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He was a football hero in high school. He never married. He served in WWI as Pvt in the US Army, being in France in 1918. OnSept 23 he wrote a letter to his uncle, Elmer, back home who forwardedit to the newspapers. It stated: "I know you have seen in the paper about the big drive we madeand you all wondered if I was in it. I surely was in it and am yet, Iguess. We are today at rest two miles from the firing line and may becalled to go back again at any moment. Our company had been distinguished for bravery in this drive andit was some drive over hills and streams and wading through mud andwater to our knees. I guess we drove them about (deleted) miles back.I cannot tell you about the fight as I want to forget it, but get'Over the Top' and read it. Dad asked me for a German helmet. you tell him I could havegotten 100 but I don't want any and we have all we can carry. Wecould pick up field glasses, pistols, knives, anything you could thinkof but I am afraid to pick them up as one of our men picked up a canteen and opened it and it blew his hands off. So you see a personcannot be too careful of the Boche. So I would rather be careful and come home myself than bring alot of things home for my friends to look at as they would not doanybody any good. I would surely like to see the new home, but maybe I can comehome some time next summer if we can keep them on the go all the time.I have given up the thought of coming home this year because I don'tthink the American people want us to quit now until the Germans arewhipped almost to death." The newspaper article also included a paragraph about France" fromanother letter a few days later. The letter was written on YMCAstationary with the following letterhead: On active service with theAmerican Expeditionary Force. The letter, dated 9/29/1918, wasaddressed to his mother at Box 197, Decatur, IL, and stated: "My Dearest Mother: I am dropping you these few lines as I knowit will be ten maybe fifteen days before I will (get) to write againas we start to the (edited out), so dont worry if you do not hearfrom me for a few days because I will be (edited out) and wont havetime to write. Tell Helen and Dorothy that I got their letters and was glad toget them and want them to write again and am glad they like their newhome and I bet they do have a good time with their new friends andwhen school starts is when they will have the big time and I hope theylike it better than at Macon. Well Mother I have seen and read about Sunny France but it canrain more here in a day than it can rain in a month back home, but themountains here sure are pretty but I dont think I would spent anymoney to come to the foreign land because Cal. as got it on any thingthan I have seen over here. But they do have a few historical thingsover here, as I was in the church the other day that Joan of Arc usedto attend so you can see the age of some of the buildings over here.It had the statue of her in it and sure is a fine peice of work, butthe German Army is trying to destroy it as that is what they are notedfor. So Mabel thinks she is an old lady now does she just because sheis twenty wed she is getting old fast alright, and as to the bet Helenmentioned in her letter I dont know what she is talking about becauseI never made any bet as to age but as to her getting married before Idid, so tell her not to brag yet as she may lose yet. I'll bet youand Mabel have some time going to the shows because you are where youcan go so easy now but I suppose Junior objects to you going so Sisgoes and you stay at home and keep him. I'll bet he is a fat finefellow now and I guess he will be over a year old by the time I get tosee him from the looks of things, and he dont know that he even has abrother so far away from home. Well I suppose you are worrying about Clarence again by now beingbrought home hurt as I suppose he is playing football again and tellhim to make good better than he did last year and it will help Freddiewhen he goes into H.S. next year so much if he has a brother who hasmade before him. Mother I see in the paper where the Gov is going to allowChristmas boxes to be sent over well dont send all my things as I cantcarry them and I would sooner have the socks when I come home so dontsend more than two pair of socks anyway as I wont need any more ofthem, but the other things would be glad to have. Well I must closefor this time. WithLots of Love Your Soldier Son Everett" The letter was stamped "OK" by 2nd Lieut GD Wright, censor. |
| Some relatives said he died of a brain tumor. |