Sidney Alford Haithcock

Private Sidney Alford Haithcock died of the Spanish Flu on October 28, 1918 in Meuse-Argonne, France while on active duty during World War I.  He was 30 years old.

Sidney Alford Haithcock was born in Louisburg, North Carolina on May 7, 1888, the son of Kinchen Malcus Haithcock Jr and Alice Cash Haithcock.  

Alford registered for the draft in Henderson, North Carolina and served in the 54th Infantry Regiment, 6th Division of the U.S. Army.  The regiment was constituted on 15 May 1917 in the Regular Army as the 54th Infantry. It was organized on 16 June 1917 at Chickamauga Park, Georgia. It was assigned on 16 November 1917 to the 6th Division. It saw service in France during World War I, earning battle honors for the Meuse-Argonne and Alsace 1918 campaigns. The Meuse–Argonne offensive was a major part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire Western Front. It was fought from September 26, 1918, until the Armistice of November 11, 1918, a total of 47 days. The Meuse–Argonne offensive was the largest in United States military history, involving 1.2 million American soldiers. It is also the deadliest campaign in the history of the United States Army, resulting in over 350,000 casualties, including 28,000 German lives, 26,277 American lives and around 35,000 French lives. American losses were worsened by the inexperience of many of the troops, the tactics used during the early phases of the operation, and the widespread onset of the global influenza outbreak called the "Spanish flu." Private Haithcock died of the flu during the campaign on October 28, 1918.

Private Sidney Alford Haithcock is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial, Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, Département de la Meuse, Lorraine, France. 

Last edited: 30 May 2026