Everett C. McAninch (Oklahoma), Awarded a Silver Star Citation in World War I

 

Everett Charles McAninch was a son of Milton Fletcher and Flora Belle (Abbott) McAninch,

[Ringgold County, Iowa], grand-son of Joseph and Elizabeth Jane (Quiett) McAninch [Indiana

to Iowa after the Civil War], great-grand-son of Samuel and (Mary) Polly (Skidmore) McAninch

[Kentucky to Hendricks County, Indiana], and great-great-grand-son of Daniel McAninch, one of

the original McAninch pioneers in Kentucky [Daniel, born 1750-1755, (northern) Ireland] [Note 4].

 

Everett Charles McAninch is believed to have been born Aug. 1899 in Ringgold County, Iowa.

His father Milton had been a farmer in Boone County, Nebraska, and in Ringgold County, Iowa.

In the early 1900’s (ca. 1903-1904) the family moved to Edmond in the Oklahoma Territory (O.T.),

where Milton worked as a bridge and building foreman for the Santa Fe railroad.

 

In 1917, Everett became a gun Sergeant in Battery C of the 148th Field Artillery, organized at

Camp Greene, North Carolina; the unit trained in the mud at Camp Mills, Long Island. New York,

and at Camp Merritt, New Jersey, and then sailed from New York to France on 23 January 1918.

[book History of Battery "C" 148th Field Artillery, American Expeditionary Forces, Note 2].

 

Everett C. McAninch was awarded the Silver Star Citation for gallantry in action in August 1918:

 

“By direction of the President . . . Sergeant Everett C. McAninch, United States Army, is cited by

the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces . . . silver star . . . Sergeant McAninch

distinguished himself by gallantry in action . . . at Chery-Chartreuve, France, 11 August 1918, in

going to the aid of a severely wounded comrade under heavy shell fire.” [Note 1]

 

‘Everett’ excerpts from the History of Battery "C" 148th Field Artillery book [Note 2] include:

 

“Do You Remember?” [includes] “McAninch and Harris in conversation 'a la Chinois'?” [pg.33]

 

Football team [Nov./Dec. 1917, at Camp Mills, Long Island, New York]:

 

“[Position] Left Guard / McAninch / [Weight] 166” [pg.49]

 

[Battery C] Calendar [August 1918, continued]

 

Sat. 10: “We continue firing on sensitive points. Shells are lighting in all sections of the valley.

The Artillerymen directly in front of us are forced to take another position in the valley.

Cherry Chartreuve is heavily shelled. American Artillery stationed there forced to evacuate.

Aeroplane duel in the afternoon. The General in command of the artillery inspects our positon

and decides that we had not sufficient dug-outs. Mustard shells fall at the position. Lieut. Turner

gets into a gas suit, obtains a handful of mud from the shell crater and each man in turn takes a

Smell of this deadly poison gas. Sneezing gas.” [Notes 2, 3]

 

_________________________________________________________________________

McAninch Family History NL v.XXI n.1 / Jan. 2013 / Frank McAninch, Editor / page 2013-07

 

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