Military: World War I: Joseph Francis Davidavage. Schuylkill County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Gene Shiber GShiber@aol.com USGENWEB NOTICE:Printing this file by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. _________________________________________________________________ Joe was inducted on 25 May, 1918 by Local Board #2 in Mahanoy City. At that time he resided at 533 1/2 W. Spruce St., and was 23 years, 11 months old. On 14 June he was assigned to 14th Training Battalion, 154th D.B. and served in france from 9 July, 1918 to 30 May, 1919 in the Field Artillery. He was promoted to Pvt 1 class 1 December, 1918, and was Honorably Discharged 7 June, 1919 from Company C, 315th Infantry. His tour of duty was slightly more than a year. "Sometime during November 11, 1918 Joe and several other army comrades found themselves in a life-threatening predicament. Their position appeared to be hopelessly pinned down by a German machine gun emplacement, and it was only a matter of hours until the inevitable would occur. Fortunately for these Americans a major miracle happened. The German soldiers put up a white flag and walked towards the Americans, and when they met, the German soldiers told them that an armistice had been signed and the war was over. Then everyone rejoiced and shared each others food and drink." The above was told to E.J. Shiber by his mother, Helen Davidavage Shiber, Joe's sister. On 17 March 1920, Joe re-enlisted for 3 years in Shenandoah, Pa. His addressat that time, was 511 W. Centre Street, Mahanoy City; his main occupation was a journeyman machinist and final inspector earning $35 per week. His records, at this re-enlistment, show that he was 25-years, 9-months old, and had blue eyes, brown hair with fair complexion, and stood 5 ft. 3 1/4 inches tall. On 26 March 1920, Joe was assigned to Jackson Barracks, La., and on 9 April 1920 he sailed from New Orleans and arrived at Cristobal, Panama Canal Zone. There he was attached to Battery K, Mounted Artillery at Corozal, C.Z. While there, in 1920, Uncle Joe qualified as a driver, cannoneer and horseshoer and was promoted to Pvt - Specialist 4th grade on 1 July 1920. Also on 8-18-1920 he received his WW1 Victory Medal. On 1 July 1921 Joe was reassigned to Battery B, 22nd Field Artillery, at Gatun, CZ, and then to Battery B, 4th Field Artillery in September 1921. On April 13th he was made a Pvt 1st Class, and the following day he was promoted to Corporal. He sailed from the Canal Zone on 3 May and arrived in N.Y. City on 11 May, 1922 where he was stationed at Fort Slocum, and was to be given 30 days furlough upon arrival. A note as a Final Endorsement made into his record on 2 September, 1922 stating that he was Honorably Discharged. Re: "Dependency" by letter from Headquarters, 2nd Corp, dated 30 August, 1922. Joe served about 2 1/2 years of his 3 year enlistment.