Stafford, Eddie (P1R, C2, L3)
Horseshoer Eddie Stafford, 31, of, Harris Grove, Calloway County died of pneumonia on 14 October 1918 while serving with his unit, Company F, 113th Ammunition Train, 63rd Field Artillery Brigade, 38th Infantry Division, on federal active duty. Stafford died while at sea traveling between the United States and England as his unit was moving to France. Stafford was buried at sea.
Stafford enlisted in Murray with the Kentucky National Guard’s Company L, 3rd Kentucky Infantry Regiment on 9 June 1917 as a private. While at Camp Shelby, MS, on federal active duty the organization was re-designated 113th Ammunition Train, part of the 38th Infantry Division. He was promoted to blacksmith (horseshoer) on 17 January 1918. He departed New York with his unit aboard H. M. Troopship Lancashire departing from New York on Oct 6 1918.
The American Battle Monuments Commission lists Stafford as missing in action and his name is listed on the tablets of the missing Suresnes American Cemetery, Suresnes, France.
His enlistment documents show he was born in Obion County Tennessee October 3, 1887, which is on the border with Fulton County Kentucky. His civilian occupation at the time of enlistment was as a farrier. He was listed as 29 years and 9 months old at his enlistment.
Thanks to Brent Clark for additional research and information.
Calloway County WWI draft registration card from June 5, 1917 listed his name as Edd Stafford living at RFD #4, Murray, Calloway County where he worked on a the farm of J. E. “Ed” Phillipps.
U.S. Army Center of Military History Publication 23-5, p. 1259. Ammunition Trains.
113th Ammunition Train:
Organized: October 1917, Camp Shelby, MS.
Stations in U.S.: September 1918, Camp Mills, NY.
October 1918, Port of Embarkation, Hoboken. Div Hqs, 1 October
1918, SS Aquitania. To Southampton, England, arriving 9 October.
Overseas:October 1918 to January 1919. With 63rd Field Artillery Brigade, Component of 38th Division.
U.S. Army Center of Military History Publication 23-2, p.244-245. 38th Division
Movement Overseas, September 11-October 25, 1918.
October 4-14, the remainder of the Div follows via England; the majority land on October 17, a few on October 18, and the last part on October 25. These units stay a short time in rest camps and then proceed via Cherbourg and Le Havre.
H. M. Troopship Lancashire
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