Early Life and Military Beginnings

Edward Osgood Bogert was born on January 9, 1894, in Flushing, New York. Like many young men of his social standing in New York, he joined the National Guard early, enlisting in Troop C of the 1st Cavalry ("Squadron A").

His first taste of active service came during the border tensions with Mexico. He mustered in with the Machine Gun Troop of Squadron A on June 30, 1916, and was stationed at Camp McAllen, Texas, with the New York Division. He returned to New York in December 1916 and was discharged from the Squadron in February 1917.

World War I and Marine Corps Service

When the United States entered World War I, Bogert enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on May 23, 1917. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on July 6, 1917, and assigned to the 10th Regiment Field Artillery. He rose quickly through the ranks, receiving promotions to First Lieutenant in August 1917 and Captain on October 15, 1917.

He deployed to France aboard the USS Henderson in August 1918. In France, he saw combat with Company B, 5th Regiment USMC (part of the famous 2nd Division, AEF). During the Meuse-Argonne Offensive—the largest operation of the American Expeditionary Forces—he was wounded by machine gun fire on November 1, 1918, just days before the Armistice.

Post-War Service in China

Bogert survived his wounds and returned to the United States in February 1919. Unlike many of his peers who demobilized immediately, he remained in the Marine Corps. He was subsequently stationed in Peking (Beijing), China, as part of the American Legation Guard. It was during this posting that his engagement to Miss Esther Jean Bochman of Philadelphia was announced. He resigned his commission on August 15, 1923.

Death

Edward Osgood Bogert died on May 4, 1956. His obituary appeared in the East Hampton Star, noting his service in Squadron A and the Marine Corps.