Joseph Prephan

Submitted by: Jeffrey Prephan Great Grandson

Joseph Prephan born around May 15, 1893. Joseph Prephan served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1919.

Story of Service

 

At the age of 19 or 20 years old, Joseph immigrated to the United States from Syria around 1912 or 1913 and settled down in Toledo, Ohio working as a merchant selling candy and produce on street corners.

On June 4, 1917 he was drafted into the US Army’s 147th Infantry, Company B, 37th Division (“Buckeye Division”); based out of Camp Lee, Virginia during WW1. While stationed as a soldier at Camp Lee, he was naturalized as a US Citizen on May 9, 1918.

Shortly afterwards on June 22, 1918, he left from Newport News, Virginia on the ship “Pocahontas” bound for France and the war front. While in France, he fought at St. Mihiel; Ypres-Lys; and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.

In March 1919 he left from Brest, France aboard the ship “Von Steuben” and headed back to America finally landing in Hoboken, New Jersey on March 23, 1919 and receiving an honorable discharge.