Comments on: The 8th Mass. Infantry

By: laura

laura — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 17:36:27 +0000

I found a Soldiers Memorial document 1916 United States – Mexico – 1916 Company B Eighth Massachusetts Infantry National Guard U.S.A It lists Company Officers Captain Lewis P. Sawin, First Lieut, Bernard M Berry, Second Lieut Thomas Livingston etc My grandfather is listed as a Private George E Lanctot. Any info on Company B appreciated. I believe he also fought in WWI. Looking for info on his tour. .

By: Ed Dullea

Ed Dullea — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 17:58:19 +0000

I Aquired a small trunk a few years ago, it was painted black. I just stripped the paint and in faint letters on the top wood strips it was marked Corp. Roland W. Edwards – 8th Mass Infantry. Lokking for any info. Thanks Ed

By: rance gillespie

rance gillespie — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 21:37:58 +0000

tom flaherty my wife &i spent a great few hours with gen.Kondratiuk at the mass.n.g. museum at 44 salisbury st worcester,ma.01609-3157.
he was very helpful & found all my dads recordson his service in texas,france&during the boston police strike.
good luck rance
ps thanks again rich
rance

By: Thomas J Flaherty IV

Thomas J Flaherty IV — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:37:05 +0000

Im looking for ANY information regarding my Great grandfather who from what I have gathered served in the Mass Militia sometime between 1914-1916 and went to Mexico. Unfortunatly this is all i know. Is there a list of men anywhere? Anthing would be a great help

Sincerely,
Tom Flaherty IV

By: Brian Sullivan

Brian Sullivan — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:59:45 +0000

I received interesting information the other day from my uncle about my grandfather. He was part of Machine Gun Company 8th Infantry. He enlisted in 1915 and was discharged in 1919 for injuries incurred during the the war. He received a French Croix de Guerre with gilt Sta for breavery. Apparently he saveed a comrade from two Germans and also took the two Germans prisoner. I beleive he might have been seriously injured during this act because of the dates on the letter and his discharge paperwork. The dates are just two days apart from injury to award.

I am looking for anyone who might have more information. His name was Ernest L. Sullivan and was a Sergeant at the time of discharge and at the time of the awarding of the Croix de Guerre. I also noticed the post requesting some information about the border. My uncle stated in a letter that my grandfather was on the Mexican Border in 1916 and was a corporal at the time. Again apparently he was part of Machine Gun Company 8th Infantry, Mass. National Guard. I forgot to mention in my previous post that I have the orginal copy of the discharge paperwork form the Mass Adjutant Generals Office for my grandfather. If you would like PDF copies for your research I’d be more than happy to send them.

Thanks,
Brian Sullivan

By: Molly

Molly — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 14:04:46 +0000

I can’t help you with that but I am also interested in the answer as I am currently researching that very topic. So if anybody has that information I would be interested too! Thank you in advance for any assistance.

By: James Stygles

James Stygles — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 23:28:07 +0000

Good afternoon, Do you have a list of the men who served in the Eighth Infantry that served with Pershing in Mexico? I would be very thankful if you have and can send it to me via email. Thanks and best wishes.

By: Dick Callahan

Dick Callahan — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 02:51:29 +0000

Back in the year 1950 when in Guard training at Camp Edwards,
I sat one evening listening to the many veterans that partied the
night before breaking up and going back to home in Boston. Five
years had elapsed from the time of the ending of World War Two,
but the memories prevailed and stories were told. With the act of
drinking they told many. When sober you never heard a peep from
them.

Some of them told tales of the war in Europe that they had
participated in. Others mentioned experiences in the South Pacific.
None ever talked about these things during the duty hours
or any other time in their stay in the Guard. Most all had gone
from the Guard after accumulating enough points to get retirement
points at the age of sixty.

After the two-week training was over I came home and wrote this poem. I was in high school at the time. I just came across this when sorting out the many that I had written in the years past. Is it any different now in the wars we are fighting than it was 60 years ago? I think not. Different formats in fighting the enemy but
still they are just soldiers of another era.

Cordially, RF Callahan

I AM WAR
By RF Callahan

I came to this world
When men were so free
I challenged nations to victory
I stepped into the land with a bloody air
And charged out to men in despair

Across the sea they were these men,
Tired, weary and worn,
Working this job of war,
All of them did so scorn.

So they continued on with their fighting,
And onward they continued to go,
Fighting the many battles,
Maiming and killing their foe.

Throughout the countries of Europe
They moved ahead to destroy,
Destroying the enemy before them
As the Grecians had done at Troy.

View all of the crosses on graves
For acres across the great plain,
Containing the dead of my war,
Many who had died in great pain.

View all the towns and villages
Torn to shreds by my war,
And then look up into the heavens
And pray to God, Please, “NO MORE”

The world may one day be peaceful
But only when men can foresee
That my war gives nothing but dead men,
And in a war only the dead are free.

Count all the dead in my wars,
Count all of the battles fought.
Count all the crosses on graves, and ask,
Is this how a peace is sought?

After the battles are fought and won
And home again we go so free.
But no, not for very long
I come again you will see.

No fault of mine that I come,
And I will come again you will see,
I will bring so much pain and death
As I come again across the sea.

I AM WAR, I AM WAR, AND MAN HAS MADE ME

By: Daryl Miller

Daryl Miller — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:46:07 +0000

I have a medal that is from the Georgia National Guard. It was during the Pancho Villa campaign on the Mexican border. Don’t know who’s it is but its cool. Great site…

By: Philip

Philip — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:19:22 +0000

This is very interesting. I’m working on my second novel and the main character is a soldier with 1058th Transportation Unit – MANG, among other things. The story is not about 1058th per se, but it does go into the unit’s history a bit and it’s current mobs to Iraq.

This website lays out the clear path of the evolution of the MANG. Thanks. More importantly it is interesting stuff.

Philip