Of all of the Military research that I have done over a course of, at least 30 years, Halley Franklin Doster sticks in my mind a lot. At least he is in my top ten of soldiers, I shake my head and wonder why, this had to happen.
Halley Franklin Doster was born, September 22, 1891, in Oakwood, Ohio, one of nine children born to Cassius Milton and Susana S.(Upp) Doster. Cassius was born August 27, 1861 in Ohio and Susana was born April 19, 1863 in Ohio. Halley went to school at Oakwood until he found school not as a top priority for his future.
By 1910, Halley was eighteen and the family had moved to Allen County, Indiana, where he found work as a laborer working at a grain elevator. Between the years of 1911 and 1917, the Doster family moved to the sleepy town of Broughton (yes, that is in Paulding County!). On May 21, 1917, Halley signed up in Paulding to serve as a Private in Company B. of the Ohio National Guard. He remained with this unit until October 17, 1917, until he is shipped to Camp Sheridan, where he served with 11th Company 3rd Training Battalion October 27, 1917. Then duty called, and he was sent overseas to serve with Company I. 145th Infantry 37th Division.
He was promoted to Private 1st Class June 1, 1918. Halley, along with the rest of the 145th Infantry was shipped overseas, June 18, 1918, on the ship Leviathan. The ship sailed out of Hoboken, New Jersey. While in France he saw action at Muese-Argonne; Ypres-Lys; Defensive Sector. A cease fire, guns fell silent, except for the bullet that found Halley.
November 11, 1918 at 11:00 the war was officially over, and Halley was wounded. Halley passed away from his wounds, November 12, 1918. Halley’s father, Milton was notified of his son’s passing. Halley was buried in Flanders Field American Cemetery, Wearegham, Belgium, Grave 18, Row 4, Block D. His grave, to this day, is decorated by the local villagers, who take turns in remembering the fallen soldiers, who fought to liberate Belgium.
During the 1920’s, the Gold Mothers Association, lobbied for a federally sponsored pilgrimage to Europe for mothers with sons buried overseas. Many of the women who belonged to the organization, had visited their sons’ graves.
The government realized that most of the women could not afford to make the trip to Europe. In 1929, Congress enacted legislation that authorized the Secretary of War to arrange for the pilgrimages to the European Cemeteries, men who died between April 5, 1917 – July 1, 1921, and whose remains are interred in European Cemeteries. Congress later extended eligibility for pilgrimages to mothers and widows of men who died and are buried at sea or who died overseas and graves unknown. Mrs. Susana Doster of Route 1, Box 24, Broughton, Ohio, mother of Halley, choose not to go. Earnest E. Tilley, from Broughton, who lived beside Halley, died of pneumonia, October 5, 1918, while serving with 158th Depot Brigade. He is buried in Pleasantview Cemetery. Sad ending for two families who lived in a small town called Broughton.
Until Next Time
