PFC José Soliz Chavira
Born: 4 January 1895, Mexico
Death: 3 November, 1974, Silver City, New Mexico
Burial Site: FBNC, Section A, Row T, Site 27
PFC José S. Chavira was born on 4 January 1895. He was married to Elena Baca Chavira with whom he had four children: Joe Baca Chavira, Robert Baca Chavira, Bernardo Baca Chavira, and Albert Baca Chavira. Chavira was drafted for service in World War I. At the time, he had been working for Lamar Railroad in Colorado. He was sent to Europe via the U.S.S. Von Steuben, itself an impounded German commerce raider that was assigned to carry U.S. troops to Europe. In Spring 1919 he was assigned to St. Aignan Casual Company No. 4979, with Casual Companies in Europe during this period being especially notable as being formed “out of men who have been wounded or recently discharged from a sick bed in a hospital—men, in a word, disqualified for replacement service.”[i] He transited back to the US later that spring aboard the U.S.S. Buford and returned to Grant County upon his discharge.
PFC Chavira died on 3 November 1974. He is buried at Ft. Bayard National Cemetery, Section A, Row T, Site 27.
Images & Documents
Notes:
Prepared by Dr. Andy Hernández, Western New Mexico University,
Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Legacy Memorial, Find Your Veteran
https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/JOSECHAVIRA/0A9137D
[i] Shawn Brown, “What was Special Casual Co. 1791 in WWI,” History Hub, https://historyhub.history.gov/military-records/army-and-air-force-records/f/army-air-force-records-forum/15547/what-was-special-casual-co-1791-in-wwi, accessed April 10, 2023.