SANTA CRUZ, CA, U.S.A.
U.S. ARMY
PVT, 361ST INFANTRY REGIMENT, 91ST DIVISION
10/09/1918, MEUSE-ARGONNE REGION, FRANCE
Charles Leroy Garretty was born November 2, 1893 in Santa Cruz, CA to Bernard and Mary Beatrice Malone Garretty. Charles was one of 6 children. After graduation from high school, Roy worked at the San Vicente Lumber Company as a steam engineer in Swanton.
Roy Garretty was drafted into the U.S. Army in June 1917. His induction record states he was of medium height, average build with brown hair and brown eyes. He was sent to Camp Lewis, WA on Sunday, March 31, 1918. Roy wrote home saying that at target practice he had 48 good shots out of 60 fired.
Private Garretty deployed to France in July 1918. He wrote home and included souvenir handkerchiefs He hoped to mail other gifts in future postings. In September he fought in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel. His unit went a month later to the Meuse Argonne Region. The unit was hard hit, the fighting was fierce, and casualties were extremely high.
The World War I Armistice was signed on November 11, 1918. PVT Garretty’s family anxiously awaited his return to Santa Cruz. Twelve days later on November 23rd, a telegram arrived at the house on Water Street stating that PVT Garrety had been killed in France on October 9, 1918.
PVT Charles Leroy Garretty is buried at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, France. Plot B Row 30 Grave 39
https://www.abmc.gov/print/certificate/328711
“Time will not dim the glory of their deeds.” General John J. Pershing