NEWS: Blair County Soldiers, August 8, 1918, Blair County, PA

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SIX OF UNCLE SAM'S FIGHTERS

  Six more additions to Uncle Sam's fighting forces will be sent to Camp 
Wadsworth, Spartansburg, South Carolina, this evening by District Board No. 2, 
of Blair county.  The train will depart at 5:25 p.m., and those selected to take 
the trip are as follows: Fred C. Dish, Altoona; W. M. Miller, Bellwood; Jesse F. 
Stillwell, Tyrone; Harry Lykens, Tyrone; George W. Evans, Tyrone; Wilbur J. 
Decker, Altoona.  Alternates, Donald M. Gilmore and George T. McClellan, both of 
Bellwood.

Altoona Tribune, Thursday morning, August 8, 1918, page 2

ALTOONA BOYS PRAISE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

John M. Schlegel and James T. Monahan Write of Activities in Camp

  Private John M. Schlegel who, before entering the service, was employed in the 
air brake department of the Twelfth street shops, bears testimony as to the 
excellent work being done for the soldiers by the agencies authorized by the 
government to look after their welfare.
  In writing from Camp Hancock, Augusta, George, he says: "There are two K. of 
C. Recreational buildings here at Camp Hancock and preparations are being made 
to erect a third.  There is something doing at the K. of C. nearly every night.  
It is well patronized and thought a whole lot of by the boys in camp.  I do not 
know what we would do if it were not for the K. of C. and Y.M.C.A. buildings.  A 
person in civil life cannot realize what these recreation halls mean to the man 
in khaki."
  James T. Monahan, of 2305 West Maple avenue, who was commissioned a lieutenant 
after graduating from the Third Officers' Training school at Camp Dix, N.J., 
last April, is now stationed at Camp Sheridan, Alabama.  He has been very much 
impressed with the work being done at the two K. of C. buildings in this camp, 
more so than any he has yet witnessed.  There they have a "Coffee Club," which 
is nothing more than the passing out, after the early mass each Sunday morning, 
of coffee and rolls to every one in the building at the time.  On one of these 
occasions recently seventeen gallons of coffee and twenty-five dozen of rolls 
were issued at building No. 2.  This has made a big hit with the boys and is 
highly appreciated, especially by those who come from distant parts of the camp 
fasting in order to receive Holy Communion.

Altoona Tribune, Thursday morning, August 8, 1918, page 2

HOLLIDAYSBURG

A TROPHY OF WAR

  Mrs. H. D. Dravo, formerly Miss Margaret Duncan, who is residing with her 
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Peter S. Duncan, of Sunset Hill, during the absence of her 
husband, Lieutenant H. D. Dravo, who is in the aviation service in France, has 
received from her husband a cap worn by a German flyer who lost his life in an 
air battle.  The cap is broad and flat, with a red band, and was the property of 
a man named Carl Lehman.  His plane was brought down by the Americans and he and 
another officer were mashed beyond recognition.  The cap was taken from the head 
of the dead pilot, when the machine crashed to the ground.  It gives evidence of 
having been much worn and is on exhibition in one of the show windows of 
Leedom's drug store.

