by Asia McClary

Joddie Butler Bowser was born December 14, 1887 in Terrell, North Carolina. He and his sister were raised by his parents Daniel and Annie Bowser.  Daniel Bowser was a mulatto man who was a farm laborer. His father did not have a long life, he passed away when he was 33 years old in 1888.

When Bowser registered for WWI in 1917, he wrote down that he would be responsible for his mother and sister when asked who was depending on him for help. During the war he was an engineer stationed at Camp Humphreys, VA. He was single during the war, until he met Julia Holland. Joddie and Julia got married in on November 30, 1918. They never had children, but their 11 year old niece Josephine stayed with them at their home in Norfolk, Virginia.

Bowser worked as a barber at barber shop called Berkley’s Shop in Norfolk before the war. By the time he registered for the draft for World War II he owned a barber shop or worked for himself, since the barber shop had the same address of his home at the time.

Joddie passed away on May 3, 1971 at the age 83 years old, he was taken to the Veterans Administration Hospital in Hampton, Virginia. His cause of death was adenocarcinoma of sigmoid colon with post colostomy with many other complications. He is buried at Mount Olive Cemetery in Norfolk, Virginia.

By Ciana da Costa

Charles Edwin Boswer was born to Keziah Arthur & Isaac Bowser August 18th, 1888 in Baltimore, Maryland. He attended high school for 3 years. He was a Ice Cream maker before the war.

He joined the National Army in 1918 in Norfolk, VA. Later, He was assigned to the Medical Detachment 540 Engineers Regiment. Later, he was transfered to Hoboken, NJ on the Leviathan on October 23, 1918, arriving at Liverpool, England on October 29, 1918; Proceeded to Winchester, England to Charbourg, France to Abainville, France. He was discharged in Brooklyn, NY and he came back to Norfolk, VA where he worked as a letter carrier.

by Willasia Williams

Paul Clarence Alexander was born April 4, 1896 to Maggie J. Alexander and Robert S. Alexander in Gastonia, Gaston County, North Carolina.

Paul Alexander attended public school before furthering his education at A & T College, and Biddle University prior to the Army. He didn’t obtain any degrees. Paul Alexander worked as a chauffeur before the army and after.

Alexander enlisted in the Army on June 29, 1917 in Norfolk, VA as in private for Infantry in the Company 84, 7th Group M.G.T.C. He received training at U.S Training Dept. Tallahassee, FL and Camp Hancock, GA M.G.T.C Co. 84, 7th Group. Paul Alexander was promoted from Corporal to 1st Sergeant and was discharged as a 1st Sergeant . No record of his death was found.

by Taj Worthy

Moryck Cecil Woodley was born on February 2, 1893 in Norfolk, Virginia to Henrietta Dillard and James H. Woodley. Throughout his life and time in the army he aligned his spirituality with the Episcopalian church. In his youth Woodley attended public school but there is no record of him going onto receive a higher education. Woodley did however find work as a butler before his enlistment into the United States Army. Woodley enlisted in the on August 5^, 1918 as an infantry private. 

After joining the army, Woodley was shipped to Camp Humphreys, in Alexandria, Virginia to be trained for his occupational specialty. Originally Woodley was assigned to Company Foxtrot, Development Battalion 542^nd Division. Woodley was discharged December 17^th 1918 from Camp Humphreys as a private. This early discharge was likely due to complications with influenza which he contracted while training at Camp Humphreys. After leaving the Army, Woodley returned to work as a butler.  

Sources:

“Moryck Cecil Woodley,” United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1918-1919, National Archives and Records Administration.

“Moryck Cecil Woodley,” World War I History Commission Questionnaires, Library of Virginia.

