Pelton, Graham

edited by Eden Biskin

Mss: https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3154KTF

Pelton's yearbook photo

Biographical note

We learn next to nothing about Graham Pelton, RC ‘18, based on the few letters in his file. We know that he worked first in the personnel office of the First Replacement Regiment of Engineers, and next in the Engineer School, both at Washington Barracks, D.C. In a way, Pelton’s position was enviable. He had a coveted desk job and never saw action during the war. Pelton remained a private in the Engineer Corps for the duration of his service. According to his military service record, he had two years previous training in the Officers’ Reserve Corps, and was recommended four times for sergeancy, “but orders were never issued.” Given the somewhat haphazard and rushed way in which the Army built its officer corps, equating leadership first with a college education, and next with subjective qualities like charisma, it is possible that Pelton lost a popularity contest of sorts. Furthermore, the purpose of the First Replacement Regiment of Engineers was to churn out trained combat engineers for active duty in France. They weren’t meant to linger, hence Pelton would have had few opportunities to establish rapport in his role, further isolating him. Pelton asks Silvers twice for a list of enlisted Rutgers men in the vicinity of Washington, first in June and next in August 1918, presumably because he was hoping to see a friendly face. Silvers replies on August 27, 1918 to say “[w]e are short of clerical help just now and it is not possible for us to give the time to such work.” Pelton’s only subsequent communication is to notify Silvers of an address change, stating that he “[s]hould like very much to receive your War Letters as heretofore.” His communication style is fairly typical of soldiers’ correspondence of the era, which is to say laconic out of a desire to project good morale. One infers his state of mind only through his frequent correspondence with Silvers, whom he evidently did not know well, and who responded only once to Pelton’s four letters. After being discharged in February 1919, Pelton returned to life as a civil engineer in Essex, Connecticut.

Sources

Richard S. Faulkner, The School of Hard Knocks: Combat Leadership in the American Expeditionary Forces (College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2012).
Graham Pelton, “State of Connecticut Military Service Record,” Essex, Conn., March 12, 1919.

Graham Pelton to Earl Reed Silvers, June 4, 1918

Washington D.C. June 4th, 1918.

Mr. Earl R. Silvers

New Brunswick, N.J.

My dear Mr. :—

I should appreciate it very much if you would forward me the names and addresses of such Rutgers men that you know are in the military or naval service in the vicinity of Washington.

I am attached at present to the Personnel Office of the 1st Replacement [Regiment] of Engineers–

Very sincerely yours,

'18

Room # 209 [Headquarters] Bldg.
,
Washington D.C.

Graham Pelton to Earl Reed Silvers, August 17, 1918

Room 209 [Headquarters] Bldg.

August 17th 1918.

Earl Reed Silvers,
Rutgers College,
New Brunswick, N.J.

My dear Mr. —

The monthly War Service letters have been arriving regularly, and they certainly are a great institution. When one reads of the important part Rutgers men are taking in world events, the ivy covered walls of form a mental image dear to his heart.

While uptown recently, I ran across [Lieutenant] ‘16. He was on his way to , a new Engineers camp.

Yours for success

Cy [?] '18.

Graham Pelton to Earl Reed Silvers, August 26, 1918

PERSONNEL OFFICE
HEADQUARTERS FIRST REPLACEMENT REGIMENT OF ENGINEERS

August, 26th, 1918.

Mr. Earl Reed Silvers,
Rutgers College,
New Brunswick, New Jersey.

My dear Mr. :—

I dislike to cause you unnecessary trouble, but I should appreciate it very much if you were to mail me a list of Rutgers men who are commissioned in any branch of the Engineers, , Aircraft Production or Quartermaster Corps, with their addresses so far as known.

Some one [sic] came up to my desk the other afternoon and said he would like to see me for a few minutes. It proved to be Mr. who graduated in the class of 1917. He was on his way to the Engineer Officers Training Camp at

Received the new last week, and it was extremely interesting.

Yours,

, Class 1918.

Room 209. Headquarters Bldg.

Earl Reed Silvers to Graham Pelton, August 27, 1918

August 27th, 1918.

Mr. Graham Pelton,
Room 209, Headquarters Bldg.

Dear Mr. :

I am sorry that I am not able to send you the list of commissioned officers as suggested in your letter of August 26th. We have not such a list in type at the present time. We are short of clerical help just now and it is not possible for us to give the time to such work.

I thank you for your interest and wish you success in the line of work you have undertaken.

Very truly yours,

RDirector.

ERS/H

Graham Pelton to Earl Reed Silvers, November 2, 1918

ENGINEER SCHOOL
UNITED STATES ARMY

November 2, 1918.

Mr. Earl R. Silvers,
,
New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Dear Mr. Silvers:—

The military address of Graham Pelton, Ex ‘18, has been changed from [Company] “E”, 1st Replacement Regiment of Engrs., to Room 205, Engineer School, Washington Barracks, D.C.

Should like very much to receive your War Letters as heretofore.

Very truly yours,

Graham Pelton