Pvt. 1C Alfred S. Chenoweth
May 31, 1897 - March 22, 1992
Field Remount Squadron 330
Alfred S. Chenoweth
When Alfred S Chenoweth was born in 1897 in Akron, Iowa, his father, Guy, was 26 and his mother, Jennie, was 33. His parents added two sisters, Asa and Evelyn, to complete their family. He served in WWI from 1917 to 1919 and upon his return, he took up farming near Mitchell, South Dakota. He he met Dulania Churchill while living there, and they married on July 26, 1930. In 1937, they moved to a farm near Aurora, South Dakota where they raised their four daughters: Patty, Berniece, Delores, and Alberta. In 1967, they retired from farming and moved to Edingburg, TX. He died at the age of 94 on March 22, 1992.
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REMOUNT DEPOT NO. 23 AT SOUGY FRANCE
(Soldiers that cared for Horses used in the War)
Sougy (France) is one of the Intermediate Remount Depots, and was established August 2, 1918, where it was unanimously declared the finest campsite in France. Continuing construction as it was needed, the capacity grew to 4,000. At the time that the Armistice was signed, it was reported that the Depot could, by using the corrals, accommodate 8,000 animals. The construction of the Remount Depot at Sougy was authorized May 10, 1918, and authorization by the French for occupation of the same was given June 30, 1918.
The first troops to arrive were G and H troops, 3rd Cavalry, August 2, 1918, the date of the opening of the Depot. Those two troops aided in the construction work aside from caring for the animals as they arrived. On September 6, 1918, Remount Squadron No. 317 and 318 arrived and were on duty November 11, 1918 the date of the Armistice.
Construction work at the Depot was slow due to lack of necessary materials. On September 6, 1918, the completion of the dipping vat, the office buildings, quarters and mess hall and the railroad spur were reported. Additional construction of stables were pushed and the necessity of preparation for heavy rainfall during the winter months kept large details at this work up until November 11, 1918. At that time the construction was over 50 per cent complete. The Deport was 100 per cent complete January 1, 1919.
...The influx of animals at that time necessitated the procurement of additional personnel. On April 11, 1919, Pack Train No. 307 arrived and the following day Pack Train No. 306 reported. On April 13, 1919, Pack Train No. 327 arrived ... as did Depot Service Company No. 35. The following day Pack Train No 323 reported for duty. On April 16, 1919, Depot Service Company No. 37 reported for duty, and on April 20, 1919, Pack Train No. 301 arrived and two days later Pack Train No. 318 also reported. On April 24, 1919, Depot Service Company No. 20 arrived and 5 days later Depot Service Company No. 41 reported. On the same date Company I, 801st Pioneer Infantry was released from duty from the Remount Service. On April the 28th, 1919, Pack Train No. 330 and detachment Company E, 109th Engineer Service Battalion reported for duty. On April 29th, Pack Trains No. 305, 319, 322, 324, and 326 reported. On May 5, 1919, Pack Train No. 308 reported for duty and on May 10, 1919, Pack Train No. 329 arrived. On May 8, 1919, Pack Trains No. 306, 307, and 309 were ordered to Tours for duty in the Headquarters of the S.O.S. (Service of Supply) Stables. On May 19, 1919, Depot Service Companies No. 20, 35, 37 and 41 were released from Remount duty. On the same date Pack Trains No. 301, 305, 308, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 329, and 330 were released from the Remount Service. On May 21, 1919, Remount Squadrons No. 313, 318, and 321 were placed on the priority list for return to the United States, and on May 27, 1919, Remount Squadrons No. 324 and 331 were placed on the priority list for return to the United States, and on May 28, 1919, Company D 326th Service Battalion was released from duty in the Remount Service.
The Remount Depot at Sougy was authorized May 10, 1918, and was ideally situated along the United States main line of communication, 18 miles below Nevers (Nievre). The Depot occupied approximately 100 acres and the soil practically al sand, with excellent drainage and rock quarries in the Depot. The water supply was abundant and was obtained from wells sunk on the edge of the Loire River.
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