Kauai County HI Archives Obituaries.....Pacheco, Theodore G. 18 1919 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/hi/hifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: K KM hawaiizeis@gmail.com February 10, 2015, 2:07 pm The Garden Island, Lihue, Kauai, Tues., 12-23-1919 PACHECO, THEODORE G. HERO RESPONDS TO THE LAST CALL. Unassuming, quiet, but a war veteran and 100 percent American, was Theodore G. Pacheco, Private, 21st Balloon Company, Air Service, United States Army, who died at his home in Kilauea at 9 o'clock on Thursday morning, December 18, 1919, a victim of German poison gas encountered on a battlefield in far away France over a year ago. The deceased was a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Pacheco. He was born at Kilauea on this island about 21 years ago. He was living with an uncle on the mainland and was still under draft age when in 1918 he enlisted in the US Army. He had only been in training about two months when he was sent overseas with his organization, the 6th Engineers, which on arrival in France became the 3rd Division. The 6th Engineers was one of the combat regiments of engineers so young Pacheco saw a great deal of fighting. He was in the battle of St. Mihiel and also in that of Chateau Thierry in which latter his regiment was sent in to relieve marines, and his company was nearly wiped out in a gas attack, and only Pacheco and a few others came out alive; he, however, being severely affected by the gas. It is believed that he never fully recovered from the effects of that gassing, and his death was caused by the effect of the gas on his system. In one engagement, Pacheco was also wounded in the leg. Sometime later he was discharged but after being out only three months, he reenlisted. Later he was ordered to Honolulu and a day after his arrival there was taken sick and was thereafter confined to the hospital for about a month. When somewhat recovered, he was granted a furlough and permission to visit his home and family on Kauai, and he died before the expiration of his furlough, which would have been up on the 21st of this month. His death followed severe hemorrhages, probably due to the effects of the poison gas. The funeral was held in Kilauea late Friday afternoon on the 19th, the services being conducted by Father Hubert of the Catholic Mission of Kilauea. The Kauai Post of the American Legion and other veterans of the war furnished an escort and guard of honor, there being some 30 or more men in uniform. The funeral started from the Kilauea Hall where Father Hubert gave a brief history of the service of the young soldier. A few squads of the American Legion and other veterans, in uniform, headed the procession; then followed Father Hubert, then the hearse and pallbearers, in uniform, on either side, then an escort of six men in uniform; then the immediate family of the deceased, and then a large number of automobiles containing friends, relatives, and others who came to do honor to the dead hero. The funeral was very impressive. The relatives of the deceased have lost a dear one, and we sympathize with them in their loss, but we feel that their sadness will be tempered with the pride that Private Theodore G. Pacheco answered his country's call as a hero would, and offered the supreme sacrifice for a cause that was just. Additional Comments: posted by rms [WWI US Army Veteran] File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/hi/kauai/obits/pacheco657gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/hifiles/ File size: 3.7 Kb