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For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource VPI Class of 1917 Description An account of the resource This collection contains the profiles of all World War One veterans from the VPI Class of 1917. Person An individual. Last Name Gaines First and Middle Name Leonard Myrton Nicknames or Other Names "Mert" Birth Date 4/12/1895 Birthplace Richmond, VA Hometown Richmond, VA VPI Graduating Class In what VPI class did this individual graduate or what class should they have graduated from? 1917 Undergraduate Major What did this individual major in while at VPI? Electrical Engineering Graduated Yes or no, did this individual graduate from VPI? Y 1927 "Virginia Polytehnic Institute in the World War" booklet Did this individual appear in the 1927 booklet "Virginia Polytechnic Institute in the World War"? If so what page? Y Rank What military rank did this individual hold? First Lieutenant Retired Rank What military rank did this individual hold upon retirement? N/a Death Date 12/4/1947 Cause of Death N/a Place of Death Baltimore, Maryland Military Events What significant military events occurred in this individual's life? Wounded from a shot in the shoulder, possibly from artillery, which caused him to lose a shoulder joint. Suffered from this disability after the war. According to his daughter, Marion Gaines Cushman, her father's injury caused him pain for the rest of his life and at times would become re-infected. Postwar Life What did this individual do after the war? Leonard Gaines recovered from his wound and returned to the United States. After recovering, Gaines found work as a land appraiser. He married Anna Marion Brand. Service Branch What branch of the military did this individual serve in? Army Unit What unit or ship did this individual serve in or on? I Company, 6th Infantry, 5th Division Bibliography <ul> <li>Letter from Leonard M. Gaines to Peter Stumpf published in The Virginia Tech, 2 May 1918</li> <li>Letter from Leonard Myrton Gaines published in The Virginia Tech, 17 October 1918</li> <li>Virginia War History questionnaire</li> <li>Priestly Family tree on ancestry.com</li> <li>Conversation with Marion Cushman Gaines about her father, on 18 July 2022.</li> </ul> Biographical Text <div style="text-align:center;">“It was good fun until you were hit” -1st Lieutenant Leonard Gaines</div> <div style="text-align:left;"> Leonard Myrton Gaines, born in Richmond in the spring of 1895, was described by the 1917 Bugle as being a friendly, well rounded person who had a “million dollar smile.” Gaines enlisted in the army in April of 1917 as a private. In September of that same year, Gaines was shipped to Chattanooga, Tennessee where he was assigned to Company I of the 6th Infantry Regiment in the 5th US Army Division. Upon completing training, Gaines and the rest of his unit sailed for France on April 12, 1918 and arrived in the city of Brest, France on April 23.</div> After training with the French Army, the 5th Division was deemed ready for combat and was sent to occupy French trenches in the Vosges Mountains on the first of June. Gaines reported that the division fought in “minor engagements” during this time. However, the division’s first major action took place during the Battle of St. Mihiel in which fourteen American divisions and four French divisions were tasked with breaking the German salient in the region. The attack began on September 12, 1918 and progressed so rapidly that by September 13, all of the first week’s objectives had been met. Gaines’ 5th Division fought so well at St. Mihiel that German soldiers referred to them as “Die rote teufel”, which means “Red Devils.” Fighting did not cease entirely until September 15, the day when Gaines was hit in the shoulder by German rifle fire. Gaines spent the rest of the war in hospitals in France, and returned home to the United States on November 23, 1918. He permanently lost the use of his left shoulder as a result of his wound. Reflecting on his wartime service, Gaines wrote that the war was “good fun until you were hit.” According to his daughter, Marion Gaines Cushman, her father's injury caused him pain for the rest of his life and at times would become re-infected. Leonard Gaines recovered from his wound and returned to the United States. After recovering, Gaines found work as a land appraiser. He married Anna Marion Brand, and raised three children. County and/or State Henrico, Virginia Parents <ul> <li>Maria Connor</li> <li>Geo. Decatur Gaines</li> <li>Marion Gaines Cushman (born January 19, 1930)</li> </ul> Spouse(s) Anna Marion Brand Children William Lee Gaines and Leonard Myrton Gaines Battles or Engagements What battles or engagements was this individual involved in during World War One? He first saw combat on June 1st 1918 in the Toul sector, and then was a part of the major offensive at St. Mihiel Additional Notes When asked about his combat experiences he said, "It was good fun until you were hit" Contributing Researchers Connor Skelly Decorations or Citations He received the Purple Heart and the Silver Star for his service in the First World War. Occupation Gaines' primary post-war work was as an underground utilities contractor. He started a business with his partner Gordon Bautz, Gaines and Bautz, which was very successful. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Gaines, Leonard Myrton questionnaire wounded