Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing James Nelson Platt Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1914-1918
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 12th Machine Gun Battalion, 4th Division
- Location of Service: Laturne, France; Paris, France; Chateau Thierry, France
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/1125
James Platt sailed for Europe in the spring of 1918 as a private and returned home eight months later as a sergeant. Not long after landing in France, he volunteered for typing duty and was given corporal's stripes; he soon became a map reader and then was promoted to mess sergeant. When his company's commanding officer was killed, Platt took over briefly. His familiarity with maps helped him guide his men out of trouble. In his memoir, he vividly describes the war's devastation and is honest about his fear of being shot.
More Resources
About this Item
Title
- James Nelson Platt Collection
Names
- Platt, James Nelson
- Platt, James N.
Home State
- Connecticut
Headings
- - Platt, James Nelson
- - World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Form
- Memoirs
Extent
- 1 item
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
World War, 1914-1918
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 12th Machine Gun Battalion, 4th Division
- Location of Service: Laturne, France; Paris, France; Chateau Thierry, France
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1918-1920
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran notes that he served in battles up to and on the Vesle River.
Materials
- Manuscript: Memoirs [1 item] -- (collected 1950)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/1125
Cite as
- James Nelson Platt Collection (AFC/2001/001/1125), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image