The Dutch Fork Doughboys

Posted 5/3/18

lexington yesterday

The Dutch Fork Chapter of the South Carolina Genealogical Society met in Chap-in April to study things of interest to families of the Dutch Fork. It is an annual event and …

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The Dutch Fork Doughboys

Posted

lexington yesterday

The Dutch Fork Chapter of the South Carolina Genealogical Society met in Chap-in April to study things of interest to families of the Dutch Fork. It is an annual event and people come from all over.

While some groups are faltering, the Dutch Fork society is expanding. Under the leadership of Sue Eleazer, the group is attracting many new members. Sue has been invited to the annual state genealogy meeting in July to share some of her secrets of genealogical success in uncertain times.

The state society is meeting July 13-14 in Columbia at the state archives on Parklane Road. The main attraction will be noted DNA speaker Judy Russell.

Kenneth Robinson spoke to the Dutch Fork reunion about “When the Band Played Dixie in Berlin.” This talk was a gleaning of his research on WWI Dutch Fork volunteers in the Great War.

You will find Kenneth at least four days a week at the Lexington County Museum.

He is a founding member of the Dutch Fork Historical Society.

Steven Tuttle of the South Carolina Archives spoke in the afternoon. Steven will be leading a behind-the-scenes tour of the archives in July.

Steven brought with him larger-than-life size copies of some of South Carolina’s historical documents housed at the archives.

Steve is perceptive. Us old folks could finally read these documents and appreciate their significance to our past. You know the large print editions. Hooray for Steven.

As soon as I got home, I called my Aunt Bam to ask about Grandpa Corley’s WWI draft registration card. Did she know if it was still around? Many of the original WWI documents were lost in a fire at St. Louis.

Efforts are being made to duplicate them, but have not been 100% successful.

Grandpa missed the Armistice by a few days. He then became part of the Occupation Army on arrival in France.

He was first assigned as a mule handler. That was a good job for a Lexington farm boy. He served as a cook and did laundry.

He was the baby of his family. I remember him telling us about seeing cork oak trees in the French countryside. The experience left a lasting impression on our grandpa and on us who heard his stories.

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