Conflict: World War I
Branch: Army
Rank: Sergeant
Date of Birth: 01/19/1887
Date of Death: 10/20/1918
Preston Furman McKee was born on January 19, 1887, in Arlington, Texas. He had a brother, John Knox, and two sisters named Sallie and Winnie. Growing up, they all helped their mother, Eliza, on the farm. The brothers often took on different jobs to support their family.
Before becoming the mayor of Arlington from April 11, 1914, to April 9, 1915, Preston McKee worked as a contractor. By April 1917, the U.S. had entered World War I. At the time of his registration to join the Army, Preston was 30 years old and had been working as a farmer and insurance agent. His brother, who was 37, registered at the same time, and both were stationed together at Camp Travis in San Antonio, Texas.
During his time there, Preston was promoted three times within four months before his death. The camp suffered from poor hygiene due to overcrowding and low supplies, which contributed to the spread of diseases. Preston ultimately died of pneumonia after a six-day battle with Spanish influenza. By the time of his death on October 20, 1918, he held the rank of Sergeant. In the image above, he is seated on the bottom left, and his grave is located at Old Arlington Cemetery in Texas.
Article: Mayor, Veteran, and Leader Preston F. McKee
