William McKinley Steele, born on August 14, 1897, in Springfield, Washington County, Kentucky, was the son of James Henry and Sarah Ruth Drury Steele. He grew up in a large family with five sisters and six brothers. At the age of 17, demonstrating a strong sense of duty, he enlisted on May 30, 1917, as a Private in Company D, 1st Battalion, 1st Kentucky Infantry Regiment—a unit that was later redesignated as Battery C, 1st Battalion, 138th Field Artillery Regiment. This regiment was part of the Kentucky National Guard, which had been integrated into the federal service during World War I.

Steele’s military journey saw him transferred on June 2, 1918, to the 2nd Battery, Field Artillery Hospital Regiment. He embarked for overseas service on June 12, 1918, as part of the Camp Shelby Replacement Draft, 2nd Field Artillery Replacement Battalion, 41st Division. The 41st Division, initially formed from National Guard units from several states, was deployed to France during World War I. Upon arrival, the division was designated as a replacement division, with many of its personnel, including Steele, assigned to support roles rather than front-line combat. 

Tragically, shortly after his arrival in France, Private Steele contracted scarlet fever and passed away on July 16, 1918, at the U.S. Army Camp Hospital #19 in La Courtine, Department de la Creuse, Limousin, France. He was initially buried on July 17, 1918, in the American Cemetery in La Courtine. On October 22, 1921, his remains were reinterred at the Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial in Suresnes, Department des Hauts-de-Seine, Île-de-France, France. Steele’s commitment and sacrifice are emblematic of the many young men who served during World War I, and his memory is preserved among the honored at Suresnes.

In France

Death of Marion County Boy in June Is Just Announced by the War Department

A telegram from the War Department received by J. H. Steel the first of the week announced that his son, William McKinney Steel, had died of scarlet fever at a hospital in France on July 16, more than four months ago.  Young Steel was only 17 years old at the time of his death.  Had he lived he would have celebrated his 18th birthday in August last.  He enlisted in the service May 30, 1917, volunteering, and for a year was at Camp Taylor.  Later he was transferred to Camp Shelby, Hattiesburg, Miss., and on June 4 sailed for France.  He wrote his parents regularly while in camps in this country and failing to hear anything from him after his arrival overseas they became uneasy about him and took the matter up with the War Department.  He was a member of the Field Artillery and after enlisting was assigned to duty with the old First Kentucky Regiment, a Louisville organization.  His parents and six brothers and five sisters survive. [1]

[1] The Lebanon Enterprise, 29 Nov 1918, p. 1.