Farming failed to earn Louis an exemption, and influenza gave him an unwanted one.

Louis Davis Chaney was born on September 18, 1889, in Dunstable, Massachusetts, to Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Chaney. It has not been established when Louis arrived in Santa Cruz County but in 1917 he was working as a farmer on the Majors Brothers - Enright Ranch on the Coast Road. When he registered for the draft on June 5, 1917, he was single, living on Branciforte Avenue in Santa Cruz and described as being tall, of medium stature, with blue eyes and dark brown hair.

Louis Chaney applied for a draft exemption as a farmer but his request was denied and he was inducted in one of the early drafts. Army life began for him at Camp Kearney near San Diego, California, where he was sent for basic training. Following training, he was assigned as a private in the 145th Field Artillery Regiment of the 40th Infantry Division. In July 1918 his unit traveled to Camp Mills, New York, to await transportation overseas. In August they sailed for Europe and three weeks later arrived in France.

Upon arrival in France the 145th Field Artillery moved to Bordeaux, where they remained for the duration of the war. On October 15, 1918, Private Louis D. Chaney "died of a disease" near Paris. He was buried at the Suresnes American Cemetery located between Paris and Versailles.

(CAG; 145th Field Military.Com, History of the Deuce, http://www.military.com/HomePage/UnitPageHistory/ 1,13506,714176%7C772463,00.html, [16 September 2008]; SCSn December 6 1918; WEP November 7, 1918 3:4; WWIDR; ABMC)