John Dick Caldwell

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

Birth: 11 April 1894 Springdale, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

Parents: Richard A. Caldwell and Mary Elizabeth Dick

Residence at time of enlistment: Tarentum, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

Physical description: Tall, slender, gray eyes, red hair

Death: Wounded in action 11 October 1918 and died of those wounds 15 October 1918 Nantillois, Meuse, Lorraine, France

Age at death: 24 years old

Last resting place: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia

Military rank: Serial No. 1825314. Sergeant. Company A, 319th Infantry, 80th Division.

Additional information:

John D. Caldwell was employed by the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company at the time he completed his World War I draft card in 1917. Though he had been born and raised in Allegheny County, he co-existed in Greene County, Pennsylvania, where his father Richard A. Caldwell was a respected pharmacist for many years. John listed his father's Waynesburg address as his emergency contact on his military paperwork and it is to this location in Greene County that the telegram announcing his death arrived.

On 17 May 1918, Caldwell sailed with his comrades out of Newport News, Virginia, aboard the Madawaska, bound for service in Europe. He was wounded in battle 11 October 1918 and died from those wounds 15 October 1918.

SOURCES:

  • Find a Grave, database and digital images (www.findagrave.com : viewed 2 October 2018), Find a Grave memorial no. 57041806 for Sgt. John Dick Caldwell (11 Apr 1894–15 Oct 1918), citing Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia; maintained by Anne Cady (contributor 46985237).
  • "Greene County Heroes Who Lost Their Lives in the Service of their Country in the Recent World War and Roster of Greene County Veterans" special edition of the Democrat Messenger (Waynesburg, Pennsylvania), no date though most likely published 4 July 1919 for the community-wide celebrations.
  • "United States, Army Transport Service Passenger Lists 1910-1939," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=61174 : accessed 28 April 2018), John D. Caldwell entry, line 28, page 2 (handwritten), Madawaska, box 485; 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.
  • "United States, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=6482 : accessed 29 April 2018), John Dick Caldwell draft card, serial no. 1167, Local Draft Board, 1st Precinct, Tarentum, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; citing National Archives microfilm publication M1509, FHL roll 1852392.
  • "WWI Veterans Service and Compensation Files, 1917-1919, 1934-1948," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60884 : accessed 28 April 2018), Mary Elizabeth Caldwell, mother of John Dick Caldwell - application no. 117626; citing World War I Veterans Service and Compensation File, 1934–1948 (RG 19, Series 19.91), Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.