WW-I And The Boys From Florence

Battalion Drill, Camp Fremont, California

1918

Established on July 18, 1917, to serve as a training camp for the 41st Division, National Guard, consisting of troops from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Wyo ming, it was located at Menlo Park, near Palo Alto, and named in honor of Major General John C. Fremont. Later, orders directed the organization of the division at Camp Greene, and the 8th Division was concentrated here. Construction began on July 24, 1917, and included 1,124 structures. The 7,203 acre reservation was ordered salvaged on December 19, 1918, and the buildings were sold at auction. The camp was abandoned in September 1919.

The above photo according to web sources was taken at Camp Fremont in California. The camp was located adjacent to the Stanford University Campus in Menlo Park, near Palo Alto, California. Uncle John spent some if not most of his training time in the camp before the Division was transferred to Camp Mills in New Jersey to await transport to France. The war ended while he was in camp on the East Coast in 1919.

The source for most of what follows was taken from "Snohomish County In The War" published in the 1920's and available on the internet. It is interesting to read through for it gives a brief statement for each Snohomish County man that served in the war as well as small excerpts from local newspapers as to what the people at home were doing to help the war effort.

Thomas Arthur McGinnis

Draft Registration, Thomas Arthur McGinnis

June 1917

History of the 91st Division in WW-I

The following history chronicles the involvement of the division. The source book also gives more detailed information of the major battles that are too lengthy to include here.

John Joseph McGinnis

Draft Registration, John McGinnis
June 5, 1917

History of the Eighth Division

Cousin Tommie and Uncle Jim

The record of service for Cousin Thomas Joseph McGinnes, Tommie, has not been found within the source volume that has been used here for much of the information for Thomas and brother John. The different spelling of the surname may have contributed to the omission from the source.

However, all the service records held within the Washington State Archives for all WW-I personnel have recently been made available for internet access. That record is copied below and it does show that he also was still on U.S. soil, probably on the East Coast, when the war ended.

Draft Registration, Thomas Joseph McGinnes

June 5, 1917

Draft Registration, James McGinnis Jr.
June 4, 1917

Uncle Jim to the best of my recollection never was drafted. No mention of him is made in the WW-I Snohomish County history used here as a source.