General Pershing WWI casualty list

The General Pershing WWI casualty list was a list of casualties released to the media by the American military during World War I. Newspapers like the Evening Public Ledger (EPL) would title the list's summary, General Pershing Reports or Pershing Reports.[1] The name General Pershing refers to General John Pershing, who was in command of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF), the expeditionary force of the United States during World War I. While fighting the Germans on the Western Front the AEF would take daily casualties in the form of those killed in action (KIA), those who died from their wounds, those who died from disease, accidental deaths, soldiers missing in action (MIA) and soldiers wounded in action (WIA). These numbers would be tabulated by the American military and then released to the American news media.[1]

Black and White Newspaper
Front page of the Evening Public Ledger, April 3, 1918, with General John Pershing
White grave markers with flags
Rows of headstones line the grounds of Brookwood American Cemetery and Memorial, United Kingdom
Black and white picture of a dome
District of Columbia War Memorial, West Potomac Park, Washington, DC

After the war, the real numbers were mined from the military bureaucracy as opposed to the fog of war. During World War I, 4,734,991 served in the American military.[2] There were a total of 116,516 deaths, with 53,402 of those occurring in battle.[2] Another 63,114 died of noncombat reasons, including about 45,000 due to the 1918 outbreak of Spanish flu; 30,000 soldiers died before they even reached France.[3][4] Of those that survived the war, 204,002 were wounded in some way.[2]

The list

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One of the publications that printed this data along with the names who were reported dead and wounded was the Evening Public Ledger, a Philadelphia newspaper published from March 25, 1836, to January 1942. On November 5, 1917, the EPL published a story with the headline "Casualty List In First Action Thrills Nation". In the article it listed the first three American deaths in the war: McLean County, Kentucky's Corporal James Bethel Gresham, Private Merle Hay from Glidden, Iowa, and Private Thomas Enright of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[5] They had been killed in a skirmish on November 3, 1917. In addition to the three Americans KIA the casualty list printed that five were WIA and twelve soldiers were MIA.[5] Initially, the casualty lists were published with casualty's name and their address. From March 9, 1918, the list was "denatured" or stripped of home addresses.[6] On April 2, 1918, the American War Department said that the only source for casualty lists would be the American command headquarters in France (Pershing's AEF).[7]

