Sergeant Walter T Lundsford
Walter Thomas Lundsford was born on December 29th, 1881 in Hamilton, Indiana to Amy Smethers and John Lundsford. He attended a local school but left after the 7th Grade, likely coinciding with his mothers death in 1898. A few years later, Walter decided to enlist in the Marine Corps on March 20th, 1903 to support his family, and was quickly sent to the Marine Barracks, Washington DC where he completed training. In August, he boarded the USAT Thomas enroute to the US Naval Station, Cavite, Philippines in September, arriving on October 7th.
USS Rainbow / USS New Orleans
After getting accustomed to the new environment, Pvt Lundsford was forwarded to the USS Rainbow in November, which was the flagship of the Philippine Squadron that was on assignment to patrol the surrounding area for the ongoing campaign there. Lundsford was quickly put on special duty as a mail orderly on the ship as they sailed for the next nine months, until transferring to the USS New Orleans, flagship of the Cruiser Squadron, US Asiatic Fleet, on September 24th.
USS Baltimore
Pvt Lundsford became the orderly to her commander in October as it cruised up and down the Chinese coast for two months, and gained a promotion to Corporal on the 13th. Once again, Corporal Lundsford transferred to the USS Baltimore, which relieved the USS New Orleans’ patrolling duties on December 13th, and continued his duty as an orderly. He was appointed Sergeant nine days later. His ship returned to Philippine waters on January 1905 until April, where it alternated between there, China, and Australia for seven months patrolling.
USS Ohio
Upon arriving in the Philippines in September, Sergeant Lundsford boarded the new flagship of the Asiatic Fleet, the USS Ohio, on the 13th and shortly after, the party of Secretary of War and future President William Taft came aboard for a tour of East Asia, which included Japan and China. By November, the ship began the voyage back to the United States, where Sgt Lundsford transferred to the Marine Barracks in New York. As the expiration of his enlistment period was rapidly approaching, he decided not to continue his service and was discharged on March 19th, 1907 with his character listed as excellent.
Settling back down in Indiana, Walter married Mary White on April 1st, 1908 and they would go on to have two kids. He would later become employed with the Northwest Light Power Company as an engineer after relocating to South Dakota. After a long life, Walter would pass away in April of 1970 and is buried in Minnehaha.
USS Rainbow / USS New Orleans
After getting accustomed to the new environment, Pvt Lundsford was forwarded to the USS Rainbow in November, which was the flagship of the Philippine Squadron that was on assignment to patrol the surrounding area for the ongoing campaign there. Lundsford was quickly put on special duty as a mail orderly on the ship as they sailed for the next nine months, until transferring to the USS New Orleans, flagship of the Cruiser Squadron, US Asiatic Fleet, on September 24th.
USS Baltimore
Pvt Lundsford became the orderly to her commander in October as it cruised up and down the Chinese coast for two months, and gained a promotion to Corporal on the 13th. Once again, Corporal Lundsford transferred to the USS Baltimore, which relieved the USS New Orleans’ patrolling duties on December 13th, and continued his duty as an orderly. He was appointed Sergeant nine days later. His ship returned to Philippine waters on January 1905 until April, where it alternated between there, China, and Australia for seven months patrolling.
USS Ohio
Upon arriving in the Philippines in September, Sergeant Lundsford boarded the new flagship of the Asiatic Fleet, the USS Ohio, on the 13th and shortly after, the party of Secretary of War and future President William Taft came aboard for a tour of East Asia, which included Japan and China. By November, the ship began the voyage back to the United States, where Sgt Lundsford transferred to the Marine Barracks in New York. As the expiration of his enlistment period was rapidly approaching, he decided not to continue his service and was discharged on March 19th, 1907 with his character listed as excellent.
Settling back down in Indiana, Walter married Mary White on April 1st, 1908 and they would go on to have two kids. He would later become employed with the Northwest Light Power Company as an engineer after relocating to South Dakota. After a long life, Walter would pass away in April of 1970 and is buried in Minnehaha.