From: Jack R Thompson To: Kathie Matney , Vanessa Hardin , Paul Thompson Bcc: benjamin.a.thompson@gmail.com Sent: Sun, Apr 29, 2012 at 2:07 PM Subject: WWI It appears this is what (link attached) Ralph Thompson served with in WWI. He actually joined the army in 1907 at the age of 18 and was discharged in 1910. It appears he reenlisted in 1917 to be an entertainer in WWI and was stationed in France where he collected a number of souvenirs. It is clear to me at this point that these things were never sitting around our house and that they got passed to dad from Aunt Nettie or Liza. I am trying to put this in good order before we meet but thought I would give you some of these interesting highlights as I piece them together. Love, skip http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/ymca.htm --- NOTE FOR THE FAMILY RECORD: This 2012 email represents the family theory at the time, which the documented service evidence later contradicted: - Ralph's actual service was US NAVY, not Army (per War Service Certificate No. 339572, artifact spring-glade, and 1919 service roster, artifact first-deer) - His duty was Carpenter / Chief Carpenter's Mate, not "entertainer" - The YMCA connection appears to have been a mistaken inference based on the worldwar1.com YMCA page Jack found while researching - His service window matches Jack's email (1917 onwards) — the email's "1907 Army" claim is not yet corroborated by any document on this site The note about WWI memorabilia having "got passed to dad from Aunt Nettie or Liza" is genealogically significant: Nettie Alexander was Hazel's sister (per Hazel's 1955 obituary, artifact copper-seed). "Liza" is not yet identified. "skip" is the email sender's childhood nickname (Jack R Thompson, Benjamin's father), used informally with siblings; he dropped it in college and otherwise goes by Jack R Thompson.