Altoona Tribune, Thursday morning, August 8, 1918, page 4

NEWS OF SERVICE MEN AT HOME AND ABROAD

Letters from France Tell How Altoona and Blair County Boys Are Faring

  Lieutenant Bingman, now in France, writes his mother, Mrs. J. C. Bingman, of 
Juniata, that he is feeling fine and getting along nicely.  Two letters were 
received that were written aboard ship and the last one in France.  He states 
that he had a pleasant voyage and that he is quartered in a quaint old French 
town built in the time of Caesar.
  Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Wolford, of 613 Second avenue, received letters yesterday 
from their son Private Edgar Wolford for the first time since he landed in 
France.  He is a member of Company B, 49th Engineers.  He is enjoying good 
health and his experience and desires his friends to write to him.
  Charles R. Hutchison, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Hutchison, of 2012 Fifth 
avenue, has arrived safely overseas according to work received by his parents on 
Tuesday.  He is a member of the Fourth battery, J.A.R.D.  He was before entering 
the service a well-known plumber of the Sixth ward.
  Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Fluke have received word that their son, William L. Fluke, 
has arrived safely in France.  He is with the Ninth company, Fourth regiment of 
Motor Mechanics.  He has been in the service for several months.
  Owen F. McDonald, a former local newspaperman who enlisted in the Sheridan 
troop before it was disbanded and the men sent to other commands, has been 
promoted to the rank of lieutenant according to word received by friends in the 
city from his station in France.  He took the officers' training course while 
located at Camp Hancock, Ga.
  Private C. Elliott McFadden, of Company F, 103rd Engineers, is on the firing 
line according to word received from him by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. M. 
McFadden, formerly of 1112 Seventeenth street but now of Pittsburg.  He says 
that the other Altoona and Tyrone boys, former members of the Sheridan troop, 
that were transferred to the command are in the best of health.
  Mrs. Elizabeth Green, of 107 Tenth street, has received letters from her sons, 
Thomas and Edward E. Green, both members of Company G, 110th regiment.  They 
stated that they were in good health and were getting along fine.  Neither spoke 
of going forward to the firing line, having been written before the regiment 
went to the front.
  Benjamin Babcock, of 724 Fourth avenue, and a well known former Pennsylvania 
Railroad company clerk, is confined to a hospital in France as the result of 
being attacked with boils.  He enlisted over a year ago and is attached to the 
Fourth U.S. infantry.  The news was received in a letter by his brother, Edwin 
C. Babcock.
  Mrs. W. L. Rothrock, of 106 East Seventh street, is in receipt of a letter 
from her son, Corporal Roy R. Rothrock, now in France with the American army.  
The letter was written on July 8 and stated that he was well, spoke of his 
liking France and related some of his experiences.
  Lieutenant Webster T. Ammerman, of 1010 Twenty-second avenue, is spending a 
brief furlough with his parents and friends here.  He is attached to the field 
artillery and is located at Fort Sill, Okla.  He is looking every inch the 
soldier and says that he likes the service.
  Chilton H. Jacobs, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Jacobs, of 2114 Fourth avenue, 
departed yesterday morning for Plattsburg, N.Y., to enter the U.S. officers' 
training camp there.  He is a student at State College and a former employe of 
the Pennsylvania Railroad company.
  William L. Osche, son of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Osche, of 1020 Second avenue, has 
arrived safely overseas according to word received by his parents yesterday.  He 
entered the service on May 7, 1918, in Company G, Forty-ninth Engineers.  He was 
formerly employed in No. 2 erecting shop of the Altoona Machine shops.
  Harry E. Rhine, of Company G, 110th infantry, writes Leon March, of this city, 
under date of July 11 that he is seeing everything that can be seen and enjoying 
good health.  He used his gas mask for a desk and spoke of the territory where 
he is located as being nothing but shell holes and craters.  He speaks of the 
activity of Fritz at night being more active then than in day time.

Altoona Tribune, Thursday morning, August 8, 1918, page 5

MISSING MEN HAVE RELATIVES IN CITY

Lieut. Samuel S. Crouse Is Brother-in-Law of Ralph Amos

  Lieutenant Samuel S. Crouse and his son, Corporal Edgar L. Crouse, both of 
Somerset and well known in Bedford county, are among the Americans reported as 
missing in France.  The former is a brother-in-law of Ralph Amos, a Tribune 
employe residing at Thirtieth street and Pine avenue.  He also has other 
relatives in the city.
  Lieutenant Crouse is not a young man and previous to the war was in the 
service of the Western Union company at Somerset.  He had been affiliated with 
the National Guard for many years and retired.  When the Mexican trouble cropped 
up he enlisted and went to the border, where he saw service.  He later was 
promoted to the rank of lieutenant, and when war with Germany was declared he 
and his son joined the colors together.  Mr. Amos has two sons, Clyde and 
Daniel, both of whom are in France.
  Fred L. Arnold, of Bedford, and well known in this city, was listed in 
yesterday's casualty list as being severely wounded.  Some months ago he was 
gassed by the Huns and went back to the front line to get at them again.  
Previous to enlisting he was a drug salesman and frequently visited the city.

Altoona Tribune, Thursday morning, August 8, 1918, page 5

TWO ENLIST IN MARINES.

  Bernard J. Nolan, of Dunbar, and Leslie M. Cronister, of Julian, were sent to 
Pittsburg yesterday after enlisting in the marine corps from the Altoona office.  
Ten men have been accepted thus far this month.  
  A special effort to win recruits for the army units has been made by 
Lieutenant R. W. Lesher, of Harrisburg, Sergeant John Greiner, of the Altoona 
station, being urged to advise young men not yet 21 years of age to join at 
once.

Altoona Tribune, Thursday morning, August 8, 1918, page 5

THIRTY-THREE BOYS TO LEAVE FOR CAMP

Local Board No. 1 Will Entrain Seventeen and Board No. 2 Sixteen for 
Spartansburg 

  Thirty-three Altoona boys will bid good-bye to relatives and friends this 
afternoon and at 5:05 o'clock will entrain for Camp Wadsworth, Spartansburg, 
S.C. for training for war.  They have been selected and are prepared to enter 
the service of the United States to help win the war.
  Local board No. 1 will send seventeen young men.  They reported to the 
headquarters yesterday afternoon and Harry Hetrick, the young butcher at 
Chestnut avenue and Tenth street, was chosen the captain of the contingent.
  Local board No. 2 will send sixteen men and William M. Roberts, physical 
director at Perkiomen school and formerly an instructor at the High school, will 
captain the squad.
  The new soldiers will report at 4 o'clock and entrain at 5:05 o'clock.
  Both boards yesterday received notice of a call for 10,000 Pennsylvanians to 
be sent to Camp Lee during the three days beginning August 26 and also a call 
for 892 colored men to be sent to Camp Lee during the three days beginning 
August 22.  The quotas to be assigned the city's boards will be received in the 
course of the next several days.

Altoona Tribune, Thursday morning, August 8, 1918, page 12