NC WWI Service Card
According to his NC WWI Service Card, Junius Jackson Adams Jr was born in Southport, Brunswick County, NC. He enlisted in the National Guard in Charleston, SC, on July 24, 1917. His residence is listed as Whiteville, Columbus County, NC.
His father, Reverend Junius Jackson Adams Sr was born and raised in Wake County, NC. He married Margaret Ella Galloway in Southport, Brunswick County, NC, which explains why Junius reported that he was born there. His birth record can only confirm that he was born in Brunswick County. The family lived in Sampson County in 1900, then returned to the area, living in Whiteville in 1910.
His service card indicates he became a wagoner on May 8, 1918, serving in the 105th Ammunition Train in the 30th “Old Hickory” Division. The roster listed on the WWI Army/Marine Division Rosters for Brunswick County shows that Wagoner Adams was the only Brunswick County man serving in the 105th Ammunition Train. See Jackson Berry Potter’s WWI Profile to understand the demanding role of a wagoner.
The 1920 US Census shows he returned home to Whiteville. He was described as a solider in the US Army, yet there’s no indication on his military headstone application shown below to prove that he was in the Army from his discharge from WWI to his re-enlistment at the end of 1920. However, additional records can be used to prove this service.
His VA Index shown below does show this service. He actually has two VA Index records.
Together, they show his service dates are July 25, 1917 – April 3, 1919; September 23, 1919 – September 7, 1922.
The 1930 US Census shows that Junius had returned home, which was Southport at this time, and was working on a dredge boat.
The 1940 US Census in Southport indicates that he was unable to work.
According to his death certificate, Junius continued to live in Southport until 17 days before his death when he was moved to a VA Facility in Roanoke, VA. When WWI veterans pass away at such a young age, exposure to poisonous gas in the battlefields comes to mind as possibly having contributed to an early death. Could the chronic nephritis listed on his death certificate possibly be from trench nephritis? The 30th Division was often exposed to poisonous gas as the WWI Profile of Thedford Lewis shows. No confirmation can be made.
Junius Jackson Adams Jr passed away on June 14, 1941, in a VA Facility in Roanoke, VA, at age 42. He had never married. His headstone includes his military service, but because of his date of death (1941), his headstone does not include the WWI inscription. Before that time, only one world war had occurred. Inscriptions including WWI or WWII were added to military headstones after WWII ended.
He was laid to rest in Northwood Cemetery in Southport, Brunswick County, NC.
Source of photo: Findagrave
To view this or an earlier profile or snapshot at any time, click on the veteran’s name on the WWI Brunswick County Veteran list, which is also accessible by the blue button on the top right of the webpage.
If you would like to help us honor Junius Jackson Adams Jr or another Brunswick County WWI veteran, please use the following links:
Click here for the announcement:
Announcement: Honor a Brunswick County World War I Veteran
Click here for directions to donate and honor a veteran:
How to Honor a Brunswick County World War I Veteran
The Friends of Fort Caswell is hitting the pause button on WWI Snapshots for now.
Meanwhile, please view this wonderful presentation by Liz Fuller from the Southport Historical Society. Liz included some of the information about the Fort Caswell WWI nurses in her presentation:
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