Willard Boston

Willard Boston’s Personal Narrative was derived from information found in public records, military personnel files, and local/state historical association materials. Please note that the Robb Centre never fully closes the book on our servicemembers; as new information becomes available, narratives will be updated to appropriately represent the life story of each veteran.

Please contact the Robb Centre for further clarification or questions regarding content or materials.

Military Honor(s):

Distinguished Service Cross

Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private Willie Boston (ASN: 1931412), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Machine-Gun Company, 371st Infantry Regiment, 93d Division, near Ardeuil, France, 29 September 1918. With three other soldiers, Private Boston crawled 200 yards ahead of our line under violent machine-gun fire and rescued an officer who was lying mortally wounded in a shell hole.

Croix de Guerre with Bronze Star 12 July 1933

Donate

Life & Service

Birth: 6 June 1896, Roopville, GA, United States
Place of Residence:
Race/Ethnicity: African American
Death: 1 November 1928 Cincinnati, OH, United States
Branch: French IX Corps, French Fourth Army, French 157th Division Army
Military Rank: Private
Company: [MG]
Infantry Regiment: 371st
Division: 93rd

Personal Narrative

Early Life (Pre-War): Includes general parent information, sibling information, education

Willard Boston was born on 6 June, 1896, to Francis (Davis) and Will Boston in Roopville, Georgia; he was the brother to siblings Kramer (1892-), Eva (1896-), Jesse (1900-1946), and Freata (1904-).

Service: Includes a summary of transfers, rank change(s), training, enlistment, and discharge locations

Boston enlisted in the U.S. Army at Carrollton, Georgia on 28 February 1918; he was assigned to Co B., Machine-Gun Company, 371st Infantry Regiment, 93d Division, A.E.F. Private Boston and Co. B sailed to France on an unknown date and vessel. Boston was wounded by a shrapnel shell on September 6, 1918 on the Champagne Front in France,

“Shrapnel wound to right lower jaw, September 6^th…Shock and injury to right side by explosion of shell near by which tore away clothes and gas mask. Was thrown several feet bc explosion. Since discharge: General health poor and have been forced to give up former occupation. Had flesh wound to left arm and injury to nerve has produced wrist drop”.

He recovered in Base Hospital #5 in Paris, France. Private Boston received the Distinguished Service Cross on December 10, 1918 for his actions near Ardeuil, France,

“The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Willie Boston, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Ardeuil, France, September 29, 1918. With three other soldiers, Private Boston crawled 200 yards ahead of our line under violent machine-gun fire and rescued an officer who was lying mortally wounded in a shell hole.”

He also received the French Croix de Guerre with Bronze Star, date and place of act not mentioned. Private Boston returned to the United States with 211^th Casualty Company aboard the U.S. Army Transport Ship Lapland, leaving Brest, France on 19 January 1919. Boston was Honorably Discharged on 11 February 1919 at Camp Gordon, Georgia.

Later Life (Post-War): Includes post-war education, occupation, marriage(s) and/or children, location and date of death

Boston and Sarah Ann Heard were married on 31 December, 1919 in Carroll County, Georgia. Sometime between 1919 and 1920, Boston moved to Cincinnati, Ohio with Myrtice Zellars. Boston died on 1 November, 1928 of Lobar Pneumonia in Cincinnati General Hospital, he was buried in Carlton, Georgia on 3 November, 1928.