William Vance Hull
William was born in Columbus, Ohio, on 14 February, 1894. Son of Richard Eadie Hull and Sallie Beatrice Eames.
William registered for the draft on 15 June, 1917, in El Paso, Texas. At the time of his registration he was married with “wife and child”, and his occupation is listed as “Salesman” for the El Paso Electric Railway Co. He had previously served for three years as a non-commissioned Infantry officer in Ohio.
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He was drafted and attached to the “Headquarters Detachment Horsed Battalion” 5th Ammunition Train, Artillery, 5th Division, “The Red Diamond” Division.
Sergeant Hull departed for France out of New York City aboard the U.S.S. Derbyshire on 27 May, 1918.
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The 5th Division played an important role at Saint Mihiel in September of 1918, where they earned the nickname “Die rote Teufel” or “Red Devils” from the Germans. The artillery had an especially difficult time.
“The Fifth U.S. Division in the World War 1917-1919”, pg. 86.
On 5 October, 1918, the 5th Division was ordered to attack and clear a small woods named the Bois des Rappes. Here they would see their roughest fighting. On 21 October the Bois des Rappes was taken. By Armistice Day, the 5th had advanced further to the east than any Allied division.
After the Armistice, the 5th was part of the Army of Occupation. From November, 1918 to the summer of 1919, they were stationed in Luxembourg and southeastern Belgium, where they guarded the lines of communication for the troops occupying Germany.
“The Fifth U.S. Division in the World War 1917-1919”, pg. 285.
Read more about the 5th Division here: http://www.societyofthefifthdivision.com/WWI/WW-I.htm?fbclid=IwAR3uJfR_CkvOKQ1k5PmdjwvVcfm4WbQEcFccIYufNr340raUBEifv-Sb75U
Sergeant Hull returned from France as part of the “St. Aignan Casual Co. No. 4470 Special Discharge” aboard the U.S.S. Argentina, departing out of Marsailles on 17 May, 1919. He arrived in New York City on 3 June, 1919.
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On 30 April, 1938, he married Ila Mae Van Voorhis at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa.
Los Angeles Times, Sunday, 4 September, 1938
On 3 September, 1938, William attended a reception and dance in honor of the golden wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick C. Butterfield in Long Beach, CA.
Before the United States entered into World War 2, while residing in Minnesota, William enlisted in the Army National Guard, Infantry, as a Technical Sergeant, on 10 February, 1941.
He was medically discharged in October, 1943.
William moved to Colton, California, in 1942, where he resided until his passing.
William entered into rest on 14 February, 1978. He now rests at the Montecito Memorial Park in Colton, California.
“Soft and safe, be thy resting place. Bright and glorious, be thy rising from it.”
Lest we forget…