John R. Castleman, Jr.
Lieut. John R. Castleman, Jr., of Clarke County, son of the late John R. Castleman of Mosby's Rangers, was awarded a Distinguished Service Medal for an air battle with German aeroplanes in the World War, the Clarke Courier reported in May 1921. The same item says he had made the highest average record over four years at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and was chosen valedictorian of his class.
World War I as the cited records state it
Also written: Lieut. John R Castleman, Jr.. Each name is shown as a source gives it.
- 2 records cited
- 3 statements
- 2 images shown
Is this the same man?
IDENTITY Unconfirmed Whether the John R. Castleman of the 1923 list is the man in the 1921 item is not established.
What distinguishes him: Name as the 1921 item prints it. A Courier list of April 26, 1923 gives, for a John R. Castleman of Berryville, a distinguished service cross at Romagne, France, on October 5, 1918. The two Courier items name different decorations, and which is right is not settled here.
Clarke connection: Residence in a news item: the Courier of May 26, 1921 reports him as of Clarke County and as the son of the late John R. Castleman of Mosby's Rangers (C602).
This page rests on one record.
Evidence depth: Recorded
Service summary
Only the fields a record supplies, in the record's own words. The full statement is under What the records say.
| Field | As the record prints it | Source | RECORD | IDENTITY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| War | World War I | Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 26, 1921 The statement | RECORD Likely | IDENTITY Confirmed |
| Rank | Lieut. | Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 26, 1921 The statement | RECORD Likely | IDENTITY Confirmed |
What the records say
Each line is a statement from a cited source, in the source's own terms, with the three questions asked of it. Same man as the one on this page?
| When | What the record shows | RECORD | IDENTITY | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date not established | The Clarke Courier of May 26, 1921 reports that Lieut. John R. Castleman, Jr., of Clarke County, son of the late John R. Castleman of Mosby's Rangers, had made the highest average record over four years at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and was chosen valedictorian of his class, and that he had been awarded a Distinguished Service Medal for bravery in an air battle with German aeroplanes during the World War. | RECORD Likely | IDENTITY ConfirmedThis is the item the entity was created from. | See the source and its limits✓ LikelyAn account exists
The Clarke Courier of May 26, 1921 reports that Lieut. John R. Castleman, Jr., of Clarke County, son of the late John R. Castleman of Mosby's Rangers, had made the highest average record over four years at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and was chosen valedictorian of his class, and that he had been awarded a Distinguished Service Medal for bravery in an air battle with German aeroplanes during the World War. What the source supportsThat the Courier of May 26, 1921 reported John R. Castleman, Jr., of Clarke County as chosen valedictorian at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and as awarded a Distinguished Service Medal; a Courier list of 1923 names a different decoration (see the uncertainty note). UncertaintyRead from uncorrected OCR, not from the page image. The medal is as the item reports it and was not checked against military records. A Courier list of April 26, 1923 (page 1, compiled from the first volume of the Virginia War History) gives, for a John R. Castleman of Berryville, "first lieut. air service pilot," a "distinguished service cross" at Romagne, France, on October 5, 1918, with a silver star citation. The two Courier items name different decorations, and which is right is not settled here; the 1923 list is not cited as evidence in this record. His father and brothers named in the item have no records here. SourceEvidence role: supports. The May 26, 1921 item. Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 26, 1921Clarke Courier · 1921-05-26 (publication) Locator: Page 2, local news items Relevant passageLieut. John R Castleman, Jr., of Clarke county, son of that brave old Confederate soldier, tlie [the] late John R. Castleman, of Mosby's Rangcts [Rangers] fame ... has made the highest average record in his studies, covering a period of four years, at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and has been chosen valedictorian for his class at the final exercises. "John” was awaided [awarded] a Distinguished Service Medal for bravery in an air battle with German aeroplanes during the world war. Checked: Existing OCR reviewed. Original image not independently inspected. Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses. Evidence role: supports. The same passage, read from the page image and shown in the clipping above. Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 26, 1921Clarke Courier · 1921-05-26 (publication) Locator: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 26, 1921, page 2 of the issue, per the Library of Congress record (printed page not recorded: the page prints no number), column "Little Locals", Castleman item, the passage beginning "Lieut. John R. Castleman, Jr., of..." Relevant passageLieut. John R. Castleman, Jr., of Clarke county, son of that brave old Confederate soldier, the late John R. Castleman, of Mosby's Rangers fame, has won laurels in the college class room to match those on the battle lines in France. Word from Blacksburg is to the effect that he has made the highest average record in his studies, covering a period of four years, at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and has been chosen valedictorian for his class at the final exercises. "John" was awarded a Distinguished Service Medal for bravery in an air battle with German aeroplanes during the world war. Checked: This passage was read on a digital reproduction of the page; no original has been handled. The source's other readings: existing OCR reviewed, original image not independently inspected. Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses. |