April 1919

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March 1919

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February 1919

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January 1919

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December 1918

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November 1918

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October 1918

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September 1918

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August 1918

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July 1918

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June 1918

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May 1918

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April 1918

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March 1918

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February 1918

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January 1918

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December 1917

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November 1917

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See also

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Bibliography

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Notes

  1. ^ a b EPL 1918, p. 6
  2. ^ a b c DeBruyne 2017, p. 2
  3. ^ Wevera & van Bergenc 2014
  4. ^ Byerly 2010
  5. ^ a b EPL 1917, p. 1
  6. ^ EPL (A) 1918, p. 4
  7. ^ EPL (B) 1918, p. 1
  8. ^ EPL April 30, 1919
  9. ^ EPL April 28, 1919
  10. ^ EPL April 25, 1919
  11. ^ EPL April 24, 1919
  12. ^ EPL April 17, 1919
  13. ^ EPL April 15, 1919
  14. ^ EPL April 11, 1919
  15. ^ EPL April 10, 1919
  16. ^ EPL April 9, 1919
  17. ^ EPL April 4, 1919
  18. ^ EPL April 3, 1919
  19. ^ EPL April 2, 1919
  20. ^ EPL April 1, 1919
  21. ^ EPL March 31, 1919
  22. ^ EPL March 29, 1919
  23. ^ EPL March 28, 1919
  24. ^ EPL March 27, 1919
  25. ^ EPL March 26, 1919
  26. ^ EPL March 25, 1919
  27. ^ EPL March 24, 1919
  28. ^ EPL March 22, 1919
  29. ^ EPL March 21, 1919
  30. ^ EPL March 20, 1919
  31. ^ EPL March 19, 1919
  32. ^ EPL March 18, 1919
  33. ^ EPL March 17, 1919
  34. ^ EPL March 15, 1919
  35. ^ EPL March 14, 1919
  36. ^ EPL March 13, 1919
  37. ^ EPL March 12, 1919
  38. ^ EPL March 11, 1919
  39. ^ EPL March 10, 1919
  40. ^ EPL March 8, 1919
  41. ^ EPL March 7, 1919
  42. ^ EPL March 6, 1919
  43. ^ EPL March 5, 1919
  44. ^ EPL March 4, 1919
  45. ^ EPL March 3, 1919
  46. ^ EPL March 1, 1919
  47. ^ EPL February 28, 1919
  48. ^ EPL February 27, 1919
  49. ^ EPL February 26, 1919
  50. ^ EPL February 25, 1919
  51. ^ EPL February 24, 1919
  52. ^ EPL February 22, 1919
  53. ^ EPL February 21, 1919
  54. ^ EPL February 20, 1919
  55. ^ EPL February 19, 1919
  56. ^ EPL February 18, 1919
  57. ^ EPL February 17, 1919
  58. ^ EPL February 15, 1919
  59. ^ EPL February 14, 1919
  60. ^ EPL February 12, 1919
  61. ^ EPL February 11, 1919
  62. ^ EPL February 10, 1919
  63. ^ EPL February 8, 1919
  64. ^ EPL February 7, 1919
  65. ^ EPL February 6, 1919
  66. ^ EPL February 5, 1919
  67. ^ EPL February 4, 1919
  68. ^ EPL February 3, 1919
  69. ^ EPL February 1, 1919
  70. ^ EPL January 31, 1919
  71. ^ EPL January 30, 1919
  72. ^ EPL January 29, 1919
  73. ^ EPL January 28, 1919
  74. ^ EPL January 27, 1919
  75. ^ EPL January 25, 1919
  76. ^ EPL January 24, 1919
  77. ^ EPL January 23, 1919
  78. ^ EPL January 22, 1919
  79. ^ EPL January 21, 1919
  80. ^ EPL January 20, 1919
  81. ^ EPL January 18, 1919
  82. ^ EPL January 17, 1919
  83. ^ EPL January 16, 1919
  84. ^ EPL January 15, 1919
  85. ^ EPL January 14, 1919
  86. ^ EPL January 13, 1919
  87. ^ EPL January 11, 1919
  88. ^ EPL January 10, 1919
  89. ^ EPL January 9, 1919
  90. ^ EPL January 8, 1919
  91. ^ EPL January 7, 1919
  92. ^ EPL January 6, 1919
  93. ^ EPL January 4, 1919
  94. ^ EPL January 3, 1919
  95. ^ EPL January 2, 1919
  96. ^ EPL January 1, 1919
  97. ^ EPL December 31, 1918
  98. ^ EPL December 30, 1918
  99. ^ EPL December 28, 1918
  100. ^ EPL December 27, 1918
  101. ^ EPL December 26, 1918
  102. ^ EPL December 24, 1918
  103. ^ EPL December 23, 1918
  104. ^ EPL December 21, 1918
  105. ^ EPL December 20, 1918
  106. ^ EPL December 19, 1918
  107. ^ EPL December 18, 1918
  108. ^ EPL December 17, 1918
  109. ^ EPL December 16, 1918
  110. ^ EPL December 14, 1918
  111. ^ EPL December 13, 1918
  112. ^ EPL December 12, 1918
  113. ^ EPL December 11, 1918
  114. ^ EPL December 10, 1918
  115. ^ EPL December 9, 1918
  116. ^ EPL December 7, 1918
  117. ^ EPL December 6, 1918
  118. ^ EPL December 5, 1918
  119. ^ EPL December 4, 1918
  120. ^ EPL December 3, 1918
  121. ^ EPL December 2, 1918
  122. ^ EPL November 30, 1918
  123. ^ EPL November 29, 1918
  124. ^ EPL November 28, 1918
  125. ^ EPL November 27, 1918
  126. ^ EPL November 26, 1918
  127. ^ EPL November 25, 1918
  128. ^ EPL November 23, 1918
