Ernest Spencer

Ernest Spencer’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.

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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 Ernest Spencer (MCSN: 85496), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the Eighty-First Company, Sixth Machine-Gun Battalion, Sixth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F., in action near Thiaucourt, France, September 12 - 15, 1918. Private Spencer repeatedly volunteered and carried messages through intense machine-gun and artillery fire, obtaining valuable information at critical moments. The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Private Ernest Spencer (MCSN: 85496), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the 81st Company, 6th Machine-Gun Battalion, 6th Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F. in action near Thiaucourt, France, September 12 - 15, 1918. Private Spencer repeatedly volunteered and carried messages through intense machine-gun and artillery fire, obtaining valuable information at critical moments.

Navy Cross

Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Private Ernest Spencer (MCSN: 85496), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the 81st Company, 6th Machine-Gun Battalion, 6th Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F. in action near Thiaucourt, France, September 12 - 15, 1918. Private Spencer repeatedly volunteered and carried messages through intense machine-gun and artillery fire, obtaining valuable information at critical moments.

Silver Star Medal

Citation: By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Private Ernest Spencer (MCSN: 85496), United States Marine Corps, is cited by the Commanding General, SECOND Division, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Private Spencer distinguished himself while serving with the 81st Company, 6th Machine-Gun Battalion, 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces at St. Mihiel, France, 12 - 16 September 1918.

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Life & Service

Birth: 21 February 1897, Toppenish, WA, United States
Place of Residence: White Swan, WA, United States
Race/Ethnicity: Native American
Death: 3 January 1980 Toppenish, WA, United States
Branch: I Corps Marine Corps
Military Rank: Private
Company: [D]
Infantry Regiment: 6th Marine
Division: 2nd Division

Personal Narrative

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

Ernest Spencer was born to Lancaster (1855-1934) and Sarah (French) Spencer (1858-1934) on 21 August, 1899. He was the second-youngest of eleven siblings, to brothers Osker (1876-1932), Jesse (1879-1953), James (1882-1944), Jimmie (1885-?), Chester (1886-1953), Lester (1888-1955), Benjamin (1901-1967), and sisters Nellie (1891-1988), Margaret (1891-1972), Bertha (1895-1960), and Esther (1898-1991).

The Spencer family lived on the Yakama Indian Reservation in Yakima, Washington.

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

Ernest enlisted in the United States Marine Corps with his parent’s permission on 1 May, 1917 at Mare Island, California, where he attended training camp until October 1917. Private Spencer sailed to Brest, France on the US Army Transport Ship Henderson May of 1918, and was attached to the Army 8 June, 1918. Private Spencer was assigned to the 112^th Company, 8^th Regiment from October 1917-May 1918, then with a Battalion Replacement Company May 1918-July 1918, and finally with the 81^st Company, 6^th Machine Gun Battalion July 1918-August 1919. He was present at the Chateau-Thierry Sector from 4-9 July, 1918, the Aisne-Marne Offensive 18-19 July, 1918, the Marbache Sector 9-18 August, 1918, the St. Mihiel Offensive 12-16 September, 1918, the Meuse-Argonne Offensive 1-3 October, 1918, and finally again at the Meuse-Argonne Offensive 3-11 November, 1918. Private Spencer was wounded in action 4 October, 1918 whilst in the Champagne sector of France directly following the second Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Private Spencer received the Distinguished Service Cross and Navy Cross for his actions on 12-15 September, 1918 near Thiaucourt, France;

“The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Private Ernest Spencer (MCSN: 85496), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the 81st Company, 6th Machine-Gun Battalion, 6th Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F. in action near Thiaucourt, France, September 12 – 15, 1918. Private Spencer repeatedly volunteered and carried messages through intense machine-gun and artillery fire, obtaining valuable information at critical moments”.

“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 Ernest Spencer (MCSN: 85496), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the Eighty-First Company, Sixth Machine-Gun Battalion, Sixth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F., in action near Thiaucourt, France, September 12 – 15, 1918. Private Spencer repeatedly volunteered and carried messages through intense machine-gun and artillery fire, obtaining valuable information at critical moments”.

Private Spencer was also awarded the Silver Star Citation and Second Division Citation on 21 December, 1918 for gallantry in the Thiaucourt Sector, and a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal in September 1920.

Spencer sailed back to the United States on the US Army Transport Ship Santa Paula, 24 July, 1919, arriving at Camp Mills, Long Island, NY, 4 August, 1919, discharging as a Private 1^st Class at Quantico, Virginia, on 13 August, 1919.

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

Spencer married Verna Rose Locke (1903-1955) on 31 May, 1927. He later married Mabel Elizabeth Smartlowit (1910-1943) on 8 March, 1941; they had two daughters, Sandra (1941-) and Annette (1943-2016), and one son, Robert Eugene (1942-1942). Mabel died in childbirth in 1943- it is unknown if Ernest raised his daughters to adulthood on his own. Ernest lived with his sister, Bertha, on and off until her death in 1960, and worked various labor and trucking jobs. Ernest Spencer died on 3 January, 1980, in Toppenish, Yakima County, Washington, and is buried in the Yakama Reservation Community Memorial Park in Wapato, Washington.

From the Files of Ernest Spencer

Personnel Booklet, Prior Service Card