2014-12-06

My brother, Rick Vincent, always claimed that Uncle Grover was gassed in WWI. 
In a family research notebook my mother kept, she wrote that, 
   "Grover finished the University of Ala. Was an industrial Engineer, in 
    World War II [sic] & was gassed in France. Spent last years of his life 
    in V.A. Hospital at Oteen North Carolina."

This turned out to be false.

Grover Cleveland Vincent (1885-1968) was born in 1885 rather than 1886.  His 
birth year is proven from the settlement of the Estate of his father, Aaron 
Vincent 30 Aug 1901, Talladega County, AL Estate Record Book 26, Pages 17-18 
in which his mother testified that "Grover C. Vincent, [was then] sixteen 
years old" and living in Talladega County.  That means he was born in 1885.  
His WWI Officer's Record Book also gives his date of birth as January 31, 1885 
while some much later records show he was born in 1886.

His death is confirmed from his death certificate dated June 10, 1968 which says 
he died May 5, 1968 at the VA Hospital in Oteen, N.C. of "Bronchopneumonia" and 
"Cardiac failure."  The record says there was an autopsy done.

His discharge paper and service record shows
 "Battles, engagements, skirmishes: None"
 "Wound chevrons: None"

I wrote the V.A. hospital where he died who gave me the address of his "son-in-law" 
(he was married but had no children).  I wrote this "son-in-law", Frederick J. 
Robinson, who replied.  In a letter dated January 24, 1978, Mr. Robinson told me 
Uncle Grover was in the Transportation Corps and that he worked as a civil engineer 
for various railroads for 10 years after his 1919 discharge from the Army until he 
contracted tuberculosis in 1929.  He was never gassed and did not see any action in 
WWI as far as I can tell although his service record does confirm that he served 
overseas. 

Further research has shown that Frederick J. Robinson was actually Grover's 
brother-in-law rather than his son-in-law.