World War I in La Plata County
Over There
Over There
The men sent letters back to Durango documenting their experiences. Military censors insured that the exact whereabouts of the writer was not disclosed; all that a letter writer could say was “somewhere in France.” We know now that men from La Plata County fought at most of the major battles where the AEF engaged the Germans including Belleau Wood, Chateau-Thierry, and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
He was the only Black man to serve in World War I from La Plata County. Since the military was segregated at the time, he had to travel to training camp alone. The Weekly Democrat on October 26, 1917 proclaimed “Justin Barnett Off to War”, as they called for the town to turn out for Justin, as they had for the previous groups of white draftees. Apparently, they did. Justin wrote to his mother from Camp Funston, Kansas asking her to send thanks “to all those who were so kind to me the morning of my departure, giving me lunches and other presents.”. He served in several major battles and was wounded in WWI.
