About
World War I (1914-1918)
Mike M. Kalfayan was born in Constantinople, Turkey, on October 17, 1889. When he was an adult, he immigrated to the United States, with his final destination being the city of Schenectady, where he lived on Jay Street.
On May 29, 1917, Mike enlisted in the United States Army. He completed his basic training at Fort Ethan Allen in Vermont. He was a private serving with Company D, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. He was sent overseas aboard the U.S. Army troopship SS Carpathia on November 22, 1917. Mike was killed in action during the Battle of Soissons. There are two conflicting dates for his death: the Veterans Administration Master Index lists July 24, 1918, while his headstone states July 18, 1918. He is buried in the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery and Memorial.
*The SS Carpathia, a Royal Mail Ship, is best known for saving Titanic passengers in 1912. The SS Carpathia ferried troops and supplies throughout World War l.
Sources: The Schenectady Gazette, Ancestry