| Date not established | The list of Clarke soldiers' war honors that the Clarke Courier printed on April 26, 1923 gives John R. Castleman of Berryville, first lieutenant and air service pilot, a distinguished service cross at Romagne, France, on October 5, 1918, "for extraordinary heroism in action." | RECORD Likely | IDENTITY UnconfirmedNo identity statement has been recorded for this statement. | See the source and its limits✓ LikelyAn account exists
The list of Clarke soldiers' war honors that the Clarke Courier printed on April 26, 1923 gives John R. Castleman of Berryville, first lieutenant and air service pilot, a distinguished service cross at Romagne, France, on October 5, 1918, "for extraordinary heroism in action." What the source supportsThe honor the 1923 list gives John R. Castleman. UncertaintyThe Courier of May 26, 1921 reported a Distinguished Service Medal for Lieut. John R. Castleman, Jr.; which is right is not settled here. Read on the page image of the Library of Congress digital reproduction. No human historian has reviewed this claim. SourceEvidence role: supports. Page 1, "Ten War Honors For Clarke County," the entry for John R. Castleman. Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 26, 1923Clarke Courier · 1923-04-26 (publication) Locator: Page 1, "Ten War Honors For Clarke County," the entry for John R. Castleman Relevant passageJohn R. Castleman, Berryville, first lieut. air service pilot, distinguished service cross, Romagne, France, Oct. 5, 1918, "for extraordinary heroism in action. Checked: This passage was read on a digital reproduction of the page; no original has been handled. The source's other readings: existing OCR reviewed, original image not independently inspected. Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses. |
| Date not established | The same list of war honors in the Clarke Courier of April 26, 1923 also gives John R. Castleman a silver star citation at Cunel, France, the "same day" as his distinguished service cross, "for gallantry in action." | RECORD Likely | IDENTITY UnconfirmedNo identity statement has been recorded for this statement. | See the source and its limits✓ LikelyAn account exists
The same list of war honors in the Clarke Courier of April 26, 1923 also gives John R. Castleman a silver star citation at Cunel, France, the "same day" as his distinguished service cross, "for gallantry in action." What the source supportsA second decoration the 1923 list gives Castleman. UncertaintyThe passage runs on from the end of his distinguished service cross citation, whose date (October 5, 1918) is in C1543; the list itself is compiled from the first volume of the Virginia War History, not from War Department records. The 1921 Courier item (C602) names a different decoration, and which is right is not settled here. Read on the page image of the Library of Congress digital reproduction. No human historian has reviewed this claim. SourceEvidence role: supports. Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 26, 1923, page 1, report "Ten War Honors For Clarke County", citations, the passage beginning "-tection and also destroyed two of...". Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 26, 1923Clarke Courier · 1923-04-26 (publication) Locator: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 26, 1923, page 1, report "Ten War Honors For Clarke County", citations, the passage beginning "-tection and also destroyed two of..." Relevant passagetection and also destroyed two of the enemy planes." Also silver star citation, Cunel, France, same day "for gallantry in action." Checked: This passage was read on a digital reproduction of the page; no original has been handled. The source's other readings: existing OCR reviewed, original image not independently inspected. Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses. |
Evidence gallery
Each image is the document itself, cropped from a saved original, and is shown only after a check by a reader who did not choose it found that it supports the passage it is cited for. Open one to read it closely.

A later part of the report Ten War Honors For Clarke County in the Clarke Courier of April 26, 1923: the end of the citation for John R. Castleman, Jr., and the citation for William Graham Reynolds, captain, 23rd Infantry, distinguished service cross.
What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown. The column begins mid-sentence.
Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), April 26, 1923, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image at full resolution (the region lies at box 1494,2779 330x864 pixels of the saved half-size copy of the page) and shown at its own 660 by 1728 pixels; not scaled, retouched, enhanced, highlighted or re-encoded.
Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 26, 1923 Open the full image
What this image is evidence for
Passage it reproduces: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 26, 1923, page 1, report "Ten War Honors For Clarke County", citations, the passage beginning "-tection and also destroyed two of..."
Statements on this site that rest on it:
- The same list of war honors in the Clarke Courier of April 26, 1923 also gives John R. Castleman a silver star citation at Cunel, France, the "same day" as his distinguished service cross, "for gallantry in action."
