Floyd Boyce Phillips was one of millions of boys from the United States who were sent across the Atlantic to the Old Country to fight in the Great War. In this series of posts, we follow the 101st anniversary of Floyd’s journey and get glimpses of what was going on at home while he was over there.

Many thanks to Coralee for providing me with artifacts throughout the years and especially for the stack of WWI-era letters that were delivered to me on 31 May 2019. They have provided countless hours of family history entertainment.

– Denise

As August began, Floyd found himself learning the routine of life on board the USS America. Meanwhile, American soldiers already in France were participating with the French in the Allied Aisne-Marne Offensive. During that campaign, there was severe fighting along the Ourcq River. The French captured Courmont on 27 July and the fighting ended on 5 August.

Thursday Aug 1.

Had breakfast then came down to 134 and layed down until noon and went up for mess. Soup, bread, and rice ___.

Life boat drill at 2:30 P.M.

At 4:40 we came across several transports. Six more making nine in all. The battleship stayed with us. Also the destroyers. Will leave place here for their names.

Went up for mess at usual time. Had liver, cheese, bred and black tea.

Went on deck but cigarette smoke told me to come to my berth. Almost saw sickness.

Next…

On the Ocean

Sources:

Floyd Boyce Phillips, “Journal” (Army, 1918-1919).” privately held by Denise Krueger, Rochester, MN, 2019.

WWI Interactive Timeline, The National WWI Museum and Memorial ( https://www.theworldwar.org/explore/interactive-wwi-timeline : accessed 3 Jun 2019)

The Phillips Family

• Publication date: September 2015
• Pages: 432
• Formats:
  • Hard cover
  • Paperback
• This book traces our Phillips ancestry. It follows the Phillips family from 18th century ancestors in New York to more recent asparagus farmers of Illinois. Five generations of descendants of Wilhelmus Philip are covered. The families of Jacob W Phillips, his son Albert Aveldo Phillips, his son Guy Allison Phillips, and his son Floyd Boyce Phillips are followed in detail.