Vander Townsend was a private in Co. K 321st Infantry Regiment US Army during World War One. The 321st Infantry Regiment was a part of the original 81st Division "Wildcats." Vander was the son of William E. and Georgia Ann Swinford Townsend and his wife was Larcaly Stovall Townsend. Vander was a farmer in his earlier years and after he returned from WW1. He was plagued with trench foot after his time in the War. Later, he volunteered to serve in World War II in the US Marines, but was eventually rejected due to his foot problems resulting from World War I. He always slept with no cover on his feet because of the pain. He and his wife along with two of his kids moved to Ft. Worth Texas in the 1950s where he worked as a custodian. Died in Dallas in 1964 at age 67 and is buried at the Lone Valley Cemetery, Sims, Arkansas and has a granite military marker.

James William "Willie" Abernathy born 14 Aug 1896, son of William John Abernathy (bc.1872) and Nancy E. "Mollie" Gaston Abernathy (bc1879). Willie married Lydia M. Byard in December 1926 in Yell Co., Arkansas. In later years he went by "Bill. "Buried at Lone Valley Cemetery, Sims, 24 March 1981 beside his wife Lydia. His father was William John Abernathy born 9 April 1872 in Georgia. W.J. had three siblings including Philip W. Abernathy (1858 - 1953). J.W and Lydia had seven children: James William Abernathy, Marada Summit (born Abernathy) and 5 other children. William John Abernathy at age 44 then married Anna Mattie Vines 16 June 1916 age 16, two years younger than his son. Anna born 1898 in Alabama. Died in 1981. Died the same year as her stepson Willie. William John Abernathy died in 1940 in Houston, Perry, Arkansas.

WW1 photo of Vander Townsend (on right) and James W. Abernathy (on left). Both were from Sims area wearing khaki uniforms with a woolen tie, a campaign hat and canvas tan leggings.



Members of Co. K 321st Infantry Regiment WW1 and Vander Townsend kneeling far left with campaign hat. Others are wearing a wool garrison cap that was called an "overseas cap" the button with the initials U.S. issued after the soldier arrived in France at the time of advanced training.

World War I Draft Card 5th June 1918 images available free to download at https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1968530