Kenneth Russell Jameson, A Member Of The Old Corps

A few months back I was doing some genealogy work on my wife's family. The family is a local family of where I live now. So its not a problem to visit the cemeteries that my wife's family members graves are in. I came across a grave of a distant relative of hers, who had a interesting marker on his grave. The Grave said his name, Corporal, US Army, WWI, date of birth and date of death. Below it said "Died of his wounds received in France", age 17 year old, some months and some days.

World War I or the Great War is becoming a forgotten war here in the states. The last American veteran of World War I, Frank Buckles, died earlier this year. In schools today, its looked at like a war from our history, instead of modern war as taught when I was in school.

Being a former US Marine I wanted to talk a little about a very honorable man that we are related to. Kenneth Russell Jameson was a Marine. Not just any Marine, but a Marine who fought in one of the most viscous time periods the Marines ever fought in. The Marines are known for their fighting in only one major battle during World War I, but it changed the Marines history forever.

The Battle of Belleau Woods was fought between June 1st to June 26th, 1918 in area of the Marne River in France. Between June 6th to the 26th the Marines took their place in history. Two battalion of Marines assaulted across an open 1/2 mile field facing direct German machine-gun fire and artillery. About 3/4 of the way across, the Marines stopped and hunkered down along hedge rows. 1SGT Dan Daly, realizing no officers remained nearby, stood up pulled out his Colt 45 and and yelled to his Marines "Come on, you sons of bitches, do want to live forever?" With his troops rallied, he began the charge again. The Marines reached the wood line and began their assault. Over the next twenty days, under constant gas and artillery assaults, the Marines one by one by bayonet, hand to hand, and fist to fist fighting destroyed the 5 German divisions that held the woods. The Germans called the Marines "Teufelshunde" or in English- Devil Dogs.

This story is beat into every Marines head at Parris Island. Belleau Woods ranks amongst one of the toughest battles along with Iwo Jima, the Chosin Resevior, and Khe Sanh that the Marines ever fought in. Kenneth Russell Jameson was there. In fact it appears that Kenneth was a replacement to the same expeditionary brigade shortly after the battle of Belleau Woods.

 Ohio Soldiers of WWI, found on ancestry.com



Muster Roll, Parris Island Recruit Depot, SC 1918

Muster Roll, Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA 1918 (Kenneth got in a little trouble, I don't know of any prefect Marines)



Ohio Military Men 1918-1919 defines his serves as:
Parris Island Summary Court 21 June 1918; Quantico Va Co C 13 Regiment 22 Aug 1918; France 25 Sept 1918; Quantico Va 7 Sept 1919. Private, first class 8 Oct 1918; Private 7 May 1919. American Expeditionary Forces 25 Sept 1918 to 28 Aug 1919. Discharge 25 Sept 1919. Character excellent File no 125708.


After his time in France, Kenneth returned home. He moved to Michigan, married, and had a small family. Kenneth work as a Grand Rapids Police Officer. A interesting note on Kenneth comes from Hugh Jameson's  registry of Jameson military members. It states the Kenneth re-enlisted and served during World War II. He would have been in his forty's in the 1940's. Kenneth was a true honorable American veteran.

Kenneth's genealogy:
Kenneth Russell Jameson (son of Cecil Welby Jameson and Mary Almede Jameson) born 18 Jan 1899 Deshler, Henry County, Ohio; died 30 Apr 1968 Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan; buried Beaverton City Cemetery, Beaverton, Gladwin County, Michigan; married 10 Nov 1922 Bessie V. McLaughlin (daughter of Moses Smith McLaughlin and Anna Grey). She was born 10 Sep 1900 in Bourret, Gladwin County, Michigan and died 19 Jun 1995 in Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio; buried Beaverton City Cemetery, Beaverton, Gladwin County, Michigan

Children:
one child, 'who I have no information on'