I've spent the past couple days conducting research in the library of Syracuse University. It's been years since I've gone through some of the neighborhoods of Salt City. The city has seen better days and is looking pretty rough, of course it doesn't help that spring in Syracuse looks more like winter right now. However, my path took me by Oakwood Cemetery each day and I kept feeling pulled to go in and nose around. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea (wandering in a cemetery) but you'd be surprised by what you find, by WHO you find.
I wrapped up my last day of research early and decided to follow my gut that had been telling me to go into this snow covered cemetery and have a look around. Finding the Marines in the cemetery was an adventure with the headstones mostly buried by snow and upright markers often simply listing family names. This means just getting out and have a look, brush the snow/leaves/mud off and see what you find. I was feeling pulled toward this one part of the cemetery (it's huge!) and in the far reaches of the particular plot. I caught a glimpse of a military marker, slipped on the gloves and uncovered a Marine from WWI/WWII. "Well, there you are, I heard you." Yes, I actually said that as I dug the miniature USMC flag from my pocket. Corporal Hobart Jess Doan wanted me to talk with me.
Hobart Jess Doan enlisted in the Marine Corps on 11 April 1913 in Syracuse. He was accepted on probation as an apprentice (musician) and permanently accepted in the Corps on 18 April 1913 at Marine Barracks Washington, where his rank was listed as Trumpeter. He was just 17 years old and thus under the age of majority. In January 1914, Doan was transferred to Marine Barracks Annapolis, home of the Naval Academy, but later that summer he was assigned to the USS
Rhode Island which was operating up and down the East Coast.
For the next two years, Doan was the trumpeter on the
Rhode Island until transferred to Marine Barracks Boston for a few months before being transferred to 51st Company at Marine Barracks Charleston. Commanding the company was none other than
Lloyd Williams and soon to find itself in Haiti.
It seems our friend Doan had a bit of a mischievous side to him. In December 1916, he fails to report boat time and is "awarded" EPD (extra police duty, not to be confused with an infectious disease).
However, in April 1917, Doan reenlists while the company is at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The next month, the company (now part of the 2d Battalionm, 5th Regiment) is enroute to Philadelphia where many will end up in France as part of the American Expeditionary Forces. Doan, however, is transferred to Marine Barracks League Island. In August 1917, he finds himself once again in hot water. This time, he was found absent from guard mount.
On 21 November 1917, having reached the age of majority, Doan is discharged. His rank was listed as Corporal, even though I could not find his promotion to the rank. Funny enough, even with his troubles, his character was listed as "very good" (one step down from the best rating of "excellent").
It appears as though Doan stays in the Philadelphia area after his enlistment ended. On 15 July 1918, Doan reenlists at Marine Barracks Philadelphia and returns to his rating as Trumpeter. However, it doesn't seem as though he's quite shaken off the mischief. In August 1918, he's reprimanded for failing to blow "Taps" and in October the same year he's in trouble for missing reveille and guard mount.
Before the end of the year, Doan is once again deployed--this time to the 1st Regiment at a familiar location--Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and then by April 1919, Doan is with the 2d Regiment in another familiar location--Haiti! His service the second time isn't as long and he's discharged in October 1919, with the rank of Trumpeter and character listed as "Excellent."
Doan returns home to Syracuse and in January 1920 marries Dorothy Potter. When World War II breaks out, Doan returns to the Corps and is assigned to the 1st Guard Company in Mare ISland, California, before being eventually assigned to the Marine Barracks at Naval Air Station Floyd Bennett Field, NY. He's discharged once again on 27 August 1943 at the rank of Corporal.
A couple documents that are helpful when trying to piece together the service of veterans is the headstone application that can often give a great deal of detail such as enlistment and discharge dates. Doan's did.
Another document that is very helpful with regard to those who served in World War I is the Veterans Compensation Application. In Doan's case, his application revealed another piece of information that had my hair standing on my neck. It seems that Cpl Doan and I share our hometowns! He was born in Locke, NY, the tiny little town that I grew up in and lived in until after high school. Apparently, I was supposed to meet Cpl Doan.
Unfortunately, the census records don't tell me the address in Locke, but it states his father was a farmer, so not likely in town where I lived.
Corporal Doan, you are remembered!
