I have recently discovered that my 2nd cousin, x3 removed was KIA in France in WWI but I'm having a hard time deciphering the report about him. I was wondering if there is a resource that helps break this down or if I need to hunt down each sentence. Thanks in advance!
Original: NA Marietta, O. Sept 18/17. Br Marietta, O. 22 10/12 yrs. Co H 330 Inf to Mch 6/18; Co B 323 MG Bn to June 5/18; Overseas Cas Cp Merrit NJ to June 29/18; Classification Camp 1 Dep Div to July 15/18; Co D 3 MG Bn to death. Pvt. St Mihiel; Meuse-Argonne; Defensive Sector. AEF June 29/18 to death. KIA Oct 9/18. Notified C.F.W. father, 412 Bellevue Ave., Marietta, O. Body returned to US on SS Wheaton Oct 1921.
My interpretation: "Departed/drafted Marietta, Ohio on Sept 18, 1917. Born in Marietta, 22 and 10months old. Company H, 330th Infanct to ?Mch? in June of 1918. Company B 323rd ?MG? Battalion on June 5, 1918. Overseas ?Cas Cp? maybe left Merrit, NJ on June 29, 1918. Classification Camp 1 Depot Division on July 15, 1918. Company D, 3rd ?MG? Battalion to death. After that, I'm confused about the mention of Pvt St Mihiel?
Your interpretation is essentially right. The United States Army issued 5/16-inch bronze campaign stars to be worn on the World War I Victory Medal ribbon on the ribbon rack, and clasps to be worn on the full sized medal. Your second cousin was a private, and served in the St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, and "Defensive Sector" campaigns. The "Defensive Sector" star and clasp was issued for any combat service not in a named battle. Your cousin was drafted in September 1917, and served with the 83rd Division stateside, in Company H of the 330th Infantry Regiment and Company B of the 323rd Machine Gun Battalion, both part of the 165th Infantry Brigade. The 83rd Division was intended to be made up of National Army (drafted and volunteer) troops from the state of Ohio. The 83rd Division went overseas in June 1918, but was broken up on arrival in France and redesignated the 2nd Depot Division. Your cousin was reassigned and classified by the 1st Depot Division (the former 41st Division, another broken-up division used as an administrative formation to process replacements) and was subsequently assigned to Company D of the 3rd Machine Gun Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade, 1st Division, with which he served until he was killed in action on 9 October 1918.
| Campaign | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Aisne | 27 May 1918 | 5 June 1918 |
| Aisne-Marne | 18 July 1918 | 6 August 1918 |
| [Cambrai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cambrai_(1917)) | 12 May 1917 | 4 December 1917 |
| Champagne-Marne | 15 July 1918 | 18 July 1918 |
| [Lys](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Lys_(1918)) | 9 April 1918 | 27 April 1918 |
| Meuse-Argonne | 26 September 1918 | 11 November 1918 |
| Montdidier-Noyon | 9 June 1918 | 13 June 1918 |
| Oise-Aisne | 18 August 1918 | 11 November 1918 |
| St. Mihiel | 12 September 1918 | 16 September 1918 |
| Somme-Defensive | 21 March 1918 | 6 April 1918 |
| Somme-Offensive | 8 August 1918 | 11 November 1918 |
| Vittorio-Veneto | 24 October 1918 | 4 November 1918 |
| Ypres-Lys | 19 August 1918 | 11 November 1918 |
National Army (drafted) at Marietta, Ohio, 18 September 1917
Born in Marietta, Ohio, 22 years and 10 months old
Assigned Company H, 330th Infantry Regiment, 165th Infantry Brigade, 83rd Division, to 6 March 1918
Assigned Company B, 323rd Machine Gun Battalion, 165th Infantry Brigade, 83rd Division, to 5 June 1918
Overseas casual (i.e., awaiting overseas shipment) at Camp Merritt, New Jersey, to 29 June 1918
Assigned Classification Camp, 1st Depot Division, to 15 July 1918
Assigned Company D, 3rd Machine Gun Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade, 1st Division, until death
Private; served in St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, and Defensive Sector campaigns
Served in American Expeditionary Force, 29 June 1918 until death
Killed in action, 9 October 1918
Next of kin (father) notified, Marietta, Ohio
Body returned to United States on the S.S. Wheaton, October 1921
Hello there! As your question is related to looking for identification/information regarding military personnel, our Guide on Military Identification may be of use to you. It provides a number of different resources, including how to request service records from a number of national agencies around the world, as well as graphical aids to assist in deciphering rank, unit, and other forms of badges or insignia. While the users here may still be able to lend you more assistance, hopefully this will provide a good place to start!