World War I Veterans

America entered the The Great War in April 1917. On May 18, 1917, Congress authorized a draft for military service. The Selective Service System was made up of 4,648 local boards, each with an average registration of 5,000 men. The local board for Jefferson Davis Parish registered 4,096 men. There were three registrations: (1) June 5, 1917, for men between the ages of 21 and 31; (2) June 5, 1918, for men who had turned 21 since June 5, 1917; and (3) September 12, 1918, for men 18 through 45 (born between 1872 and September 1900). The war ended, symbolically on November 11, 1918, with the signing of an armistice, and historically on June 28, 1919, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. After the signing of the armistice, the activities of the Selective Service System were rapidly curtailed.

Research is ongoing to determine the number of men from Hathaway that registered for the draft. Getting an exact number or list of men from Hathaway that were drafted or entered voluntarily, and completed a tour of duty for the United States during The Great War will be difficult, if not impossible. The best record found so far is the 1930 Census.

There were 21 men living in Hathaway in 1930 who had served in The Great War. This number does not reflect those who served but may not have come home or those who served and did not live in Hathaway in 1930. This number may also include men who moved to Hathaway between the end of the war and the 1930 Census. The veteran's age in 1930 is included to calculate how old he would have been while serving the United States in the Great War. The names in red text indicate men who registered with the draft while living in Hathaway.

In order of appearance on the 1930 Census: Jesse I. Havenar, 38, Dolze M. Gary, 29, George Bonin, 34, Henry Clement, 33, Onora Guillory, 38, Floyd Ritter, 37, Arthur Babineaux, 37, Maglai Crochet, 33, Harrison Bertrand, 33, Chris Duplichain, 28, Willie Katzer, 35, Willie Cormier, 26, Joseph Lee, 34 (African American), Carl Folkland, 34, Henry Koll, 33, Peter Koll, 39, Fred Koll, 36, Rance Raggeau, 36, Oscar Belton, 45 (African American), Walte Breaux, 33, Alto Davis, 30.