Percy
B. Castles, First Lieutenant,
Engineer Corps, U.S. Army:
On September 24, 1917, by Executive Order No. 2707,
he was transferred to the service and jurisdiction of the War Department.
Previous to his transfer he was a draftsmen with the Coast and Geodetic
Survey. He passed the required physical examination and was ordered
to active duty as First Lieutenant, Engineer Reserve Corps, U.S. Army.
He was first assigned to the Reserve Officers’ Training Camp,
American University, Washington DC., and completed his training course
on November 26, 1917.
On December 10, 1918, he was ordered to the 303rd
Engineers at Camp Dix, N.J., and attached to Co. A, 1st Bat., where
he instructed incoming recruits in infantry drill, rifle practice
and general engineering problems.
On January 31, 1918, he left the U.S. for overseas
duty on the R.M.S. “ADRIATIC”, and proceeded via Halifax,
N.S., for Liverpool, England, under convoy, arriving there on February
17th. During the passage three submarines were sighted and one of
the vessels of the convoy was lost.
Arrived at Le Havre France, on February 19, 1918,
and proceeded to Angers, Maine, et Loire, where he was assigned to
the 116th Engineers, under Colonel R. D. Black, and appointed topographic
officer in charge of surveys and mapping for use in artillery and
engineer maneuvers.
On March 18, he was ordered to General Headquarters and assigned for
a course in aerial photography, mapping and observing in the Areal
Photographic Section of the 29th Engineers, and attached to Co. A,
1st Bat., Colonel R.G. Alexander, Commanding. After completing this
course on May 5, 1918, he was ordered to the 116th Engineers, which
was replacement regiment, for reassignment to duty at the front. While
awaiting orders he was placed in charge of transporting supplies for
aeroplane construction for the French Army.
On June 14, 1918, he was attached to the Headquarters
Staff of the Railway Artillery Reserve, 1st Army, as Assistant Engineer
Officer and in connection with this assignment, completed drainage
and sewage projects and assisted in extensive railway yard construction.
Continuous German aerial attacks both day and night enlivened the
work in hand.
During the Meuse-Argonne Offensive he assisted in
the construction and operation of light and heavy railway for the
Artillery, covering a large portion of the active sectors on reconnaissance
for the placement of heavy guns. While under this assignment he was
appointed Adjutant of the 1st Railway Operation Division, 2nd Army,
carrying on the movement of the railway artillery.
On December 31, 1918, he was ordered to report to
the Commanding General, 33rd Division, for duty on the Luxemburg German
Border, and on January 7, 1919, he was assigned as commanding officer,
Co. D, 2d Bat., 108th Engineers, under Colonel H.A. Allen, and was
stationed at Berdorf, Luxemburg.
On January 24, 1919, he received orders to proceed
to Angers, Maine et Loire, for transportation to the United States.
On March 16, 1919, he left Brest, France, in command
of a casual company of troops, for the United States, on the U.S.S.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, and arrived at New York City, on March 25th, 1919.
He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army, at
Washington, D.C., on April 2, 1919, and returned to the Coast and
Geodetic Survey on April 3, 1919.
Earl
F. Church, First Lieutenant, Engineers, U.S.
Army:
On September 24, 1917, by Executive Order No. 2707,
he was transferred to the service and jurisdiction of the War Department.
Previous to his transfer he was with the Coast and Geodetic Survey
as a geodetic computer. Immediately after transfer, he was enrolled
as First Lieutenant of Engineers and was assigned to Company A, 29th
Engineers at Camp Devens where he was stationed until October 31,
1917, when he sailed with his company for France.
The company was stationed at the 29th Engineer’s
Base Plant, at Langres and served directly under command of Colonel
R.G. Alexander of the General Staff. His duties there were the studies
of all geodetic problems in connection with the inauguration and execution
of map work by the American forces; taking charge of the computations
of all surveys, teaching computations to officers and men, particularly
the methods applicable to geodetic work in France; writing papers
on computations, map projections and other problems; computation of
Lambert projection tabes; arranging and filing geodetic information
covering the area of the front, etc.
He also served under Major John P. Hogars of the
General Staff, who was in charge of G-2-C. of the 2nd American Army,
stationed at Toul. While at this Station the duties assigned were
to take charge of all computations of triangulation and traverse for
artillery use; filing and furnishing of all geodetic information within
the 2nd Army Section; and investigating all geodetic problems entering
into the work of mapping.