United States Census, 1920

Taj Worthy is a student and ROTC cadet at Norfolk State University.

by Dashaun Jones-Griffin

Willie Goodman Jones was a United States Army soldier who fought amongst other brave warriors during World War I. He was born on March 25th, 1897 in North Emporia, South Hampton County VA. Jones was the son of Margaret and Goodman Jones. Before joining the US Army, Jones was a longshoreman at Atlantic Coal Shipping company. He married Marie Mitchell in 1917. He enlisted on June 6, 1918, in Norfolk, VA.
His rank was an E1 private. His primary assignment was company C, 535 Engineers Service Battalion. His training station was Camp Lee, Virginia. After training, Private Jones found himself in France where he attended night school. Willie Jones was proud to serve his country. Going overseas made him a better man. During the critical times in brutal war, being a Baptist brought him closer to his religious beliefs. Willie Jones discharged from the Army on July 8th, 1919.

Sources:
“Willie Goodman Jones,” World War I History Commission Questionnaires, Library of Virginia.
“Willie Goodman Jones,” United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1918-1919, National Archives and Records Administration.
“Willie Goodman Jones,” World War I History Commission Questionnaires, Library of Virginia. United States Census, 1920

Dashaun Jones-Griffin is an honor’s college student and ROTC cadet at Norfolk State University.

By DeAhna Brown

Prince Algernon Johnson was born on January 14, 1896, to his mother Emma Johnson, and his father. He was born and raised in Franklin, Virginia, and then went off to school after graduation. He attended Norfolk Mission College. Norfolk Mission College is now Norfolk State University and he transferred to Howard University for Dental school in 1916. He was a freshman when he enlisted in the Navy.

Johnson enlisted on December 6, 1917, which is just after his first semester at Howard. He entered as a Petty Officer 2nd Class as a result of his previous schooling. He was a mess attendant/cabin steward which now known as a culinary specialist in the Navy. When he joined the Navy, he was stationed in Norfolk before he went out to sea on the U.S.S. Lakemoor (also Lake Moore). On April 11, 1918, Lake Moore was on a voyage from Newport News, Virginia to Glasgow, Germany. The ship arrived March 24, 1918, to Lamlash, Scotland for duty during World War I. While on this voyage a German submarine UB-64 sunk the ship by a torpedo. The ship was 2.75 miles off Corsewall Point Light shore and 46 persons were lost, including 5 officers and 41 sailors.

Sources:

Catalogue of the Officers and Students of Howard University, District of Columbia. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.google.com/books/edition/Catalogue_of_the_Officers_and_Students_o/P5pIAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=prince+algernon+johnson+howard+university&pg=RA2-PA265&printsec=frontcover

Norfolk Historical Society (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.historicforrest.com/norfolkHistoricalSociety/highlights/59.html

American Ship Casualties of the World War. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/a/american-ship-casualties-world-war.html

Report. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books/

SS Lakemoor [+1918]. Retrieved from https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?30969

DeAhna Brown is a student at Norfolk State University.

by Roshawna Joseph

Virnal Clingman Hodges was born on October 4, 1895 in Norfolk, Virginia to Julia V. Harris and Clingman Hodges.  Hodges attended J.T. West Public School. After high school he attended Norfolk Mission College and Howard University, where he studied law. Hodges received a bachelor’s degree in law from Howard University.

Hodges enlisted in the United States Army as an engineer on August 5, 1918 to Company 17 Engineers regiment and trained at Camp Humphreys, VA.  Hodges was promoted to Private-First class the following year. Hodges Discharged from the Army on June 17, 2020 in Camp Lee, VA. Following his discharge Virnal Hodges returned home to Norfolk VA and continued to further his career as an Attorney-At-Law. 

Virnal Clingman Hodges passed away at the age of 73 on June 19, 1968. He had a wife and was the father of 4 children.

