Homer Van Bueren Warnock
Homer Van Buren Warnock was born near Statesboro, GA on January 7, 1893. The son of John M. and Rebecca Ann E. Warnock, two farmers, Homer was raised by his parents alongside nine other children, including six brothers (James, Charles, John, Pharis, Frank, Raymond) and three sisters (Ella, Esther, Janie). As a child, he attended a small rural school before going to Bulloch County High School. Following graduation, he enrolled at Mercer University and obtained his Graduate of Pharmacy degree in 1916. Homer worked as a Pharmacist at Warnock Drug Store in Register, GA. After a year of employment, Homer returned to academia, this time pursuing the study of medicine at the University of Georgia Medical College in Augusta, GA, where he was one of forty students accepted in the 1917-1918 enrollment period.
While in Augusta, Homer enlisted in the Medical Reserve Corps on January 3, 1918, and was inducted at Camp
Hancock, GA. On November 9 of the same year, Homer was activated for active duty. He was first sent to Camp Crane for service in the Mobile Hospital Unit in Allentown, PA, but remained here only a month before going to Camp Merritt, NJ on December 11. Homer was assigned to a United States Hospital Ship General Robert M. O’Reilly, where he served in the medical department as pharmacist and ward master. Shortly after his arrival, Homer contracted both influenza and pneumonia. On January 15, 1919, Homer was moved to St. Mary’s hospital and died on January 17, with his official cause of death listed as lobar pneumonia. He was one of thirty thousand soldiers to die in the United States from influenza and related respiratory diseases during 1918-1919. His funeral was held on January 21, with his body having arrived in Statesboro the day prior. He was buried at Lower Lotts Church Cemetery in Bulloch County.
Works Cited
Works Cited
Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census. Lehi, Utah, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Year: 1900; Census Place: Militia District 1547, Bulloch, Georgia; Roll: 182; Page: 11; Enumeration District: 0098. Retrieved February 24th, 2024.
Ancestry.com. Homer V Warnock in the Georgia, U.S., World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919. Georgia, U.S., World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc 2016. Provo, Utah. Retrieved February 24th, 2024.
Ancestry.com. U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-2016. Lehi, Utah, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. "U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012"; School Name: Mercer University; Year: 1916. Retrieved March 3rd, 2024.
Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Provo, Utah, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Registration State: Georgia; Registration County: Bulloch County. U G Horace V Warnock [Sic]. Retrieved March 3rd, 2024.
Mason, Herman E. “A letterfrom [Sic] Homer Warnock’s Nurse to J.M Warnock and Family.” American Legion Auxiliary, Dexter Allen Unit no.90, records. Zach S. Henderson Library Special Collections. Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA. Box 1, Folder 5
Thomas, Richard J, Pamela L Krahl, Timothy M Mallon, And Joel C Gaydos. “Preparedness of Military Public Health for Epidemic and Pandemic Recognition and Response.” Military Medicine 177, No. 3/4 (March 2023): 1-3. Doi:10/1093/milmed/usac323.
Williamson, F.Y. “A letter of Condolence from Homer Warnock’s Friend.” American Legion Auxiliary, Dexter Allen Unit no.90, records. Zach S. Henderson Library Special Collections. Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA. Box 1, Folder 5
“Eulogy written for Homer V. Warnock by A Sister” American Legion Auxiliary, Dexter Allen Unit no.90, records. Zach S. Henderson Library Special Collections. Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA. Box 1, Folder 5
“Obituary for Homer Van Buren Warnock.” American Legion Auxiliary, Dexter Allen Unit no.90, records. Zach S. Henderson Library Special Collections. Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA. Box 1, Folder 5
“Register of Students 1917-1918.” BULLETIN of the Medical Department of the University of Georgia. Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia. Vol. 7, No. 1. 47