During his service in France he was awarded two meritorious
citations, one on July 26, 1919, from General John J. Pershing, Chief
of the American Armies, for conspicuous and meritorious services in
geodetic work and another, a French Government Citation, the order
of Silver Palm, with the designation as an officer of the Academy.
Lieutenant Church also received highly complimentary
letters from officers of the General Staff, copies of which appear
in Part II of this report under the heading “Official Letters
and Documents”.
He was honorably discharged from military service in the United States
Army , at Washington, D.C., on March 6, 1919, and returned to the
Coast and Geodetic Survey on March 7, 1919.
Albert
Churchill, Quartermaster, Third Class, U.S.N.R.F.:
Transferred with the Coast and Geodetic Survey Steamer
SURVEYOR by Executive Order No. 2707, on September 24, 1917. He was
enrolled in the U.S. Naval Reserve Force and served on the U.S.S.
SURVEYOR as Quartermaster third class, but the length of his service
is not known at this office, as he did not return to the Coast and
Geodetic Survey.
William
H. Clark, Captain, U.S. Army:
On July 13, 1917, he resigned his commission as Aid
in the Coast and Geodetic Survey and accepted an appointment as Second
Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
The files of the Coast and Geodetic Survey relating
to his war activities are not complete, but information is available
that he was with the Casual Detachment at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., on
December 11, 1918, and later that he was retired with the rank of
Captain in the U.S. Army.
Leo
Otis Colbert, Lieutenant Commander, U.S.N.R.F.:
On September 24, 1917, by Executive Order No. 2707,
he was transferred to the service and jurisdiction of the Navy Department.
Previous to his transfer he was with the Coast and Geodetic Survey
as a commissioned Hydrographic and Geodetic Engineer.
Pending his assignment to sea duty he was detailed
to temporary duty at the Seattle Field Station of the Coast and Geodetic
Survey, and while upon this duty he also gave instructions to a class
in navigation at the Naval Camp at the University, State of Washington,
of which Miller Freeman, Commander U.S.N.R.F., was Commanding Officer.
This latter duty was performed upon request of the Commanding Officer
without written orders from the Bureau of Operations.
On February 23, 1918, in accordance with orders,
he reported on board the U.S.S. NORTHERN PACIFIC for the passage from
Puget Sound Navy Yard to New York and was immediately assigned to
duty as Assistant Navigator and Watch Officer. He was not detached
by the Commanding Officer upon arrival of the vessel in New York on
account of the lack of experienced watch officers on board, and after
the completion of the first trip as a transport to France, in April
1918, he was permanently assigned to duty on that vessel as Watch
and Division Officer.
On August 4, 1918, he was appointed Lieutenant Commander,
Class 3, U.S.N.R.F., and was reassigned to the U.S.S. NORTHERN PACIFIC
with additional duties as First Lieutenant of the vessel. He served
under the command of Captain Charles F.P. Reston, U.S.N., until December,
1918, and during the remainder of his assignment under Captain Lewis
F. Connelly, U.S.N.
During the period of his assignment to this vessel
he made nine voyages between New York and Brest, France, previous
to the signing of the Armistice , and two after that time. Upon returning
to New York from the last voyage, the vessel grounded at Fire Island.
As many wounded troops were on board at this time, their situation
was a source of anxiety to the personnel on board. The work of transporting
the wounded, and other passengers on board, from the stranded steamer
to vessels off shore, was done as weather permitted during the following
four days. On the nineteenth day after grounding, the vessel was floated
and towed into New York.
The NORTHERN PACIFIC was a vessel of 9,708 tons displacement,
with a length of 509 feet and breadth of 63 feet, and a maximum speed
of 23 knots. During her service on the North Atlantic, she carried
many prominent officials including Secretary of War Baker, Assistant
Secretaries Ryan and Keppel, Major Generals Chamberlin and Gorgas,
Colonel House, Admiral Benson, and several foreign officials. On account
of her speed, she was especially adapted for the return of wounded
troops and special care and accommodations were provided for them.
She was one of the fastest transports engaged in the U.S. Navy Transport
Service during the war and is credited with making the quickest turn-around
in that service.
He was relieved from active duty in the U.S. Naval
Reserve Force on March 29, 1919, and on the following day returned
to the Coast and Geodetic Survey.
