Chester Anzide

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS CHESTER ANZIDE appears to be the son of Emideo and Erena Anzideo, who in 1910 lived at 312 Division Street in Camden NJ. The elder Anzideo worked as a laborer at one of Camden's oil-cloth factories, while Mrs. Anzideo took in laundry. 

There were three children home at the time of the 1910 Census, Cesarino, aged 13, Nesto, aged 10, and Ferdinando, ages 6. There were also two younger step-children with the surname Dorisio. All the Anzideo boys were born in Italy and had come to America in 1905, with their mother.

One of the older Anzideo sons enlisted in the United States Army, most likely the older son, Cesarino, under the name Chester Anzide. He enlisted in Company B, 3rd Infantry Regiment of the New Jersey National Guard on April 18, 1917 at Camden. On October 11, 1917 this unit was reorganized as the 114th Infantry Regiment and was attached to the 29th Infantry Division. The unit arrived in France in June of 1918. 

Private First Class Anzide was killed in action on October 12, 1918 while serving with Company E, 114th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division. This unit was part of the attack on German positions near Verdun on October 8, 1918.

The 29th Infantry Division's account record has the following account for October 12, 1918:

The 114th Infantry, 29th Division was attached to the 18th French Division, moved from its bivouac in the Cotee des Roches into position in the Ravin de Coassinvaux on the night of the 11th-12th October preparatory to an attack upon the Bois d'Ormont, which the Division had been ordered to make at 0700hrs on the 12th. In conjunction with the 66th French Infantry, the 114th moved to attack at the hour designated.

The objective of the 114th was the enemy line between Bois d'Ormont and Bois d'Moirey. The enemy has established a very strong dug in concrete line of machine guns. The French artillery unit providing preparatory fire had a severe shortage of artillery ammunition. The small amount that was actually fired was placed to far behind the enemy lines*. The artillery had very little effect on the enemy machine gun line and caused very little damage. The 1st Company of the 111th Machine Gun Battalion began its advance on Bois d'Ormont to support the 114th advance but was forced to pull back after only five minutes due to the heavy German Artillery. After just five minutes eleven 111th men were killed.

The 114th eventually made it into Bois d'Ormont but the cost was very high. Six officers and 112 enlisted men were killed, twelve officers and 800 enlisted men were wounded in the engagement.

On October 12, 1918 the Bois d'Ormont was conquered at the cost of 118 casualties. Private First Class Anzide and several other Camden County men were of that number. 

Private First Class Anzide was brought home to America after the war, and buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington VA on November 17, 1921. His brother Ferdinando, who had changed his name to Frederick, survived him, and was living in Gloucester City NJ as late as June of 1930. Frederick Anzide died prior to the compilation of the 1947 Camden City Directory, leaving a widow, Dora.