Howard Washington Blinco  [2645]

 

1888-1973

Father Nm: Thomas William Blincoe [906] born 24.May.1847 Loudoun died 1921 Martins Ferry aged 74  m Emma Arizona Fetty (1864-1934) likely at Martins Ferry, Belmont Ohio   1910c Thomas Blincoe 61 Emma Blinco 45 living Martins Ferry Ward 4, Belmont

: Oldest known Ancestor – James Blincoe 1645 England.

Mother Nm: Emmaline Arizona Fetty 1864–1934. BIRTH 5 MAY 1864 • Fairmont, Marion, West Virginia, USA. DEATH 2 OCT 1934 • Martins Ferry, Belmont, Ohio, United States

Marriage Dt:1920 Steubenville, Ohio.

K Comments:

WW1: Wife Helen Manley served as an Army Nurse in France, Brother Robert served with the 146th Infantry in France.  Brother Robert served with 146th Infantry in  WW1

WW2: Nephews; Lawrence was with the 335th Infantry  84 Div. US Army, Charles E was also with the US Army.  Howard Mitchell  and Irwin Thomas served with US Navy. Edward Lewis served in 1946 with US Army

Spouse comments: Helen Catherine Manley.

Children:

Born 1888

30 October 1888  Ohio

1910 Census Martins Ferry Ward 4, Belmont, Ohio

1. Thomas Blinco 62
2. Emma Blinco 45
3. Van C Blinco 24
4. Howard W Blinco 21
5. Robert Blinco 16
6. Kate Blinco 14
7. Maggie Blinco 11
8. Paul Blinco 8

WW1

Blinco Howard Washington, Private, 3529956, 158 Depot Brigade, Co G, 334 Infantry, Co L 140 Infantry, 35th Infantry Division.

1918

• 23^rd Jul. Enlisted in the 158^th Depot Brigade 83^rdDivision at Bowling Green Ohio.

• 8^th Aug. transferred to 334^th Infantry Coy G, 84^th Infantry Division
• 6th Oct. transferred to 140^th Infantry Coy L, 35^th Infantry Division. The 140^th Infantry was part of the 35^th Div under the 1^st Army direction at this time and took part in the attack on the Meuse-Argonne front in Oct 1918. In Sept the 140^th had taken large casualties in the battle around Charpentry between Sept 26-28^th sustaining over 6000 casualties. They had along with 1st Army taken this town and after this been sent for rest at Vavincourt between 6-11 Oct.
• 12^th Oct. the 140^th reached the area around Sommerdieu in the St Mihiel region. This is just after Howard would have joined the 140^th  Coy L (at Vavincourt) and it’s clear there was still action taking place.

• An extract from the war diary of the 140^th ;
  • “On October twelfth the first battalion reached the trenches in the Sommedieu sector, taking over the Eix sector, and Regimental Hqrs. reached Camp d’Escargot (Tavannes sector) on the fourteenth. Two battalions were in the line here, Eix and Damloup sector, and one in reserve at Camp St. Airy. Camp St. Airy was the muddiest hole we found overseas. The wagons frequently stalled in the axle-deep mud, the pup tents were pitched in the mud for a number of the men and the rain continued. It was an old camp, and the rats and vermin were plentiful. The dugouts were old, and the men terribly crowded. In the front the trenches were old but in fair condition, behind the enemy lines were some distance away. The history of Verdun has been already written. It held a most important position, lying directly over against the fortress captured in 1870 by the Germans. And its glorious defence in this war is well-known. We held the most important part of the line for nearly a month. Verdun has suffered terribly from bombardment, and the surrounding country was desolation itself. There seemed to be no living trees. Killed by shell or gas, their jagged branches and broken, ghastly trunks are monuments to the fearful warfare that raged among them. It is a picture of Death. The ground is pitted with countless shell holes and the evidence of the thousands slain before its heights are everywhere seen. Nowhere in France did the 140th see such a picture of utter desolation and destruction. Yet, one day as I walked up to a listening post in an advanced position suddenly there was a familiar whirr-r and a covey of plump partridges rose from the ground at my very feet. Here we received a large number of replacements. We had begun to get new clothes and equipment at Marats-la-Grand, and now the regiment was regaining its strength in numbers. They were a fine lot of men. From the days at Doniphan, this regiment was fortunate in its replacements. All of the men who were sent to us averaged well and soon became loyal to the traditions of the 140^th. But these men were, many of them, inexperienced, and one night we had a terrific gas barrage. Either because they were too slow in getting on their masks or because they removed them too soon, we had
    a large number of casualties. Meanwhile, the Germans were seeing the handwriting on the wall. They had lost, and they knew it. Aeroplanes began to drop leaflets in our trenches. “
  • “By the time the Armistice was signed on Nov 11^th the 140^th was readying itself for the drive of Metz, but the end came before this battle could start.”

