Exactly one hundred years ago today, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, an armistice was signed with Germany to cease fighting the Great War. One year later, on November 11, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson declared that the day would be called Armistice Day, to honor those who fought in World War I. More than three decades later—after the “war to end war” gave way to World War II and then the Korean War—the holiday was renamed Veterans Day, and was intended as a day to honor all veterans of the U.S. armed forces.
In today’s post I’d like to honor all of my family members who served in defense of our country.
This is a revised version of a post I did five years ago. Since then, some family members have died, and I’ve discovered twenty-seven additional family members who served our country. Note that I have included only relatives who served the United States or the colonies that would eventually become the United States.
Family members have served both in times of peace and in times of war. The wars in which family members have been involved include:
- King Philip’s War (1675–1676)
- Dummer’s War (1722–1725)
- French and Indian War (1755–1762)
- Revolutionary War (1775–1783)
- War of 1812 (1812–1815)
- Puget Sound War (1855–1856)
- Civil War (1861–1865)
- World War I (1914–1918) (U.S.: 1917–1918)
- World War II (1939–1945) (U.S.: 1941–1945)
- Vietnam War (1955–1975) (U.S.: 1965–1975)
- Iraq War (2003–2011)
In the list that follows, “••” indicates that the person is a direct ancestor, and “†” indicates that the person died while serving their country (including those who died as a result of injury or disease inflicted during their service.
Please let me know if you know of any family members that I’ve left off of this list.
| Ackley, Nicholas (1708–1763) | French and Indian War | |
| Adams, Deacon John (1691–1761) | Colonial Militia (MA) | |
| Almquist, Clarence William “Swede” (1922–1989) | World War II | |
| Almquist, Steven (1950–) | Vietnam War | |
| Armstrong, Charles “Chuck” Thomas (1927–1984) | World War II | |
| Askew, Jack Grover (1923–2011) | World War II | |
| Askew, John Gordon ”Gordy” (1921–2017) | World War II | |
| Askew, Robert Gordon ”Bob” (1926–2003) | World War II | |
| Askew, Russell Wilfred (1914–1990) | World War II | |
| Askew, Stephen John “Steve” (1944–) | Vietnam War | |
| Bailey, Clarence Humphrey (1895–1982) | World War I | |
| Bailey, Isaiah Loomis I (1823–1899) | Civil War | |
| Bailey, General Jacob (1726–1816) | Revolutionary War | |
| Bailey, Lt. Joshua (1712–1786) | Revolutionary War | |
| Bailey, William Alonzo (1893–1970) | World War I | |
| Billings, Jacob (1732–?) | Revolutionary War | |
| Billingsley, Henry Mitchell (1837–1918) | Civil War | |
| Black, George Cornelius (1927–) | World War II | |
| •• | Black, Keith Vernon (1942–2016) | Peacetime service |
| Black, Lewis J (1839–1901) | Civil War | |
| •• | Black, Vernon Curtis (1916–1993) | World War II |
| Bogart, Humphrey DeForest (1899–1957) | World War I | |
| Burton, Elphenus Americus (1848–1926) | Civil War | |
| •• | Cadwell, Abraham (1717–1762) | French and Indian War |
| Cheney, Caleb (1738–1800) | Revolutionary War | |
| •• | Cheney, Ebenezer (1742–1828) | Revolutionary War |
| •• | Chilson, David Wolcott (1821–1902) | Civil War |
| Christianson, Ray (1920–1980) | World War II | |
| Claunch, Pvt. Richmond C (1839–1862) | Civil War | |
| •• | Coddington, Benjamin (1680–1753) | Colonial Militia (NJ) ? |
| Coddington, Benjamin (ca. 1759–ca. 1801) | Post-Revolutionary War | |
| •• | Coddington, Daniel Schram (1811–1886) | Civil War |
| Coddington, David Humphreys (1839–1912) | Civil War | |
| •• | Coddington, George Harrison (1842–1919) | Civil War |
| Coddington, Isaac (1793–1846) | War of 1812 | |
| •• | Coddington, John B (1654–1738) | King Philip’s War |
| Coddington, Joseph (ca. 1730–>1783) | Revolutionary War | |
| Coddington, Lewis C (1846–1930) | Civil War | |
| Coddington, Robert Sr. (1760–1833) | Revolutionary War | |
| Coddington, Thomas Kendall (1896–1955) | World War II | |
| Coddington, William Albert (1843–1922) | Civil War | |
| Cole, Andrew J. (1965–) | Peacetime service | |
| •• | Comstock, Lemuel (1782–1856) | War of 1812 |
