Duncan (Donald) Canteen at Union Station,World War I Snapshots (2), November, 1918

Photograph

St. Joseph Museums

Donald Duncan Canteen at Union Station, 1918

Name/Title

Duncan (Donald) Canteen at Union Station,World War I Snapshots (2), November, 1918

Entry/Object ID

1965.12.111 A

Description

Donald Duncan Canteen at Union Station, World War I Snapshots (2), November, 1918. b/w. Very small snapshots, 2½" x 1½" , a small white wood frame building next to Union Station in St. Joseph, "CANTEEN" and Red Cross sign above door, U.S. flag flying on roof. Also closeup of sign on building "Named in Memory of Capt. Donald Duncan who died at Chateau-Thierry, The Donald Duncan Canteen." Handwritten on back: "Donald Duncan Canteen, St. Joseph, Mo., Union Station, Nov. 1918." Original digital scan located on History CD 08 Captain Donald Francis Duncan served with the 96th Company, 6th Marines. He was killed in action on June 6, 1918. His remains were interned at the Arlington National Cemetery. The McDonald-Dugger-Duncan V.F.W. Hall was named in his honor. And before that a canteen building at Union Station was named in his honor. See 62.12.111A. He is son of John A. Duncan, who resided at 1027 Messanie https://marines.togetherweserved.com. Interestingly, this site has the photo we have identified as John A. Duncan (91.1H.238) attached to the site Duncan's last known activity according to was Chateau-Thierry, the Battle for Belleau Wood.... US Navy Dental Service Officer Lt. JG. Weedon Osborne's received the Medal of Honor after being killed trying to save Cap. Duncan. Today there is street in Bouresches named for him. On this day, the Marine Brigade suffered the worst single day's casualties in USMC history with 1087 men killed or wounded. The capture of Bouresches (The Battle of Belleau Wood) the key event in the battle, was never actually part of the official plan. It was after all behind the woods, which were the main target. But it seemed like a good idea to Captain Donald F. Duncan when he saw the rest of his battalion pinned down at the wood's edge. Duncan was killed in the assault, but his successor, Lieutenant James F. Robertson, led the surviving 50% of the company into the town. When he left for reinforcements his successor Lieutenant Clifton B. Cates .. realized that the town was being defended by only 21 marines. Comments/Citation Captain Donald F. Duncan of the Marine Corps, killed in action, was a native of Missouri, 31 years old, who entered the Marine Corps as a Second Lieutenant in 1914. He was due for promotion to Major in the next few weeks. He was on duty in Guam when Congress declared war last April and was immediately recalled to the United States for service overseas. Navy Cross DUNCAN, DONALD F. Captain, U.S. Marine Corps 6th Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F. Date of Action: June 6, 1918 Citation: The Navy Cross is presented to Donald F. Duncan, Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the 6th Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F. in action at Chateau-Thierry, France, June 6, 1918. Killed in action... Born: at Kansas City, Missouri Home Town: St. Joseph, Missouri Other Award: Distinguished Service Cross (Same Action) 96th Co.

Made/Created

Artist

John A. Duncan

Date made

1918

Place

City

St. Joseph

State/Province

Missouri

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Print, Photographic

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Photograph

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Graphic Documents

Nomenclature Class

Documentary Objects

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Search Terms

World War I, World War I in St. Joseph, Duncan Family, Duncan Canteen

Dimensions

Dimension Notes

Printsize: 2½" x 1½"

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Duncan, Donald Francis

Provenance

Notes

Photos donated by descendant of man who took photos.