OBIT: Donald L. GEARHART, 1918, of Altoona, Blair County, PA

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DONALD L. GEARHART MAKES SUPREME SACRIFICE FOR FREEDOM

PRIVATE DONALD L. GEARHART [photo]

  Private Donald Leroy Gearhart, son of Mr. and Mrs. John F. Gearhart, 
of 227 East Third avenue, is one of the Altoona boys who has made the
supreme sacrifice in France.  He went at the murderous Huns with
Company G, 110th Regiment, in the big drive on the west front and
received wounds that resulted in his death on August 1, according to
the message received by his parents from Adjutant General McCain on
Sunday.
  Gearhart was aged 19 years, being born in Altoona, February 21, 1899.
He enlisted on July 3, 1917, and trained with the 110th at Camp
Hancock.  He went overseas with the command and is believed to have
sustained his battle wounds when the 110th attacked the Germans in the
Chateau Thierry sector. Nine days before he left for camp he married
Miss Mary Kearney, who survives, as do his parents.

Altoona Tribune, Friday morning, August 16, 1918, page 10

COMPANY G SOLDIER TO HAVE MILITARY FUNERAL

DONALD L. GEARHART [photo]

BODY OF SOLDIER ARRIVES IN CITY

Remains of Donald L. Gearhart, Company G Hero Who Fell in France, to Be 
Buried with Military Honors.

  The body of Donald L. Gearhart, one of the first soldiers in Company 
G, the Blair county unit in the 110th regiment, to fall on the field of
battle in the World war, arrived in Altoona this morning.  The casket
was taken to the undertaking establishment of N. A. Stevens and later
will be conveyed to the home of the young man's parents, Mr. and Mrs.
John F. Gearhart, at 227 East Third avenue.
  Arrangement for a military funeral were practically completed today.
The body of the soldier is the first of the members of Company G, who
lost their lives in France, to arrive home, and the surviving members
of the company and the members of the reorganized company will have
charge of the funeral.
  First Sergeant J. D. Stewart of the reorganized Company G and who, in
the battle in which Private Gearhart was mortally wounded, was sergeant
in command of the platoon in which Gearhart served, today was engaged
in working out the details of the funeral.
  Services will be held at the home of the parents at 2.30 Sunday
afternoon. Rev. E. B. Learish, pastor of the Second United Brethren
church, will preach the funeral sermon.  The young soldier had been a
member of this church and also the Sunday school of the congregation.
Interment will be made in Rose Hill cemetery.
  The former comrades of the soldier as well as the members of the
present Company G are all expected to attend the funeral.  They will be
in uniform. All other ex-service men are also invited.  The soldiers
will meet at the armory in the Moose building on Eighth avenue at 1.30
and will proceed to the Gearhart home in a body.
  The pallbearers selected are: C. F. Miller, A. J. Shearer, G. H. 
Meyers, W. F. Meinhart, R. H. Soyster, C. B. Leader, Harry Fiore.
  The buglers will be Earl Henderson and Ralph DeAngeles.
  The firing squad will consist of Joseph Policastro, Palo Palazzi, W. C.
Giarth, J. B. Walsh, Frank Petro, Charles A. Myers, W. B. Brandt, Patsy
Masstouano.  The squad will be in charge of Sergeant Dyer.
  Donald Leroy Gearhart is said to have been the youngest man in Company
G. He was wounded in July 28, 1918, in the fighting about Courmont Hill
and died three days later.  He had been married some time before
leaving for France and a son was born after the father had been killed.
The little son now lives with the mother in Ohio and word has been
received in Altoona that the child is seriously ill and for that reason
neither he nor the mother will be able to come to Altoona for the
funeral.
  The young soldier was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Gearhart of 227 East 
Third avenue and was born in this city Feb. 21, 1899.  With the
exception of a brief time spent in Johnstown he always lived here.
  The young soldier comes from a family of warriors and it is singular
that misfortune in arms has been the lot of some of his ancestors who
entered their country's service.  Two great-grandfathers were soldiers
in the Civil war, one being killed in battle and the other dying in
Andersonville prison. An uncle served in the war with Spain and died in
the Philippines.

Altoona Mirror, Friday, January 14, 1921