Happy Birthday, Sgt. Guess

John Guess, Jr.

Born August 23, 1891

Savannah Ranch

El Monte, California

Read his story:

A Hundred Years Of Tears

One Soldier's Story From the Savannah To The Somme

By: Anna Guess Pick

Savannah Ranch

Richard Guess, father, Emma Guess, mother

John Jr., Frank Guess, brother

Thelma Guess, sister, Charlie Guess, brother

Sgt. John Guess, Jr.

Company H, 364th Inf.

Distinguished Service Cross 

See more recipients of this award

Awarded for actions during the World War I

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant John Guess, Jr. (ASN: 2367259), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company H, 364th Infantry Regiment, 91st Division, A.E.F., near Eclisfontaine, France, 28 September 1918. Assisted by another sergeant, and leading a combat group across an open valley under constant hostile fire, Sergeant Guess completed the capture of four machine-gun nests and three prisoners. He was seriously wounded in the encounter and died soon afterwards.

Service: Army

Rank: Sergeant

War Department, General Orders No. 21 (1919)

En route to East Coast - June 1918

Last Visit Home - Summer of 1917

The trip from Camp Lewis to just outside Camp Merritt took about six days. Along the way, we were able to stop and enjoy a school-boy swim in a local lake. A bunch of guys about to be in the thick of war taking one last chance to be boys once again.

At Camp Merritt, we would receive our final medical exams before being outfitted one last time for the work that was ahead of us.

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Read more of John's story - A Hundred Years Of Tears, One Soldier's Story From The Savannah To The Somme - available at Amazon.com 

One Hundred Years Ago Today

100 years ago today, Sgt. John Guess, Jr. was preparing for deployment to France. In just a few days he would board the troop train leaving Camp Lewis in Washington state, heading east to Camp Merritt.

On June 24, 1918, the anxious and fresh recruits boarded the troop train which was headed East. In total there would be eight trains taking three separate routes to Camp Merritt in New Jersey.

When the train reached Omaha, Nebraska on June 29, 1918, John found time to get a quick postcard off to his father.

You can read more from John letters in: A Hundred Years of Tears, One Soldier's Story From The Savannah To The Somme. Available from your bookseller, Amazon.com and, Barnes and Noble.

A Hundred Years Of Tears, One Soldier's Story From The Savannah To The Somme

Time Flies

I can't believe that it has been a year since I have posted a blog. I have been spending too much time ranting and raving, well, more ranting, on social media. I am in the weaning process now and terribly needy so read and handle with care.

The exciting news is that I did publish my book, A Hundred Years Of Tears, One Soldier's Story From The Savannah To The Somme. It made it to the booksellers the past February.

The book is about my uncle, Sgt. John Guess, Jr. and based upon letters he wrote home to his mother during the summer and fall of 1918. John was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, posthumously, for his bravery in capturing a German machine gun nest.

John died in France in a military hospital on November 7, 1918, just a few days before the end of World War I.

In the upcoming months, I will be sharing some of John's writings as they dovetail into actual historical events. Along with some family history that is not covered in the book.

I hope you will buy a copy of my book, it was indeed a labor of love to honor my uncle along with all the many other fallen soldiers one hundred years ago.

The book can be purchased online through Amazon, Barnes and Nobel and other traditional booksellers throughout the world. Here is a link to preview book on Amazon.com.