Submitted by his grand-daughter- Ila Pat Lee Mathews of Texarkana, Texas

He was born 23 Jan 1897 at Bryans Mill, Tx., the son of Robert M. and Callie Studdard Abston. He enlisted in the U.S. Army, 4 Sep 1918, at Linden, Tx. His rank was Pvt. and he served with the Company A - 33rd Infantry, serving all this time at the Panama Canal. He guarded the locks that opened up for the big ships to pass through. He said "it was a sight to see." According to his daughter, Mary Abston, he sent all of his pay home, which was not much, with the exception of $6.00, to his wife. He could buy a whole stalk of bananas for 25 cents from an old woman.

He was hospitalized in Dec 1918, due to a malaria attack. He received an Honorable Discharge on 21 Mar 1919 at Camp at Gatun, Canal Zone, Panama.

He was a farmer and later retired from Red River Army Depot. He died 21 Aug 1990, at the Redbud Nursing Home in Naples, Tx. He was survived by his wife, Maudie Alice Moler Abston; 2 daughters, Margie Abston Lee and Mary Abston; 2 sons, Prentice Abston and Bud Abston, all of Bryans Mill, Tx. 3 grandchildren, Pat Lee Mathews, Bill Elwin Abston, and Bobbie Wayne Abston, all of Texarkana; and several great-grandchildren.