Soures:

“Virnal Clingman Hodges.” FamilySearch, www.familysearch.org/search/record/results?q.givenName=Virnal clingman&q.surname=Hodges&m.defaultFacets=on&m.queryRequireDefault=on&m.facetNestCollectionInCategory=on&count=20&offset=0. Accessed: April 11, 2020

“Virnal Clingman Hodges,” United States World War | Draft Registration Cards, 1918-1919

United States Census, 1920

By Cilisa Irvin

Everett Ray Altizer was born on April 17^th, 1894 in Christiansburg, Virginia on a Farm with his Parents Lula and Rufus Altizer and younger brother Harold. According to 1910 U.S. Census, Rufus Altizer owned a local general store in the city of Christiansburg. Everett Altizer attended elementary school and graduated from Christiansburg High Cchool in 1913. After graduation, he enrolled at the Medical College of Virginia a division of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. In 1917, Altizer completed his medical degree and began his occupation as a physician at his own private practice located on Sunnywaters Street in Norfolk.

In February 16^th, 1918 he enlisted in the national army as a 1^st lieutenant in the Medical Corp division in Richmond Virginia. He served as a physician and was assigned to Evacuation Hospital 59. He began his training at Camp Greenleaf, Georgia on January 5^th, 1919 and completed it on August 1^st, 1918, then transferred to Base Hospital 104 on August 1^st, 1918  and lastly Euree Hospital Group from September 1^st, 1918 until December 29^th, 1918. After completion of his service, he returned to Camp Greenleaf where he was discharged on January 5^th, 1919 due to unknown circumstances.

After being discharged in 1919 he returned to his private practice and later married Henri Lillian Fortune of Lynchburg, Virginia according to the United States 1930 Census. The couple had two children. He continued his career as a medical physician until his retirement.

On October 29^th, 1981 he passed away from pulmonary cancer complication at the age of 87, he was buried at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Norfolk, Virginia

 

Sources

Findagrave.com/Memorial47404868/Everett-ray-Wilson. Accessed 7/13/2018

United States Census 1880-1940

First Annual Announcement of Medical College of Virginia 1913-1914

U.S. City directories 1822-1995/Ancestry.com Accessed on 7/10/2018

U.S. Yearbooks, 1900-1990/Ancestry.com Accessed on 7/6/2018

By Cilisa Irvin

Wilson Elliot Driver (1870-1951)

Wilson Elliot Driver was born on October 16^th, 1870 in the Nansemond area of Suffolk Virginia to Jefferson and Mary Ann Driver. As part of the prominent and wealthy families in the community, he was well educated, first in public school and then at Hargrove Academy where he was provided private tutors. Upon completion, he attended Eastman’s Business College in Poughkeepsie, New York and medical college at the University of Maryland. In 1892, he completed his medical degree.  After receiving his degree, he worked as an intern at the University of Maryland he stayed for numerous years and then went into practice with Dr. Chisholm in the city of Baltimore, Maryland for two years. After being in practice for a few years he decided to further develop his skills in the specialty of ears, nose, and throat back in Norfolk, Virginia. As he increased his skills he became a prominent specialist in this field and provided services to the Norfolk community. Wilson Driver was a staple of his community and demonstrated that by being a member of the Triple Island Gun Club, the Norfolk Board of Trade and Fellow of the College of American Surgeons.

On November 5^th, 1896 Wilson Driver married Lucy W. Bailey and later had three children: Virginia, born on May 2^nd, 1898; Wilson E. Driver Jr., born on February 5^th, 1900; and Robert, born on September 11^th, 1903. As one of the prominent physicians in the community he offered his medical services on August 29^th, 1917 to the United States Military.

Wilson E. Driver enlisted in Norfolk, Virginia and received the rank of a Captain for the Medical Corp division in the Regular Army. He received training at Fort Oglethorpe, GA from October 20^th, 1917 to December 30^th, 1917. During his time in Georgia he was promoted from Captain to Major after completion of training he was then transferred for additional training at Rockefeller Institute where he received a brief training from January 1, 1918 through January 15^th in New York and finally he transferred to Fort McHenry and trained from January 16^th, 1918 until February 11^th, 1918. Later he was transferred again to division command (COMD) and again on April 29^th, 1918 for the 22^nd engineers Camp Sheridan in Montgomery, Alabama. Finally, after months of training, he received an assignment to sail from New York to Brest, France. Upon arrival on September 15^th, 1918 he traveled to Sorcey, France arriving October 5^th, 1918 where he served until an injury occurred. He obtained medical care from Base Hospital 116 in Bazoilles, Franc from January 1^st, 1919 until January 15^th he was not permanently injured and returned to service until his discharge on August 18^th, 1919 in Washington D.C.

