Born December 3, 1895 in Shelby County, Texas to Lucretia "Creasie" and Joseph "Joe" Hanks. He grew up in a farming community with sister Bula and brother George Wyatt.
Two months following the United States entry into the World War William registered for the military draft at Miller's Store in Sabine Parish, Louisiana on June 5, 1917. His registration card (Form 1) noted his age as 22, home address Rock, Louisiana, employed as a farmer, single, Caucasian, no prior military service and no exemption from the draft claimed. Physically described as of medium height and built with blue eyes and dark brown hair.
Eleven months later on May 28, 1918 he took the oath of enlistment in Sabine Parish, Louisiana and became Private Hanks serial # 1605609. Following basic training at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana he was initially assigned to Company A, 142 Machine Gun Battalion but later he was transferred to Company K, 156th Infantry Regiment, 78th Infantry Brigade, 39th Division. The division had been organized in September 1917 from National Guard troops of Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas.
On August 22, 1918 William and his unit departed the port of Hoboken, New Jersey aboard the USS President Grant bound for the war in France. His brother George of Fairdale, Texas was listed as the next of kin. Upon arrival some eleven days later the division was sent to the St. Florent area southwest of Bourges where it was designated as a replacement division. Most were assigned to other units leaving the 39th skeletonized. George found himself with Company C, 103rd Infantry Regiment of the 26th Division. He saw combat service with the 103rd during the St. Mihiel Offensive, the Treyon Sector and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive that ended the war on November 11, 1918. During operations the 26th Division took 3,143 prisoners and suffered 11,325 casualties. Following the succession of hostilities they moved to the Montigny-le-Roi, a commune in north-eastern France. On March 28, 1919 William, now a member of Company D boarded the USS America at Brest, France for the journey home. Again brother George was listed as his next of kin. They arrived at the port of Boston, Massachusetts April 5, 1918 and then transported to Camp Devens, Middlesex County for discharge processing. Sixteen days later Willliam was once again a civilian after serving eight months overseas.
Two months following the United States entry into the World War William registered for the military draft at Miller's Store in Sabine Parish, Louisiana on June 5, 1917. His registration card (Form 1) noted his age as 22, home address Rock, Louisiana, employed as a farmer, single, Caucasian, no prior military service and no exemption from the draft claimed. Physically described as of medium height and built with blue eyes and dark brown hair.
Eleven months later on May 28, 1918 he took the oath of enlistment in Sabine Parish, Louisiana and became Private Hanks serial # 1605609. Following basic training at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana he was initially assigned to Company A, 142 Machine Gun Battalion but later he was transferred to Company K, 156th Infantry Regiment, 78th Infantry Brigade, 39th Division. The division had been organized in September 1917 from National Guard troops of Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas.
On August 22, 1918 William and his unit departed the port of Hoboken, New Jersey aboard the USS President Grant bound for the war in France. His brother George of Fairdale, Texas was listed as the next of kin. Upon arrival some eleven days later the division was sent to the St. Florent area southwest of Bourges where it was designated as a replacement division. Most were assigned to other units leaving the 39th skeletonized. George found himself with Company C, 103rd Infantry Regiment of the 26th Division. He saw combat service with the 103rd during the St. Mihiel Offensive, the Treyon Sector and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive that ended the war on November 11, 1918. During operations the 26th Division took 3,143 prisoners and suffered 11,325 casualties. Following the succession of hostilities they moved to the Montigny-le-Roi, a commune in north-eastern France. On March 28, 1919 William, now a member of Company D boarded the USS America at Brest, France for the journey home. Again brother George was listed as his next of kin. They arrived at the port of Boston, Massachusetts April 5, 1918 and then transported to Camp Devens, Middlesex County for discharge processing. Sixteen days later Willliam was once again a civilian after serving eight months overseas.
Born December 3, 1895 in Shelby County, Texas to Lucretia "Creasie" and Joseph "Joe" Hanks. He grew up in a farming community with sister Bula and brother George Wyatt.
Two months following the United States entry into the World War William registered for the military draft at Miller's Store in Sabine Parish, Louisiana on June 5, 1917. His registration card (Form 1) noted his age as 22, home address Rock, Louisiana, employed as a farmer, single, Caucasian, no prior military service and no exemption from the draft claimed. Physically described as of medium height and built with blue eyes and dark brown hair.
Eleven months later on May 28, 1918 he took the oath of enlistment in Sabine Parish, Louisiana and became Private Hanks serial # 1605609. Following basic training at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana he was initially assigned to Company A, 142 Machine Gun Battalion but later he was transferred to Company K, 156th Infantry Regiment, 78th Infantry Brigade, 39th Division. The division had been organized in September 1917 from National Guard troops of Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas.
On August 22, 1918 William and his unit departed the port of Hoboken, New Jersey aboard the USS President Grant bound for the war in France. His brother George of Fairdale, Texas was listed as the next of kin. Upon arrival some eleven days later the division was sent to the St. Florent area southwest of Bourges where it was designated as a replacement division. Most were assigned to other units leaving the 39th skeletonized. George found himself with Company C, 103rd Infantry Regiment of the 26th Division. He saw combat service with the 103rd during the St. Mihiel Offensive, the Treyon Sector and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive that ended the war on November 11, 1918. During operations the 26th Division took 3,143 prisoners and suffered 11,325 casualties. Following the succession of hostilities they moved to the Montigny-le-Roi, a commune in north-eastern France. On March 28, 1919 William, now a member of Company D boarded the USS America at Brest, France for the journey home. Again brother George was listed as his next of kin. They arrived at the port of Boston, Massachusetts April 5, 1918 and then transported to Camp Devens, Middlesex County for discharge processing. Sixteen days later Willliam was once again a civilian after serving eight months overseas.
Two months following the United States entry into the World War William registered for the military draft at Miller's Store in Sabine Parish, Louisiana on June 5, 1917. His registration card (Form 1) noted his age as 22, home address Rock, Louisiana, employed as a farmer, single, Caucasian, no prior military service and no exemption from the draft claimed. Physically described as of medium height and built with blue eyes and dark brown hair.
Eleven months later on May 28, 1918 he took the oath of enlistment in Sabine Parish, Louisiana and became Private Hanks serial # 1605609. Following basic training at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana he was initially assigned to Company A, 142 Machine Gun Battalion but later he was transferred to Company K, 156th Infantry Regiment, 78th Infantry Brigade, 39th Division. The division had been organized in September 1917 from National Guard troops of Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas.
On August 22, 1918 William and his unit departed the port of Hoboken, New Jersey aboard the USS President Grant bound for the war in France. His brother George of Fairdale, Texas was listed as the next of kin. Upon arrival some eleven days later the division was sent to the St. Florent area southwest of Bourges where it was designated as a replacement division. Most were assigned to other units leaving the 39th skeletonized. George found himself with Company C, 103rd Infantry Regiment of the 26th Division. He saw combat service with the 103rd during the St. Mihiel Offensive, the Treyon Sector and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive that ended the war on November 11, 1918. During operations the 26th Division took 3,143 prisoners and suffered 11,325 casualties. Following the succession of hostilities they moved to the Montigny-le-Roi, a commune in north-eastern France. On March 28, 1919 William, now a member of Company D boarded the USS America at Brest, France for the journey home. Again brother George was listed as his next of kin. They arrived at the port of Boston, Massachusetts April 5, 1918 and then transported to Camp Devens, Middlesex County for discharge processing. Sixteen days later Willliam was once again a civilian after serving eight months overseas.
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