Veterans' Memorial Project

Isaac Frost McCollister
Anchor, IL

No photo available.

World War I

Years Attended: 1919
College: Engineering
Service branch: Navy
Date of Birth: 9/9/1896
Date of Death: 6/1/1919

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Visitor Comments

Isaac McCollister was the only man from Jersey County enlisted in the naval forces of the country, to die in the service. He enlisted in July, 1918, at the age of twenty-two years. He left school in the third year of his course in mechanical engineering at the University of Illinois to serve his country. He was first sent to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, where he received his preliminary training. After the training at the Great Lakes Station, he was sent to Norfolk, Va., where he served for a time. The next duty that fell to his lot was a trip to South America on the U.S.S. St. Francis, returning to the states after a three months' period of service on the vessel in question. He was then ordered to go overseas on the Leviathan which was engaged in bringing troops back to this country. On the return trip he was stricken with appendicitis and was operated on while on board ship. When the Leviathan docked at New York, McCollister was sent to the Naval hospital at Brooklyn, N. Y., where he was getting along very well. A relapse set in and the first information that relatives received that his condition was not normal, was the message stating his serious condition which was received at the same time as the death message. McCollister was the son of the late Sherman McCollister and Mrs. Fannie B. McCollister, who, with two daughters, Misses Elizabeth and Edith McCollister, survive. Isaac McCollister was a sterling young man, and at the time of the signing of the armistice had successfully passed the examination for transfer to the naval aviation section of the service. He died from appendicitis. He is buried at Oak Grove Cemetery, Section 25 – Jerseyville, Illinois.

- submitted by James Opolony; information taken from University and public records