PFC Mac C. Merrifield (WWI)

PFC Mac C. Merrifield (service # 2715610) was born September 16, 1891 in Smithfield (Wetzel County), WV to Elery Newton Merrifield and Minerva Ellen (Flowers) Merrifield. Out of the 10 Merrifield children, Mac was born 5th. 

One May 27, 1917, Mac married Fara Gladys Martin in Marion County, WV, near Bringamon Church in Marion County, when he was 25 years old and she was 18.

Mac registered for the draft on June 5, 1917. He listed himself as tall and slender with blue eyes and brown hair. At the time, he was working as a farmer in Worthington, WV. 

On July 8, 1918, Mac departed Hoboken, NJ on the U.S.S. Leviathan as part of the 79th Division's 314th Infantry machine gun company. 

There are lots of sources on this, but weirdly enough this random wiki had the best summary of what happened. Check out the reference list for more detailed accounts.

"Upon arrival at Brest, France, they continued training until September 1918, then took part in the Meuse Argonne Offensive. Capturing the town of Malancourt on 26 September 1918, they assisted the 313th Infantry on the following day in the capture of the town of Montfaucon-d'Argonne. Montfaucon was a heavily defended area and observation post of the German army. Of the four Infantry regiments of the 79th Division involved in the offensive, the 314th was hardest-hit. It took several days to account for all the missing personnel and bring the regiment up 50 percent manning." 

Unfortunately, PVT Mac Merrifield died September 28, 1918, mere months into his time in France. The 314th's website lists him as Private 1st Class.

Fara Merrifield remarried in 1920 and lived until March 18, 1972. She had one child with her husband Oral A. Cunningham, Patricia Joan Cunningham (born May 12,1925).

Mac was first buried in an isolated grave in the Commune of Nantilloise on October 1, 1918. On June 9, 1919 he was disinterred and moved to the Argonne American Cemetery. On July 19, 1921 he was disinterred AGAIN and shipped on the U.S.S. Wheaton to Hoboken, NJ. It arrived September 24, 1921 in Shinnston, WV, signed for by the undertakers W.M. Harmer & Sons. 

In 1929, a gravestone was placed for Mac at the IOOF Cemetery in Wyatt, West Virginia by his younger brother, Gordon Merrifield.

Articles mentioning Mac Merrifield:

• Marriage Licenses (The West Virginian; May 26, 1917- page 10)
• Marion County [Draft] Registration (The West Virginian; June 14, 1917- page 9)
• Memorial Services for Two Soldiers (The West Virginian; February 27, 1919)
• Personals (The West Virginian; April 26, 1919- page 6)
• French War Honors to Go Out Sunday (The West Virginian; February 18, 1920)
• Deep Solemnity Marked Legion's Tribute to Dead part 1 and part 2 (The West Virginian; February 23, 1920)
• Mac is honored in Veteran's Square in Fairmont, WV as well as on the "Million Dollar Bridge," which was originally dedicated to WWI veterans in 1921

Other References: 

• Lecture on 314th Infantry, 79th Division, AEF Draws Large Crowd
• Leviathan - Troop Transport Ship 
• Mac C Merrifield in the American Soldiers of World War I (photograph)
• Mac C Merrifield in the U.S., Army Transport Service Arriving and Departing Passenger Lists, 1910-1939
• Mac Charles Merrifield on Findagrave
• Montfaucon - Includes battle map from two days before Mac's death and detailed account through September 27

Transcribed Articles:

Memorial Services for Two Soldiers (The West Virginian; February 27, 1919)

"A memorial service was held at Teverbaugh church on the evening of February 23, in honor of Mac Merrifield and Harry Shuttlesworth, who made the supreme sacrifice upon the battle field in France.

Appropriate music was rendered by the Teverbaugh and Harter Hill choir combined under the direction of Colbert Sturm with Miss Mabel Hubank as organist. The program was as follows:

Opening song, "The Dead Shall Rise Again;" invocation, R.E. Davis; song, "It is Well With My Soul;" address, Festus Parrish; song by choir, "Asleep in Jesus;" recitation, "We Shall Remember Them," Edna Brown; duet, "If I'm Not at the Roll Call," Marguerite Parrish and Herschal Board; poem by John Shuttlesworth in memory of his brother Harry; address L. H. Michaels; recitation, "When the Blue Star Turns to Gold," Marguerite Parrish; quartet, "I'll carry Mother's Bible Next to My Heart;" address, S.L. Bock; song by choir, "America;" eulogy, Chas. Shuttlesworth; male quartet "Sometime, Somewhere,"elogium, Mrs. Edward McElfresh; song by choir, "Will There Be Any Stars in My Crown?"

