LS Wampler, the Soldier in WWI

On June 5, 1917, Leonard received that letter that all young men love to receive. An invitation from their draft board to see if they are mentally and physically fit to die for their country. In his letters to Thelma, he says that he is going to declare that he is a Conscientious Objector because the tenants of the Church of the Brethren reject violence, much as the Quakers do. He was in contact with William Joseph Swigart of Juniata College. Swigart was a vocal figure who encouraged young men to resist being inducted and many men spent the war in prison.

See more at http://www.brethren.org/bhla/hiddengems-william-j-swigart.html

Leonard applied, but was turned down. In a letter to Thelma, before he left to Camp Lee, he said that he expected to return the following week. The next letter informed her that he was a member of the US Army. Under President Wilson's Selective Service Act of 1917, men could serve, but not in a combat status.

"The Selective Service Act of 1917 recognized conscientious objectors and did not require them to bear arms. Men who belonged to historically pacifistic religious groups had guaranteed access to conscientious objector status. Nevertheless, the act authorized President Woodrow Wilson to conscript conscientious objectors for noncombatant service."

LS Wampler became a Private and because of his experience as a farmer, was assigned to the Quartermaster Corps and trained as a Remount Specialist. The Great War was still a horse war; mounted cavalry, horse drawn artillery and ambulances, and mule drawn ammo wagons. The Americans, under General John J. Pershing were entering the Great War and the Quartermaster Corps has a lot of work to do. At the port of St. Nazairre, France, there was already a receiving pen for animals arriving from America that had to be quarantined and assigned to units in the killing fields of France.

Leonard rode a train to the front lines once with a shipment. He had arrived in October 1918 and the Great War ended on 11-11-11; 11:00 Am, on the 11th day of the 11th month. Suddenly, the war was ended and many of the soldiers wore looking forward to returning to their families. On the day of the Armistice, there were more American casualties that on D-Day on June 6, 1944 because American officers knew this was their last chance to gain glory and promotions that would make their military careers. They were correct and officers like Douglas McArthur, George Patton and Ike Eisenhower made their careers on the deaths of their men on that fateful day, knowing that peace was coming at 11:00 AM.

The Germans were very surprised to be attacked, but obliged by returning fire with enthusiasm.

Leonard's time was just beginning, so he was among the last to leave and was discharges on June 30, 1919 and returned home to Pen Laird, VA. His service Record indicates his AEF (American Expedition Force) time was October 13, 1918 to June 30, 1919, with Medals, Decorations, Badges, Citations and Victory Medals.

During his time, he became friends with Corporal Ficquitt, another soldier with a high education who later became a teacher and superintendent of schools in Newton, Georgia. After he passed away, they named Ficquitt Elementary School in his honor. He also became the clerk and learned to type on a typewriter. At the National Archives, I believe many of the later papers were typed by him.

Later in life, he became the Commander of the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) and was very proud of his service.

Leonard S Wampler