Carlisle in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Meet Private Donald D. Kyler
Company G, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
—American Expeditionary Force, World War One —
By Larry Gertner, September 11, 2012
1. Meet Private Donald D. Kyler Marker
Meet Private Donald D. Kyler. Company G, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. Donald Kyler was sixteen years of age when he enlisted in the Regular Army in April of 1917. A native of Whitley County, Indiana, he grew up on a farm and in the small town of Collamer. With the consent of one of his family, he enlisted at Fort Wayne, Indiana. As part of the 1st Division, the 16th Infantry Regiment was one of the first infantry regiments to be sent to France and took part in seven major campaigns including the defense of the Ainse-Marne Sector and the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne Offensives.
During his combat experience he fought in the front line trenches and ran messages for the company commander through hostile territory, where on one occasion he knocked out a German machine gun nest with grenades and rifle fire. He was promoted to company mechanic and worked repairing arms and directed carrying parties of food and supplies to the front line. During the war Private Kyler kept notes on his experiences, when the war ended he was seventeen and a half years of age and had become a hardened professional Soldier. Of the 250 enlisted men of Company G that left together for France in 1917 only ten of the original group returned with the regiment in 1919.
After the war he reenlisted in the Regular Army and rose to the rank of Sergeant. In 1990 at the age of 89 he published a book on his experiences in the Great War entitled The Thoughts and Memories of a Common Soldier.
During his combat experience he fought in the front line trenches and ran messages for the company commander through hostile territory, where on one occasion he knocked out a German machine gun nest with grenades and rifle fire. He was promoted to company mechanic and worked repairing arms and directed carrying parties of food and supplies to the front line. During the war Private Kyler kept notes on his experiences, when the war ended he was seventeen and a half years of age and had become a hardened professional Soldier. Of the 250 enlisted men of Company G that left together for France in 1917 only ten of the original group returned with the regiment in 1919.
After the war he reenlisted in the Regular Army and rose to the rank of Sergeant. In 1990 at the age of 89 he published a book on his experiences in the Great
By Larry Gertner, September 11, 2012
2. Meet Private Donald D. Kyler Marker - location
The marker is at an entrance to the WWII Trench exhibit.
Erected by U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center.
Location. 40° 12.383′ N, 77° 9.503′ W. Marker is in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in Cumberland County. Marker can be reached from Army Heritage Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Carlisle PA 17013, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Trenches (here, next to this marker); Post of Command (within shouting distance of this marker); They Called Them “Hellcats” (within shouting distance of this marker); Splinter Proof (within shouting distance of this marker); The Mortar Pit (within shouting distance of this marker); Sniper's Nest (within shouting distance of this marker); Aid Station (within shouting distance of this marker); No Man's Land (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Carlisle.
More about this marker. Part of the Meet Pvt. Kyler/ World War I Trench System Exhibit.
Categories. • War, World I •
By Larry Gertner, September 11, 2012
3. Within the trench
By Larry Gertner, September 11, 2012
4. Insert - Private Kyler goes to war.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 15, 2017. This page originally submitted on June 3, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 141 times since then and 53 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 3, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker and its surroundings. • Can you help?
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