| •• | Conant, John (1652–1724) | King Philip’s War |
| •• | Conant, Lot (1624–1674) | King Philip’s War |
| Denison, Maj. Gen. Daniel (ca. 1612–1682) | Colonial Militia (MA) | |
| •• | Denison, Capt. George (1620–1694) | King Philip’s War |
| Dewey, Abner (1726–1777) | French and Indian War Revolutionary War | |
| Dewey, Bohan (1755–<1791) | Revolutionary War | |
| Dewey, Jared David (1759–1850) | War of 1812 | |
| Doran, Patrick (1738–1788) | Revolutionary War | |
| † | Dow, Gideon (1710–1756) | Colonial Militia (NH) |
| Dunham, Stanley Armour (1918–1992) | World War II | |
| Eddy, Carl Everett (1921–1970) | World War II | |
| Eliason, Maj. Douglas (1957–) | Peacetime service | |
| Fanson, Vernon Monteith “Vern” (1897–1980) | World War I | |
| Field, Arne Erickson (1842–1914) | Civil War | |
| Grabill, CMSgt. Thomas Edward (1930–1971) | Vietnam War | |
| Gritz, Stanley Wayne (1935–1962) | Korean War | |
| Grosvenor, Wallace Paine (1900–1974) | World War I | |
| † | Harmon, Loren Winfield “Win” (1883–1917) | World War I |
| •• | Hatfield, Joseph (1740–1832) | Revolutionary War |
| Heinz, Emerson C. “Harry” (1912–1977) | World War II | |
| Hicks, Jason (1968–) | Gulf War | |
| Hogan, Eli Elias (1883–1962) | World War II | |
| Hunt, Lt. Simeon (1713–1793) | French and Indian War | |
| Jellison, Winfred Halga “Helga” (1896–1992) | World War I | |
| Johnson, Albert Wagoner II (1928–2017) | Peacetime service | |
| •• | Johnson, Captain John (1600–1659) | Colonial Militia (MA) |
| Jordan, James Russell Jr. (1887–1948) | World War I | |
| Judd, Clifford Leroy (1914–1979) | World War II | |
| Karpen, John Paul Jr. (1922–1998) | World War II | |
| Karpen, John Peter Sr. (1899–1978) | World War I World War II | |
| † | Keally, Edward Lawrence Jr. (1925-1951) | Korean War |
| •• | Kinne, Cyrus (1746–1808) | Revolutionary War |
| Kohler, George Edward (1916–2002) | World War II | |
| Kuiper, Lt. Col. Cornelius Edward (1947–) | Vietnam War ? | |
| Leatherbury, Lt. John (ca. 1744–1785) | Colonial Militia ? | |
| Lennon, Robert Joseph (1924–1988) | World War II | |
| Little, Col. Moses Jr. (1724–1798) | Revolutionary War | |
| Loomis, Israel (1715–1801) | Revolutionary War | |
| Loso, Lloyd Joseph (1899–1974) | World War I | |
| † | Lytle, Lewis (1836–1864) | Civil War |
| Martes, Philip Peter “Phil” (1917–1967) | World War II | |
| •• | McClure, Judge David (1726–1796) | Revolutionary War |
| McClure, Col. Thomas Ross (1809–1886) | Civil War | |
| McMurry, James (ca. 1758–1832) | Revolutionary War | |
| McMurry, John (1752–1832) | Revolutionary War | |
| •• | McMurry, Thomas (1760–1829) | Revolutionary War |
| † | McMurry, Thomas Hisner (1831–1863) | Civil War |
| •• | McMurry, William Jr. (ca. 1725–1798) | Aided Revolutionary War |
| McMurry, William (1795–1852) | War of 1812 | |
| Millard, Orrison Hill (1826–1904) | Civil War | |
| † | Miller, Isaac (1778–1813) | War of 1812 |
| † | Moore, Lt. Clarence Jerome “Red” (1921–1944) | World War II |
| •• | Morris, Calvin Levi (1803–1875) | Civil War |
| † | Morris, James Matthew (1823–1862) | Civil War |
| •• | Noble, Ens. Matthew (1698–1771) | Colonial Militia (MA) ? |
| Ogden, David Sr. (1764–1840) | Revolutionary War | |
| •• | Paine, Stephen Jr. (1629–1677) | Colonial Militia (MA) ? |
| Peck, Ira (1824–1883) | Civil War | |
| Peck, Nathaniel A (1841–1910) | Civil War | |
| Pepper, Eli (1770–1856) | War of 1812 | |
| •• | Pepper, Jacob (1661–1739) | Dummer’s War |
| Pepper, John Quincy (1826–1913) | Civil War | |
| •• | Pepper, Joshua (1721–1808) | Revolutionary War |
| Pepper, Minos (1791–1860) | War of 1812 | |
| Prettyman, Donald Irvin “Don” (1930–) | World War II | |
| Prettyman, George Irvin “G.I.” (1887–1977) | World War II | |
| † | Prettyman, George W. (1847–1865) | Civil War |
| Prettyman, James Clarence “Jim” (1918–1990) | World War II | |
| Prettyman, Jerome Patrick “Jerry” (1925–1965) | World War II | |
| Prettyman, Jesse Willard (1922–1995) | World War II | |
| † | Prettyman, John G “Jack” (ca. 1923–1944) | World War II |
| Prettyman, Richard Francis “Frank” “Arch” (1921–1989) | World War II | |
| Prettyman, Robert Austin “Bob” (1916–1989) | World War II | |
| Prettyman, Warren Walter (1922–1986) | World War II | |
| •• | Prettyman, William Eugene (1919–1998) | World War II |
