Obviously 1st Sergeant Honesty fascinated us. When Researcher Chris dug in and learned more about him. He fascinated us more.
Ashel’s parents John and Mary Honesty lived in Zanesville, Ohio; raised 8 kids there. Ashel left to join the Army in 1918 and landed with the 813th Pioneer Infantry at Brest, France on September 25.
In France the 813th repaired roads, sometimes under shellfire, until the Armistice on November 11. After that, they took over graves registration—digging dead soldiers from the detritus of the battlefields, trying to identify them, reburying them at the Argonne Cemetery.
More on African-American soldiers in WWI
When the 813th returned to the states in July of 1919, Ashel became a civilian again, found work as a coal miner in Grafton, West Virginia. Given the turbulent and colorful history of the West Virginia coal mines in the early decades of the 20th century, it’s safe to assume that 22-year-old Honesty lived an “interesting” life there.
It’s understandable that the 1930 census found him back in the Army. Thirty-one years old by then, he was stationed at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Marion, Indiana. Ten years later, the 1940 census found him at Fort Benning in the 24th Infantry Division—a corporal.
A year later the Army’s dire need for experienced black NCO’s transformed his life when he became the top kick of Company A of the 93rd.
That’s what we knew about Ashel Honesty as of a week ago. We cherished an image of an incredibly tough, stern, thoroughly competent and courageous black man who struggled through racism and unfairness to help defend his country and complete an epic project.
And we had some of that right!
Still fascinated I looked on Facebook and found “Zanesville Honesty”, sent her a friend request and a private message to explain Chris and I and our work. Ashel’s nephew, Wayne Honesty, responded and a two weeks later we travelled to Columbus, Ohio to meet the present-day Honesty family.
What an experience!
Wayne, Mary and Mary’s sister, Gertrude, remember their Uncle Ashel. They don’t remember him well, and they say that up front. But they remember him affectionately.
Uncle Ashel visited infrequently, but his visits invariably inspired a family reunion—great foods and a lot of grownups swapping stories and memories. And all three remember one significant thing about the Army’s Uncle Ashel–he was “a cut-up”. Always funny. Always laughing. Always teasing.
Family lore included the story of Uncle Ashel’s gift to nephew Wayne, an infant celebrating his first Christmas—a plug of “Old Mule” chewing tobacco. Gertrude remembered when he brought his new wife Minnie to meet the family in 1951. Gertrude tells us that Minnie was a tall and very well-formed black lady. And that’s important, because when Ashel asked them to get some stockings for Minnie he told them to buy the biggest ones available!
Minnie just laughed.
The contrast between the Honesty family’s Uncle Ashel and our tough as nails Top Kick made our heads swim.
Ashel Honesty and Minnie were my Grandparents. My name is Joseph Turner.
They were my Great-Grandparents
Joseph, that’s pretty cool. He was a heck of a soldier.
I just emailed you, but I definitely want to exchange information.