BOB'S WWI COLLECTION
James Ezra Massey
Lifelong nickname: “Ezra”
Born: 14 May 1895
Died: 3 September 1966
Private, United States Army 2565082
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Company G, Second Battalion, 147th Infantry Regiment, 74th Infantry Brigade, 37th (Buckeye) Infantry Division, AEF, World War One.
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Dates of Service: 25 May 1918 – 16 April 1919
Campaigns: Meuse Argonne, Ypres Lys, Defensive Sector.
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(Ezra is the author's Maternal Grandfather.)
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James Ezra Massey
Ezra, likely at Camp Pike, Arkansas during basic training prior to being deployed to the Western Front in World War One.
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Note the (Montana) Campaign hat, worn in the United States, with the pale (light blue for infantry) hat cord, what looks like cotton summer weight uniform, and canvas leggings.
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He looks like he is returning from heavy fatigue duties with a soiled uniform.
James Ezra Massey
This is a post card taken in the studio of Lemmons Studios in Pocahontas, Arkansas and is stamped as such in the lower right corner.
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This is obviously post war. He is wearing a wool uniform with spiral wound puttees on his calves, consistent with having served in the war.
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He wears the Campaign hat for stateside service. His lower left sleeve sports the service chevron for 6 months or more service in theater, the (red) discharge stripe on the upper sleeve, indicating that he is not AWOL, and the Buckeye patch on the upper shoulder.
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He wears white “stocks” like a long sleeve high collar undershirt.
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The two ribbons on his left pocket and the officer collar US insignia, are a mystery.
Belgian
Croix de
Guerre
with Palm
Device
French
Croix de
Guerre
with Palm
Device
WWI Victory
Medal
with three
campaign bars
& citation star
the purple heart Medal
the
silver
star
medal
the distinguished
service cross
These Are The Medals that the fictional James Jedidiah Martin would be authorized to wear after the World War One Victory Medal was created in April 1919, the silver citation star was converted to the Silver Star Medal in July 1932, and the wound stripe was converted to the Purple Heart in February 1932.
Thank You, Dave Nigh!
Although all of the other items shown in the still life shot above belong to Bob, there was one item that he didn't have in his collection.
The derringer shown on the left is from the collection of Dave Nigh of Estrella Mountain Ranch. We thank him sincerely for helping us illustrate an item that plays a great part in Jed's story!