1919

• 28^th Feb. Newspaper report the 140^th Inf. still based at Commercy south of St Mihiel and competing in military drill and track with other AEF battalions.⁵
• After spending a frustrating and idle three months in Boncourt and Pont sur Meuse the 140^th Infantry was on the move via le Mans to the port of St Nazaire where the entire troop had gathered by 1^st April 1919. On the 15^th April, the 140^th embarked on the USS Nansemond for the long trans-Atlantic voyage landing at Newport 28^th Apr 1919.
• Shipping list. Name: Howard W. Blinco
  Departure Date: 15 Apr 1919
  Departure Place: St Nazaire, France
  Arrival Date: 15 Apr 1919
  Arrival Place: St Nazaire, France
  Address: 611 Broadway Street
  Residence Place: Martinsperry, Ohio
  Father: Thomas Blinco
  Ship: Nansemond
  Military Unit: CO. L 140TH INF.
  Rank: Private
  Service Number: 3, 529, 956
  Notes: COMPANY “L” 140TH INFANTRY

• Howard was given a full discharge 10^th May 1919

Sources

1. The 35th Division.
   
2. The 140th Infantry From Doniphan to Verdun: the Official History of the 140th Infantry.
   
3. Ohio State Records.
4. American Armies and Battlefields in Europe, Library of Congress 1938.
5. Stars and Stripes Magazine.

Medals

Howard would have been awarded the US Victory medal with the Meuse Argonne and Defensive Sector clasps. In addition, Howard would have received the Ohio State Service Medal.

Romance at Camp Sherman?

After the War

1920 Census Martins Ferry Ward 2, Belmont, Ohio

1. Thomas Blinco 71
2. Emma Blinco 53
3. Francis M Blinco 37
4. Van C Blinco 35
5. Howard W Blinco 30
6. Robert Blinco 25
7. Margaret Blinco 20
8. Paul Blinco 17

1922 Border Crossings From U.S. to Canada

Purpose to work at Baldwin’s Canadian Steel Corps Toronto occupation Hot Mill Doubler. Arrival Port: Bridgeburg, Ontario

1930 Census

Election District 12, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

1. Howard W Blinco 38 Rougher Tin Mill served in WW1
   
2. Helen C Blinco 31 Registered Nurse

Howard states served WW1 Helen does not but did serve in the Army Nurse Corps.

1942 ww2 Draft

Drafted but no evidence he was called up.

Name: Howard Washington Blinco
Gender: Male
Race: White
Residence Age: 54
Birth Date: 30 Oct 1888
Birth Place: Martinsferry, Ohio, USA
Residence Date: 1942
Residence Place: Contra Costa, California, USA
Relationship to Draftee: Head
Military Draft Date: 1942

1950 Census

Antioch,Contra Costa California

Howard Blinco Head M 62 Industrial Guard
Hellen Blinco Wife F 52 Registered Nurse
Mary Ellen Bessce Niece F 23

1973 Death Age 84 years

Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1932, 1938-2007, Martins Ferry, Belmont, Ohio.

GALLERY