Doughboy MIA For July 2024: Sergeant Joseph Walter Beattie

Sergeant Joseph Walter Beattie was born in Brooklyn, New York, on October 2nd, 1897. Before the war, he worked for the Magar Car Company and was vice-president of the Sacred Heart Club. He attended St. Peter’s Academy and lived with his mother and three sisters. On May 8^th, 1916, Sergeant Beattie enlisted in the New York National Guard and saw service on the Mexican border with Company “K,” 23^rd Infantry of the New York National Guard. At the start of the U.S. involvement in the First World War, the New York National Guard became federalized, and his unit now became Company “K” 106^th Infantry, 27^th Division. He sailed for France in May of 1918.

In August, Sergeant Beattie was not on the front with his Company due to injured feet and a swollen arm. Sergeant Beattie met with his friend, Corporal Joseph Luliano, who was slightly wounded. He told Sergeant Beattie about the Company’s recent action on the Frontlines. Corporal Luliano later recalled:

He looked at me and said, “Old boy, it doesn’t look good for me to stay back here, and the rest of the boys are getting killed.” I said, “Now don’t be foolish and go up there in the air- they will be relieved tomorrow, so there will be no use of your going up.” Anyway, after talking to him for a while, he said he wouldn’t. Fifteen minutes later, he said, “I have a funny feeling; let’s go to church; I want to go to confession.”

The two men went to church, and afterward, around 4 pm, wagons were loaded with rations for the men at the front. The Mess Sergeant had heard of Sergeant Beattie’s desire to join the men at the front, and he asked him if he could bring the rations up. Men told the Mess Sergeant about the condition of Sergeant Beattie’s feet, but he insisted on going. He said, “Yes, I’ll go.”  Fifteen minutes later, his pack was rolled, and he was off to the front.

Sergeant Beattie and Corporal Luliano met again on September 1st, 1918, during the fighting at Vierstaat Ridge, Belgium. Corporal Luliano recalled the incident:

“I was hit by a piece of shrapnel in the right eyebrow; not bad, thank God. It was the helmet that saved my life…. When Beattie heard I was wounded, he went running around like a wild man looking for me. He finally found me in the Ambulance. He wanted to know how bad I was hurt and all that, you know, and I told him. Finally, he took a couple of pictures out of his pocket, gave them to me, and said, “Here, Joe. If I don’t come back, send one to your girl, May, because she loves me just as much as I love her, and send the rest home.” To tell you the truth, I don’t know today what kept me from crying. I certainly did fight myself so I would not fall apart and then I turned around and started to cheer him and said, “Don’t talk like a darn fool, you will come back alright.” Then came the time to depart, it was an awful departure. I shook hands with him and wished him the best of luck. Well, at last, the Ambulance pulled out, and I had to leave him, and that was the last I saw of him.”

The following day, Sergeant Beattie was attempting to save four men who had been seriously gassed. A shell landed nearby, and Sergeant Beattie was severely wounded. Initially, the men thought he had been killed outright, but he was found unconscious and sent off for medical care.

“The company was relieved that night, and a few days later, we were on our way to the city of Dallon. We were in freight cars and sidetracked when another train pulled in with the 106^th Ambulance Company. This train stopped right alongside us. One of the boys from the Ambulance Company yelled out, “Is this Company K?” One of our boys told him yes, and then he said, “You know Sergeant Beattie?” Just as soon as I heard that, I jumped to my feet and said, “Yes, how is he getting along?” That fellow just stared at me; at first, he wasn’t going to tell me. I had to coax him because someone whispered that I was his pal. He said, “Walter was taken to the hospital, and he died there three hours later.” I asked where he was buried, and he told me he was buried in the same cemetery as Colonel Liebman. He used to be in our outfit, and the cemetery is in Abube, Belgium. I know where it is because I have been there before.” (Lieutenant Colonel Liebman was initially buried in Abeele British Cemetery in Poperinge, Belgium)

After the war, the Graves Registration Service could not locate or identify Sergeant Beattie’s remains. In July of 1920, the Graves Registration Service tried to identify Sergeant Beattie from a set of four different Unknown American Soldiers, all recovered from Lijssenthoek British Cemetery in Poperinge, Belgium. Since those from the 106^th Infantry killed at the beginning of September were buried in this cemetery, it was believed these four sets of Unknown remains came from men of the 106^th Infantry. Lijssenthoek and Abeele Cemetery (Sergeant Beattie’s reported burial location) are 5 kilometers apart. Ultimately, an identification could not be made, and Sergeant Beattie remains “Missing in Action”. His name is inscribed on the Wall of the Missing at Flanders Field American Cemetery in Waregem, Belgium, along with 42 other men. Sergeant Beattie is likely one of the 21 Unknown American Soldiers buried here.

In Memoriam

Always I am lonely and weary all the day

To see the face and clasp the hand of him who is away

The only son God gave me, my one and only joy

My life and love were centered on my one and only boy

He has given the youth of his manhood

He has given the flower of his life

To honor the Flag of our Nation

To honor in peace and in strife

Oh, Here! Your deed is not wasted

For we honor the brave and the true

And we will always remember

Our Heroes who died for their country like you

–His heartbroken Mother and Sisters

Would you like to be involved with solving the case of Sergeant Joseph Walter Beattie, and all the other Americans still in MIA status from World War I?You can! Click here to make a tax-deductible donation to our non-profit organization today, and help us bring them home! Help us do the best job possible and give today, with our thanks.  Remember: A man is only missing if he is forgotten.