| Birth: |
Apr. 12,
1886
French Lick
Orange County
Indiana,
USA |
| Death: |
Apr. 18,
1918
Verdun, France |
ROSCOE
BLEDSOE, Gunnery Sergeant, 6 Regiment, U.S.M.C., 2
Division, Indiana, April 18, 1918, a casualty of
World War I.
Roscoe (or Ross as he was
called) was born to Delphus Adolphus Bledsoe (1851
- 1928) and Mary Elizabeth Cox Bledsoe (1855 -
1941) on April 12, 1886 near French Lick,
IN.
Working as a 27 year old farmer, he
enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on
February 22, 1914 in Louisville, KY. Roscoe
trained at Parris Island, SC and Quantico, VA.
After boot camp, he was assigned to the 74th
Company 6th Regiment, 2nd Division.
In
October of 1917, he was deployed overseas. In
1914, the powers-to-be in the war introduced
poisonous gases as a method of mass destruction.
Roscoe fell April 18, 1918, as a victim to the
effects of these combined gases in the Verdun area
of France.
An article from the Spring
Valley Herald (April 25, 1918) related: BLEDSOE,
Ross - News of the death of Ross Bledsoe of wounds
received in the first line trenches in France on
April 18 (1918) was received here this morning.
His brother, John Bledsoe, received a telegram a
few days ago stating that Ross was slightly
wounded in action and stated that if anything
serious developed, notice would be sent, and the
telegram this morning is the sequel to the sad
story. Ross is the first French Lick Township boy
to lose his life in this war and brings home to us
all what we have to expect hear frequently now.
Ross had served a term in the regular army and
re-enlisted last summer and was one of the first
to go over with Gen. Pershing."
www.InGenWeb.org/InOrange
U.S. soldiers
numbered 72,807 in casualties and 1,462 in deaths.
With the Armistice, the horrific and disgusting
wartime use of poison gases was outlawed in
1925... Excerpted from FirstWorldWar.com.
It has been reported and recorded that
Roscoe was buried in the Meuse-Argonne American
Cemetery, Romange, France, in Plot H, Row 30,
Grave 27...
It was previously reported
that he was possibly buried at Fresna, France,
Grave No. 168...
In honoring Roscoe
Bledsoe's memory, strength, courage and
patriotism, giving his life for our country,
excerpts in this bio have been taken from the Bio
and Links Commonwealth War Graves Commission and
American Battle Monuments Commission, the creators
of this memorial.
Also, credits go to the
Orange Co. Indiana Gold Star Honor Roll 1914-1918,
A Memorial to Orange Co. Soldiers and Sailors Who
Died Serving Their Country in WW I (a wonderful
tribute). This was introduced by
www.InGenWeb.org/InOrange and made public for all
to share in its honor for our service personnel.
Credit also goes to some very special genealogists
for their assistance.
A very, very special
thank you to Marijke Taffein from France, who went
to the cemetery (on my FindAGrave Photo Request)
and took close-ups of the grave and cross on
August 31, 2011, so all could read it. We're VERY
proud!
Also contributed by S.I. Rider
(#47464039) on April 18, 2013: Ross' wife was
Sarah Iona (Drake)
Bledsoe.
Family
links:
Parents:
Delphus
Adolphus Bledsoe (1851 -
1928)
Mary
Elizabeth Cox Bledsoe (1855 -
1941)
|
| |
Burial:
Meuse-Argonne
American Cemetery and Memorial
Romagne-sous-Montfaucon
Departement de la
Meuse
Lorraine, France
Plot: H, Row 30,
Grave 27 |
Maintained
by: Chiquita
Originally
Created by: CWGC/ABMC
Record
added: Aug 06, 2010
Find A Grave Memorial#
55990709 | | | |
 In your
honor - from a daughter of a father that also
fought for the Red, White and Blue.
- Chiquita
Added:
Jul. 19, 2013 |
 To all those
who served, and especially the ones that gave
their all - their lives. Proud you're in my
family.
- Chiquita
Added:
Aug. 28, 2011 |
| | | |