After arriving back home to Norfolk, Virginia he continued his career as a specialist. In 1928 his wife passed away from a long-term illness, he did not remarry following her death. Eventually, he retired as a medical physician and remained in the city of Norfolk. On October 14^th, 1951 he passed away as well from coronary artery insufficiency and was buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Norfolk, Virginia.

Sources

United States Census, 1880-1940

Encyclopedia Virginia Biography Vol 4-27, pg.263

World War I history Commission Questionnaire “ Wilson Elliott Driver”

Findagrave.com/memorial/80731392/Wilson-elliott-driver. Accessed 7/13/2018

By Cilisa Irvin

Lomax Gwathney was born on November 5^th, 1869 to parents William Watts Gwathney and Mary T. Gwathney in Norfolk, Virginia where he lived with his 5 siblings. W.W. Gwathney worked as a Com Merchant and his mother kept house. According to the 1870 United States Census, the family lived within Ward 3 in Norfolk, Virginia in a home their father owned. Lomax Gwathney’s father was able to provide a substantial education for him as he attended Norfolk Academy and studied medicine at the University of Virginia in 1889 and then Columbia University in New York City where he completed his medical degree in 1890. During his time as a student, he was inducted to Beta Theta Phi and Mystic Seven fraternities. While studying medicine, he served as a house physician at the Bellevue Hospital in New York City.  He also studied overseas at universities in Heidelberg, Germany and Vienna, Italy for his post-graduate work. After returning home he began a medical and surgical practice located at 220 St. Christopher Clinic in Norfolk, Virginia. The practice also included other physicians and became a large practice in the city. In 1892 he withdrew from the practice to pursue his surgical work. 1892 also marked the year he became head of St. Christopher Hospital. Prior to his military service, he served as on the Norfolk County Medical Association, The Seaboard Medical Association, the American Medical Association, and Southern Surgical and Gynecological Association. To assist his country with his medical and surgical skills, Gwathney enlisted in the army in August 1918.

Lomax Gwathney enlisted in Norfolk, Virginia and received a rank of captain in the Medical Reserve Corp. (MRC). He trained in several different sites first at Rockefeller Institute in New York City, then Camp Green, North Carolina where he trained for 3 months, afterward he traveled to surgical school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and lastly Camp Sevier, South Carolina for 3 months as well. Prior to leaving for Europe, he was promoted from captain to major and the following year he left from New York to Glasgow, Scotland onboard the USS Scotian. Once he arrived he was stationed at St. Denis, France. Due to a shell wound injury on November 2^nd, he was under medical care at Evaluation Hospitals 4, 7, and 41 until December 17, 1918. Fortunately, there were no permanent injuries. In May 1919 he was cited for unusually meritorious and conspicuous service and was discharged on January 17^th, 1919 at Camp Lee, Virginia.

Lomax Gwathney returned home to his surgical career, and according to a directory published in 1920 for the city of Norfolk, he returned to St. Christopher Clinic. He married much later in life to Annette V. Vail according to the 1940 Census. Lomax Gwathney died of cancer on March 22^nd, 1954 and was buried Elmwood Cemetery in Norfolk, Virginia.

 

Sources

United States Census, 1880-1940

Virginia Biography, pg. 717

Findagrave.com/memorial/10267786 Accessed 7/13/2018

Virginia Medical Monthly (1918-)., Volume 47., April 1920 pg. 179

Officers and Graduates of Columbia University, General Catalogue 1754-1900 pg. 572

World War I History Commission Questionnaire, Library of Congress