William Russell Ledford

On Thursday morning, January 18, 2018, at 10:00am, the American Legion commemorated the 100th anniversary of the death of William Russell Ledford at the Cloverdale Cemetery.  Ledford is the namesake of the William Russell Ledford - Post 293.

William Russell Ledford was born in Yorkville, California, Mendocino County on March 3, 1893.  William was known to be a young man of sterling character and had a large number of friends.  He especially loved to hunt.  The Ledford family moved from Yountville to Cloverdale not long before William was called to service in the Armed Forces of the United States of America.  Private William Russell Ledford was assigned to Company "K", 18th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division of the United States Army.

The 1st Infantry Division was the first American combat unit sent to France in 1917, during World War I.  Private Ledford was being considered for a promotion prior to his untimely death.

There are no details but it is known that William Russell Ledford died of pneumonia in a battlefield "Somewhere in France" on January 18, 1918.  He was 24 years old.

At the end of World War I, William's remains were shipped back home and buried in Plot number 49 in the Mount Olive section of the Cloverdale Cemetery.

On March 19, 1924, the William Russell Ledford Post 293 of the American Legion was chartered in honor of Private William Russell Ledford.  The Sons of the American Legion are also named in his honor.

William Russell Ledford made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.  The American Legion remembered and honored his service and sacrifice, and military honors were rendered in the ceremony at his gravesite.