| •• | Price, Richard (1757–1834) | Revolutionary War |
| Priest, Joseph (1641–1697) | King Philip’s War | |
| Proszek, Stanislaus “Stanley” (1919–2003) | World War II | |
| Putnam, Lt. Thomas (ca. 1614–1686) | Colonial Militia (MA) ? | |
| Putnam, Sgt. Thomas (1652–1699) | Colonial Militia (MA) ? | |
| Ranum, Arne Nelson (1845–1898) | Civil War | |
| † | Rice, Charles Delos (1830–1862) | Civil War |
| Rider, Daniel III (1735–1787) | Revolutionary War | |
| † | Robson, Donald George (1929–1952) | Korean War |
| Rush, Alexander W. (1831–1864) | Civil War | |
| Schuler, James John (1949–2003) | Vietnam War | |
| ••† | Scott, Hiram (ca. 1815–1865) | Civil War |
| •• | Scott, Horace L. (ca. 1842–1870) | Civil War |
| Scott, James H. (1847–1916) | Civil War | |
| Severn, Clifford Leroy (1896–1982) | World War I | |
| ••† | Severson, Sever (1828–1864) | Civil War |
| Shearer, William Christian Jr. (1759–1830) | Revolutionary War | |
| Smith, Lt. Col. William Stephens (1755–1816) | Revolutionary War | |
| •• | Snider, John Sr. (1743–1830) | Revolutionary War |
| Spencer, Fredrick “Fred” (1897–1918) | World War I | |
| •• | Stebbins, Lt. Thomas (1620–1683) | Colonial Militia (MA) ? |
| Stewart, Abraham Williamson (1828–1910) | Puget Sound War | |
| Stewart, William McCallen (1794–1885) | War of 1812 | |
| Stokes, Milton Burton “Bert” (1879–1971) | World War I | |
| Stokes, Nathan (1818–1901) | Civil War | |
| Stone, Archibald (1735–1811) | Revolutionary War | |
| † | Stover, Elisha B. (ca. 1818–1863) | Civil War |
| Switzer, James Morris (1910–1984) | World War II | |
| Thayer, Capt. Ebenezer (1692–1777) | Revolutionary War | |
| Thayer, Peter Sr. (1737–1805) | Revolutionary War | |
| Thayer, Peter Jr. (1755–1820) | Revolutionary War | |
| Thayer, Shadrach (1759–1829) | Revolutionary War | |
| Thayer, Col. Sylvanus (1785–1872) | War of 1812 | |
| Thompson, Knudt Tostensen (1832–1910) | Civil War | |
| Tracy, Lt. Hezekiah (1736–1817) | Revolutionary War | |
| Treat, Gov. Robert (1622–1710) | King Philip’s War | |
| Turner, Col. Seth (1727–1806) | Revolutionary War | |
| VanWinkle, Cyrus (1805–1879) | Civil War | |
| Vinton, Charles Albert (1832–1904) | Civil War | |
| •• | Vinton, Lt. David (1726–1791) | Revolutionary War |
| •• | Vinton, Seth Sr. (1756–1848) | Revolutionary War |
| Wadsworth, Brig. Gen. Peleg (1748–1829) | Revolutionary War | |
| Warren, Jacob (1983–) | Iraq War | |
| Watson, Elbert Joseph “Al” (1927–2007) | Peacetime service ? | |
| Whitmore/Wetmore, Jabez Jr. (1766–1843) | Revolutionary War | |
| Whitney, William Canty (“Doc”) (1896–1970) | World War I | |
| Wichers, Jean Harrold (”Harold Gene”) (1923–2011) | World War II | |
| Wichers, Reanon Cornelius (1919–2007) | World War II | |
| •• | Wise, Thomas (1726–1800) | Revolutionary War |
| •• | Wolcott, Justus (1735–1831) | Revolutionary War |
| •• | Woodruff, Benjamin Sr. (1744–1837) | Revolutionary War |
| Yapp, James L (1920–2009) | World War II | |
| Yapp, Ray Rush (1923–1993) | World War II |
Thank you for your service, your sacrifices, and for the roles you played in forming, developing, and protecting our country.
Without your collective efforts, our country would not have endured nor even existed.
Fix spelling in title
Whoops! Thanks for the catch.
What an impressive list. Makes me feel very proud of what our family done is service of our nation.
I appreciate the work you have done on this, thanks….
You missed my dad, Bob Prettyman. Arch and Bill’s oldest brother. He was in the navy.
Dana
Hi Dana,
Sorry about that—of course he was. I’ve just added him to the roll. Chalk that up to user error with my master database. Thanks for the catch!
Michael
P.s. On a related note, in some old notes I have from the late 1980s taken from an interview with Bill Prettyman, he mentions a Bob who went by the nickname of “Ace” who was killed in WWII (shot down on a bombing run, I believe). Bill got teary-eyed when he mentioned Ace, as Ace never came back from war, so I never pushed him too hard on exactly who Bob “Ace” was. He spoke of him like family, and in my early notes I thought he might have been married into the family, but I suppose he may also have been a close friend of Bill’s. Any idea who Bob “Ace” might have been?