People namedJohn R. Castleman, Jr.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 26, 1923, page 1.
Typed transcription
-tection and also destroyed two of the enemy planes." Also silver star citation, Cunel, France, same day "for gallantry in action." William Graham Reynolds, Berryville, captain 23rd infantry, distinguished service cross, St. Etienne, Oct. 4, 1918, "for extraordinary heroism in action. After he had been severely wounded by a shell, he managed, by a sumpeme [sic] effort, to regain sufficient consciousness to acquaint his successor with the necessary information for continuance of the struggle. His courage, under such great agony, set a wonderful example for his men."
- Source
- Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 26, 1923, Clarke Courier
- Date as printed
- 1923-04-26 (published)
- Page
- 1 as printed
- Passage
- Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 26, 1923, page 1, report "Ten War Honors For Clarke County", citations, the passage beginning "-tection and also destroyed two of..."
- What it supports
- The same list of war honors in the Clarke Courier of April 26, 1923 also gives John R. Castleman a silver star citation at Cunel, France, the "same day" as his distinguished service cross, "for gallantry in action."
- Treatment
- Cropped to the document only; no retouch, no highlight.
RECORD Likely IDENTITY Unconfirmed
Whether the John R. Castleman of the 1923 list is the man in the 1921 item is not established.
See the original Read the full newspaper page at the Library of Congress

The item on Lieut. John R. Castleman, Jr. in the Little Locals column of the Clarke Courier of May 26, 1921: the highest average in four years at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, chosen valedictorian, and awarded a Distinguished Service Medal for bravery in an air battle during the World War.
What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown. Other local items in the column are not part of the passage.
Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), May 26, 1921, page 2 (as numbered by the Library of Congress). Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image at full resolution (the region lies at box 147,165 340x2020 pixels of the saved half-size copy of the page) and shown at its own 681 by 4039 pixels; not scaled, retouched, enhanced, highlighted or re-encoded.
Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 26, 1921 Open the full image
What this image is evidence for
Passage it reproduces: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 26, 1921, page 2 of the issue, per the Library of Congress record (printed page not recorded: the page prints no number), column "Little Locals", Castleman item, the passage beginning "Lieut. John R. Castleman, Jr., of..."
Statements on this site that rest on it:
- The Clarke Courier of May 26, 1921 reports that Lieut. John R. Castleman, Jr., of Clarke County, son of the late John R. Castleman of Mosby's Rangers, had made the highest average record over four years at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and was chosen valedictorian of his class, and that he had been awarded a Distinguished Service Medal for bravery in an air battle with German aeroplanes during the World War.
People namedJohn R. Castleman, Jr.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 26, 1921, page 2 (numbered by the Library of Congress; the page prints no number).
Typed transcription
Lieut. John R. Castleman, Jr., of Clarke county, son of that brave old Confederate soldier, the late John R. Castleman, of Mosby's Rangers fame, has won laurels in the college class room to match those on the battle lines in France. Word from Blacksburg is to the effect that he has made the highest average record in his studies, covering a period of four years, at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and has been chosen valedictorian for his class at the final exercises. "John" was awarded a Distinguished Service Medal for bravery in an air battle with German aeroplanes during the world war. Lieut. Castleman's two brothers, Capt. Howard Castleman and Mr. Frances Castleman, distinguished themselves at college. Miss Flora Castleman will attend the final exercises at Blacksburg.
- Source
- Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 26, 1921, Clarke Courier
- Date as printed
- 1921-05-26 (published)
- Passage
- Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 26, 1921, page 2 of the issue, per the Library of Congress record (printed page not recorded: the page prints no number), column "Little Locals", Castleman item, the passage beginning "Lieut. John R. Castleman, Jr., of..."
- What it supports
- The Clarke Courier of May 26, 1921 reports that Lieut. John R. Castleman, Jr., of Clarke County, son of the late John R. Castleman of Mosby's Rangers, had made the highest average record over four years at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and was chosen valedictorian of his class, and that he had been awarded a Distinguished Service Medal for bravery in an air battle with German aeroplanes during the World War.
- Treatment
- Cropped to the document only; no retouch, no highlight.
RECORD Likely IDENTITY Confirmed
This is the item the entity was created from.
See the original Read the full newspaper page at the Library of Congress
Cited, with no image here
- Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 26, 1923, Page 1, "Ten War Honors For Clarke County," the entry for John R. Castleman. The page was read on its image; no crop of it is shown yet.
- Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 26, 1921, Page 2, local news items. The text was read from a transcription or machine reading, not from a saved page image.
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