WWI Our Boys Join

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WWI Our Boys Join

The Hames brothers Winter's Baker, Thomas Lafayette, William Edward, John Freeman and Leo Bates all got their draft notice from Uncle Sam. Winters Baker, Thomas Lafayette and John Freeman all joined the Army and served overseas in France.  The other two brothers did not actively serve, but were involved on the home front. 

This war, grew to such a proportion, it caused world wide attention and loss.  So many countries got involved in small and large ways. Europe, which was already hurting, was even more decimated in the fighting.  When Germany tried to get Mexico involved in a pact, the United States of America got involved.  It was this call for service that drew the Hames family into the fray.

John Freeman, my grandfather, told story after story of his adventures.  I realize now that he tempered every story to be fit for little girls to hear.  He told stories of his service to his Colonel. He drove the motorcycle with the side car transporting the Colonel back and forth to the battlefields and temporary headquarters.  He did not tell us the details about the battles he saw, the lives lost and the men he knew who perished.  The only way we know of his loss was the sadness in his eyes when he told of those boys lost in battle.

Were they proud of their service?  Did they regret going? I never heard either Thomas [Uncle Tom to us] or John Freeman [Pop to us] say anything other than their pride in being able to serve their country.  Uncle Winters Baker died before I got to know him.  He did leave photos and memories of his service for his family to peruse.

We their descendants are proud of their sacrifices.  The willingness to put others first, to step up to the needs of a nation and be willing to give all. How can we be anything else but honored to have them in our family.