NEWS: Blair County Soldiers, August 10, 1918, Blair County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja and Donna Thomas

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http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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NEWS OF SERVICE MEN AT HOME AND ABROAD  

Warner S. Weston, of This City, Reported Among Missing in Great Drive

  Warner S. Weston, son of Mrs. Alice Weston, of 914 Seventeenth street, is 
reported among the Americans missing during the great drive on the west front 
in France.  This was the news that reached Mrs. Weston yesterday in a 
telegram from the war department.  It stated that he had been reported as 
missing since July 15 about the time the Americans started their great work 
in Foch's great offensive that drove back the Huns.  Weston was formerly a 
fireman on the Middle division of Pennsylvania railroad and enlisted at 
Somerset in August 1917 in Company C, 110th regiment.
  Lieut. Donald M. Rothrock, M. R. C., a former interne (sic) at the Altoona 
hospital, has successfully passed the state board examinations for registered 
doctors and is now eligible to practice the profession of medicine in the 
state of Pennsylvania.  Dr. Rothrock is a graduate of the University of 
Pennsylvania with the class of 1917.  His year of interneship (sic) was 
served at the local institution ending June 30 last.  Before the completion 
of his term as resident physician at the Altoona hospital, he received a 
commission as first lieutenant in the medical reserve corps.  On July 24, 
Lieut. Rothrock was ordered into active service at the Walter Reid hospital, 
Tacoma Park, Washington, D. C., and is now assistant surgeon in one of the 
tuberculosis wards. 
  William C. Giarth, custodian of the Trainmen's hall, for the first time 
since his son, William C. Giarth, jr., of Company C, 110th regiment, arrived 
in France has received letters from his boy.  He writes that he likes the 
country and the service and is enjoying good health.
  Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Glass, of 66 Washington avenue, have received a letter 
from their son, Sergeant Homer H. Glass, of Tenth company, Third Motor 
Mechanics battalion, saying that he has arrived overseas.  He writes that he 
is well, is receiving lots to eat.
  Nathan K. Filer, a well known Altoona boy who made his home at the 
residence of Mr. and Mrs. A. Beck, of 901 Seventeenth avenue, is ill at the 
naval hospital at New London, Conn.  The word was received here yesterday.  
Before enlisting the young man was employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad 
company.  He is attached to a submarine squadron.
  J. Lucian Root, son of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Root, of 1002 Eighth avenue, 
will leave the city today to enter the service.  He has enlisted in the 
United States navy and has been assigned to the aero service.

Altoona Tribune, Saturday morning, August 12, 1918, page 12


COLORED SELECTED MEN ARRIVE HOME  

Quartette Rejected on Arrival at Army Camp at Battle Creek, Mich.

  Michael Simms, Joseph Henderson, Horace Frisby and "Happy" Brooks, all 
colored, three of them honor men inducted into the federal service ten days 
ago and entrained for Fort Thomas, Battle Creek, Mich., have returned to 
Altoona, honorably discharged from the service.  All three were rejected and 
returned to the west side No. 1 city draft board to be held for limited 
service at a later time.
  The trio were considerably disappointed at being rejected, they declaring 
"that place sure was fine."  All have returned to their former occupations.
  No less than a score of registrants sent out from the city and county 
boards during the past month have been rejected at cantonments, a number 
being returned from Camp Lee and examining physicians in the boards are 
urging a more uniform set of rules for use both by the board physicians and 
the army surgeons at cantonments.
  Men returned to Altoona were rejected for slight physical defects which the 
Altoona examining physicians were ordered to pass, as the defects would be no 
bar to general service.  The physicians at the camp have ruled otherwise, 
however.
  If the men are not fit for general service, rule the Altoona doctors, the 
government is in a position to save considerable money, time and labor by 
ruling that the men with slight defects or remedial defects should be placed 
originally in the limited service class.  Such a ruling would also save the 
registrants considerable embarrassment, many of the rejected selectives being 
given rousing send-offs only to return to civil life a week later.

Altoona Tribune, Saturday morning, August 12, 1918, page 12