - Company K, 110th Infantry, 28th Division

3 May 1918 to 5 June 1918 World War I - 153rd Depot Brigade, 12th Training Battalion, 46th Company

6 June 1918 to 27 August 1918 World War I - Company H, 147th Infantry, 37th Division

Additional information:

Alfred was orphaned at a young age. His father, James F. McCarty, died in 1896, and his mother, Sarah (Wilson) McCarty, died in 1900. The couple rest in Chartiers Crossroads Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Washington County, Pennsylvania. In the 1900 Census, Alfred and his brother, Evert, are living with the family of James and Elizabeth (Sellin) Durkin. Though listed as stepsons by the census taker, the boys may not have been actually related to the Durkins at all. 

When Alfred filled in the contact person on his military enlistment papers in 1917/18, he provided the name of a friend, J. Edward Ryan, from Washington, Pennsylvania. The Ryan family took Alfred in shortly after his mother died and raised him like a son. His presence in the Durkin home during the 1900 Census, was seemingly an emergency and temporary placement. Alfred's mother's obituary was published 6 June 1900, the census taker visited 16 June 1900.

Before entering the military, Alfred worked for the Jessop Steel Company plant and the Tyler Tube and Pipe Company plant.

Transferred from Company K on May 2, 1918, the day before they shipped out to Europe, Alfred left over a month later with Company H, on board the Pocahontas, 22 June 1918.

Little is known about his drowning death while in the service in France, but his obituaries indicate it was accidental.

SOURCES:

  • 1900 U.S. census, Chartiers Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, 2nd precinct, enumeration district (ED) 136, page 96A (stamped)/14 (written), dwelling 247, family 262, James Durkin household; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.Ancestry.com : accessed 10 March 2018); National Archives microfilm publication T623, FHL microfilm 1,241,493.
  • "Alfred McCarty Makes Supreme Sacrifice" article, Washington Reporter, Washington, Pennsylvania, 27 September 1918. Research credit to Diane Moore-Hoyt for discovering the article and sharing it via Facebook on the "Washington County PA genealogy research group" page..
  • "Alfred R. McCarty Drowned in France" article, The Daily Notes, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, 24 September 1918. Research credit to Diane Moore-Hoyt for discovering the article and sharing it via Facebook on the "Washington County PA genealogy research group" page.
  • Find a Grave, database and digital images (www.findagrave.com : viewed 2 October 2018), Find a Grave memorial no. 57192953 for Pvt Alfred Roy McCarty (Nov 1892–27 Aug 1918, citing Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia; maintained by Anne Cady (contributor 46985237).
  • Mrs. A. A. Thompson obituary, The Daily Notes, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, 6 June 1900. Research credit to Diane Moore-Hoyt for discovering the article and sharing it via Facebook on the "Washington County PA genealogy research group" page.
  • "PA National Guard Veterans' Card File, 1867-1921," digital images, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), Pennsylvania State Archives Records Information Access System (www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us/archive.asp: viewed 10 March 2018), Alfred Roy McCarty, Private, Co K, 10th Inf., P. N. G.; citing series #19.135.
  • "United States, Army Transport Service Passenger Lists 1910-1939," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=61174 : accessed 10 March 2018), Alfred McCarty entry, line 176, sheet 11 (written), Pocahontas, box 529; citing Lists of Outgoing Passengers, 1917-1938. Textual records. 255 Boxes. NAI: 6234477. Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985. Record Group Number 92. National Archives, College Park, Maryland.
  • "WWI Veterans Service and Compensation Files, 1917-1919, 1934-1948," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60884 : accessed 10 March 2018), Alfred R. McCarty file (no application for compensation submitted, but military records included); citing World War I Veterans Service and Compensation File, 1934–1948 (RG 19, Series 19.91), Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.