William Lesselyong
William Lesselyong was born in Marshfield, Wisconsin August 28, 1880. He was a Sergeant of Co. A, 127th Infantry. He was fighting in France on August 2nd, 1918, when he was killed in action at Sergy, France. He had served with Company A through the Mexican border campaign in the year 1916.
William was 27 years old when he died. he was in the trenches on two occasions and said his first thought after his return was to go to church. Company A sailed to France with 145 enlisted and 6 officers and left 87 men behind. The company still had to depart even after the depletion of strength. They left Courcelles on May 14th, and marched to Langres and then were transported to Phaffans by rail.
The first trip into the trenches was on June 9th at the Schonholz Sector and Company A left there on June 21st and moved back to Retzwiller. Company A men left Retzwiller at 9 o'clock p.m. on July 2nd and relieved Company E, 127th infantry in Maroc Sector, the relief was completed at 1:25 a.m. on July 3rd, 1918. At this time, Boche got wise and shot heavy artillery fire bringing about the first casualties in Company A; one killed and five injured.
Andrew Smith, Student
East Junior High, Wisconsin Rapids
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