  129. ^ EPL November 22, 1918
  130. ^ EPL November 21, 1918
  131. ^ EPL November 20, 1918
  132. ^ EPL November 19, 1918
  133. ^ EPL November 18, 1918
  134. ^ EPL November 16, 1918
  135. ^ EPL November 15, 1918
  136. ^ EPL November 14, 1918
  137. ^ EPL November 13, 1918
  138. ^ EPL November 12, 1918
  139. ^ EPL November 11, 1918
  140. ^ EPL November 9, 1918
  141. ^ EPL November 8, 1918
  142. ^ EPL November 7, 1918
  143. ^ EPL November 6, 1918
  144. ^ EPL November 5, 1918
  145. ^ EPL November 4, 1918
  146. ^ EPL November 2, 1918
  147. ^ EPL November 1, 1918
  148. ^ EPL October 31, 1918
  149. ^ EPL October 30, 1918
  150. ^ EPL October 29, 1918
  151. ^ EPL October 28, 1918
  152. ^ EPL October 26, 1918
  153. ^ EPL October 25, 1918
  154. ^ EPL October 24, 1918
  155. ^ EPL October 23, 1918
  156. ^ EPL October 22, 1918
  157. ^ EPL October 21, 1918
  158. ^ EPL October 19, 1918
  159. ^ EPL October 18, 1918
  160. ^ EPL October 17, 1918
  161. ^ EPL October 16, 1918
  162. ^ EPL October 15, 1918
  163. ^ EPL October 14, 1918
  164. ^ EPL October 12, 1918
  165. ^ EPL October 11, 1918
  166. ^ EPL October 10, 1918
  167. ^ EPL October 9, 1918
  168. ^ EPL October 8, 1918
  169. ^ EPL October 7, 1918
  170. ^ EPL October 5, 1918
  171. ^ EPL October 4, 1918
  172. ^ EPL October 3, 1918
  173. ^ EPL October 2, 1918
  174. ^ EPL October 1, 1918
  175. ^ EPL September 30, 1918
  176. ^ EPL September 28, 1918
  177. ^ EPL September 27, 1918
  178. ^ EPL September 26, 1918
  179. ^ EPL September 25, 1918
  180. ^ EPL September 24, 1918
  181. ^ EPL September 23, 1918
  182. ^ EPL September 21, 1918
  183. ^ EPL September 20, 1918
  184. ^ EPL September 19, 1918
  185. ^ EPL September 18, 1918
  186. ^ EPL September 17, 1918
  187. ^ EPL September 16, 1918
  188. ^ EPL September 14, 1918
  189. ^ EPL September 13, 1918
  190. ^ EPL September 12, 1918
  191. ^ EPL September 11, 1918
  192. ^ EPL September 10, 1918
  193. ^ EPL September 9, 1918
  194. ^ EPL September 7, 1918
  195. ^ EPL September 6, 1918
  196. ^ EPL September 5, 1918
  197. ^ EPL September 4, 1918
  198. ^ EPL September 3, 1918
  199. ^ EPL September 2, 1918
  200. ^ EPL August 31, 1918
  201. ^ EPL August 30, 1918
  202. ^ EPL August 29, 1918
  203. ^ EPL August 28, 1918
  204. ^ EPL August 27, 1918
  205. ^ EPL August 26, 1918
  206. ^ EPL August 24, 1918
  207. ^ EPL August 23, 1918
  208. ^ EPL August 22, 1918
  209. ^ EPL August 21, 1918
  210. ^ EPL August 20, 1918
  211. ^ EPL August 19, 1918
  212. ^ EPL August 17, 1918
  213. ^ EPL August 16, 1918
  214. ^ EPL August 15, 1918
  215. ^ EPL August 14, 1918
  216. ^ EPL August 13, 1918
  217. ^ EPL August 12, 1918
  218. ^ EPL August 10, 1918
  219. ^ EPL August 9, 1918
  220. ^ EPL August 8, 1918
  221. ^ EPL August 7, 1918
  222. ^ a b EPL August 6, 1918
  223. ^ EPL August 5, 1918
  224. ^ EPL August 3, 1918
  225. ^ EPL August 2, 1918
  226. ^ EPL August 1, 1918
  227. ^ EPL July 25, 1918
  228. ^ EPL July 25, 1918
  229. ^ EPL July 23, 1918
  230. ^ EPL July 22, 1918
  231. ^ EPL July 17, 1918
  232. ^ EPL July 15, 1918
  233. ^ EPL July 9, 1918
  234. ^ EPL July 8, 1918
  235. ^ EPL July 5, 1918
  236. ^ EPL June 29, 1918
  237. ^ EPL June 24, 1918
  238. ^ EPL June 21, 1918
  239. ^ EPL June 19, 1918
  240. ^ EPL June 17, 1918
  241. ^ EPL June 13, 1918
  242. ^ EPL June 12, 1918
  243. ^ EPL June 10, 1918
  244. ^ EPL June 8, 1918
  245. ^ EPL June 7, 1918
  246. ^ EPL June 3, 1918
  247. ^ EPL June 1, 1918
  248. ^ EPL May 30, 1918
  249. ^ EPL May 29, 1918
  250. ^ EPL May 25, 1918
  251. ^ EPL May 23, 1918
  252. ^ a b EPL May 18, 1918
  253. ^ EPL May 15, 1918
  254. ^ EPL May 11, 1918
  255. ^ EPL May 10, 1918
  256. ^ EPL May 1, 1918
  257. ^ a b EPL April 30, 1918
  258. ^ EPL April 29, 1918
  259. ^ EPL April 26, 1918
  260. ^ EPL April 24, 1918
  261. ^ EPL April 22, 1918
  262. ^ a b EPL April 20, 1918
  263. ^ EPL April 18, 1918
  264. ^ EPL April 15, 1918
  265. ^ EPL April 11, 1918
  266. ^ EPL April 10, 1918
  267. ^ EPL April 5, 1918
  268. ^ EPL April 3, 1918
  269. ^ a b EPL March 30, 1918
  270. ^ EPL March 29, 1918
  271. ^ EPL March 26, 1918
  272. ^ EPL March 20, 1918
  273. ^ EPL March 14, 1918
  274. ^ EPL March 13, 1918
  275. ^ EPL March 12, 1918
  276. ^ EPL March 9, 1918
  277. ^ EPL March 7, 1918
  278. ^ EPL March 2, 1918
  279. ^ EPL March 1, 1918
  280. ^ EPL February 27, 1918
  281. ^ EPL February 7, 1918
  282. ^ New York Times 1918
  283. ^ EPL January 29, 1918
  284. ^ EPL January 25, 1918
  285. ^ EPL January 23, 1918
  286. ^ EPL January 22, 1918
  287. ^ EPL December 26, 1917
  288. ^ EPL December 24, 1917
  289. ^ EPL December 17, 1917
  290. ^ EPL December 15, 1917
  291. ^ EPL December 14, 1917
  292. ^ EPL December 13, 1917
  293. ^ EPL December 10, 1917
  294. ^ EPL November 30, 1917
  295. ^ EPL November 21, 1917
  296. ^ EPL November 19, 1917
  297. ^ EPL November 15, 1917
  298. ^ EPL November 3, 1917
  299. ^ EPL November 2, 1917

References