Note: WorldConnect family trees will be removed from RootsWeb on April 15, 2023 and will be migrated to Ancestry later in 2023. (More info)

Individual Page


Family
Marriage: Children:
  1. Person Not Viewable

  2. Person Not Viewable

  3. Person Not Viewable

  4. Person Not Viewable


Sources
1. Title:   Graffius.FTW

Notes
a. Note:   From Joan Speakman Hobernicht
 Roy Leslie Speakman enlisted in the US Army on September 21, 1917 at Sturgis, SD. He served at the Verdun front and St. Michel in France. He was honorably discharged in Camp Dodge, Iowa on March 3, 1919. The family has two letters he wrote while in the service.
 I was very young when Dad told me this:
 One day my Dad and I were outside; it was morning and the birds were chirping and making an awful racket. I said, "shut up, birds!". And then my Dad told me this story.
 I was on supply detail, several others and me. We took supplies from camp to the front lines. It was very dangerous as the enemy did not want the soldiers to get their ammunition or food.
 One day we had completed our delivery and were on our way back when it became dark. We found a cave and took shelter there. When I woke up by throat hurt as though it was on fire. It was hard to breathe and I was blind.
 I called to my companions but no one could answer. I stumbled across their bodies and knew they were dead. I knew then that we had been the victims of mustard gas. Since I had been sleeping close to the entrance of the cave I had some fresh air and so had survived. But I didn't know how long I had been unconscious.
 I finally found the exit to the cave and stumbled on the railroad tracks. I knew the tracks went east and west. To the east lay the enemy, to the west was camp and safety. But I was totally blind. I didn't know which way to go.
 I felt the sun shining on my face, but was it morning sun or evening sun? Everything was very quiet. Suddenly the air was filled with the sound of birds, squawking and fighting and calling for food.
 Ah, I thought, it must be morning, those birds sound so hungry so I turned and let the sunshine on my back and walked back to camp.
 Roy spent some time in the hospital and was then sent back to the US, regained his eyesight; but the mustard gas permanently affected his lungs.
 _____________________________________
 World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
 Name: Roy Leslie Speakman
 City: Not Stated
 County: Meade
 State: South Dakota
 Birthplace: Iowa;United States of America
 Birth Date: 21 Mar 1891
 Race: Caucasian (White)
 Roll: 1877797
 DraftBoard: 0
 _________________________________
 U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006
 Name: Roy Leslie Speakman
 Service Info.: PVT US ARMY WORLD WAR I
 Birth Date: 21 Mar 1891
 Death Date: 2 Jan 1961
 Service Start Date: 21 Sep 1917
 Service End Date: 3 Mar 1919
 Interment Date: 4 Jan 1961
 Cemetery: Black Hills National Cemetery
 Cemetery Address: 20901 Pleasant Valley Drive Sturgis, SD 57785
 Buried At: Section C Site 202
 _________________________________
 CENSUS
 1930 Meade County, South Dakota: Joe Mia Torrence 65 Luella c Torrence 25 Patricia Torrence 3 3/12 Roy Speakman 39



RootsWeb.com is NOT responsible for the content of the GEDCOMs uploaded through the WorldConnect Program. The creator of each GEDCOM is solely responsible for its content.