MARINE CORPS DOMINICAN CAMPAIGN - WORLD WAR I GROUP

Private
United States Marine Corps Private Joe Frank Usrey was born August 8th 1892 in Randolph, Louisiana. Joe enlisted as a Private in the Corps on August 31st 1915 in Houston Texas. He was initially recorded as deserted, but returned on his own accord & he was given a new enlistment date of September 4th 1915. He was also given 60 days restriction as punishment while he received basic training at Norfolk, Virginia. 
Pvt. Usrey was temporarily stationed on the Battleship U.S.S. New Hampshire in January 1916, then transferred to the Battleship U.S.S. New Jersey in February. 
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​On May 20th 1916 at 4:00pm Pvt. Usrey departed aboard the Scout Cruiser U.S.S. Salem from Boston Navy Yard. She then sailed for the Dominican Republic at 10:30am on May 21st & arrived off shore of Puerto Plata, Santa Domingo at 11:00am, on May 25th 1916. Usrey disembarked the U.S.S. Salem & embarked onto the U.S.S. Sacramento at 11:00am on May 26th 1916. ​
Serving with the 4th Regiment on June 1st 1916 Pvt. Usrey part of the Marine Detachment from the U.S.S. Sacramento landed on Puerto Plata at 6:30a.m. under cover of their ships guns. The 4th Regiment had to fight through heavy but inaccurate enemy gunfire on their way into the city. Pvt Usrey directly participated in the attack & capture of Fort San Felipe. 
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At the end of the month Pvt. Usrey Participated in operations against Dominican rebels between Puerto Plata & Navarrete on June 29-30th including the heavy fighting action of June 29th at Alta Mira, where the 4th Marines fought against 200 enemy rebels entrenched across the railroad line. ​

​By July 1916 Pvt. Usrey was stationed back on the U.S.S. New Hampshire where he remained while doing shore duty at Canada Bonita, Dominican Republic until he was transferred to the 16th Compamy, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, later know as the “Devil Dogs”. For his service in the Dominican Republic, Pvt. Usrey was issued Dominican Campaign Medal #1327. 
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​Pvt. Usrey along with the 5th Division sailed for France aboard the Transport U.S.S. Henderson in June 1917, the U.S.S. Henderson arrived in France June 26th 1917. They were immediately assigned to the 1st Infantry Division of the United States Army. Pvt. Usrey remained in the 5th Regiment throughout June 1918 while serving in the 16th, 20th, & 45th Companies. 
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Pvt. Usrey wrote home to Luisiana stating that "we dont get and American-made candy here, and chocolate is worth its weight in gold" he also mentioned that it's "raining every other day in France.

​The 5th Marine Regiment fought so ferociously at the Battle of Belleau Wood that the Germans started calling them “Teufelshunde” or dogs from Hell. ​
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​During the Battle of Chateau Thierry Pvt. Usrey was wounded in action during a German mustard gas attack on June 14th 1918. On June 16th he was recorded at Field Hospital #16, then evacuated to SOS Hospital #7 on June 17th. On the 18th he was transferred to Hospital #51 & on June 19th he was transferred to Base Hospital #1 where he remained throughout his recovery. For his service in France & the Battle of Belleau Woods Pvt. Usrey was Issued the Victory Medal with Aisne & Defensive Sector bars, & the French Croix de Guerre with mentioned in dispatches Bronze Palm. ​
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​On April 12th 1919 Pvt. Usrey finally sailed home from the European Battlefields aboard the Navy Transport U.S.S. Great Northern, arriving into port April 20th 1919. 
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He was transferred to “A” Company, casual Detachment, Quantico, Virginia on April 22nd 1919 where he served until he was Honorable Discharged with an Excellent rating in Oct. 1919. He was issued Good Conduct Medal No. 10102.

​Joe Usrey worked as a logger throughout the 1930’s while living in Fresno, CA. He registered for the World War II Draft on April 27th 1942, staying his job as an employee of May Brothers Logging in Garden City, Louisiana. 

United States Marine Corps Private Joe Frank Usrey passed away in 1964. He is buried next to his wife at the Bernice Cemetery, Bernice, Union Parish, LA.
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