28 October 1918 : Cpl John  Bildner

John Valentine Bildner was born on 31 August 1894 Aurora, Indiana

Aurora, Indiana (cc OpenStreetMap)

John's parents were Louis and Lizzie Bildner. In 1900, the second of three children living at 86 Conwell Street, Dearborn Country, Indiana. His German born grandparents lived at 84 Conwell Street. 

A machinist before the war John was drafted into service with the 159th Depot Brigade at Lawrenceburg, Indiana on 29 March 1918, he was trained at Camp Taylor, Kentucky, Camp Gordon, Georgia and Camp McKlellan, Alabama before embarking for the American Expeditionary Force in France on 16 June 1918.

Whilst fighting in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, John was killed in action in Consenvoye Woods on 28 October 1918. Initially buried in Consenvoye Cemetery, Meuse, John's body was repatriated to the USA post-war.

Physical Training at Camp Gordon, Georgia

Bayonet Drill. University of Louisville Photographic Archives

Black Soldiers at Camp Gordon, Georgia

Cpl John Valentine Bildner, Co H 115th Infantry Regt

28 October 1918 killed in action

Research by David O'Mara

Sources: 1900 United States Federal Census, US, Find a Grave Index. Camp Taylor, KentuckyCamp Gordon, GeorgiaCamp McKlellan, Alabama, American Armies and Battlefields in Europe