Corporal James E Campbell, 55th Company, 5th Regiment USMC

[Bill_Carman]

This is a very nice USMC Purple Heart Medal and Good Conduct Medal group with some nice extras.  The service file request is pending but I was able to glean a good amount of information from Ancestry.  The photos came with the group as did the watch and 2nd Division Summary of Operations book.  The note was only discovered a couple of weeks ago under the cloth backing in the protective case of the watch.

 

James Everett Campbell, born 13 February 1895, enlisted in the Marines 27 October 1916.  He served in the 55th Company, 5th Marine Regiment, 2nd Division during WW 1.  His service history can be traced in the Marine Muster Rolls from October 1916 to May 1919.  He was promoted to Corporal in July 1918. 

Campbell was wounded twice, 11 June 1918 he suffered a gunshot wound to the left shoulder and on 4 October 1918 he was wounded in the left hand.

Interestingly he was listed as Missing In Action for most of October 1918 and then dropped from the rolls. I believe the following addendum to the rolls made in 1919 can explain the action. (He was shuffled around so much that he became lost in the patient red tape, apparently the unit was never notified he was a casualty being treated).

Addenda Roll AEF: 1 January 1919 to 31 July 1919

James E Campbell, 55th Company

FH#1 (field hospital) 6-11-18 transferred to FH#23 - #15 for GSW Left Shoulder

FH#1 joined on 4 October 1918 for GSW to Left Hand, transferred to 1st AS#4 on 5 October 1918, transferred to EH#3 from ARCH #1 (army red cross hospital) then to FRHT 5 October 1918, to BH #65 (base hospital) on 24 November 1918, then shipped to US via the USS Martha Washington on 9 December 1918.

His recovery was lengthy, I suspect for both his shoulder and hand GSWs, he is recorded in the Rolls as being in Norfolk, VA., Naval Station Hospital until discharge 31 May 1919.

In the 30s and 40s James Campbell and his wife were living in Kansas with their children.  Mr. Campell died 3 November 1979, he is buried along with his wife in Clovis, New Mexico.

 

Thanks for looking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[manayunkman]

Very nice.

[katieony]

Bill,

 

A really nice addition to your collection.  Love those large OLC's!

 

Mike

[KASTAUFFER]

Great looking group Bill.  

[wildcat123]

Great Kansas grouping!  Thanks for posting.

[tdogchristy90]

Great group and write-up Bill, very well done! Thanks for keeping the memory alive.

 

[French Sam]

Really Beautiful group ! Thanks for sharing and congratulations ! 😍

[devildog34]

I love this.  Outstanding group