Memorials › Rogers Jim Bridges

Rogers Jim Bridges

13 Nov 1891 – 8 May 1964

Birth13 Nov 1891
Death8 May 1964
CemeteryResthaven Cemetery
Silsbee , Hardin County , Texas , USA
Added byLarry Hume on 18 Aug 2021
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/230883527

Bio

Rogers Jim Bridges was born thirteen days before Thanksgiving, November 13, 1891 in the small town of Center, Shelby County, located in far East Texas. He was the third of eight children born to Delillie "Lillie" Hughes and Columbus Marshall Bridges. His siblings were Nora (1887), Chester (1889), Robert (1893), Allen (1897), Otto (1898) Hester (1903) and Barney (1905). They lived and grew up on a farm their father owned in Precinct # 2 in Shelby County.(1) With the United States entering the World War on April 6, 1917, Rogers complied with the Selective Service Act of 1917 and registered for the military draft on June 5, 1917 at the age of 25 in Hardin County, Texas. His registration card noted that he lived in Silsbee, Texas with employment at a local lumber company. He was single with no exemptions to the draft claimed. Rogers was described as being tall and stout with gray eyes and dark hair (not bald).(2) Eleven months later, May 15, 1918, he took the oath of enlistment in the US Army at Silsbee, Texas and was assigned to the Training Detachment at the University of Texas, Austin. His brother Robert also drafted, departed the United States for the war in France three days later with Company C, 307 Engineers. Rogers was reassigned to Battery A, 131 Field Artillery, 61 Field Artillery Brigade, 36 Infantry Division on July 11, 1918 that had just been organized at Camp Bowie, Fort Worth, Texas. Battery A departed the Port of Hoboken, New Jersey on July 31 aboard the Troop Transport USS Siboney. Rogers named his father Marshall as his next of kin.(3) Landing at Brest, France in August 1918, the 131st moved into a training area near Redon. French training officers at the famous French artillery training area, Coetquidan, reported the regiment ready for service in only six weeks of the eight-week training course. The unit did not reach the front before the end of the war, although it was determined to be in "perfect condition for service" by the commander of the 61st Field Artillery Brigade, General John F. Stephens.(4) Private Bridges was promoted to Private First Class on February 6, 1919 and nineteen days later aboard the Troop Transport USS Aeolus he and the 131st departed St. Nazaire, France for home. Arriving in New York on March 13, 1919 he was honorably discharged fifteen days later. (5) His unit was mustered out at Camp Travis, San Antonio, Texas, effective April 2, 1919. His brother Robert also survived the war and was honorably discharged May 26, 1919. Returning to Shelby County he and Miss Mary Grubbs were wed, June 4, 1919. Employed as an automobile mechanic they lived in Shelby County, Angelina County and eventually in Beaumont, Texas. They raised three sons, Wyman Mayo (Lt. Colonel, USAF, Retired), Merrill Rogers (World War II Veteran) and Billie. Rogers saw the United States enter a world war for the second time in his life on December 7, 1941. He also registered for a military draft for a second time on April 27, 1942 at the age of 50. Rogers passed away May 8, 1964 at the age of 72 and was buried in the Resthaven Cemetery, Silsbee, Hardin County, Texas. Mary joined him there fifteen years later. Day is done, God is nigh. Sources: (1). Year: 1910; Census Place: Justice Precinct 2, Shelby, Texas; Roll: T624_1588; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0148; FHL microfilm: 1375601 (2). Registration State: Texas; Registration County: Hardin County (3). The National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985; Record Group Number: 92; Roll or Box Number: 578 (4). http://www.texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org/36division/archives/131/131lin.htm (5). The National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985; Record Group Number: 92; Roll or Box Number: 2

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