John Shuttlesworth's poem is as follows:

SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE by John Shuttlesworth

He left his home in perfect health,
He looked so young and brave.
We little thought how soon he'd be
Laid in a soldier's grave.

Somewhere in France be is lying
Or may be on stale sod.
What a glory was his in dying
For Liberty, Country and God.

He dreaded not the battle field,
He went to make fierce vandals yield
Went like a man, a hero true
His part unselfishly to do.

Our hearts now feel exultant pride
That for humanity be died.
And though his grave we may not see
Our boy will never forgotten be.

 
A precious one from us has gone,
A voice we loved is stilled;
A place is vacant in our home
Which never can be filled.

Sleep on, dear brother, sleep, '
Till Jesus bids you rise;
And there with all the ones that blest,
We'll meet you in the skies.

Yes, the dreadful message came,
Mamma took it at the door.
Private Harry killed in action.
That was all, it said, no more.

In the house dry eyed and peaceful,
Grief and pride the story told.
People passing paid a tribute
When the blue star turned to gold.

Farewell, brother, thou hast left us
In this, sinful world below;
But with Jesus you are resting
Up in heaven, there I know.

But again we hope to meet you
In a home beyond the skies,
Where we clasp our hands forever

And never have to say good bye.

Fear little flag with a golden star

Stands for my brother who went afar,

Who gave his life for the red, white and blue,

For the noblest cause we ever knew.

May the stars and stripes

Of Old Glory wave

O'er the grave of a dear

One so true and brave.

All is dark within our dwelling

Lonely is our hearts today.

For the one we loved so dearly

Has forever passed away.

And we listen, softly listen.

For a sound we cannot hear,

For the music of his footsteps

Never more will greet our ear.

Somewhere in France they buried him

Within a quiet lonely grave,

Unknown save by his fighting mates

Who cheered the cause he died to save.

And for the sacrifice he gave

The stars and stripes

Still proudly wave

Somewhere in France.

Personals (The West Virginian; April 26, 1919- page 6)

"Mrs. Mac C. Merrifield, of Wyatt, was transacting business in Worthington on Friday. Her husband, Mac C. Merrifield, was killed in action in France on September 28, 1918, according to a report from the War department."

French War Honors to Go Out Sunday (The West Virginian; February 18, 1920)

"Plans have been completed for the presentation next Sunday afternoon of the French certificates of appreciation to the relatives of Marion county soldiers of the gerat [sic] war who died in the service. The exercises, of course, will be held under the auspices of Fred R. Heintzelman Post of the American Legion and the First Methodist Episcopal church on Fairmont avenue will be the place. The hour is 2:30 o'clock.

The French government selected Washington's birthday as the date for this presentation and services similar to the one held here will take place all over the country. Here a most interesting program has been provided.

Fred T. Norris, of The Times staff, a lieutenant in the army and bearing a wound, will deliver the eulogy for the dead. Judge William S. Haymond, veteran Fairmont jurist and prominent citizen, will deliver an address. The certificates will be presented by Captain Rollo J. Conley, local post commander, and there will be appropriate musical selections.

One of the features of the service will be the taking down of the church's service flag, which bears many stars.

The list of honored dead at present bears the names of thirty-one warriors. It is possibly not yet complete and other names may be added later. As it is now corrected the list is as follows:

Thomas Ray Arnett, Russell Arnett, George H. Barlett, Thomas Bennett, Lloyd Brown, Buie Boydoh, Earl Berry, Abbie Lee Burk, John R. Buckingham, Thomas Conner, Charles Cartright, Harold Davis, William Elder, Arlington Fleming, Robert S. Fletcher, James Scott Grubb, Arlie Haught, Zellan Haught, Herschel Hamilton, Fred R. Heintezlman, Scott Ingram, Albert Jenkins, Clark Kemper, Lem Kincaid, Lonnie W. Lawrence, Carl Miller, Fred Miller, Paolo Morrone, Mac C. Merrifield, Lawrence A Petty, Roy L. Quinn, James H. Shuttlesworth, Hugh Talkington, Richard Talbott, Joseph Van Gilder, Frank Villers, Harry W. Wells, Zarah West, -- Wilson"