Cultural Memories of the Doughboy

Ernest D. Banister was born in rural northern Georgia in 1893. His parents raised him on a farm in Georgia, and he likely would have started working on the farm at a young age. Not much is known about his adult life, though he likely worked on a farm with his family. When the United States entered World War I, President Woodrow Wilson implemented a draft to expand the army. Ernest was twenty five when Wilson signed the draft into law, so he was required to register. He was called to service on April 2nd, 1918 and was sent to Camp Gordon near Atlanta, Georgia. After training, Ernest was assigned to the 327th Infantry Regiment and shipped to France. On July 20th, 1918, just three months after being drafted, Ernest D. Banister was killed while on guard duty. His body was transported back to Georgia, and he was buried at the Concord Baptist Church. Ernest’s headstone bears an engraving of the American flag, likely to honor his service, and an inscription that reads “Ernest we miss you.” His story is similar to many of the men that served in World War I. The aim of this exhibit is to outline the ways in which American citizens honored those that served, explore how service was perceived, and explain the ‘doughboy’ cultural phenomenon.