Floyd Burdette Huffman

The following profile was researched and compiled by Candice L. Buchanan and Glenn J. R. T. Toothman III, for www.RainDayBoys.com.

Birth: 27 September 1897 Deep Valley, Springhill Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania

Parents: John Huffman and Ida Phillips

Residence at time of enlistment: Waynesburg, Greene County, Pennsylvania

Physical description: 5 feet 7 and 1/2 inches tall, fair complexion, gray eyes, light hair

Death: Killed in action 23 August 1918 along Vesle River, France

Age at death: 20 years old

Last resting place: Oakmont Cemetery, Franklin Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania

Military rank: Serial No. 1241513. Private First Class. Company K, 110th Infantry, 28th Division.

Witness account of death: Statement given by Private Henry King. "I was on the same gun with Floyd Huffman when he was killed. He was standing up in a hole and a piece of shrapnel hit him in the forehead. He was knocked unconscious. We carried him back about one hundred yards from where he was wounded and administered first aid. He was put on a stretcher and started back to Regimental Headquarters, but died on the way."

Additional information:

Floyd spent nearly all his early life in the home of his grandparents, William Porter Phillips and Elizabeth (Loar) Phillips, of Waynesburg. From there, he enlisted as a member of local Company K, 10th Pennsylvania (later 110th) Infantry, on 14 April 1917, when he was 19 years old. His occupation was aproproately listed as "student" on his military record, considering that he was a graduate of Waynesburg High School, Class of 1917. Floyd was "the second one of that class to give up his life for the great cause of freedom. Seven of the class went with Co. K to France." This heavy statistic was reported by the Waynesburg Republican on 3 October 1918, when they had the solemn duty of reporting another loss from their small community. This same tribute went on to read:

"He was a most exemplary young man, kind-hearted, bright, cheerful in disposition and won the friendship of all his acquaintances. He was always kind and considerate to his grandparents and never spoke a harsh word to them in his life. Upon leaving home for service in the war he said to them that "he hoped to return, but that if he did not he would cheerfully give his life for the cause." The example of such young men as he is worth much to a nation. He is the eighteenth young man from Greene county to make the supreme sacrifice on the battle-front in France."

Floyd had been wounded on 22 August 1918 in the fighting along the Vesle River and died of the wounds very soon after on 23 August 1918.

SOURCES:

  • "Floyd B. Huffman Dies of Wounds" article, Waynesburg Republican, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, 3 October 1918.
  • "Bodies of Company K Men Laid to Rest" article, Waynesburg Republican, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, 28 July 1921.
  • Oakmont Cemetery (Franklin Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania; on Route 19, near Waynesburg), Floyd B. Huffman tombstone; read and photographed by Candice Buchanan and Glenn Toothman, 2018.
  • "PA National Guard Veterans' Card File, 1867-1921," digital images, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), Pennsylvania State Archives Records Information Access System (www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us/archive.asp: viewed 8 July 2018), Floyd B. Huffman, Private, Co K, 10th Inf., P. N. G.; citing series #19.135.
  • "WWI Veterans Service and Compensation Files, 1917-1919, 1934-1948," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60884 : accessed 8 July 2018), Ida P. Huffman Jackson, mother of Floyd Burdette Huffman - application no. 308641; citing World War I Veterans Service and Compensation File, 1934–1948 (RG 19, Series 19.91), Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.