About
John Joseph Maxwell was born on May 25, 1890, in Saratoga, New York. He moved to Schenectady with his family and lived on James Street. John was a member of the Knights of Columbus.
On July 1, 1917, John enlisted in the United States Army. He held the rank of Sergeant and served with Headquarters Company, 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division. John and two other soldiers went on a night time walk to the French village of Choignee on February 27, 1919. The trip was difficult and the night was quite dark. The men lost their bearings as they crossed the bridge over the canal; as a result, they misstepped and fell into the canal. John drowned because of exhaustion, his overcoat weighing him down, and extreme confusion. He is buried in the St. Mihiel American Cemetery and Memorial, France.
Sources: The Saratogian, Find A Grave, Ancestry