NEWS: Blair County Soldiers, August 23, 1918, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _______________________________________________ TYRONE TOPICS THIRTY-ONE YOUNG MEN LEAVE TUESDAY Tyrone Will Give Draftees Royal Send-Off as They Go to Enter Service Tuesday evening, August 27, is the announced date for the next contingent of the great American army to make their audieus to the home folks, and go forth on the first stage of the journey that ultimately culminates in France, where the battle for humanity in general, for all the world, is being fought to a conclusion. Also this date will be the next opportunity for those who remain at home, to show their appreciation to these men who go forth to fight the battle for all the American people. Arrangements are being perfected to give these thirty-one young men a send off that will impress them with the fact that the folks back home are with them from the time they start to the time, that after the conflict is over, they will return. The call should be felt by every inhabitant of the town to turn out on Tuesday evening. Those who are listed to go in this group of registrants are: Abe Solomon, Tyrone. William R. Halfpenny, Juniata. William R. Roland, Juniata. Sylvester C. Martz, Jr., Altoona. Charles E. Walton, Altoona. Warren Getz, Tyrone. George W. Kahler, Altoona. William P. Bush, Bellwood. William C. Ross, Juniata. George W. Wertz, Altoona. Clarence S. Burns, Tyrone. Gussie Thomas Carling, Tyrone. Russel S. McConahy, Tyrone. Charles R. Grant, Altoona. George B. Henry, Altoona. John M. Amigh, Altoona. Eugene H. Dayton, Tyrone. George T. McCellan, Bellwood. Jacob E. Ayle, Altoona. Hubert L. Keohane, Tyrone. Carl E. Batts, Dysart. Clifford E. Clapper, Altoona. Francis A. Neff, Eldorado. Leroy V. Haupt, Tyrone. Harry Myers, Bellwood. James Frederick Closson, Tipton. Charles F. Blair, Jr., Tyrone. William F. Sawyer, Tyrone. James R. Lupfer, Bellwood. Paul E. Hand, Tyrone. Joseph E. Biddle, Tyrone. In case any of these fail to appear at the appointed time, alternates have been selected as follows: Michael J. Lutz, Altoona. Chester L. Reeder, Bellwood. Thomas E. Roney, Jr., Altoona. Raymond B. Smith, Bellwood. It will be noted that 12 of the 31 listed to go are residents of Tyrone, proper, so that over one-third of the contingents are "home-boys," and the town should be more than interested in this group. Altoona Tribune, Friday morning, August 23, 1918, page 6 NEWS OF SERVICE MEN Francis Diehl Missing. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Diehl, who live just beyond the borough limits on West Fifteenth street, in the Sixth ward, were advised on Wednesday by the war department that their son, Francis Diehl, was reported by General Pershing as among the missing in France. Young Diehl is 23 years old, and before enlisting worked as a trucker at the Tyrone transfer. He enlisted in company G of the regiment that was subsequently designated as the 110th, he being one of the volunteers who were picked up in this section by Colonel Kemp and his men when they were on duty in this vicinity. Altoona Tribune, Friday morning, August 23, 1918, page 6 PERSONAL LOSS TO TYRONERS Lieutenant Colonel William Wallace Fetzer, of Milton, who died in France from wounds, as noted in the casualty list of the government, was well as most favorably known to all the members of the Sheridan troop. He was their commanding officer on the Mexican border and they all speak in glowing terms of the personality and efficiency of this man who has given up his life for the nation. Former Major Moore, the commander of the troop on the border, considers his loss a personal one to him and regrets deeply that his life was one to go, but states that he knows that the lieutenant colonel was ready and willing to give his life as the supreme sacrifice. Altoona Tribune, Friday morning, August 23, 1918, pages 6, 11 NEWS OF SERVICE MEN AT HOME AND OVERSEA Private G. Howard Vance Is Reported Officially as Missing in Action Private G. Howard Vance, aged 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. George E. Vance, 1309 Eleventh street, was officially reported as missing in action on July 29, yesterday, when a telegram was received by his parents. He is a company G soldier with the 110th Pennsylvania infantry. A post card had been received from the young man on August 16, under date of July 16, before the big drive in the Chateau Thierry sector, where the company G men got their first baptism of fire at the hands of the enemy guns. Six fellow company members were reported as missing in the Tribune yesterday. Mrs. John Clay, of 815 Nineteenth street, has been apprised of the safe arrival of her son, Private H. W. Clay, with a replacement company, in England. The young man enlisted in the regular army medical corps a year ago and had since been occupied at several large camps in this country. Harry Kauffman, of 2706 Maple avenue, with company M, Fifth Engineers, at Camp Humphrey, Va., writes that he is homesick for the cool, green woods of Pennsylvania, as all he sees there is sand and more sand. He has been for several weeks at the rifle range, seven miles from camp and roughing it in tents. The men have been digging trenches, which is warm work in cool weather, but with the mercury soaring about the 135 degree mark in the shade it is trying labor. But there is one other place at camp that is even hotter than digging trenches, and that is the mess kitchen, especially on potato days, when a detachment of the boys is sent into the kitchen to peel about two bushels of hot potatoes. The letter states that it rains practically every day, so that the temperature varies greatly within a short interval. He is, still in spite of extremes of hot and cold, much pleased with everything. He is close to the barracks where another Altoonan, Jesse Harmon, of 3000 Walnut avenue, and a friend, are quartered, they having enlisted at the same time. Altoona Tribune, Friday morning, August 23, 1918, page 12